Hi Alison,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! First trips to the Walt Disney World Resort are so exciting to plan!
Of course, I think 3-years old is a perfect age to visit. I suggest that you review the
Planning Guide for Preschool Kids & Little Ones first. When our girls were younger, they loved all of the parks. Magic Kingdom has so many attractions for little ones. They giggled on Mad Tea Party, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, they were in awe of the animals and at Epcot, one of them was just barely tall enough to ride Soarin' Around the World. She was so excited when the cast member gave her the thumbs up to ride!
As you plan, be sure to check for
Special Offers on
vacation packages. We prefer to do character meals rather than stand in line at the parks to see characters, so I suggest that you choose a few that your little one might enjoy. Some of our favorites are Cinderella's Royal Table, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Chef Mickey's, The Crystal Palace, Hollywood & Vine and 1900 Park Fare. Remember to make advanced dining reservations and bring an autograph book to collect those signatures.
Alison, for our girls' first trip, we also decorated a savings jar and they put in their extra change to help us save money for the trip. They had a great time decorating the jar and it was one of those early lessons in planning!
Magic, memories and Minnie Mouse hugs,
Donyell