Linda,
Thanks for asking your question to planDisney!
A trip with a 10-year-old to Walt Disney World is a wonderful thing, because they are usually old enough to try most any attraction, but not so old that they cannot enjoy some of the classics that are focused to younger children. But how to plan a trip? There are so many considerations, so let's take this one step at a time.
Step 1: Where to stay?
Where you stay is more important than you might think. The themes to the resorts can set the mood for your vacation, as well as set your budget. What I recommend to friends is to pick one resort that appeals to them from each class, and then when they price out their vacation, they can see which option fits their budget. For a 10-year-old, these would be my suggestions.
Deluxe Resort: Disney's Beach Club Resort. The pool,
Stormalong Bay, is amazing, and it has a fantastic, long slide. Also, there is so much nearby to explore, like Disney's BoardWalk.
Moderate Resort: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is great, because you are on the
Disney Skyliner route, a short 6-minute ride away from Disney's Hollywood Studios. That park likely has the most to offer a 10-year-old in terms of attractions, so it is a good choice. A good second choice is
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside, as it has a lot of in-resort activities, and it is just a boat ride away from Disney Springs. Pick whichever has the theme they prefer.
Value Resort: Disney's Pop Century Resort has you on the Skyliner route, and the over-the-top themed areas are fun, even if they don't know what an 8-track tape is!
Step 2: TicketsYou need to know how many
park days you want to purchase, and how you will use them. Without knowing more about your 10-year-old, I would say that 2 days each at the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and then a day each at EPCOT and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park would seem fitting. But if that is a longer trip than you have time for, we can work together on what parks to go to, and in what frequency, so you still have a great time.
Step 3: DiningThis answer has run a bit long already, and talking about dining options could fill a thousand replies! I would just say that dining venues can be a big part of the fun. If you tell me more about your preferences and interests, I could recommend both a table service and a counter service meal in each park, as well as a few resort-based dining options that can pump some fun into your trip.
Next StepsPlease feel free to
write me back directly with more about what both you and the 10-year-old like to do, and interests that you share. This can help me recommend a few dining options that would suit you both. I would also be able to suggest a few attractions to put on your radar, and other activities around the parks and the resorts that will make an already special vacation even better.
Have a Magical Vacation!
Doug