Hi Sheeka!
Welcome to planDisney! I’m so happy you stopped by to see us as you prepare for what I’m sure will be a most magical first visit! As a boy mom myself, let me share a few of our favorite things to do in the parks and around the resorts over the years.
First, you’ve made a great choice in
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort! I think your son will love the larger-than-life theming around the resort. Be sure to stop by the Grand Slam Pool to see Goofy on the pitcher's mound and a fun water cannon feature! Throughout your stay, you'll also find an assortment of activities around the resort including poolside games, arts and crafts, movies, campfires, and more. The latest schedule of activities is usually available in the resort lobby and can sometimes also be found near the main pool. As a Guest staying in the Disney Resorts Collection, you'll also be able to enjoy
fabulous resort benefits - complimentary resort transportation,
Early Theme Park Entry, and advanced booking windows for
dining reservations and
Lightning Lane passes!
When it's time to head to the parks, my boys love spending time on the rides. Each park has a lot of great options, so where to visit and how much time to spend in each park will really depend on your preferences. When
purchasing tickets, you can choose a standard ticket which will allow you entry into one theme park per day, or choose to add the Park Hopper option so you can bounce between parks. Here are a few favorites of my nine-year-old from our recent visit that you may want to take a closer look at when making your park plans. He liked searching for videos online of some of these before our visit to not only build excitement but also choose his top "must-do" rides!
- Magic Kingdom Park - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean
- EPCOT - Frozen Ever After, Soarin', and Mission: SPACE
- Disney's Hollywood Studios - Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, Toy Story Mania!, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park - Avatar Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, DINOSAUR
To help us make the most of our time in the parks, we like using Lightning Lane passes. With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can select up to three attractions for a single park each day that you purchase. Those pre-arrival selections can be made seven days before checking into your Disney Resort Hotel and then, during your day in the park, you get a "use one, get one" benefit to add additional selections as you redeem each one based on availability.
My boys are also never too old to enjoy a
character meal. We had breakfast at Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Rivieria on our last visit, and I think it's our new favorite choice for both excellent food and great character interactions. We also really like Garden Grill Restaurant, Tusker House Restaurant, and Chef Mickey's!
Sheeka, I hope this gives you a few ideas as you plan your visit! If you have more questions or would like additional recommendations in the future, please stop by to see us again here at planDisney!
Happy Planning!
Kristi