Hiya Lisa,
A big Texas-sized welcome to planDisney! I just got back from taking my little Mouseketeer to Walt Disney World Resort for the first time, and it was the most incredible experience ever. I left with a renewed love for Disney and so many core memories that will never leave my heart.
Now I know this is a total cliché, but no matter what you choose to do during your visit, the time spent as a family will be more meaningful than any scheduled experience. Not having anything reserved right now might be a little scary (as a type-A person, it would definitely give me hives), but the flexibility will be much appreciated. There are still plenty of fun activities your littles can do that don’t need a reservation. One of my favorite things to do is to visit the
SeaBase at EPOCT; if your children love Finding Nemo or want to cool off during a balmy Orlando day, then this is a great place to visit. It is great to see all the aquatic creatures and learn about them from the knowledgeable Cast Members hanging out by the tanks. Speaking of creatures, I highly recommend checking out the Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Disney+ with your children before your visit. They can learn about the aquatic and non-aquatic animals at Walt Disney World Resort. Then when they arrive at the Theme Park, they can see if they can point them out. It will bring a whole new world of wonder to two of my favorite Theme Parks.
While we are talking about animals, that also reminds me about the
shows. Each Theme Park has performances throughout the day that don’t require a reservation and can be a fun way for your children to catch their favorite characters. My favorites are the
Festival of the Lion King and
Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage. If characters are more of their interests besides shows, you can also catch characters at
experiences throughout the four theme parks without a reservation. Nothing quite beats getting a hug from your favorite character, so check out the My Disney Experience mobile app to find out who is out and about and where to find them.
“Honestly, I could go on and on” about fun things for your littles, but I’ll pause for now. If you want specific recommendations based on your little one’s interests or Theme Park, you can always reach out to
me, and I can put my thinking cap on. If I have to give one last piece of parting advice, it is this, don’t worry yet about no reservations currently available. As you get closer to your trip, reservations tend to open up, and since you have flexibility in your itinerary, now you can scoop them up as they come.
Happy Planning, Lisa,
Ashley F.