Hi there, Kristin!
I'm so glad that you sent your question to me! Even though I’m a Disneyland Resort Specialist, I absolutely love visiting Walt Disney World Resort too. There’s just something exciting about having so many different experiences to choose from at Walt Disney World!
As you probably know, Walt Disney World has four theme parks: Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Each one offers something completely unique!
Since you’ve already narrowed your visit to two parks, the next step is deciding how many days you want to spend in them. I always recommend two days at Magic Kingdom and at least one day at Animal Kingdom. Magic Kingdom has so many classic attractions, like “it’s a small world,” Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and having two days gives you time to enjoy your favorites more than once.
Over at Animal Kingdom, I like to split my time between attractions and exploring the animal trails. Avatar Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Expedition Everest are must‑dos for me, but I also love wandering through the different lands and just soaking in the atmosphere. Oh, and don’t miss Festival of the Lion King! It’s one of my favorites!
Once you know how many park days you want, you can book your Vacation Package on the Walt Disney World website. Resorts are grouped into value, moderate, and deluxe categories. Value resorts are the most budget-friendly; moderate resorts offer a nice balance of amenities; and, deluxe resorts have incredible dining and some of my favorite pools.
My personal picks are Pop Century (value), Port Orleans - French Quarter (moderate), and the Riviera (deluxe). I also like to plan at least one resort day in the middle of our trip so we can relax, swim, and recharge before heading back into the parks.
While booking your package, consider adding Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which lets you skip standby lines for many attractions. I don’t usually find it necessary for Animal Kingdom, but I always purchase it for Magic Kingdom because there’s just so much to do.
Dining reservations open 60 days in advance on the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app. I like to book one midday meal each day so my family can cool off and take a break. Some of my favorites include Skipper Canteen and Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, and Tusker House and Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom. My top pick in Animal Kingdom, though, is Nomad Lounge. Reservations aren't offered there, but you can try joining the walk‑up list in the app.
Kristin, I hope this gives you enough information to get started with booking your magical trip. Don't hesitate to send me another message if you have more questions!
You are the magic!
Jen