Arrival Day Question

[WantToGoNow]

We are a group of 11 - 6 children (2,4,5,5,8,9) and 5 adults. Our original plan was to check in, go to AK, and dinner at Kona, maybe hang out on the Poly beach to see Wishes. However, we've been thinking that might be a bit too much for travel day. Most of the group will be flying from Dayton to Orlando with a 8:30 am flight (arrives at 10:30). My dh, myself and ds8 will be driving and will be leaving a day earlier and stopping overnight as far down in GA or northern FL as we can get that first day.

So, would you:

1) Go with the original plan.

2) Go to AK but leave around 3:00 to settle into resort, let kids rest/swim and then head out to the Poly.

3) Scrap the park on the first day. Hang out at the resort (even if we can't get into our rooms early), go to Kona and then go over to the MK to see Wishes/Spectromagic.


Any/all opinions welcome.

[Mathfailure]

My favorite this is to ease into my vacations after traveling, as in I don't want to get worn out at the beginning!

So I would do the swim, down time, nice dinner and view the fireworks.

If you have half raring to go and half slower, with such a large group splitting up should be an option.

Enjoy.

[charming]

Id go with 3, im driving from Mi and we are going to Chef Mickeys the first night and then going back to AKL to swim and check out our hotel. We are a group of 15 and we have 7 kids(4,4,7,8,9,13,17)and a 6mon. old so we want to pace ourselves. Good Luck

[SnowandMittens]

Another vote for 3. It's too many people to try and wrangle around. #3 seems like a good start!

[budbeerlady]

By the time we land/check in coming from MI on the 1st am flight its usually 1ish. We dont "plan" anything but dinner around 7pm for that day. Usually we go to MK the 1st day to get our disney feel on but we dont do anything but relax, people watch maybe ride the TTA.....

Dinner and then off to bed for us, we hit the pillow by 9pm since we try to make rope drop the next day.

[cam&phoebsmom]

I would likely split up and have folks do what they feel most comfortable with-and just have everyone meet up for dinner at the appropriate time. if you guys get there earlier and are more rested you will probably feel differently than those flying in, kwim?

I might present different options for everyone involved and include those you listed as possible options. That way those that are tired don't feel pressured to keep up with others, and the ones with more energy can head out and start enjoying the parks.

[marshmellow86]

Option #3 may be best. with a 10:30 arrival time at the airport, it will probably be at least noon before they get out of the airport and to the hotel. You would be very rushed at AK and only get 1 or 2 attractions in in order to leave by 3:00. Relax, have some lunch and enjoy the resort / pool. then you can hit the Poly for dinner and fireworks, if you are up to it, or just stay at the resort and pool and relax, so everyone is ready for the next day!

[shel112676]

We were planning day one similar to yours.
We are a party of 10- 8 adults and 2 children.
We're all coming in from PA but 6 are flying and 4 driving. So we (the flying group) have a 2 hour flight and arrive in FL the night before the driving crew arrives. We got a room only at POR. We plan on being up and meeting the rest of the group the next morning (they are shift driving and coming straight thru-about 18 hours)
Anyway, our plan is to let the guys rest a bit and then head to AK for the afternoon.
BUT we're not big AK people. We typically spend half a day there so we will go back to our rooms and then are heading to Teppan Edo. We're going to see how everyone is feeling after dinner and decide on whether or not we'll stay for illuminations..if we're too tired, we'll catch it another night!

I know it's hard to do with having ADRs but it's a vacation--do whatever you feel like doing and enjoy!

[happymommy]

I would split up, and have each do what you feel like the first day.

That is a large group, so to plan so much together the first day is futile.

MAYBE plan a dinner together that day, but I wouldn't. Some folks may feel like eating early, some may want to go to Downtown Disney, some may be in a park and not want to rush somewhere for dinner.

I'd probably wait, and plan a breakfast the next morning as the official "kick off". Then one meal a day together, otherwise keep it loose. It's a large group, and you won't all want to do the same things.

[hcoker1]

I agree with the PP, why not go to DTD the first day and spend a couple of hours there is people want to do "something".
Enjoy your trip!

[RCaroll]

Sounds like a wonderful day, I would do the things you look forward to the most first, and then the second thing and so on... when people are tired then head back for a rest. I personally get so excited I cant sleep anyway so I rest when I get home!

[WantToGoNow]

We have decided that if we can get our rooms early, we will hang out at the resort until dinner. If not, we will head on to AK. We are all going to Kona for dinner as it was picked specificially by my cousin since it will be her birthday. If their family wants to head back after dinner and not watch the fireworks, then they can.

And for all of those that say to split up, that won't be happening. My dd25 and dd5 are in the group that's flying along with my cousin's family. My youngest dd was 2 years old last trip so everything will be as if it were the first time. We will be all going to the same park on the same day, just their family might be arriving later than ours since they don't want to do early mornings.

This is the other family's first trip. We were asked to do all the planning, make all the ADR's and just tell them where to be when.