Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Kristi! I am so very excited for your family’s very first trip! My advice for first timers – don’t stress, relax, have fun, act like a kid, and let the memory making begin!
Once you arrive – first thing is first – LUNCH! I would conveniently grab something at the food court of your resort. After lunch, take some time to explore your resort. If you ask my children what they would like to do – they would spend the entire first day at the resort pool. I find this a nice and relaxing way to start out our adventure. Sitting poolside, I definitely feel like I am on vacation! After swimming, you can also visit the Downtown Disney Area by catching a complimentary bus from your Walt Disney World Resort hotel. There are many fun and interesting shops that I enjoy browsing. The boys head right to the Lego Store. They build Lego race cars and race them with other children. I have to drag my boys away every time – they could stay for hours and hours! There are also some really neat statues made out of Legos that offer some unique and fun photo opportunities. For dinner, I would suggest Earl of Sandwich as another budget-friendly option.
For the rest of your week, there are several budget-friendly restaurant options available. Below is just a sampling of some of the Theme Park restaurants that I personally enjoy.
Magic Kingdom Park: Casey’s Corner, Be Our Guest Restaurant (lunch), Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, Pecos Bill Tall Take Inn and Cafe, Pinocchio Village Haus
Epcot: La Cantina de San Angel, Sommerfest, Sunshine Seasons, Lotus Blossom Café
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: ABC Commissary, Pizza Planet Arcade, Rosie’s All-American Café
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes
Have a magical vacation, Kristi!
~Rachel