Hi there Alicia! Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your planning question. I'd be happy to discuss your upcoming adventure to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Aw! A mother-daughter Disney adventure sounds simply wonderful. Your princess is at the perfect age for a trip this summer. My little guy is her same age, and I have traveled alone with him in the past. I would be happy to share some advice from one Disney mom to another.
Most importantly, when traveling with my son and young daughter, I try to keep to their normal routine as much as possible. My children are early risers, so we take advantage of morning
Extra Magic Hours and are most active before lunch time. I have a plan for each morning, but am more spontaneous in the afternoons. We always make sure to return to our resort for a rest and swim to reenergize away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. I stick as close as possible to their regular bed times to avoid exhaustion-fueled meltdowns. Bottom line: you know your daughter best, and what works for her, so build your itinerary around that.
My next essential mom tip is to be flexible! While I can sometimes guess what my children will enjoy, they always surprise me with their favorites. My children, as can be expected, like to ride "it's a small world" and Dumbo's Flight multiple times each trip, but they also have their own must-do attractions that never fail to surprise me. At age 2, my daughter rode
Living with the Land three times; she was mesmerized by the pastoral scenes and greenhouse displays. While Frozen Ever After scares her, she can't get enough of Pirates of the Caribbean. My super active, thrill-seeking son is just as happy riding the
Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover as he is zipping around Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Be prepared to go with the flow of the trip and try as many new experiences as possible!
My final piece of advice is in regards to meal times. Navigating crowded quick-service restaurants can be difficult when you are flying solo with your mouseketeer. I recommend using
Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering to avoid waiting in lines to order with your daughter. If you are looking to make Advanced Dining Reservations for a character meal, I suggest meals that are not buffet style, as this can be tricky with only one adult. I have always enjoyed
'Ohana and
Garden Grill, which are both family-style meals, but after dining there in December, the newly opened
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera at Disney's Riviera Resort is my new favorite character dining experience.
I hope this gives you some ideas for your upcoming journey to the Most Magical Place on Earth. If you have any more questions as your vacation approaches, please come back and see us again.
Wishing you pixie-dust and memories!
Betsy