Arrival Day Advice

[TwinMomEsq]

Hi all! We will be traveling in late February and are staying at YC. We have four days of hopper tickets purchased and park passes for one day at each park (plus plans to hop to EP for dinner a few evenings). Those are pretty set at this point as we are happy with our ADRs. My question is whether to add a fifth day to go to a park on on arrival day. We will be arriving by car around 11:00 AM. I have two 10 year olds who would probably be equally happy to go to a park or hang by the pool. Can we wait till we get there and see if we will have pool-worthy weather or is it better to add the tickets in advance? If we add a day, which park should we choose? It looks like all have availability at least for now.

 

[Kae]

Pool day or Mini Golf. Ride the skyliner.

 

[VandVsmama]

Some options are:

go have lunch at Disney Springs & shop a little
hang out at the pool
go for a horseback ride at Fort Wilderness
if it's available, go rent a boat and cruise around Bay Lake
rent a kayak/canoe at Fort Wilderness
mini golf
if your resort is doing the make-your-own tie-dyed Mickey t-shirts, do that (~$15-$20/person, I think)
or combination of the above

 

[DL1WDW2]

Reservation for Beaches & Cream ...?
Ride the SkyLiner to POP and then to Riviera and direct skyline back to Epcot.
Back to room for more pool time or early night watching HappilyEver After Fireworks on resort guest TV Channel 74(?)... nightly starting at 6 or 6:30 until 10 p.m. ...

 

[way2tyred]

For us with only four days, we would add a day and go to Magic Kingdom a second day.

 

[CynBeth]

I would add another park day. Which one depends on which you would like to spend more time. One thing in case you have not thought of it is that hopping to a second park Epcot for dinner depends on availability. Just because you have an ADR does not guarantee you getting in.

 

[chris benton]

If Epcot is still opening at 11, I might try to push for arriving a little earlier than you planned if it's feasible. If you'll be well rested, just walk over to Epcot - it's pretty much next door to YC. If you arrive by car at like 10:15, you should have time to park, and walk over and be in line for rope drop at the International Gateway. It'll be a 5-10 minute walk, and you'll only be wondering which way to go for a few seconds. It's SUPER close.

I'd think about having a park bag packed, pool clothes easy to get to. I'd hop out of the car, hit Epcot, then be ready to hit the pool late afternoon.
You might also wanna check on activities on the Boardwalk for early evening. It's right next to YC as well. Not sure what entertainment they currently have (if any.) There might be signage. On your way back from Epcot, you can walk the Boardwalk, it's not very big or anything - just a row of a few restaurants, a bakery, general store. Epcot and Boardwalk are essentially next door to YC.

I'm a rope dropper, so I wouldn't consider any other park if they open earlier than when you will be arriving. With Epcot opening at 11, and you being a 5 minute walk from the IG, that would be my target for a park.

 

[Edeyore]

Usually, depending on the time of the day I travel, I do not purchase park tickets for the first day. We get to our room, maybe relax in the pool and then
some window shopping and dinner at Disney Springs. You, however, are in a unique position given how close you are to Epcot. If you already have tickets
you might as well go to Epcot, take a relaxing walk and a nice dinner in the World Showcase.

 

[Kitty & Covs Covs]

Usually, depending on the time of the day I travel, I do not purchase park tickets for the first day. We get to our room, maybe relax in the pool and then
some window shopping and dinner at Disney Springs. You, however, are in a unique position given how close you are to Epcot. If you already have tickets
you might as well go to Epcot, take a relaxing walk and a nice dinner in the World Showcase.

I agree with this. We usually don’t go into the park the first day but instead book T-Rex or Rainforest Cafe at Disney Springs because they are pretty well themed. You could try for character dining at a resort (Chef Mickey?) as well, though I know those are limited right now.
That said, having a full Epcot day and being pretty leisurely with it would be nice. You could save a little money not getting PH for that day, since you’d know you’d just be at Epcot.

 

[MomOTwins]

Have you priced out your room with the new 5 ticket days for the price of 3 discount? We were shocked to find it was cheaper for us than a room discount even at a deluxe resort (family of 5). If it is a better deal for you, definitely book that in advance. If not I see no harm in waiting to add a day until you arrive so long ad you are flexible on which park to go to (as park passes do sell out, especially at HS).

