Hi Mary! It sounds like you are going to be experiencing a great time at the Walt Disney World Resort in 2016! I love that you are starting to plan early. I am a planner and from personal experience, the more that I research and plan, the smoother our family vacations tend to go!
With so many attractions and shows to experience I always suggest that the first place that you start to plan is by visiting each of the four theme parks pages on the
Walt Disney World resort website. Once there sit down as a family and explore the different attractions and shows that are offered. As a family, pick the top three to five “must dos” at each park that you plan to visit; and make those your priority. Make sure that those attractions are the first things that you accomplish.
If you are traveling with smaller kids, make sure to check out the
Planning for Pre-School Kids and Little Ones page. This area of the Walt Disney World website helps you to plan out your day while keeping in mind the young members of your party. Another great resource is the
Disney Parks Blog. The blog provides up to date and official information about Disney destinations and all of the happenings!
There are some other great “unofficial” places that offer great advice, tips, and even reviews of attractions, events, and dining. Some of my favorites are allears.net and wdwinfo.com. Lastly we encourage you to stop by the Disney Parks Moms Panel as often as you would like. All of the moms (and dads) on our panel have so much knowledge and experience and we are always eager to share and help families plan!
I am so excited for your family and I hope that you come back and visit us often so we can help you plan the most pixie dusted vacation ever!
~Heather~