Sarah:
I often get this same question: how can I make our vacation
special?
Special means different things to different families, and if you're on a budget and it's your first visit, as one mom to another, let me assure you that your daughters' first trip to Disney World
is special in and of itself. You being relaxed and "in the moment" to allow fun memories to be captured with them and by them will set this vacation apart.
I could overflow this space with ideas like
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or
Welcome Celebrations from Disney Floral but when I think on our family's first trips and what my kids still talk about, conversations go to pictures of them in front of Buzz Lightyear at All-Star Movies, the pool at Port Orleans: Riverside, trying every soda at Club Cool in Epcot, and all the cereal and pastries they could eat at Chef Mickey's. Most of these memory-makers were free and not what I had planned in advance to make their vacations "special."
My best advice is to choose a resort your girls can appreciate: All Star Movies or Art of Animation will keep you on a budget and give you a great character "bang for your buck". The pool at AOA is most memorable and because it's zero-entry, perfect for your 2-year-old. They will remember more about your resort than you think, so don't just use it for sleep. Then, choose one Character Meal either to kick off your vacation or end it. If you book too many, they run together. Lastly, give the girls their own spending money. Whether it's $25 or $250, you'll be surprised how discerning they will be and will cherish their freedom and their choice.
Wishing y'all a magical vacation!
Whitney