 

[Ricguz]

We stay at the BC/YC all the time so on arrival day we usually have lunch either on the boardwalk or at ale and compass restaurant. If the weather is good, I would hit the pool. You can always add a day when you get to the YC. Based on what I hear, your room should be ready when you arrive.

 

[MickeyMouse3!]

Check the park closing hours (whichever park you choose). We have a similar schedule coming in March, although we will be arriving by DME. We are staying at the Beach Club and are weighing whether 5 hours in a park is worth the extra cost, especially since it will be afternoon hours and attractions may have a longer wait. We are leaning toward mini golf or Boardwalk strolling with dinner at Disney Springs followed by some resort time.

 

[Blondie58]

Hi all! We will be traveling in late February and are staying at YC. We have four days of hopper tickets purchased and park passes for one day at each park (plus plans to hop to EP for dinner a few evenings). Those are pretty set at this point as we are happy with our ADRs. My question is whether to add a fifth day to go to a park on on arrival day. We will be arriving by car around 11:00 AM. I have two 10 year olds who would probably be equally happy to go to a park or hang by the pool. Can we wait till we get there and see if we will have pool-worthy weather or is it better to add the tickets in advance? If we add a day, which park should we choose? It looks like all have availability at least for now.

If I decided to go to MK I would go straight to the transportation center and head to MK. I would go to YC after day at MK which closes so early. OR take alternate approach and swim and build sand castles (unless you are at the pool), do the onsite outdoor movie and yard games with marshmallow roast etc, do peddle cars around the boardwalk to get ice-cream, go over to ESPN, go to DS and see Legoland or do bowling, take the boat/cars at DS, do the hot air balloon at DS, ride all the different gondola routes to see all you can see. Make it an early evening with the kids and wake up refreshed to hit the parks for four days. Have a great time!!!! (If you have girls you could do appointments at Bippity Boppity at Grand Floridian. If you have a wonderful husband - you could go to the spa at the Swan/Dolphin for a massage while he watches the kids swim. lol. Maybe a relaxing facial. Maybe you go while he watches the kids and then switch off. So many plans so little time.)

 

[MomOTwins]

If I decided to go to MK I would go straight to the transportation center and head to MK. I would go to YC after day at MK which closes so early. OR take alternate approach and swim and build sand castles (unless you are at the pool), do the onsite outdoor movie and yard games with marshmallow roast etc, do peddle cars around the boardwalk to get ice-cream, go over to ESPN, go to DS and see Legoland or do bowling, take the boat/cars at DS, do the hot air balloon at DS, ride all the different gondola routes to see all you can see. Make it an early evening with the kids and wake up refreshed to hit the parks for four days. Have a great time!!!! (If you have girls you could do appointments at Bippity Boppity at Grand Floridian. If you have a wonderful husband - you could go to the spa at the Swan/Dolphin for a massage while he watches the kids swim. lol. Maybe a relaxing facial. Maybe you go while he watches the kids and then switch off. So many plans so little time.)

Pretty sure nearly all of this is closed due to Covid.

 

[Blondie58]

Pretty sure nearly all of this is closed due to Covid.

My response was a list of suggestions. Based on what MomOTwins shared: Please take Covid into consideration and call before you go if you are interested in any ideas mentioned. I have not been to WDW since Covid. I was just sharing ideas. I should have noted that I have no idea what is open or closed due to COVID. Hope the suggestions still might help to give you ideas as requested.

 

[TwinMomEsq]

Thank you all for all the great suggestions!! We did price out the new 2 extra tickets option but our pin code discount was better. I had forgotten about the mini golf nearby - that’s a great option (if it’s open) if it’s a little too chilly for the pool. I think we’ll plan on enjoying all the cool stuff in the resort area (we’ve never stayed in an EP area resort before and haven’t visited since they built the Skyliners). We have an ADR for dinner at Beaches and Cream that night so I’m sure we’ll have a great time and be well rested to hit RD the next morning.