Hey, howdy, hey, Kalene! Thanks for stopping by planDisney! I'm excited that you're looking to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth this summer! Your kids will love all the magic of the theme parks, immersing themselves in the stories of their favorite Disney characters, and participating in shows and experiences together! Let's jump into some ideas to help you get started on your magical vacation!
My top tip for your planning is to create a
My Disney Experience account online if you do not already have one; you can also create and manage accounts for both of your kids. If your cousin is at least 13 years of age, she can create her own account and connect to you as Family & Friends so that you can share plans together and link reservations. You'll use this account during your planning for purchasing Lightning Lane passes, making dining reservations, and linking your theme park tickets. While you're in the parks, the app allows you to check wait times, mobile order food and beverages from participating locations, access maps, and so much more!
Kalene, I know you mentioned that you plan to stay off-property, but I always encourage visitors to take a look at the
Special Offers page to see if there are any money-saving discounts available during your travel dates! With your visit scheduled for this summer, you'll find that there is a current offer to save on a Disney Resort hotel reservation, and staying on property comes with some exciting
benefits like complimentary transportation,
free water park admission on your check-in date, and the ability to bundle your theme park tickets with your room reservation so you can pay for both parts of your vacation package together.
If you decide to stay off-property, you will want to purchase your
theme park tickets for each member of your party and then connect them to your My Disney Experience accounts. You can then create a
Disney MagicMobile pass to tap into the parks.
Finally, I'd encourage you to take a look at some of the dining options or extra offerings that you might like to book in advance!
Character dining is always a hit with kids of all ages, and it's a great opportunity for everyone to gather together for a special meal. Some of my favorites are even offered outside of the theme parks, so you can visit them on a day when you won't be visiting the parks to still get a little dose of Disney magic! Check out
Topolino's Terrace and
Chef Mickey's for some of my favorite options!
Kalene, there's so much magic to be had! If you're going to visit the parks for two days, you can also add on a
Park Hopper Option if you'd like to split your time to be able to experience all four of the theme parks. Otherwise, pick your top two destinations and enjoy an uninterrupted day from start to finish! With so much to see and do, you're sure to have a fun-filled, magical day!
I hope this helps you get started; as you continue to plan, if you have any other questions or need any other help navigating the magic, come back to planDisney and let us know! We're all so excited to see you real soon!
Magic and Memories,
Alison