9:10AM arrival - what would you do?

[DduzDis]

We almost always try to head to EPCOT on arrival day to grab lunch/dinner (depending on arrival time) and knock out Frozen with a FP+. With FP+ tiering in EPCOT it's hard to do otherwise without waiting in line for either Frozen, TT or Soarin'. With Frozen done, we can go to EPCOT another day and rope drop for either TT or Soarin' and FP+ the other.

All that said, MK would be super easy for you too. I seldom turn down an opportunity to spend more time there.

 

[bizeemom4]

I would absolutely do a park! A 9am arrival is so early! You could do 10 hours of Epcot! Why hang out at Springs? I’d be busting to get into a park and DO something

 

[The13thLetter]

My most recent trip (albeit a solo one hahah) I got in around the same time, DME to riverside, changed in the bathroom, dropped bags off, and headed over to hollywood studios. was there around 1130. I know my timing may have just been perfect with the MDE bus leaving as soon as I boarded and I was alone so I was only in the hotel for 15 minutes, but I think if you guys are up for it, why not.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If it were to mean wasting a day on the ticket if you didn't go to a park on arrival day then I'd go to a park for a bit.

Personally though it doesn't matter what time my flight is I'm not likely going to a park on arrival day.

I too am flying SW and arriving at 9:10am headed to the Contemporary. I will not enter a park that day. Instead I will hang out in the CL lounge, swim, explore, and go to DS and make sure I'm in my room in time to watch HEA from my balcony and then get ready for bed.

 

[Jewel3k]

We have tried all sorts of different things on arrival day and I think going to the park for $10 a person is the my favorite. We have swam at the resort (all I want to do is sleep in the chair, but you have to watch kids so they don't drown), gone to Disney Springs (we fall asleep on the bus and my kids get bored with the shopping fast) and eating at a resort. I find I stay awake better from the early flight wakeup call if we are really busy. We have done Animal Kingdom (before Pandora) and Typhoon Lagoon. We enjoyed ourselves
at both.

 

[reisdawg]

As someone flying from the west coast, many of our trips have been overnight flights with us landing around 6 AM. Normally we go to a park but have extremely low expectations. We ride a few rides and soak in Disney without the need to ride everything. Traditionally we go to Epcot to walk around the countries and leave when our room is ready. We always pack a change of clothes and basically make it a mellow day with limited plans. At $10 per person, it is cheaper than what we would spend at Disney Springs in our sleep deprived state....

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Probably won't apply to the OP but we're usually on the ground at MCO by 9 am, we stop at Publix then on to Board Walk to check in. We hit Epcot every first day, first for a liquid breakfast as shown below, we time our Fast Passes in FW accordingly.

Bill From PA

We typically stay at the Boardwalk as well and this is the first thing I do as well. A nice half and half from the pub is a great way to start my trip and enjoy a nice little stroll around Epcot.

 

[Crystal824]

Definitely MK. In fact, our fight lands about the same time for our March trip. We are staying at BLT. We plan to hit the MK that day. We will take ME to BLT, drop our bags at the hotel. Then had over to MK because it is doubtful our room will be ready. If it happens to be ready, we will put our bags there and get our grocery order to our room first. If not, we will do that later in the day.

We plan to stay in the MK until after 3:00 parade. After that, we will head back to BLT and get ready for our 6:30 ADR at WL. After that we will head back to the room for an early bed time given it will have been a long day.

 

[Sparkly]

Totally go to a park! I wish we arrived that early.

 

[sscamarogirl2000]

We drive so it's a little different but we drove to the state line the night before and hit the road the next morning. We rolled into the epcot parking lot at 9:30 am. We stayed there until 3. We went and settled the room and took a nap. Then we hit mk that night around 7 and had dinner at BOG at 8:30. We closed down the park at midnight. We were doing mnnshp the next day so i knew we could sleep in late and wasn't planning on getting to the parks until 4. This was the first time we ever did this but i plan on doing it again. I think it depends on what your next day plans are. If your planning on early then maybe just do until 3or4. If your doing a late morning plan on being there late but there's nothing like entering the parks as soon as you can.

 

[mamamelody2]

If I was getting in to MCO that early, there's no way I wouldn't do a park that day. I would add a day to my ticket and go to MK.

 

[glocon]

I agree with adding a Park day.
That’s what we will be doing and we won’t have nearly as much time. We’ll be arriving at wdw between 1-2 pm. Still worth it- MK closes at 10pm. Plenty of time!

 

[WIll C]

We're going to have an early arrival coming from SEA. Staying at BWV so depending on how we're feeling (and if the room is ready, which I doubt), we'll either do Epcot if we are tired or MK otherwise. I have an ADR for MK and some FPs but we'll see what happens. Extra hours for resort guests at MK that night as well if we can manage it. We have APs so it's not a waste of a park day for a half day.

 

[JenMac10]

We will arrive 9:20am on a direct Southwest flight! We plan on going to Epcot that day. Getting there that early no way we can
miss out going to a park!

 

[Mrspeaks]

Thank you for all the responses. I love the DIS and hearing opinions and experiences from others. Our girls will be 4 and 7, so I am worried about them being tired from travel. I know they will be excited for whatever we do!

 

[CynBeth]

We were just there in November. We were supposed to leave early and arrive at MCO around 9 something but there was a mechanical issue with our plane and by the time SW got a new one for us we left 2 hours late. We were so glad we did not make a lunch ADR but we missed all of our early afternoon FPs.

 

[lookame]

We got in around 7 am. We decided to have the day free and it was certainly needed. We were so tired so we got brunch, went to target to pick up a few things, checked in and napped. Then we looked around and since we were still tired ordered room service and went to bed early.

 

[Cz1992]

I have a similar situation coming up. I am going with my girlfriend and and another couple in June for a 5 day stay. Nothing major, but we wanted to go down for a long weekend since its been almost half a year since our last trip. We got a 3 day Park hopper, trying to save a little bit of money since we have another week-long stay coming up in September. Our flight is scheduled to land late morning, so instead of wasting a day of the tickets at a park, we are planning on spending that first day at Disney Springs. Granted, our group dynamic might be a little bit different (2 28 year old couples), but there is plenty of fun stuff to see at Disney Springs and that could be an option for you!

 

[tobikaye]

If I arrive at the resort before 1 pm, I usually got to a park for at least 4-5 hours if the extra day is not too expensive to add. It is usually a more relaxed day at the park(s). I might make the 3 FPs or make them as I go and wing it. Sometimes I get dinner before heading back to the resort and other times I head back to get dinner and relax. Even if my day started early, I have no probably heading back to my resort early that first day.

On the occasions that I do not head to a park and I arrive before 1 pm, I might head to Disney Springs for a bit, although sometimes that is more exhausting to me than the parks if I try to walk it all. I get a decent dinner either at DS or a resort and then spend the evening reading and zoning out before an early nights.

 

[bashuck]

I’d go to a park either way but will pre booked Fast passes be an option? That depends on if you can add a day to the tickets over the phone or online as opposed to needing to do it in person. Either way the price if adding a day when you already have 6 is insignificant