Arrival day thoughts

[Wdw1015]

Our flight arrives at 9:30 am on our arrival day. Because we'll be there so early, I'm not sure what to do this day. We currently have 5:00 reservations at T-Rex and it will be my husband and I with our 2 boys, ages 5 & 9. There are several options:

1. Relax, swim, Downtown Disney, maybe tour other resorts. What would you say is the average time to spend at DD? Is it an hour or 4 hour type of place? (Realizing it will vary family to family)

2. Head to MK to just look around and do some character meet and greets for a few hours. Then go to DD. Would see about pushing back our T-Rex reservation to 6:30 or so.

We will also be going to MK the following day but need to leave at 7:00 due to MNSSHP. Then we'll be attending the party on a later day but will be focusing mostly on party stuff that day from 7:00 on (arriving at 4:00).

I would love to go to MK on arrival day but worry we'll be trying to cram in too much. I would love to hear your thoughts!

 

[itchin2go]

Where are you staying?

On arrival day, we mostly orient ourselves at the resort, explore, have dinner nearby and rest up for the first day so we can hit rope drop. However, we have never arrived as early as you.

Have you looked at crowd calendars?
www.easywdw.com

I would want to know which parks were recommended if I were going to go to a park that day. Have you thought about another park that day? The other parks have far fewer attractions and are easier to get done in a limited amount of time.

Downtown Disney is a good idea too. It is mainly shopping and dining, so it depends how much time your family can spend doing that. I can spend hours!

Also, how many days do you have on your tickets?

 

[jayfo]

I vote for #1. Air travel with 2 kids in tow will be stressful enough. DTD area was a mess with traffic and construction. You don't want to be stressing about time constraints there. Settle in at the hotel, rest & have a snack. Then head over to DTD and explore. Between the Lego and world of Disney store there will be plenty for your boys to check out.

 

[kbonner]

If you are taking advantage of Magical Express remember to factor in travel times to your resort and from your resort to destination. My guess would be that you would have about 3 hours of park time if you went to Magic Kingdom first. Downtown Disney time really depends on family interests.

 

[coolbrook]

I would probably go to Magic Kingdom, because I just love that place! I would make 3 Fast Pass+ reservations ahead of time so I knew I could at least ride those three rides. If I was with people who had never been before maybe ride the train around the park to get a quick orientation to the different lands before riding the Fp+ rides and meeting a character or two. HOWEVER... It might be fun to have a Dino themed day. After getting settled in the hotel, go to Animal Kingdom and just visit Dino-land. Eat lunch at Restaurantosaurus (Explore the different rooms in this place where the dino scientists "live." My kids like to eat in the rec room or the airstream trailer), play in the Boneyard playground and sandbox, ride all the rides (use FP+ for Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl, and Meeting Mickey and Minnie at Explorer's Outpost), play the carnival games, browse the gift shops and let each kid buy one dino souvenier. Then head over to Dowtown Disney for dinner at T-Rex.

 

[RustManFan]

I don't believe in wasting my money by visiting a park for a few hours. We have never visited a park on our arrival day no matter what time we got in. We ride the monorail, eat at a resort or DTD, maybe take a boat ride (FW to MK and then get monorail for example), tour other resorts, use the pool....

We especially like time at FW and just handling out in the Pioneer Hall/Trails End area with a meal if it is the right time of day.

When they were young my DD and DS had a tradition of going to the World of Disney store and picking out a stuffed animal of a favorite character. Then they had it for rest of trip for cuddling at night! Aside from maybe a hat or a shirt on some trips, we weren't big on many other souvenirs...

 

[biondagirl]

We drove down two years ago we arrived around 3:00. We unpacked and headed over to the Magic Kingdom since they were open until 2 a.m. that day. This year, we're hoping to leave earlier and arrive earlier. We have reservations at 7:00 for the Biergarten at EPCOT. I'm hoping to get there earlier to get more use from the day.

Now that we only have three weeks to go, there is a part of me that would rather just hang at the resort or go to DTD.

Tough call. We all have different preferences. Our trip is shorter than in years past, so I want to make sure I don't miss a thing. I might only get to the park for 6 hours for that first day, but, for us, it's worth it. Especially the Biergarten. After an 18 hour drive, I want a good meal and a good drink.

 

[drea21]

We always do option #1- resort, relax, DTD for dinner and shopping on our arrival day. I never wanted to buy a ticket just for that day, when everyone is tired out from a day of travel, getting up early, etc..

This trip we have our annual passes and we are at the Poly so I did make some MK fast passes for the evening we arrive. I figure we will check-in, relax at the pool, quick service dinner at the hotel, and then head to MK just for our FP's and then come back and get a good nights sleep. So if I had to buy a ticket for the extra day I would just do DTD, if you already have a ticket I would just do some evening FPs.

 

[Tinkerbell7479]

Usually we just relax on arrival day - chill at the resort, maybe hit up DTD. I feel like its the best way to recharge after traveling and getting ready for the vacation ahead!

 

[DizDaD7]

Our flight arrives at 9:30 am on our arrival day. Because we'll be there so early, I'm not sure what to do this day. We currently have 5:00 reservations at T-Rex and it will be my husband and I with our 2 boys, ages 5 & 9. There are several options:

1. Relax, swim, Downtown Disney, maybe tour other resorts. What would you say is the average time to spend at DD? Is it an hour or 4 hour type of place? (Realizing it will vary family to family)

2. Head to MK to just look around and do some character meet and greets for a few hours. Then go to DD. Would see about pushing back our T-Rex reservation to 6:30 or so.

We will also be going to MK the following day but need to leave at 7:00 due to MNSSHP. Then we'll be attending the party on a later day but will be focusing mostly on party stuff that day from 7:00 on (arriving at 4:00).

I would love to go to MK on arrival day but worry we'll be trying to cram in too much. I would love to hear your thoughts!

As others have stated. Everyone has their own agenda, so it's entirely up to what you want to do or not?

We've been 11 times & literally done all different things. Mind you we've arrived at different hours of the day as well, and also driven twice.

Both times when we drove, we left at 4:30 pm on a Thur. afternoon, and drove 18 hours straight through, and arrived around lunch, the next day. Exhausted you would've thought we would just relax & get acclaimated to our resort & stuff, but on the contrary, we hit MK for about 6 hours both times, to meet up w/ friends that were already there.

If we fly in the afternoon, and arrive early enough, we just either pick a park and explore , or head to a different resort for dinner. Usually Ohana.

Obviously if it's late in the day we just wander around & call it an evening.

For early arrivals, you have every option, which you stated.

You already stated that you'll be visiting MK at least 2 times that trip, so I'd go with #1. But I'd teak it just a tad.

If you arrive at 9:30 you'll most likely get to your resort around 10:30. Checked in hopefully ,but if not You can still utilize the pool. Then I'd change & put your stuff in bell services.

I'd meander around the resort, grab a small bite while there, then I'd visit either POR, and/or POFQ. You can then take the boat ride down the Sassagoula River to DTD.. I believe you could also possibly stop at OKW, and/or SSR ( if u wanted too, before heading to DTD... You'll have plenty of time b4 & after to do as much or as little as you want to..

Get a good nights sleep, & be refreshed for the real start of your parks.