Arrival day? Too much?

[KKB]

OK...I keep bouncing back & forth...hit a park or forget about it.
Our flight arrives into Sanford at 2:30. Get luggage, get car, hour drive to condo, probably stop at grocery store (flirting with the idea of Amazon Fresh)...get settled.
We have 7 day WDW passes & 3 day US passes. Currently have 7 days of FPs booked, planning 2 days at US. Definitely not iron clad, but that's where we are for now.
We have free parking on arrival day (throwaway room) at WDW...condo is 10 min. or less from all parks.
Kids are 21-19-16.
Are we crazy to try to hit a park on arrival day for a few hours?

 

[ErinsMommy]

I think if you can drop the grocery story and get settled part until after you get back from a park, you'll likely have some good park time left if its a late closing park.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

For that age, I'd do Disney Springs the first night. I have three teenagers, and that's our tradition, checking out all the shops and eating at Wolfgang Puck Express, so no reservations are needed.

 

[jerzeystar09]

I say play it by ear. Your kids are old enough to know what they feel like doing. If they feel like they are up for a park, go for it. If not, I agree that Disney Springs is another good option.

 

[Klayfish]

Where is your flight coming in from? i.e. how long is it and do you have to get up super early?

Assuming you don't have to get up at 3am, yes, I would absolutely go to the parks. We stay off site too...we used to fly in when we lived in PA, but now we live close enough to drive. If you land at Sanford at 2:30pm, say you're out the door with your rental at 3:15pm. By time you stop at the grocery store, then get to the condo, it'll probably be fairly close to dinner time. I'd be up for doing a quick 3-4 hours in a park that night. Still gets you back to the condo at a reasonable hour.

 

[Hopefully]

I think travel day is very tiring. Plus it is wrought with uncontrollable delays.
Personally I would not plan on a park that day.
I would get settled in and ready to hit the ground running the first morning.

 

[scrapquitler]

OK...I keep bouncing back & forth...hit a park or forget about it.
Our flight arrives into Sanford at 2:30. Get luggage, get car, hour drive to condo, probably stop at grocery store (flirting with the idea of Amazon Fresh)...get settled.
We have 7 day WDW passes & 3 day US passes. Currently have 7 days of FPs booked, planning 2 days at US. Definitely not iron clad, but that's where we are for now.
We have free parking on arrival day (throwaway room) at WDW...condo is 10 min. or less from all parks.
Kids are 21-19-16.
Are we crazy to try to hit a park on arrival day for a few hours?

We certainly would visit a park. On one of our recent trips, we arrived at the resort approximately 1 1/2 hours before MK closed for the night. We got on the resort bus and went anyway, because just walking down Main Street, getting our photo taken and having an ice cream while watching the kiss goodnight made it worthwhile for us.

 

[AngiTN]

I'd go to a park if I felt up to it

 

[goofyintoronto]

For that age, I'd do Disney Springs the first night. I have three teenagers, and that's our tradition, checking out all the shops and eating at Wolfgang Puck Express, so no reservations are needed.

I think this is a great idea. Esp WGPE. So yummy. But really...disney springs is a great way to start a vacay. No appiontments or reservations needed! Easy Peasy.

Having said that, i've been crazy enough to do a park (usually MK) on my arrival night for a few hours. If you can get there around 6pm, you'll have a few hours to do the rides then watch fireworks for example. If they have EMH, even better!

 

[DisDINK]

Depends on how long your travel day is. If the planets align and you can get to your condo without any delays or meltdowns, you can totally do it. We are usually so excited to be there that we will hit a park because we won't actually relax otherwise. Lol. But, we always stay on property and don't have to worry about driving from Sanford. I think if we were arriving at the same time of day as you and all, we would probably take the time to settle, and either go our for dinner, or stay in, unpack, have a nice meal in, watch a disney movie as a primer, go to bed early and get to the park when it opens. Friends report that Amazon delivery is awesome by the way.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Are you planning to rope drop the next day, or make an early start? Then go to Disney Springs or hit the pool, then just go to bed early. Travel days are pretty tiring anyway.