Hi Christi,
I love to visit Walt Disney World in October. The weather is cooler than summer, and the theme parks tend to be less crowded. I also have a family of three with one daughter, so let me give you a few thoughts on planning based on my experiences.
Be sure to order the
free Walt Disney World planning DVD. By watching this, you can get a feel for many of the different attractions and resorts at Walt Disney World. I would watch this with your daughter to see what sparks her interest as well. Then, you can have your daughter make
customized maps of the Walt Disney World theme parks indicating which attractions appeal the most to her. These will be sent to your home, and not only can you use them to plan your time in the Disney theme parks, but they also make a great keepsake.
Specific recommendations as to attractions and resorts for your family really will depend on your unique family. For attractions, is your daughter a thrill seeker? If so, you might start with attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, which is a moderately thrilling roller coaster, and work your way up through Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which is very thrilling. For resorts, you can check out the
Walt Disney World resort hotels online and narrow down by resort category to compare. Staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel is a good idea for your first trip, as it will put you closer to the Disney theme parks and you will enjoy perks afforded to only to Walt Disney World guests such as Extra Magic Hours.
I would love to help you plan more Christi; however, I am limited in the amount of space that I have to answer. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions!