How many days and which parks for mom & daughter's trip?

[Beckett]

Hi!

I will be staying in Orlando from Dec. 23 - Jan. 4 and I would love if you could please suggest:

1. Which parks to visit in WDW? (My daughter is 8 and is 4'4 inches in case this helps )
2. How many days for each of them?
3. Any other tips you can please give me will be welcome I am a single mom going with my daughter and staying with family and I really want to make this experience as magical as possible for my DD. Thank you!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

3. Any other tips you can please give me will be welcome

Choose which parks you're visiting on which days soon and get your Table Serve dining reservations sorted and booked NOW. I'd say visit all the parks, but leave MK and EPCOT for Dec 30th and 31st

I am a single mom going with my daughter and staying with family and I really want to make this experience as magical as possible for my DD.

As you're staying offsite get to the park VERY EARLY on New Years Eve - certainly no later than mid-morning or you may get refused entry. If you choose to leave the park during the day you may not be allowed back in if it reaches capacity
Be prepared for exceptionally large crowds and long lines for attractions.
Get your FP+ booked dead on your 30 day marks.
My suggestion would be go to MK on Dec 30th (they do the NYE fireworks on the 30th + 31st) and then go to EPCOT for NYE

You don't say whether you have the Hopper option on your tickets

 

[minniemickeyfan]

I would look at early entry days and stay away from them if you're staying offsite, although MK usually has them everyday this time of year. Plan to get their early is the best tip I can suggest! Concentrate on rides in the morning, shows in the afternoon when it will be busy.
I would suggest MK on Dec 30th to see the fireworks and then maybe DHS on Dec 31st as they usually have fireworks too and it not nearly as crowded as Epcot will be.
Maybe a character or meal for dinner would be fun, that way you will have something fun planned that time of day when its really busy.
Have a great trip!
Also, MK on Jan 1st is a great day too!

 

[Beckett]

Thanks! I don't have the hopper option, and New Year's Eve will be spent with family, but every other day is a Disney day I had planned to do Universal too but it seems my daughter is tall enough for everything at WDW but not at Universal. Am I right?

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

The best tips I can give are to have lots of patience this time of year and know it will be crowded, try to book some fun and nice dining possibly with characters (they come right to you-no waiting in long lines for them!), as @minniemickeyfan said try to avoid parks when they open early, and have the absolute best time with your little girl!

 

[Wikkler]

4'4" = 52" so she meets the requirement for every single ride at Disney except the little kid's areas at the two water parks, which she is too tall for, but in December you most likely aren't worrying about anyway. 52" in Universal, however, she can barely get on Dr. Doom's Freefall, and it prohibits her from going on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Studios, and Hulk and Dragon Challenge at Islands of Adventure. 3 rides out of 2 entire parks combined isn't that bad, though.

About the dates, just be aware that you might want to skip Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Those are yeah, uh, sorta the busiest days in the entire year. Just a little word of advice. Honestly, you should've gone a week earlier, but the dates are set now, I believe?

That leaves the 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd as park days, unless the first and last days are full days...?

Will your trip be centered around characters or rides? I'll give you FP+ recommendations if I get an answer.

Your first full day should be spent in Magic Kingdom. Some people say it ruins the other parks. I don't buy that.
Your second day should be spent at Islands of Adventure.
Your third day should be spent at Epcot.
Your fourth day should be spent at Hollywood Studios.
Your fifth day should be spent at Universal Studios. I really think 3 rides shouldn't bother your child, she's 8, those rides probably aren't her style anyway.
Your sixth day is spent with family for NYE.
Your seventh day should be spent at Animal Kingdom. It isn't that bad as far as being late goes, and you WILL be late.
Your penultimate day should be spent at a park of your daughter's choice.
Your final day should be spent at Magic Kingdom.

 

[Beckett]

Thanks for all the replies well, we are not doing Universal/Islands of Adventure now, just Disney, Legoland (she's a big Lego fan). I have purchased magic your way 7 day tickets without the hopper option. Now...what do you recommend I do first and what should I get a fastpass for? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Beckett]

I couldn't go earlier because I'm a teacher and that is my vacation time. I went three years ago to Magic Kingdom on the 27th of December and I was able to ride almost everything...so we'll see .

 

[belledream]

Thanks for all the replies well, we are not doing Universal/Islands of Adventure now, just Disney, Legoland (she's a big Lego fan). I have purchased magic your way 7 day tickets without the hopper option. Now...what do you recommend I do first and what should I get a fastpass for? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

It's going to be very crowded and FP+ availability may not be super plentiful, but the headliners for each park fall along the lines of:

MK: Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight (might be too cold for Splash Mountain)
EPCOT: Test Track, Soarin
HS: Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Rock N Rollercoaster
AK: Kiliminjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur

If your daughter wants to meet characters, those are probably worth a FP in place of a ride. I would forgo FPs for parades/fireworks.