Hey there Danielle and welcome to planDisney!
First of all, as the daughter of a single mom, I have to say thank you for all that you do. It's the toughest job in the world and the fact that you're planning on making this magic at the
Walt Disney World Resort with your child is already enough. And as a fairy godmother who usually travels with my princess goddaughter, I'm happy to help. Let's make this trip the best ever!
A few basic Walt Disney World tips :
1. Choose comfortable, broken-in shoes for you and your child and hydrate well. You're going to be walking A LOT so no flip flops or shoes without support and you can get free cups of water at
Quick-Service restaurant locations in the Disney Parks. It may even be worth it to pack some insulated bottles.
2. Consider your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel. Each one allows you to be the main character in a different genre of story. What is your budget? What are your child's interests? You could choose a value option like
Disney's Pop Century Resort, a love letter to decades past with
Disney Skyliner access. Maybe you'll splurge and go deluxe at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge where you can see real-life animals from the comfort of your own room! The possibilities are endless!
3. Payment plans are an option. When booking a vacation package you'll have the option to put down a deposit of $200 (prices are subject to change). You have until exactly 30 days before your arrival date to reach paid in full status. Usually, I divide the remainder of my payment by the months I have to pay and think of that total as my monthly magic bill. Also keep an eye on the
Special Offers, Deals & Discounts page to see if anything works for your vacation. You can add them to your vacation even after you've already booked by calling 407-939-1936 where a
Cast Member can assist you.
Pro-tip: I was asked to give you these tips from a Disney expert in the making: My goddaughter!
TAKE A NAP! Disney days can be long especially when you are up with the sun like we are. Taking a midday break and heading back to your hotel for a nap or a lounge by the pool is just the thing to keep everybody fresh and attitude-free. Oh, and she also said to bring snacks for the plane and wear your seatbelts on the
attractions so you don't fall out. Those are pretty self-explanatory!
Danielle, you and your baby are going to remember this for the rest of your lives. Don't fall into the trap of feeling the need to fit everything into this one trip. I don't remember the rides from my first trip and my goddaughter didn't really care about buying a bunch of stuff on hers. What I do remember is holding my mom's hand and seeing my dreams come to life as a child and, as an adult, my goddaughter looking up at me and candidly telling me I was a good parent. Keep an eye on
Disney Parks Blog for the info on all upcoming holiday fun during your November stay. If you have any other questions
please feel free to come back for another chat!Happy planning!
Taylor