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AA Mom And Kids Mickey Ice Cream Bar; DinoLand U.S.A.; animal kingdom
  • On Feb 8, 2012
    Shannon from MA Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    planning a trip for 3 , nov 2012. my first time and i have one child (girl age 9) We are tryin to decided some of the details and i am overwhlemed Dining or deluxe dining,park on first day or not,movies or animation hotel, water park pass or not, plz help

    Relax, the moms are here to help! As for whether or not you should choose regular dining or deluxe dining, it depends greatly upon your lifestyle. If yours is the type of family to eat lots of on-the-go meals at home and you're more interested in touring the parks than eating in various restaurants, I'd definitely opt for the Magic Your Way dining plan. On the other hand, if yours is more the "sit and savor" type of family and you linger over long meals and enjoy fine dining and cuisine, then the deluxe dining plan would probably be more suited to your style.  As for whether or not you should go to a park on the first day of your visit., my answer is that it depends entirely upon your arrival time. My rule of thumb is if you arrive after two o'clock in the afternoon, I recommend not visiting a park and instead enjoying dinner at a resort restaurant and exploring your home resort as well as Downtown Disney. If you arrive before two, by all means, head to a park and make the most of your half-day visit! Moving right along now. Of the two you mention, my resort of choice would be the brand new Art of Animation one. Why? Simply because the chance to stay there during it's inaugural year is a tough one to pass up. You'll have bragging rights! Lastly, whether or not you should splurge and add the water parks and more option to your theme park tickets depends upon the length of your trip.  If your visit is on the shorter side (let's say five days or less), then I wouldn't recommend upgrading your tickets.  If you'll be staying ten days or more, on the other hand, then I would definitely go for it.  If your visit is between 5-10 days, it's a bit more tricky.  In that case, I'd say that the water parks would provide a great "down-time" alternative to theme parks, but only if it's a warm-weather month and only if you plan to visit more than one time.  Otherwise, it's probably not worth the cost of upgrading.  I hope that helps.
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Meet the Panelist: Darcie, Alabama

Given your inclination to plan a magical trip, I can already tell we have a lot in common. I'm Darcie, and my friends would be the first to tell you that Disney trip planning (especially dining!) is my love language. Of course, the vacations my family enjoys today look much different than they did when our kids were little, but while some of our favorite activities have evolved, Disney destinations still top our travel wish lists. Let's work together to plan a downright dreamy vacation for your family! Learn More About Darcie

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