Arrival Day - Which Park?

[robinson]

This is our first and probably only trip to WDW. We will be arriving on Monday, Sept. 27th. We will probably get there around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. I know that I need to make some plans, but I can't figure out which park to go to the afternoon that we arrive. Does anyone have any suggestions? We will be leaving on Friday, Oct. 1st. I would welcome any suggestions. Thanks so much.

 

[3 Mouseketeers]

We also will be arriving on the 27th but between 11-11:30.
We either will go to MGM or Blizzard Beach, all depends on the weather!!!

 

[swilphil]

Check the park hours. You may not have enough time to spend in the park. If you have a length of stay pass, go to the park with the longest hours. If you have a park hopper, relax, use the resort pool, have a nice dinner, and get ready to go bright and early the next day. We often do character meals at the resorts on our arrival nights.

 

[SeattleMark]

We were in this situation last year and ended up doing MGM. Frankly, I don't think there's enough to stay occupied for an entire day there. We thought a half day was just right, plus doing the Tower of Terror at sunset was fantastic!

Now I only wish they sold half-day tickets

 

[DisneyFan1980]

My family usually goes to Magic Kingdom the day we get there. A lot of the time, in the afternoon, some of the lines for rides are shorter, and if you have kids, it is a great way to start the magical vacation!

 

[gigi1313]

we always start out at epcot 'cause we rent a car at the airport and drop it off w/valet at the dolphin, so epcot is the easiest to get to... usually future world is less busy in the afternoon, so we snag a few rides (and a fast pass for test track) and then head to a decent first night dinner (garden grill or biergarten this year)... if we're not exhausted, we'll stick around for illuminations (but it's highly doubtful 'cause we have to leave home at 5am to catch our flight!)

 

[tinkerbellsfan]

We always go to MK on our first day!!!!!!

 

[Bacs22]

We normally hit EPCOT first, then if there's time head over to the MK in the evening.

 

[frannn]

on 9/10. We plan on having lunch at the food court at AS MO, then taking the bus over to MK. MK closes early that day, so we'll probably try to see Fantasmic that night. If not, we can always go the following day!

 

[bethzfl]

We're gonna go to MGM and then around 3, we'll check in to our hotel. Dinner at Ohana and then Wishes

 

[Daxx]

Our family has this rule that it's not officially a Disney vacation unless we start off at the MK. Even if we're there for just 10 mins. All we have to do is walk down Main Street USA, see the castle and the trip begins! We don't feel like we're in Disney w/o seeing the castle first. It's our opinion that the magic started w/the MK and continued into the other parks ... so we start off where the magic started.

 

[Del]

We always do MK first. We capture the magic on our first day! What a feeling...

Del

 

[westjones]

If you are looking to do 1 park, and on that day the park that you go to will be the only day you go to that park, then I would say MGM. There isn't as much to do there, so you can probably get through all of the attractions (use Fast Pass for Rockin Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror). They also have a wonderful night time show there called Fantastmic that is worth the visit to that park alone!

DJ

 

[ladydancer]

We will be getting to the park ourselfs about 1:00. We have to go to MK. Then we always go back to MK on our departure day. On departure day we have to head back to our hotel to pick up luggage and get ride to the airport about 3:00. We love MK!!!!

 

[pearljim]

MK is always the first stop, even if we only have time to stroll down Main! We have APs so admission isn't an issue for us.