Arrival day evening activity-which to choose?

[Surgie2]

We (family of 10 including 4 preschoolers 13 months - 5 years old)...arrive on a Friday at noon in early May (on non-stop flights from Chicago and St. Louis). Staying at Poly and currently have reservations for 1900 Park Fare dinner at 5:10 and Pirates and Pals at 7:45.

Adults have decided one evening event is enough. Whichever one we cancel won't be rescheduled on another night of the trip due to other reservations. The kids would enjoy either (baby not going to P&P) and have never been to WDW so even staying at the resort would be fun to them.

The parents don't care which one I cancel and are leaving it to me to decide. I'm kind of leaning toward cancelling 1900 (we will be doing CRT for breakfast a few days later) and I like the idea of the kids doing fireworks on the first night while their bodies are still on CST. Thinking maybe just an afternoon at the resort followed by onsite QS and then P&P would be best but this is a lot of pressure for a Nana to decide LOL! Any thoughts? And sorry if this belongs on the resorts thread.

 

[mousehouse23]

I'd do Pirates and Pals, too. I think that would be an amazing way to start off a WDW trip. The kids will love it.

 

[3gr8boys]

I know my kids would appreciate more swim time rather than having to get to a dinner reservation at another location

 

[TOBS2010]

As a parent of kids in that age range---just want to throw out there that while I think the fireworks cruise would be way more fun, that is also close to my kids bedtimes. Do you think that anyone would be close to meltdown mode at those ages at that point in the night? When you are on a boat, it isn't like you can easily get off and take them back to your room. Also not sure if anyone is potty training----but that is the reason that we are not booking this cruise---thought it would be a blast and my boys would have so much fun, but my youngest will be getting potty trained this spring (we are going later in the summer) and I didn't want to have to worry about needing to pee on the boat. You just have to know the kids that you have going with you at the end of the day.

 

[Surgie2]

As a parent of kids in that age range---just want to throw out there that while I think the fireworks cruise would be way more fun, that is also close to my kids bedtimes. Do you think that anyone would be close to meltdown mode at those ages at that point in the night? When you are on a boat, it isn't like you can easily get off and take them back to your room. Also not sure if anyone is potty training----but that is the reason that we are not booking this cruise---thought it would be a blast and my boys would have so much fun, but my youngest will be getting potty trained this spring (we are going later in the summer) and I didn't want to have to worry about needing to pee on the boat. You just have to know the kids that you have going with you at the end of the day.

Thanks for your thoughts. The 4 and 5 year olds are fine with the potty and good about going before an event so I think they'll be ok. (I'm staying back with the baby at the resort). Meltdowns can be unpredictable but the parents' feelings were if we are doing P&P at all it needs to be on the first night since to the kids coming from CST, fireworks will be at "8:00" not the actual 9:00 it will be. This is still near their normal bedtime but they have stayed up late for special occasions. And the next morning we are going to Epcot and not doing RD...first FP is at 10:00 so hopefully we can ease into our day. I think 1900 would be fun but I agree that two things on arrival day are just too much. Logistics seem "easy" with everything on monorail but it still takes time to move 10 people from one place to another.

 

[danielocha30]

do the pirate pals, Poly have such a great ambiance and I personally like to enjoy the resort on arrival date

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Of the two, I would pick P&P because you are doing CRT later in the trip and 1900 is a bit redundant. Honestly, I don't know if I would recommend taking kids that young on P&P. I took DS when he was 6 and he got a bit restless on the boat. You sit on the boat for quite a while before the fireworks start. You are looking at getting back at Poly around 10 pm or so. Do you have to do either? I'm guessing O'hana is out at this point or you have reservations another night? I would, personally, pick something in the area that starts a little earlier. Even Whispering Canyon dinner would be fun with kids that age or, if you feel like spending the money, take them over to Ft. W to see the horses (even do a pony ride) and see the early HDDR. Or eat dinner at Poly and watch the fireworks from the beach - the view is as good as on the boat and it's free!

 

[Alesia]

There is no way I would do something that's prepaid and non-refundable on arrival day. There are just too many possible delays, not to mention the chance that some of the kids (or adults) will be too worn out from traveling to make it.

 

[Mainemama]

I would do 1900 Park Fare. I might consider the cruise with 1 young child, but you will have multiple. My own kids at 5 and under hated fireworks, and would have been done by 8 on a travel day. Park Fare is wonderful, and the whole family could enjoy. You will still have plenty of time to enjoy the resort. You can take the boat one way to GF. Just giving an alternate perspective to those shared above.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We loved Pirates and Pals, and it sounds like a great way to start a trip

 

[Upatnoon]

A day of traveling is exhausting, especially with all those young kids and a herd of people. I would spend the afternoon and evening enjoying the resort and go to bed. Perhaps take a monorail or boat ride. Eat dinner at Fort Wilderness.

Disney is exhausting, starting off rested will make your trip go much better.

 

[AntJulie]

We had dinner at Ohana then did Pirates and Pals (Hallowishes fireworks which starts later than HEA). I would choose Pirates and Pals over 1900 Park Fare dinner. I would not do both with your group (our kids are a bit older).

Yes, there is a risk on arrival day if you don't arrive on time. It happened to us once. Our flight was delayed and we totally missed our Ohana dinner reservation. We were able to reschedule for another day and were not charged any no-show fees.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Personally, I like to keep arrival day plans loose especially when you’re flying in. I know the odds are slim that your flight will arrive too late for your ADR, but it can happen.

The P&P event is a gamble too; if the kids nap well in the afternoon, it’s not too late. But they may not want to nap. My son refused to nap any day during our WDW trip when he was 4 years old. He stayed awake till 7:00 every night then slept in his stroller while we ate dinner.

 

[amylevan]

CST conversion or not, fireworks are late and travel day is usually exhausting; so we wouldn't be doing P&P with kids that young and unlikely even if with older kids on a travel day.

 

[Thing 1]

I assume all the kids are cousins. I would do neither. I would plan to spend a laid back evening reconnecting and letting the kids readjust to each other. Spend time at the pool and grab dinner at the resort. Maybe watch the fireworks from the beach if everyone is up to it.

 

[SaintsManiac]

What are your plans for the next day? If it's something super early I would not do P&P.

 

[Surgie2]

What are your plans for the next day? If it's something super early I would not do P&P.

We are going to Epcot the next day but our first FP isn't until 10:00 (so have until 11:00)...and if we miss it that's ok. We'll take the kids' lead on getting up and getting going.

 

[kniquy]

arrive on a Friday at noon

I think keeping P & P is the best option. If your flight lands at noon then ME bus will likely get you to your resort around 1:30. Maybe your room will be ready but maybe not. Just have some pool attire in your carry on, get a lunch at captain cooks, then maybe apps at Trader sams outdoor area if you need to get a little something before P & P. I do worry about those younger kids being up do late, but considering they pump them full of sugar they might get enough energy to stay up. Hopefully you are not planning on rope drop the next morning -- you might be faced with some cranky kids.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are going to Epcot the next day but our first FP isn't until 10:00 (so have until 11:00)...and if we miss it that's ok. We'll take the kids' lead on getting up and getting going.

That sounds like a good plan.

 

[Surgie2]

I do worry about those younger kids being up do late, but considering they pump them full of sugar they might get enough energy to stay up.

That's the good news/bad news.

No RD for us in the morning...Epcot and first FP is at 10:00.