Hey Denise and welcome to planDisney!
It sounds to me like you've already got your Walt Disney World Resort vacation nailed down! We love a Disney Queen that knows what she wants. Let's see if we can break it down a bit to give you some options for your family's stay at the most magical place on earth.
You have the option for each small family group to manage their own hotel reservation. If you all choose to book at the same hotel you can even request your rooms be near each other. Keep in mind those types of requests are dependant on availability. If your family prefers to be together you should look for a 3 bedroom villa at one of the
Disney Resort Collection hotels. I recently stayed at
Disney's Riviera Resort and am obsessed with their 3 bedroom Grand Villa. My family opted to go with multiple rooms so that we'd have space and the magic wouldn't wear off!
Pro tip:
Early Theme Park Entry is a perk for all Disney Resort hotel guests. You will need a reservation at a Deluxe Resort hotel to participate in
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours.
My family and I are regular visitors during the fall and love to get our spooky season fix by partaking in the Halloween festivities. We're regular Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party guests. In 2021, the event was
Disney After Hours Boo Bash. I'm already planning my costume for this year right now! Make sure to watch for the Halloween offerings for this year. Be sure to scoop up tickets for the last day of that event. Now Christmas can be a tad more elusive. Christmas decorations usually start creeping in early in November. Watch for the release of the first day of tickets for the
Disney Very Merriest After Hours event. If you plan it right, you may just be able to get both events within a week!
Pro tip: Don't dawdle with getting either ticket. The last day of Disney Halloween and the first day of Disney Christmas are special. If you wait both may be all sold out!
As far as Disney Dining Plans go, unfortunately, we don't have a return date for those just yet. However, I make my own Taylor Dining Plans that work out fine for my family. I start my Disney Days early so I prefer to keep breakfast items in my room. You can go to a nearby grocery store and buy a few staple items or even have them delivered to your hotel. I found this to be a great way to save money and also maximize my time in the Disney Parks. For lunch, we stop at a quick service location and utilize
Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering. As far as snacks are concerned my tip is to eat whatever you want! You're on vacation and Disney calories don't count. I like to make one advanced dining reservation for my family per day. It's usually a dinner so we can eat together as a family.
Pro tip: Make those Advanced Dining Reservations at the 60-day mark before your arrival date. You'll be able to have more chances of booking reservations at your favorite dining locations.
Denise, I'm wishing you the spookiest, merriest, most magical time at the Walt Disney World Resort. Thanks for visiting planDisney!
Happy planning!
Taylor