Hey there, Jenn! Thanks so much for visiting planDisney - so glad you found us. There is nothing quite like a first trip to
Walt Disney World Resort, and it's always a good idea to have your (Donald) ducks in a row with a solid plan for your vacation. As a Michigan mom myself, I'm happy to share some tips to make your trip extra-magical and hopefully save a little money along the way.
Early December is a great time to visit, as the holiday season will be in full swing with amazing decorations, entertainment, and food, but the crowds tend to be pretty manageable. Your first order of business should be to take a look at the
Special Offers section of the Walt Disney World website and see if there are any deals and discounts that would apply to your dates.
Staying on-property allows you to enjoy lots of different benefits, including complimentary Disney transportation and
Early Theme Park Entry. The Disney
Resort Hotels are grouped into Value, Moderate, and Deluxe levels, which gives you plenty of options to suit your budget. One of our favorite on-property hotels is
Disney's Art of Animation Resort, which is a Value resort located on the
Disney Skyliner route for easy access to
EPCOT and
Disney's Hollywood Studios. The rooms have really fun theming, and there's a great food court that will meet the needs of even the pickiest eaters!
Theme park tickets are another place where you may be able to save some money. We typically don't add the Park Hopper option when we travel as a family and just visit one park per day. It lets us experience most of the things on our to-do list and allows for a more relaxed day.
As for dining, there are all kinds of great options in the parks, the hotels, and at
Disney Springs. Again, there's a range of choices to suit any budget so you can plan accordingly. If your kids are hoping to meet Mickey Mouse or a favorite princess, there are several really fun
Character Dining meals offered where you'll get some face time with your favorite pals. However, many Characters can be found
in the parks for autographs and pictures, so this is another way to save money! You're also welcome to bring food into the parks - we often bring lunch and/or snacks with us and splurge on a special dinner or a must-have souvenir. Check the
Park Rules for guidance about coolers and other information before you go!
Jenn, since you have some time before your trip, my other advice is to see if your local discount department store offers
Disney Gift Cards at a reduced price. I purchase these throughout the year and use them to enjoy a little extra discount on our Disney vacations.
I hope this information is helpful as your plans come together for your trip. Thanks again for stopping by planDisney, and please feel free to
send any other questions my way - no detail is too small!
See Ya Real Soon!
Susan