Hiya Cyndi,
Welcome to planDisney. I am thrilled to provide some tips to help you plan this very magical first time trip to
Walt Disney World Resort. The great thing about Disney World is no matter if you are 6 or 60, you will find plenty of things to do and enjoy, and the best part is you will be making family memories that will last a lifetime.
The first step to planning your trip is setting up a
My Disney Experience account (if you do not already have one). This will become your hub for all the details pertaining to your trip. Next you will need to decide when to go. Unless you are limited to certain dates for personal or work reasons, I would suggest looking at times that are considered "off-season". Some of our favorite times to visit are May, mid September through mid October or early December. You can typically find milder weather, slightly smaller crowds (since the kids are still in school) and often these times offer special events like the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival, the
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival or my favorite, the holiday festivities including
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
Next you will want to choose where to stay, making sure to keep your budget in mind. I strongly recommend staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel. The resorts are separated into categories (Deluxe, Moderate, Campground, & Value) based on their price levels and available amenities. There are a number of advantages to staying at a Disney resort which include additional time in the theme parks, complimentary
Disney transportation, the ability to make your advanced dining reservations before other Guests, and don't forget you will be staying within the Disney magic for the entire trip.
Once you have selected your dates and resort, you will want to purchase your
theme park admission tickets and make your
theme park reservations. Keep in mind, the price of the admission tickets go down the more days you stay. Additionally, you will often find better pricing when selecting your resort and tickets as a package option. Once you have made all your reservations, begin making a list of your family's must-dos. Be sure to let each member of the family pick a few of their favorites and make note of dates you can book
advanced dining reservations or any
Enchanting Extras you are interested in.
Above all else, be flexible when making your plans but especially once you arrive. We have found that our favorite memories are when we strayed from our plans and let the magic come to us. And don't forget to ask for "1st Visit" buttons for your husband and son. If I can help with additional planning questions, please stop back and
see me.
With pixie dust,
Margaret