Seven Steps to the Perfect First Disney Trip

A few years ago, I took my daughter Stella to Disney World.

Every year, my husband and I try to steal time away with just one of our three kids, so solo trips aren’t unusual. But when Stella was five, I just had a feeling that I needed to go on a trip, and we needed to make it extra special. It’s like some part of me knew that I needed to give her my undivided attention that week.

When I did, I noticed something that I might have otherwise missed. I saw Stella transform from a little child into a young girl before my eyes.

She took in the magic and majesty of Disney like most children would— wide eyes, squeals, and by insisting on wearing her princess dress three days in a row.

But there were also moments when I saw her growing independence, like when we took a potty break and she asked me if she could do it all by herself.

I stood right outside the bathroom stall and let her be the big kid she wanted to be. The big kid she was.

That week was like a rite of passage, and I’m so glad we got to spend it just the three of us.

Thank you to Jenny Ellis for planning such a great Disney vacation.

This morning, I found this note to Stella I had written in my journal after our Disney trip.

Dear Stella,

Magical, your kindness to others.

I’m proud of you for being brave and trying new things.

For thinking of your brothers and wanting to bring them something.

So much cotton candy.

Fixing your hair like a princess every day.

Face painting.

 Your independence is growing. 

Bathroom stalls.

And throwing away trash in trash cans.

Talking to you about Walt

and how Mickey Mouse was an idea from imagination

that developed into a dream and became reality.  

Don’t ever let anyone tell you your dreams aren’t good. 

Dream big, work hard, have fun, and share your ideas with the world.

What would have happened if Walt Disney never shared Mickey?

I love watching this video of our week together and remembering when I saw the first glimmers of the big girl I know now.

It was a week to remember, and I’m sharing the seven things that helped make our week magical.

1. Stay at the Grand Floridian.

   We stayed at the Grand Floridian and I’m so glad we did. Aside from the fact that there are so many transportation options at the Grand Floridian so you can spend the limited walking energy your kids might have in the parks, the hotel is beautiful, and you can see the fireworks over Cinderella’s castle every night.

2. Have a transportation plan.

   We used so many different forms of transportation during our stay. We took the boat from Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom, the monorail to Epcot, the shuttle to Animal Kingdom, and the Minnie-van (basically Disney’s own Uber with a van designed to look like Minnie Mouse) to Disney Springs so we could eat at the boathouse. Each option was an experience in itself, which turned what could have been a boring trip before getting to the fun part its own magical Disney treat!

3. Go at the right time.

   We checked in at the Grand Floridian at 3pm on Sunday, November 25th, right after Thanksgiving, which was perfect! The weather was amazing and it wasn’t too busy at all. And because it was almost Christmas, we got to go to the Once Upon a Christmas parade in Magic Kingdom

4. Hit all the parks.

   I know. With a young kid, this can feel overwhelming. But we made time to hit every park, and it was so worth it. Not one of them is worth skipping, and in my opinion, if you’re already at Disney, you should do it right if you can!

5. Ride the rides.

   Yes, you, moms! I know your tolerance for the spinning cups may have seriously dwindled in the last decade, but your kids will remember you sitting on the rides with them long after the trip is over. Don’t let yourself be the perpetual bag-holder or stuff-watcher. Get in on the action and take pictures!

6. Buy the dang dress.

   Is Disney merch expensive and overpriced? Sure. Can you find a basically identical, off-brand dress on amazon for 50% less? Probably. But the thing Stella loved most about our trip was buying a princess dress from the place where the princesses live, and then she got to take it home with her. It might have been an expensive dress, but it doubled as a souvenir that actually got some use!

7. Wait for the right age.

   If you’re a huge Disney fan, you have probably been planning your kid’s first Disney trip since the minute they were out of the womb. I’m so glad we waited to take Stella until she was five. Practically, it made sense because we didn’t have to bring a stroller, she was tall enough to ride most of the rides that interested her (it helps that she’s freakishly tall), and her stamina for walking was pretty good. She also wasn’t too old for princesses or some of the smaller rides, and the magic of each park was still so real for her. And I’m so glad she’ll be able to remember the trip. For us, five was the perfect age.

Want to see more of what we did on the trip?

Check out our video journal!

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