• On Oct 15, 2017
    Rebecca from FL Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    We are taking our daughter to Disney for the first time for her 12th birthday! We will be attending the magic hours in the morning which has me nervous about her energy levels as the night comes. How do you kids handle the long days at the park?

    Hi Rebecca,

    What a special trip to Walt Disney World you are planning - a first trip and a birthday trip rolled into one! I also have a 12-year-old daughter, so let me share with you how we manage our days at Walt Disney World. Another great resource for this is the planning page for Walt Disney World with older children.

    All families and all children are different, so of course consider what you know about your daughter and her energy level. My family tends to find that early in our vacation, we are super excited and up really early and have more energy to be in a theme park all day long. If you are planning some longer days, I would suggest putting them early in the vacation.

    My family rarely will spend a whole day in a theme park from morning Extra Magic Hours until closing. We tend to like to head to a theme park early in the morning, and then by early to mid-afternoon we are ready to go back to our resort hotel for a pool break. When our daughter was younger, this was a nap break. But now we find that heading back to our resort, spending some time at the pool and then freshening up to head back into the theme parks makes us re-invigorated and ready to go.

    I should say, we can also be at theme parks from park open to park closing, which we do sometimes when visiting with friends who are having their first trip to Walt Disney World. My daughter does have the energy to do this! If you think you will be in a theme park all day long, I suggest that you plan a late lunch at a table service restaurant. This will allow for a nice, recharging break with air conditioning and to refuel in the middle of the day. 

    I would love to help you plan more Rebecca; however, the space that I have to answer is limited. Please do let us know if you have any further questions!
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Meet the Panelist: Mona Leigh, Maryland

I am a wife and mother who works in children's technology design and research. When I'm not at work or with my family, I'm often planning a Walt Disney World trip for my family or friends. I'm a Disney Vacation Club Member, and am excited to help you plan your Disney vacation!  Learn More About Mona Leigh

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