Hi, Paige! Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney!
I'm so excited to hEAR that you're
planning your first visit to Walt Disney World Resort! A first visit combined with a birthday celebration; what could be more magical?! Be sure to pick up your complimentary "First Visit" buttons at your resort hotel or any Guest Relations location, and don't forget to purchase
Memory Maker for unlimited downloads of all your vacation photos.
The best advice I can give to first-time visitors is to plan ahead! Be sure to do some resEARch on the
Walt Disney World website so that you can compile a list of your family's must-dos. Walt Disney World Resort is huge, and there's no way you'll be able to experience everything in one trip. That's just reason to return again and again!
I highly recommend staying at a
Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. There are so many
benefits of staying right in the middle of the magic, including convenient
transportation to and from the
theme parks. Speaking of the theme parks,
Disney Park Pass reservations are currently required along with your valid theme park admission. As soon as you
purchase your theme park tickets and link them to your
My Disney Experience account, be sure to make those Disney Park Pass reservations. Don't forget to also download the
My Disney Experience mobile app. It will be your go-to tool for navigating all aspects of your magical vacation.
I would also suggest taking a look at all of the delicious
dining options throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Perhaps you'd like to plan a special birthday meal for your little Mouseketeer. In light of the
current health and safety concerns, character dining looks a bit different than it has in the past. However, I still think a meal with an appearance by some of your Disney pals would be a great way to celebrate. At this time, modified character dining experiences are being offered at Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT and during breakfast at Topolino's Terrace at Disney's Riviera Resort. Be sure to look into
ordering a special cake for the birthday boy. Reservations for table service restaurants are highly recommended and can currently be made 60 days in advance.
As you get ready for your first Walt Disney World Resort vacation, our planDisney website will be a great resource for you. Be sure to check out the
Panel Extras section and our
Video Library. If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to ask.
See ya real soon!
Samantha