Hi Ginger! It's great to have you stop by planDisney with your question!
Oh boy! Not only are you celebrating birthdays while you are here, but it's also the first visit to Walt Disney World for some of your party! I still think back to my first visit, which came as an adult, and also the first time I visited with my children. I have the fondest memories from each of those stays. Your five-year-old princess (and adult Guest) will have such a magical time meeting some of their favorite characters and riding attractions at each park you visit!
When planning a trip to the
Walt Disney World Resort, there is plenty of ways to do so on a budget. When deciding where to stay, I always recommend staying in one of the Disney Resorts Hotels if you can. You'll have plenty of amenities and recreation options awarded to you, but non more valuable than access to complimentary Disney Transportation. You'll never need to worry about how to get to and from the parks during your stay. The value resorts are a great bang for your buck and are incredibly themed.
Disney's Pop Century Resort is a perfect choice since it is one of the stops along the
Disney Skyliner. You can take this entertaining mode of transportation to two of the four theme parks. Also, I would highly consider checking out the costs of Disney's All-Star Resorts. Each one is budget friendly and has larger-than-life décor throughout the resorts that your little one will love!
When purchasing your park tickets, you can select one park per day or park hopper tickets. You'll save a decent amount if you decide to just purchase one park per day, and this allows you to fully explore the parks you decide on. It wasn't until my fourth trip that I decided to try out park hopper tickets. While it is fun to bounce around from park to park, I found for a first visit that it's best to fully commit to the park you start at.
Choosing where and
how to dine is one of the biggest ways to help save during your trip. Table service restaurants can be a bit pricey, so there are plenty of quick service locations around the parks and resorts that will not break the bank. If you had your heart set on sitting down at one of the signature table service restaurants, I would decide on which one is your must-do and budget appropriately for that meal. You can also bring snacks and food into the parks with you, so pack a sandwich and your little one's favorite treat to not spend too much during the day on food.
As I'm sure you are aware, there are many merchandise locations all around the Walt Disney World Resort. Your little one is going to want to bring everything home. If you are planning on letting her pick out an item or two, I suggest talking with her beforehand to set clear expectations of what she is allowed to get. We do this with my daughters and it has helped us not have the classic meltdowns in the parks.
Ginger, I hope this information helps you plan for your stay! Make sure to stop by the front desk of your resort or at the
Guest Relations booth outside of each theme park to pick up special buttons to wear. They'll have birthday and first-timers buttons for each one to sport!
Happy planning!
Greg