Advice for arrival day

[tgbanks3]

We are arriving on Nov. 14. If we fly, it looks like the cheapest flight will get us to the airport around 3:30pm. I would expect to be at the hotel and unpacked no earlier than 5:30pm. We have an ADR at Garden Grove, but I was thinking about going ahead and hitting up MK that evening. I want to avoid EC due to F&WF and the likelihood of crowds. And HS and AK will already be closed or close to it. The only open ADR at MK right now on that day is Tony's. Should I book the Tony's ADR and spend that evening at MK (or simply eat a QS at MK)? Or should I just keep the Garden Grove ADR and use that time that evening to rest? I really wanted to bring the trip in with a bang, but with 4 kids an evening of rest may be the better option.

 

[kj2mom]

If I was going to use a park ticket (not sure if you are AP?) I would not go to a park for a meal. Just personal preference of course but if I was going to do a TS I would do it outside of a park since you could be looking at 90 minutes of time there. Would you consider Hoop De Doo? Note sure if there is availability but we did that on our arrival day one time and it was fabulous. When we got out of the meal the pageant was on the lake and Wishes was just about to start. It was a great way to bring in the trip with a bang (for us anyway).

 

[jessicag13]

I was just going to throw a similar question out there! So I'm really curious as to the advice people have.
I also arrive in November, at 6:30p, and am also wondering whether to head to MK, since I could possibly take advantage of PM EMH, and I could use a FP+ for Wishes without feeling like I'd waste other FP opportunities; or if I should wait to activate my AP, and just hang out at Trader Sam's/Kona Cafe for the evening.
Also, I'm solo, so I can always just go with whatever I'm in the mood for at the time, but as a super-planner, would still like to head in with a general game-plan

 

[tgbanks3]

Not sure what AP means. But my initial plan was to try and get an 'Ohana ADR in time to see Wishes (if we lucked up with a window table) or just go to T-Rex at DTD since my kids love dinosaurs. But the cost of an extra ticket is only around $10 so a few hours at MK may be more enjoyable and it may save one of our TS meals (as I'm already using more than my allotment anyway, ha).

 

[Karin1984]

AP = Annual Pass.

I'd say go for quick service. That's mainly because I didn't like my meal at Tony's.
And for an arrival day I always like to keep things simple.

 

[RustManFan]

I wouldn't waste my money spending a few hours at any park and especially with most of that time in a restaurant. I say get dinner at DTD, FW or another resort

 

[jasmith34]

If you're set in going to MK I'd just do a QS as Tony's isn't really that great in my opinion. As for ADR's I'd give T-Rex a shot. It'd be a miracle to get Ohana ADR this late in the game.

 

[tgbanks3]

It'd be a miracle to get Ohana ADR this late in the game

There was actually a 9:30pm ressie that opened up over the weekend, but I didn't attempt to get it. Leaning more toward just trying to book a late dinner at T-Rex and maybe just do random stuff like take the kids on the Monorail or something like that.

 

[tgbanks3]

Would you consider Hoop De Doo? Note sure if there is availability but we did that on our arrival day one time and it was fabulous. When we got out of the meal the pageant was on the lake and Wishes was just about to start.

There are openings for this but it's at 8:30 and I've read that it's a 2 hour show. So Wishes would already be over by the time we were done. Is the pageant a daily thing?

 

[danceintherain]

I would just have a slow night at my hotel.

 

[Hootch]

We drove this year. Our expected arrival was shortly after 3:00 PM. We missed that by a little bit. Our first FP was for 7:00 PM in case we had issues. We had cut our days because we were hitting Universal and the beach.

This is where FP+ is beneficial. An added day is about $10 bucks per person. Hitting a park, especially the MK, the first day is a must for us. You can buy tickets without that first day in case there are travel issues and add one day later if necessary.

 

[RedStars]

After traveling all day with kids, the last thing I want to do is deal with park crowds. We did it our first year: NEVER AGAIN.

I vote for low-key resort night (explore the resort, pool, movie) or DTD if you really need to "do" something.

As for Ohana, I have planned 3 trips well within the ADR window and I have always found an ADR for my desired time. It just takes vigilance.

 

[Superchikk]

I agree with others - after a full day of travel with kids, we prefer to hang out at the resort, get ourselves settled, and get a good night's sleep. We usually hit the ground running the next day, so it's worth it to us to not be completely exhausted from trying to do too much on the arrival day. We even opted to drive in a day early and stay off-site this time, just so we can have a leisurely check-in day and have time to play at the resort & DTD without feeling rushed.

If I were traveling without kids, I'd most definitely hit a park on arrival night, though! But I'd do QS for dinner and not worry about an ADR.

 

[nat8199]

We hit the parks on our first day, but we get in earlier than you. This is one of the reasons I LOVE FP+, for our arrival day we are guaranteed 3 fun rides.

I would make FP+ for MK and pick up some quick service. This is assuming your kids are over the age of 7. Under 7, I would relax at the resort with the pool and food there. 5:30 is pretty late to try to squeeze anything in with young kids.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Resort hop to WL and have WC for dinner. That'll give you a look at MK and a nice boat ride. Then head back to your resort and relax at your pool with an adult beverage.

 

[nanni]

I'd get counter service. My flight lands at 1 and I'm still contemplating canceling my Crystal Palace adr because I don't think the people I'm traveling with will want a park meal break that evening.

 

[ZoZo]

Depends on how tired you're likely to be!

I'm usually much too tired to go to a park on arrival day. Since I fly in from Seattle, the very earliest we would arrive at the resort would be around 6:00 pm (barring any flight delays). Since I get up at 3:00 am to catch a 6:00 am flight, I'm usually running on about four hours of sleep. With the three-hour time change, I usually don't try anything more ambitious than unpack and catch a QS dinner at DTD (Wolfgang Puck Express - BBQ chicken pizza and creme brulee - yum!). Head back to the resort for an early night, then up early for rope drop!

 

[MagicNight]

For our trip this October, we are landing about 2:30 pm. As we will have been on/off planes for the better part of 2 days / 40+ hours, we are just planning on dinner at the resort. I agree with ZoZo. An early night so we can make rope drop the next day.

 

[Veronica Richardson]

It'd be a miracle to get Ohana ADR this late in the game.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

Every time we have arrived in the afternoon and said we are going to have a relaxing night at the resort......... nope. We end up in a park. We unpack and look at each other and are "like yeah right." My advice is go to MK grab some QS food, three FP's and watch the fireworks and then back to the room for RD the next morning.