Arrival day, no park tickets. Thoughts?

[japanese maple]

We are staying at Boardwalk. We arrive late afternoon/early evening so we don't have park tickets for this day.

Thinking of either going to a hotel lounge for some food or maybe the corn dog stand? And only other plans are to board the Friendship Boat and take the full ride all around Crescent Lake, just relaxing and taking it all in.

Any other ideas? This is weird for us because normally we arrive early in the day and use a park tickets!

 

[gottalovepluto]

If you’re into water parks you have free access on arrival day but they do close kinda early.

Depending on how I was feeling I’d boat to EP, Skyliner to DHS & boat to BW. Full circuit both! Maybe hit a lounge at Swolphin for dinner.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Definitely understandable. I definitely wouldn’t head straight into the parks the day I arrive since I would end up having other plans outside the Disney bubble.

If your feet are up for it and you are not ride sharing or renting a car, you do have access to the Disney Transport buses from your resort. Definitely recommend heading down to Disney Springs.

If you are renting a car, you can also check out either one of the two Disney Character Warehouses at either Orlando Vineland or Orlando International Premium Outlets. I hear they have cheap prices on legit Disney stuff. Also in this case,

I also recommend trying a local place outside of Disney property. I recommend Pollo Tropical, the Caribbean inspired grilled chicken joint. They have a location on the other side of I-4… and they have some pretty tasty chicken and mojo pork!

 

[CarolynFH]

Depending on how I was feeling I’d boat to EP, Skyliner to DHS & boat to BW. Full circuit both! Maybe hit a lounge at Swolphin for dinner.

We’d do the same! And probably add in the round trip from CBR to Pop/AoA on the Skyliner.

 

[japanese maple]

Wow! All great ideas, thanks!

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

We just got back from a week at BWV and for the first time in decades of visiting, did mini golf (right next to the Swan Reserve) followed by ice cream! It was a fun night!

 

[team bradfield]

Fantasia mini golf is our go to first day

 

[HopperFan]

Since our park days are so busy and we don't like leaving them ~ usually on check in day we kick off with a nice dinner at a resort to check it out ... lately we've done Topolinos, Sebastian Bistro, Toledo ... we dress nicer than park days and make it a nice night.

 

[elvispursley]

We usually take a red eye in from the west coast but are debating taking a flight that gets us to the resort early evening. Typically wed’d go to Epcot for a few hours for dinner and a few rides. Thinking we may forego our usual plans and not do a park on arrival day. Thinking we may do DS for dinner and a little shopping. Like the mini golf idea

 

[TCRAIG]

I agree with others who replied Mini Golf - Fantasia course is across the street from Swolphin next to Swan Reserve - very walkable from BW

 

[Dakota731]

Our arrival day tradition is to have a nice dinner at Disney Springs then do a little shopping.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

We are staying at Boardwalk. We arrive late afternoon/early evening so we don't have park tickets for this day.

Thinking of either going to a hotel lounge for some food or maybe the corn dog stand? And only other plans are to board the Friendship Boat and take the full ride all around Crescent Lake, just relaxing and taking it all in.

Any other ideas? This is weird for us because normally we arrive early in the day and use a park tickets!

Disney Springs

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

In the past we've done dinner shows like Mickey's Backyard BBQ or Hoop Dee Doo, or had a nice afternoon/evening in Disney Springs. We've never done one on arrival day, but a fireworks cruise would be nice too. This year we're either going to play mini golf or do the water park, haven't decided for sure, then dinner at our resort.

 

[Mouse Tracker]

skyliner resort hop if you haven't "toured" those.

 

[kylenne]

I agree with others who replied Mini Golf - Fantasia course is across the street from Swolphin next to Swan Reserve - very walkable from BW

We are on a ticketless package so have free mini golf tickets and plan to do this on our arrival day at BWI. Then have dinner at Rosa Mexicano. Both are new to us (though I have gone to Rosa Mexicano at home).

Normally we just hop into the nearest park for a bit esp at a Crescent Lake resort but we arrive Sunday the day before Memorial Day and we don't want our first timer friend's first experience of Epcot to be slammed crowds for festival booths.

 

[japanese maple]

We are on a ticketless package so have free mini golf tickets and plan to do this on our arrival day at BWI. Then have dinner at Rosa Mexicano. Both are new to us (though I have gone to Rosa Mexicano at home).

Normally we just hop into the nearest park for a bit esp at a Crescent Lake resort but we arrive Sunday the day before Memorial Day and we don't want our first timer friend's first experience of Epcot to be slammed crowds for festival booths.

We have a package with tickets- would we get free mini golf tickets? Where do you get them?

 

[Mouse Tracker]

Where do you get them?

should be included in your confirmation mail out

 

[japanese maple]

should be included in your confirmation mail out

I haven't gotten one of those in years. Maybe it's at front desk? I wonder because now it seems every time we check in it's with a roaming Cast Member with an Ipad. Maybe that's why we never get these things. We always book packages.

 

[Headless]

Like everyone else has suggested I'd say go find a good resort restaurant and do a little exploring. We haven't tried mini golfing yet but if we were doing the same day one I would consider it. might also be a nice time to check out Disney Springs get food at one place, dessert at another and maybe know out some shopping before the parks so you won't be lugging it around.

 

[CoachBeard]

We are staying at Boardwalk. We arrive late afternoon/early evening so we don't have park tickets for this day.

Thinking of either going to a hotel lounge for some food or maybe the corn dog stand? And only other plans are to board the Friendship Boat and take the full ride all around Crescent Lake, just relaxing and taking it all in.

Any other ideas? This is weird for us because normally we arrive early in the day and use a park tickets!

That is exactly what I do. Sometimes dinner at Flying Fish maybe a drink at Abracadabar. Since I’m 3 hours behind I need to tucker out as soon as possible to be on track for the next day.