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Mom And Daughter; Animal Kingdom
  • On Jan 12, 2010
    Lisa from KY Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    My husband and i are planning our 5 yr old daughter's 1st trip to disney world. Our schedule is open so when is the best time to go and which resort would be the best to stay at? Also, she wants to eat with the princesses so any suggestions. Thank you!!

    Hi Lisa,

    A first trip to Walt Disney World is a very special trip! I suggest visiting when children are normally in school. That's the least crowded time and I think visiting when the parks are less crowded really helps first timers! My favorite time of the year to visit is the first two weeks of December, followed by the month of October. January, February, and May are also good times; just be sure to avoid any holidays in those months!

    With a 5 year old, you will probably be spending a lot of time at the Magic Kingdom (MK). Thus I recommend you consider staying in a MK Resort which will allow you to easily get back to your room for a nap. The MK resorts on the monorail are the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort, and the Grand Floridian. The Wilderness Lodge is also a MK Resort and there is boat service between it and the park.

    However, based on my 5 year old son, you might also consider staying at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, located between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, or the Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL). My son absolutely loves the pool shared by the Yacht and Beach Clubs and the animals at AKL.

    Dining with Disney Princesses is a great experience, especially for a 5 year old. I recommend having a meal at Cinderella's Royal Table inside Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom or doing the Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot. Another good one is Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian.

    My 5 year old absolutely loves eating at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort. While there are no princesses there, my family has enjoyed visiting with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. I recommend dinner over breakfast, but both are good. Be sure to make an Advanced Dining Reservation for any restaurants that you are interested in.

    Enjoy planning your vacation and write back if you have any more questions.
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Meet the Panelist: Bernie, Maryland

I am an engineer with NASA with prior Air Force service. My wife and I have two boys, ages 13 and 8. At home, I'm known as the "Disney Guy" and I've enjoyed helping guests plan their Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, and Disneyland vacations. Learn More About Bernie

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