Hi Amy,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Our family always visits the Downtown Disney area on our first day in Walt Disney World. With a multitude of shopping, dining, and entertainment options you can spend the afternoon or evening at Downtown Disney. My three kids love visiting the
World of Disney Store – the world's largest Disney character store – to find a souvenir, and even just to see all of the decorations. The
DJ Kids Dance Party at Waterside Stage offers a lot of fun for kids of all ages.
If you are around the Downtown Disney area for dinner, I would suggest having dinner at one of the many wonderful restaurants there. Some of the places my family enjoys are
Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney Marketplace and
T-REX. If you choose to stick around your resort hotel and explore all it has to offer, the Grand Floridian has several excellent dining options. The
Grand Floridian Cafe is a casual dining restaurant, offering "moderately priced cuisine with maximum flavor."
Please let me know if I can help you with another question before your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation.
Have a magical day!
Bob