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Mom and daughter on Expedition Everest; Animal Kingdom
  • On Jan 21, 2011
    Jennifer from KS 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.

    I also have an 11 yr old and a 7 yr old and we have waited 11 yrs for this trip and we are driving from Wichita, ks and want to do as much as we can for as little. What places/things would you recommend we make sure we do if nothing else?

    Hi Jennifer! I bet you're just giddy with excitement that you're bringing your children for their first Disney vacation, especially after waiting so many years! My kids are the same ages as yours, and I like to get the most bang for my buck on vacations, so I'm happy to help you out! If you haven't made your vacation plans yet, start by checking out the Special Offers page of the Disney website, along with the unofficial discount site, www.mousesavers.com, where you'll find lots of ways to save money on your trip.

    I definitely recommend that you spend at least one day in each of the four parks. To make sure you're getting the most for your money, plan to arrive at the parks before they open so you can hit lots of attractions with little waiting in the morning. Head to the most popular attractions first. In the Magic Kingdom, if your kids are thrill-seekers, you don't want to miss Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. At Epcot, your family will love Test Track, Soarin', and The Sum of All Thrills. At Animal Kingdom, make Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris your first stops, and don't miss the amazing Finding Nemo show. At Hollywood Studios, head straight to Toy Story Mania, and the thrill-seekers will love Tower of Terror and Rock'n'Roller Coaster. Plan to see Fantasmic one night.

    Schedule one character meal so you don't waste time standing in line to see them in the parks. Chef Mickey's is a favorite of our family; you'll pay less for breakfast than dinner. My kids love eating at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater where you eat your meals in cars while watching campy drive-in movies. For a special night out, my family loves the California Grill, an upscale restaurant with wood-fired pizzas to please the kids and a private deck for viewing the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

    Come visit me again at the Moms Panel!
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Meet the Panelist: Amanda, North Carolina

I'm a busy mom of two from North Carolina who loves to find ways to stretch a Disney Dollar so that I can enjoy the luxury of Disney's deluxe resorts and fine dining. Learn More About Amanda

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