Hi, Erin!
How exciting: planning your family's first vacation to what is truly the most magical place on earth!! Congratulations and enjoy every moment of the process.
The week between Christmas and the New Year is historically one of the busiest at the walt Disney World Resort. People are on vacation, the weather in Florida is blissful, and the decorations are nothing short of spectacular. Plan on enjoying the holidays with lots of like-minded people. Knowing in advance that you will need to pack your patience is one tip I cannot stress enough for travel during the holidays.
Remember that you can start making your dining reservations 180 days out from your day of check-in. All you will need is the confirmation number you received when you booked your trip. I recommend making those reservations as early as you can to avoid missing out on a dining experience you've wanted to try. You can
book online or by calling (407) WDW-DINE.
Make sure to create your list of priorities: what must you see/eat/experience? What characters must you meet? And do build in rest time; you and your little ones will benefit from some downtime during the day. But that list will help you to focus your time in the right way for your group, and will ensure that your plan accommodates all of these "musts".
First-time visitors should pick up the complimentary "My First Visit" button and wear it throughout the trip! You can get each member of your traveling party a pin at check-in or at any Guest Relations counter in the Parks or at Downtown Disney.
If you'd like to send me some of your must-dos, I'd be delighted to help you develop an itinerary that will maximize the time you have to wander the World.
Have a fabulous time!
See you later, celebrator,
-Deborah B.