Hello Carol! Welcome to planDisney, and thanks for stopping by to talk about your family's very first Walt Disney World adventure. You must be so excited!
I can't think of a better way to kick off a new year than with a vacation; you've chosen a great week for your visit. The temperatures should be pleasant and the theme parks and resorts will still be adorned in their holiday best. I suggest beginning the planning process by first selecting your Resort Hotel and booking a vacation package that includes your resort room and theme park tickets. There are so many fantastic choices for a family of four, and I will share a few of my favorites.
On the
Walt Disney World website, I recommend using the "Build Your Vacation" tool to price out several different resort hotel and ticket options. For a first-time visitor, my favorites are
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, a moderately priced resort with convenient transportation;
Disney's Wilderness Lodge, a deluxe resort with incredible theming and holiday decor; and
Disney's Pop Century Resort, an economical choice that offers excellent value. If other resorts' themes are more appealing to you, check them out too! Are you looking for THE classic Walt Disney World experience? Consider
Disney's Contemporary Resort, one of the original resort hotels, located within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom Park. Does your family enjoy the finer things? Surround yourselves in luxury at
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or
Disney's Riviera Resort. The possibilities are endless, but thankfully the Build Your Vacation Tool makes it easy to browse and price a variety of options.
Once you've chosen your resort hotel, you'll want to add
theme park tickets to your vacation package and reserve your days using the Disney Park Pass System. I suggest purchasing Magic Your Way Base Tickets, which allow you to focus on one theme park per day. I also recommend taking a half or full day in the middle of your vacation to relax and enjoy your resort hotel.
Dining at Walt Disney World is a unique experience, and you'll find everything from African-Indian fusion to American diner fare. Table-service dining can be reserved beginning 60 days in advance of your check-in date. Quick-service dining is plentiful and varied; while classic theme park favorites like chicken nuggets and hamburgers are available, more adventurous entrees and plant-based options are offered throughout the theme parks and resorts. To get an idea of pricing and think about where you might want to try and score
Advanced Dining Reservations, scroll through the menus on the Walt Disney World website.
I hope this has been helpful as you begin to plan your magical adventure, Carol. Keep in touch as your journey continues, and send any questions our way. We're all ears!
Have a zip-a-dee-doo-dah day,
Betsy