Hi Melissa!
Welcome to planDisney! I'm so happy you found us as there is nothing we like more than sprinkling pixie dust on vacation plans - especially those very special first visits and birthday celebrations! There is nothing quite like that first time seeing Cinderella Castle and meeting your favorite characters in real life.
Walt Disney World Resort offers a variety of hotel properties in the
Disney Resorts Collection. The most budget-friendly options are known as
Value Resort Hotels and have several choices within that category. I stayed at
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort a few years ago and fell in love with the larger-than-life decor that completely immersed me in some of my favorite Disney movies. While I haven't personally stayed at
Disney's Art of Animation Resort, I think this may be another option that your daughter will love. The standard rooms at this property are themed after The Little Mermaid and the decor of the resort celebrates some of the most popular Disney films from recent decades including Cars, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo. This resort looks so amazing! Another great benefit of Disney's Art of Animation Resort is access to the
Disney Skyliner which will provide convenient and unique transportation to both
EPCOT and
Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Regardless of where you choose to stay, there are several benefits currently available to Walt Disney World Resort guests including
complimentary transportation and
early theme park entry so you can get a jump start on your day! Reservations have not opened yet for 2025, but I would recommend keeping an eye on the official Walt Disney World social media pages and the
Disney Parks Blog for announcements in the weeks and months ahead. When it's time to start planning, don't forget to check the
special offers available for the best deals!
Before I go, I'd love to share my favorite budgeting tip when planning for an upcoming vacation - Disney Gift Cards! You can purchase in increments that fit your budget each month and then combine the values into one gift card using the
Disney Gift Card website (up to $1000 value on each gift card). Then, when those vacation packages open for booking, you'll have money already saved to use for your deposit! You can continue to purchase gift cards to make payments on your vacation and even use them as a payment option on your
My Disney Experience Mobile App when your vacation begins and you are in the parks.
Melissa, I hope this information is helpful as you start to plan what will surely be a memorable family vacation to Walt Disney World Resort! I hope to see you again real soon back at planDisney as my panelist pals and I would love to help provide more recommendations and tips on dining, itinerary planning, and enchanting extras to make the most of your first visit!
Cheers,
Kristi