Looking at these posts and reading all the information it really seems that going to Disney is a lot of work
They make it seem that if you don’t overly plan even while you are there you will have limited access to the rides/shows and you will pay a lot to stand in lines
Don't overthink this, or over plan this. In fact I will recommend that you really limit your advance planning. You are planning your trip around your 5 year old granddaughter. She will have a meltdown, and that meltdown will happen as you are trying to get from one side of the park to your next ride reservation on the other side of the park.
You granddaughter is not going to remember the rides. She is going to remember the experiences. With very few exceptions, she is not going to care if she went on the Snow White Mine Train or Peter Pan's Flight rides. But she (and you) will remember the awe she feels when she first sees Cinderella's castle, her dancing to the music at a parade, or making a wish at the Wishing Well.
Sure, you will go on some rides. But don't fret about it. Take your time and walk around. Admire the details. Listen to how the music changes as you go from Main St to Tomorrowland. Look at the flowers. And make sure your granddaughter has enough downtime that she has fun with fewer meltdowns. Downtime could mean going back to the hotel for a midday nap or pool time, finding a bench to sit a while, or going on a low-stimulus ride like the Riverboat.
You can't make Lighting Lane ride reservations until the day you are attending, so don't worry about it. And other than Frozen Ever After in Epcot or Slinky Dog in Hollywood Studios, you probably won't even need to make those reservations at 7 am (when the ride reservation system opens), if you need reservations at all. So just walk around. Figure out which rides to ride as you go through the day. And don't feel like you need to ride it all.
There is some good advice in this thread:
- Use a travel agency or planner, especially if there is no additional cost. Disney World is huge, and since you have no experience there, a professional can help guide you and save you some legwork. Also, there are constant changes at Disney, so a professional can hopefully keep you informed of things that will be available in August that aren't available now.
- Character meals are a great way to see characters. The photo's might not be as great, since you are in a restaurant instead of in front of a backdrop. But your granddaughter is more likely to remember having lunch in the Castle with Cinderella, versus standing in line for 45 minutes for a 2 minute photo shoot.
- Contemporary/BLV is really convenient to the Magic Kingdom; you can walk, monorail, or boat. That makes it really easy to go back for midday breaks. Also, you can get a great view of the fireworks from the walkway between the two buildings. You can't go wrong staying here, if your budget allows it. Nonetheless, I like Wilderness Lodge/Boulder Ridge Villas a whole lot better, because I like the theming of the hotel, pool, etc. (But even if you decide to stay at a less convenient, lower priced hotel, Disney has a really good bus system. And you always have the option of Uber/Lyft.)
- Plan to take a day midweek that is a low-key day for everyone to refresh. Spend some time at the pool. Go to Disney Springs for some shopping. Maybe check out some other hotels to see how you like them. If you go to Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can view some of the Safari animals from Animal Kingdom in the back of the hotel.
- The things that need reservations need to be planned in advance. Hotel rooms, obviously. Which park on which day, since Disney World now requires a reservation to get into the park as part of their way of managing crowds (but for the most part, it is easy to change park reservations, especially a month in advance for non-holidays).
- Pick a handful of important experiences and restaurants which can be reserved in advance and book those as soon as you can (currently up to 60 days in advance, but the lead time could change). If your 5 year old granddaughter is into princesses, you might consider reserving a princess makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (not cheap) with lunch at Cinderella's Castle or at Be Our Guest restaurant a few hours later. That means your granddaughter might not go on a single ride between 10 and 2, but it will be one of the best days of her life.
Speaking of restaurants, I usually only book one or two restaurants early. For the most part, I don't know what I want to eat 60 days in advance. You won't starve, because there are plenty of quick-serve restaurants. Also, people cancel reservations, so you can always go online the day before and pick up reservations for most restaurants as people cancel. Don't forget about restaurants at the hotels, or dinner shows like the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue.
While I know a lot of people who swear by the Dining Plan, I don't like it. I think it locks you in to set meals each day, and I prefer more flexibility. Also, I can't eat enough to make the Dining Plan cost effective. I might not want an appetizer or dessert, but with the Dining Plan, that is all pre-paid. If you are traveling on a budget, you might like the certainty of locking in your meal price in advance. But I'd rather pay for what I want, when I decide I want it.
Also, if you have a Disney Rewards credit card, you can get a discount at some restaurants (and gift shops) if you use your card. There are some other perks as well.