Arrival day (half day): Epcot or Downtown Disney?

[princesslover]

Up until now, I had been planning to do an extra half day at Epcot, so we'd spend 1.5 days there total. The plan had been to do Epcot on arrival day starting at around noon or so, then go back the next day for a full day.

Today, I was tossing around the idea of just doing Downtown Disney on our first day instead. My kids are going to be up at 4:30 that morning to catch our 6:30 flight on our arrival day. Granted, they may sleep on the plane on the way there, but I am not counting on it. They are 3 and 6. I have been thinking that maybe Downtown Disney would be better on that first day...just some lunch at WE and some shopping, then settle into our room.

But do you think just one day in Epcot is enough for them? I also hate "wasting" a park pass (we have 7 day MYW tickets) but I don't know. Do most people hit a park right away? This is our first trip, so I have nothing to compare to.

What would you do? I'd really love to hear your thoughts.

[nothnbutherainsir]

Personally, I would choose Epcot because Epcot is my fave AND I find DTD boring.

[SafetyPinndSally]

We always do DTD on our first day, usually because we drive (12-13 hours) and are too tired to walk around a park. That's usually when we scope out things that we would like to buy and we get our Christmas ornament right then and there so it won't break.

If you were to do Epcot, perhaps do World Showcase because it is a little bit more relaxing than the Future World aspect of Epcot.

[Buttercup2009]

I'm planning to do the same thing you are and since this is my first trip also I don't really have anything to compare it too either. I'll be up at around 4:30am for my flight on Saturday and plan to go to Epcot around 1pm or so once we get there and then have dinner at O'hana at 5 and then head over to MK for spectromagic and wishes. We're planning to just do world showcase at Epcot and watch the parade and fireworks at MK so hopefully we won't be too tired and can get up for rope drop at MK the next morning. I hope my plan isn't too exhausting and I'm interested to hear if other people have done this as well.

[Mrs D]

We have gone to a park on our arrival day and it worked fine. We just headed back early. Our plan in 3 weeks is to do Epcot on our arrival day as well. We should hit the park by 1:30, have an ADR at Coral Reef for 3:55; if the kids are up for staying we'll stay, if they need to head back, we'll head to Pop for the night.

[rudetreehill]

I'm not a huge fan of Downtown Disney, especially if I HAVE the park pass and can go to Epcot instead. The one exception I'd make to that is if you have the Park Hopper Plus or whatever it's called now and could go to Disneyquest while you're there... although your kids might be too young to enjoy that.

I'd totally do Epcot. Go someplace fun and relaxing for lunch, meander, let the kids play in the fountains, then head back to the hotel and get a good night's sleep!

[henry72]

I would do a park for sure. DTD is okay but not that exciting. We are doing DTD on the day we leave. We usually go to MK on the day we arrive but this year I am not sure if we will go to a park. We are going to decide after we get there (already have a park ticket for that day and the last day - just in case.) We don't arrive to MCO until 2:30 and with kids (4 and 20 months) I just don't know how tired they will be from the trip.

[nothnbutherainsir]

Originally Posted by rudetreehill

I'm not a huge fan of Downtown Disney, especially if I HAVE the park pass and can go to Epcot instead. The one exception I'd make to that is if you have the Park Hopper Plus or whatever it's called now and could go to Disneyquest while you're there... although your kids might be too young to enjoy that.

I'd totally do Epcot. Go someplace fun and relaxing for lunch, meander, let the kids play in the fountains, then head back to the hotel and get a good night's sleep!

I'm glad someone agrees! I remember mildly liking it when I was a little younger but last year we spent 1/2 a day there and we were so bored!

[mdfdisney]

Personally, I would go straight to Magic Kingdom on my first day - particularly with a 3 and 6 year old.

We always try to arrive by noon and go straight to MK after checking in. It is the park that gives you the greatest feeling of "disney magic."

Even if it is too busy to ride much when you arrive, you can walk around and experience a lot of the sights, sounds and feeling of Disney.

Hit Epcot first thing the following morning. There is less for young kids to do at EP and DTD. If they are worn out in the early afternoon, take a break at the hotel and check out DTD that evening.

You may have trouble convincing the young ones not to go back to MK on your first full day, but breaking it up with Epcot will give them something to look forward to later.

Don't forget a stroller for the youngest one at least. A cheap umbrella stroller can greatly reduce wear and tear on the littlest legs. If the youngest gets restless riding around, the older child can rest his/her legs for a while.

[oldbay]

I'd go to Epcot for a half day, just walk around and take it easy. Maybe have an early dinner at 3 or 4 somewhere nice in World Showcase and get back to the hotel for an early night so you can be at rope drop the next morning. Have a great trip!

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would go with Downtown Disney because I think it's a great location to visit the day you arrive and save the days on your tickets for a full day at the parks.

[princesslover]

Thanks everyone. I think you've convinced me to stay with my original plan (half day at Epcot.)

You may have trouble convincing the young ones not to go back to MK on your first full day, but breaking it up with Epcot will give them something to look forward to later.

The reason we're not doing MK first (although I know that it what everyone does) is that I fear it will sort of 'set them up' to not really appreciate a park that is a little less stimulating. I do think they will enjoy Epcot, but if I even give them a taste of MK, especially fantasyland, they will compare Epcot to that in their little brains. As it is, they will be able to see the castle from the WL, and that alone is going to drive them crazy. For the record, after a day and a half at Epcot, we are going to MK for two days. So I won't hold them off too long. Then we do DHS, AK, then finish the trip with MK again on our last day as our "grand finale" to our vacation.

We have dinner at 1900 Park Fare on the night of our arrival, at 6:00. So maybe we'll check in, head over to World Showcase and see some of the "Holidays around the World", do the mexian ride (what is that called?) and maelstrom. I guess that is pretty low key.

Then the next morning, we'll hit Future World hard (after our breakfast at Akershus).

I would go with Downtown Disney because I think it's a great location to visit the day you arrive and save the days on your tickets for a full day at the parks.

I'm not quite sure I understand - we arrive on Novembver 30 and depart on the morning of December 7. We have 7 day MYW tickets...I'm not sure where else I could put this day?

[dreamergirl78]

We have done both. And we have also just gone straight to the resort and not done anything. That was a nightmare because I was so excited I did not get any sleep that night....I was ready to get the the magic! This year we are going to DTD because my son is dying to hit the Lego store and since this is his Birthday trip, I am ok with that. I would play it by ear and see how you feel when you get there. Have a great trip!

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Originally Posted by princesslover

I'm not quite sure I understand - we arrive on Novembver 30 and depart on the morning of December 7. We have 7 day MYW tickets...I'm not sure where else I could put this day?

Well I only said that because if it was my family and I, we wouldn't want to waste a day on our tickets at the parks for only go for half a day. However unless you didn't purchase the no experiation option then I can see why you want to use them right away.

[Superjoint_Ritual]

Maybe you should see how everyone is when you arrive at your resort and take it from there. I don't think you want any meltdowns on your first day there. lol