Oh Boy... SO overwhelming! Ill make it short and sweet, and see if I can get some expert advice!

[Smrtalec33]

Basic things that my children love and that I remember from being a child (my parents couldn't afford or didn't think were important on top what they had paid for)--Buy the balloons if they want them the first day, buy the water sprayer and bring back each day, but the popcorn bucket in a park, let them stare in windows on Main St. Let them spend time shopping or browsing after a ride and let them pick something small (you mentioned the pins, keychains etc) especially if your daughter likes Frozen (you will need a LL or G+). My daughter bought a small Elsa necklace, one trip and a doll the next, but she felt empowered picking it and wears it to school still. I remember my time in the gift shop obsessing over an Ariel figurine in the late 80s as much as anything else we did. Whatever their favorite character or movie is, let them buy that souvenir (it's a vacation), and meet that character. In the Magic Kingdom the Festival of Fantasy Parade is a magical experience for children and worth the trouble of finding a spot and staying there 30 minutes before.

This is great advice. Thank you. We are taking our four-year-old for the first time next week. She has been to Disneyland, but she wasn’t even two yet, so this is essentially her first trip as far as being able to remember. I took her older sister when she was four, but it is easy to forget the little things, so thank you again for the reminder.

 

[CarolynFH]

They are requesting verification. I am attempting to get ahold of them, emailed, the chat doesn't work, phon

I got the tickets, reserved the park days, and now looking at dining. OOOPS!! ZERO DINING!! I mean, litterally nothing at all LOL!! Well that is a huge loss.

Keep trying, especially the day/evening before and even the morning of, because people do change plans, and many cancel ADRs the day/evening before to avoid the $10/person no-show fee. There are still people who hold multiple different ADRs for the same day and cancel the day before.

 

[Wayland10]

If you end up in QS dining only, I’d go for Nomad Lounge at AK (walk up), Docking Bay 7 at HS, the food booths at Epcot, and Geyser Point or Captain Cooks at MK. Taking the boat is an experience, too! But honestly don’t give up- lots of people cancel the night before a reservation to avoid the no show fee.

 

[Wayland10]

Also, try searching for slightly “off” lunch times. 1 pm shows some availability during your time period.

 

[ImLovinIt]

Well it seems Ive nothing to do but wait now, Ive set up alerts for dining that I would like (Cinderellas has no characters !! ) Ill get what I get, and thats just fine. Lots of places for quick serve! Thanks for all of the advice!