Hi Cori,
Would it be ok with you if we break your question into two parts? Could you post a follow-up question with your dates of travel? If we know which dates you'll be visiting Walt Disney World, we can give you a more detailed and useful itinerary. For instance, we will steer you away from parks that offer Extra Magic Hours that are available only to Disney resort guests.
But let me tackle your question about Disney dining now. (I love Disney dining questions!) You simply must take your five-year-old to a
character dining experience during your visit. It is such a wonderful way to interact with the Disney characters without having to wait in line. To save on character dining, reserve a breakfast instead of a dinner as breakfasts are often $15-20 less expensive per person even though the quality of the character interaction is the same. (Advance dining reservations can be made by calling (407) WDW-DINE up to 180 days prior to your dining date).
You can save significant money by eating most of your meals at
quick service restaurants. There are some great restaurants in this category in each of the theme parks. My favorites are the Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom, Sunshine Seasons in Epcot, Flame Tree BBQ in Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Min & Bill's Dockside Diner in Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Another way to save money is to bring your own bottled water (or other non-alcoholic beverage of choice) into the park each day. If each of you brings one beverage into your park of choice, you'll save $7.50-10 each day.
Let us know if you need any additional advice. We'll look forward to hearing from you again!
Jill