Arrival Day... What else to do?

[Moeluv4u7]

Okay we are driving and anticipate arriving somewhere around 11 am- noon time frame
I imagine our resort will not be ready for us yet so we plan to leave luggage at Desk Services (?) and after getting some info and such, grabbing a ferry to DTD to grab a bite at T-Rex and explore DTD a bit. We then plan to head back and check in, check out our villa, and... this is an area I could use suggestions...not sure should we try and head to a park or just enjoy the resort for awhile, maybe get in pool time or such... Later in the evening we plan to bus it over to the Contemporary (BLT) and look around and then monorail to the point that we can get a "ride" to VWL for the Chip & Dale Campfire Movie & Sing-A-Long... maybe afterwards watch the Electric Water Pageant from there and then back to SSR for the evening... Perhaps turn in OR just get kids turned in and head out to explore the resort and surrounding areas for a bit before going in to get ready for our first full day...
Also, am I right in the transportation option to get to VWL from SSR? I know we can't get there directly, we plan to head to Contemporary because the next night we will have ADR's at Chef Mickey's and I just want to make sure we know where it is and how we may get there... reason for checking it out a bit on our way to Campfire...
Any thoughts on our plans and suggestions on what else to do or even changing up what current plans are would be appreciated- Oh! We will be using AP's so grabbing park time will be great if it is suggested...
Also, we are arriving Easter Sunday... Another reason why suggestions are needed- Thx so much! Oh! & reason I posted here is because since we are new to DVC I am open to resort exploration as an activity for us to do as well- Just not sure what each have or if just taking it all in by taking a nice walk around would be suggested... Again, Thx!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since you are arriving on Easter, your plan is a good one. It could be busy that whole week though, so why not get some park time in Sunday evening? We can NOT stay away from parks on our arrival day. We also usually get there around noon, and after checking in, we head to the parks until our villa is ready. Then around 5 we head out to buy groceries and get moved in. That gives us plenty of time to go back and catch Illuminations that first night (a tradition for us).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree that since you arrive on Easter what you have planned sounds good. Also please be aware that the Chip & Dale movie is not at VWL but is at the Fort Wilderness Campground. You will want to take a boat from the Contemporary to FW and then an internal campground bus will get you to the area for the movie. There is no other stop on the monorail that will get you closer.

Since you are at SSR another option to travel between FW and SSR is to go to DTD and get the FW bus. Since you want to see BLT/CR then the bus from SSR to MK and then walk to the Contemporary or catch the resort monorail to CR is the way to go. That would also give you a chance to head into MK for a little while if you wanted.

The bus to DTD may be your best route for returning - FW to DTD and either walk or boat back to SSR. That or the boat from FW to MK and then bus from MK to SSR. As you can see there are a couple of options to choose from since there aren't any busses that go directly from resort to resort.

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Thanks so much for the help you guys! This being our first trip, I am overly excited but also a bit nervous that my "plans" may not be perfect (which isn't the end of the world, but I really want our kids to have a great time with no stress) - I know nothing is perfect but it makes me feel good that I have obviously thought this through pretty well- Especially since we are going during a very busy time as our first trip! We will be Celebrating our First Trip but also my B-day which will be just a couple days before we arrive! This has been my dream since I was a kid and now get to experience for the first time with my own kids for the first time! Thx again- I don't mean to ramble but we are so close to our trip time- I just can't help it! LOL