Hi Gloria, welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel. I am also a single mother, and I completely understand budgeting challenges. I usually allocate more money to food and souvenirs than I do on resort hotels. I stay at Value Resorts because I find that when I vacation I am hardly ever in my resort hotel room and when I am in the room I'm sleeping. With that being said, I recommend any of the All-Star Resorts. Some of my fellow Panelists insist that Disney's Pop Century Resort would be their first Value Resort pick because it doesn't share a bus route with any other resorts, while the three All-Star Resorts share a bus on off-peak hours. Either way, I think any of the Value Resorts would be a great choice for you and your daughter.
Walt Disney World is a place where people of all ages can enjoy themselves. The young and old alike will be able to find fun and adventure in every park. I usually plan on staying 5 days on property. One day for each park, and then an extra day at The Magic Kingdom. If your budget doesn't allow for an extended stay, I would suggest that you take a look at the
Walt Disney World vacation planning website and see what each park has to offer. I'm not sure what kinds of things your daughter likes, but if you sit down with her and let her be apart of the planning process I bet that she can help you decide on which parks to choose. If she likes Princesses, I would definitely suggest that you visit The Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If she likes nature and animals like I do, I think that she would love Disney's Animal Kingdom. In my opinion, Epcot is a park geared more towards adults. There are things for children to do there, and The World Showcase can be a great educational resource, however my 5-year-old would much rather spend the day at The Magic Kingdom.
Have a magical first Walt Disney World vacation!