Hey there, Sheila! Thanks so much for visiting planDisney - it's always great to welcome a fellow mama from the Mitten State! A first trip to
Walt Disney World Resort is so exciting, but it definitely requires some planning so you can maximize the magic and minimize the stress. Let's dive right in and talk about how to manage things as a single parent, and save some money along the way!
When visiting with younger kids, it's important to keep in mind that experiencing every single attraction is usually not realistic. Walt Disney World is BIG and can be overwhelming, even for grownups! However, there are great options for kids of all ages in all four theme parks, including iconic rides, great shows, and Character experiences. To get a sense of what your kiddos can do, start with the
Rides & Entertainment page - this lists everything available in Walt Disney World. You can filter the results by height, which is helpful to plan your itinerary and hopefully avoid any disappointment if one of your Mouseketeers won't be able to experience a particular attraction.
Many attractions have bench seating or an arrangement that will fit an adult and two younger children. You can always confirm this with a Cast Member at the entrance to any attraction! In Magic Kingdom Park, you should be good to go for "it's a small world", Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Dumbo, Aladdin's Magic Carpets, and Journey of the Little Mermaid.
In EPCOT, Frozen Ever After, Living with the Land, Soarin' Around the World, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure are great options for your crew. Disney's Hollywood Studios has Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Alien Swirling Saucers, Star Tours - The Adventure Continues, and Mickey's Runaway Railway for a party of three to enjoy!
Kilimanjaro Safaris and Nav'I River Journey in Animal Kingdom will also accommodate the three of you easily. There are two excellent shows in that park we never miss - Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue...and Beyond! Shows are great to build into your day to get off your feet and cool off!
I recommend staying on property at a Disney Resort Hotel to avoid renting a car and paying for parking, as you can use complimentary Walt Disney World transportation to travel to the parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. The hotels are grouped as "Value", "Moderate", or "Deluxe" to accommodate a range of budgets. Check out the
Special Offers section of the Walt Disney World website to see if there are any deals or discounts available for your planned vacation dates.
We plan a grocery delivery whenever we visit, so we're stocked up for the stay! We always have breakfast in our room, which saves some money and time in the morning. Having groceries delivered also allows us to have snacks and drinks at the ready - you can bring items into the parks as long as they aren't in glass containers and don't need to be heated or refrigerated.
You can add theme park tickets to your hotel stay to create a vacation package. We typically don't add the Park Hopper option to our tickets - one park per day is plenty for younger kids, and it will definitely save you some money.
Sheila, I know I threw a lot of information at you, so please don't hesitate to send any other questions my way! Our planDisney crew is here to help anytime. Thanks again for stopping by!
See Ya Real Soon,
Susan