Welcome to planDisney Michelle! Thanks for reaching out with your question. I'm excited to help you! Planning your first trip to
Walt Disney World is exciting! You’re sure to create some amazing memories at The Most Magical Place on Earth!
When I start planning our trip, my first step is to jump on the Walt Disney World website and use the Build Your Vacation tool at the top of the
Walt Disney World Resort homepage. There you are able to enter your vacation dates, total number of adults and children in your party (if any) and you can search all resorts or just one if you have a favorite. You are then able to see the cost per night and can select the package option if you'd like. The page will then populate the total cost of resort and tickets. Before checking out, you'll be able to select a base ticket or the Park Hopper Option!
Once you have secured your resort hotel and tickets, I would next suggest adding dining. Consider booking dining reservations in advance, especially for character meals or popular restaurants. Character meals are a fantastic choice for families, as they offer entertainment alongside kid friendly menus.
Tusker House in Animal Kingdom serves an African inspired buffet but includes familiar items like waffles, scrambled eggs, and roasted meats.
Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort is another great option, offering a classic American buffet with character appearances. The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom features Pooh & Friends and a kid friendly buffet, while
’Ohana at the Polynesian Resort provides a delightful family style breakfast or dinner with options that appeal to children.
I would suggest planning your dining reservations based on the parks you’ll visit each day. Reservations open 60 days in advance at 6:00 AM Eastern Time, and if you’re staying on property, you’ll have the advantage of booking for your entire stay at that time. Begin with the most in-demand restaurants, such as ’Ohana, Chef Mickey’s, and Tusker House, to secure your spot.
I would next suggest making yourself familiar with
Disney's Lightning Lane Passes if you aren't already. Disney's Lightning Lane passes are designed to help guests save time by skipping regular lines for popular attractions.
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass allows quicker access to multiple attractions within the parks. Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels have the advantage of booking up to three attractions per day as far as seven days in advance. Other guests can make reservations up to three days in advance. Pricing for this pass varies based on the date and park.
The Lightning Lane Single Pass is perfect for those who want quicker access to a single high demand attraction. Like the Multi Pass, reservations can be made in advance according to the same timeline. The cost for this option also fluctuates depending on the attraction and season.
I hope you find this information helpful as you prepare for an exciting visit to Walt Disney World Resort Michelle! Please feel free to
reach out to me directly with any specific questions you may have. I would be more than happy to help you plan your Disney days! Thank you again for visiting planDisney. Have a magical day!
Kay