Hi Marlene!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
I am SO excited to see that you are planning your first trip to Walt Disney World Resort! There is so much to see and enjoy, and I know it can be a little overwhelming so let's see if I can break it down for you. Every theme park has a unique personality and is worth visiting. There is so much to see and do at each one but my highlights are at
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Pandora – the World of Avatar; and my favourite attractions are Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest; at
Disney’s Hollywood Studios you must visit Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, my favourite attractions are The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania and Slinky Dog Dash, I also love the night-time show Fantasmic! At
Epcot, take a walk around World Showcase, and my favourite attractions are Soarin’ Around the World and Spaceship Earth. Whenever I visit
Magic Kingdom Park, just looking at Cinderella Castle fills me with joy! And while I love everything in this park – I never miss Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and the fireworks, Happily Ever After. If you have children, I thoroughly recommend booking character dining as it is the best way to meet your favourite Disney friends. My personal favourite is Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort where you usually meet the fab five: Chef Mickey (of course!), Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald. They will all visit your table for autographs and photos and it is a really fun experience. Disney Springs is somewhere I always visit for a relaxing time shopping and dining, and you will enjoy a fabulous day at the water parks Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach.
I also recommend
staying at one of the amazing Disney Resort hotel for so many reasons, not least that you remain immersed in the Disney magic for 24 hours a day. There are only a handful of hotels that are within walking distance of a theme park. From Disney’s Contemporary Resort you have a short stroll to Magic Kingdom Park. If you prefer to be close to Epcot, you will have an easy walk from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk. There is also a walking path to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from these Resort hotels, but it will take a little longer than the walk to Epcot. There is no walking path to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Disney Resort Transport is available for every Guest staying at a Disney Resort hotel to every theme park, and depending on where you stay there will be a bus service, and for many hotels there will also be boats, monorails and the Disney Skyliner available to take you around Walt Disney World Resort in comfort.
For more planning tips please visit the
Disney Parks Moms Panel Video Library where our panelists have given their favourite hints and advice to make your planning as easy as possible, and do come back and visit us here with any questions you may have. We will be very happy to help you!
Sue