So you check in on a Friday in Feb at 12:30 PM, what park do you hit?

[nuge67]

And why?

And what would your plan be if you get to the park say by 1:30 and it closes at 7.

We are leaning towards Epcot only becuase it has 2 extra PM hours.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

[CTDisneyfan816]

I land on Monday December 10 at 11:20 and I'm going to Animal Kingdom. Reason being, the amount of attractions I'm interested in, I don't need an entire day there.

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Originally Posted by nuge67

And why?

And what would your plan be if you get to the park say by 1:30 and it closes at 7.

We are leaning towards Epcot only becuase it has 2 extra PM hours.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

DHS. Why? Because it is my favorite park and I always want to go here first. Plus, since it is a smaller park, I will feel like i accomplish more here during a short day than I would at the larger parks (Epcot or AK) or at Magic Kingdom which is filled with many things to do.

I would grab a FP for RNRC and head to Tower of Terror. I don't like to FP tower because of how amazing the queue is. After Tower, depending on when the FP return time for Coaster is, I might check out Beauty and the Beast, or head to GMR. On my way, definitely stop at Sweet Spells for a specialty candy apple. Ride GMR. If it is busy and they are running both cars, I request the cowboy. Gangster is always running, so I like to do the cowboy side when available. After GMR, It's straight to One Man's Dream for a little Walt magic. By then, it is time to cash in RNRC, so I would do that. Then, FP for Star Tours. While waiting for that, I would check out Muppet Vision 3D. I love that show. If more time is needed, Indy or Voyage of the Little Mermaid is there for me. Then, off to Star Tours! For supper, I would likely eat at Sci Fi. If not there, Mama Melrose or 50's Prime Time would be calling my name. Once that is over, I would check out Animation Academy and/or the new Jack Sparrow attraction. Finish my night with Fantasmic.

[MrsDuck]

MK. It's how we always start out our trips.

[lsulindy]

MK.

Start the trip with main street and castle. Couple rides then parade and fireworks. That's how we always do it, and that's usually my favorite day.

[EMAW_KSU]

Epcot because we have dining reservations there and our daughter thinks it is a tradition to ride spaceship earth first.

[minnie mum]

Originally Posted by nuge67

And why?
And what would your plan be if you get to the park say by 1:30 and it closes at 7.
We are leaning towards Epcot only becuase it has 2 extra PM hours.
Thoughts? Recommendations?

Depends on whether you're staying on site and if you have PH tickets.

Since you are arriving late, I would go to the park most recommended by easywdw for that day, thus avoiding the heaviest crowds. If that park closes at 7pm and I had a PH ticket (and was staying on site), I would then hop to the park with evening EMH.

If the park closed at 7 pm and I either didn't have a PH ticket or wasn't staying on site, I'd find something to do that was outside the parks. Maybe go to DTD for a late dinner, go to HDDR, visit the Boardwalk, visit POR to see Yee Haw Bob.

[letsgoreds]

We're in the same situation, end of January...

MK followed by dinner at BOG! Excited to kick off our stay in our favorite park.

[PSUGuy]

Whenever we can't make ropedrop at a WDW park on arrival, we hit WorldShowcase. First, we usually can get there before the 11 am opening time, a little later doesn't make much difference. Second, we almost always stay at BoardWalk, Swan or Dolphin, so we're right there. Third, by 11 am or later the other parks are crowded, standby lines longer than we like and FastPass return times are into the PM. Fourth, WS has my favorite ride, shown below.

Bill From PA

[aaarcher86]

DTD (yeah I know, not really a park).

We shop around, relax, eat dinner and it saves us a park ticket for half a days use.

We drive from Ohio though, so we welcome the slower pace that first day!

[carrie1626]

For me, it depends on how early I have to wake up to get to the airport. I usually fly into FL early so it's a 4:30 am wake-up. I can't do a late night that day, nor will I schedule an early day the next. So, I might forgo the park and relax at the resort, swim, go to DD or another resort for dinner.

I travel in AUG/NOV so closing park times have a part in the decision, too. A few years ago I did MK/ Electric LIGHT Parade the first night because it was the only night that worked well and I was not going to miss it

[karly05]

I always like Epcot for afternoon/evening arrival. There's plenty to do, see and eat(!) in World Showcase without having to worry about lines, FP running out, etc. As far as early park closing - I'm with the pp who mentioned getting up at 4:30 am to catch a plane. That's my situation, too, and although I'm running on Disney Magic Adrenalin, I'm ready to crash early on my arrival night. (I'm not a Night Owl in general, however.)

[KellyNY]

MK because it is first park we do no matter how late we arrive!

[rnin02]

We always do Disney studios first because that's just what we do, lol I think because its smaller with fewer rides we can do everything there on a 1/2 day.

[DSLRuser]

We never do any parks on the 1st day. We relax from traveling , by hitting the pool all afternoon, and maybe going to DTD at night to shop.