Do you go to parks on arrival day?

[DisneyFave]

I have a nonexpiring 10-day park hopper and I'm trying to decide if I should go to the parks after waking up at 8am (normal time) and landing at MCO at 12:30. I'd have to be back at AKL to meet DH for dinner at 7pm... Would y'all go to a park in the meantime? Do y'all generally use park tickets on arrival days? I can't decide if it's worth it for my short 3-night trip!!

 

[fizz13]

As you're arriving fairly early in the day yes I would. You could have 4 hours minimum of park time, get 3 FP booked and you're all good to go

 

[tcherjen]

Sometimes... Not always though...

 

[Pkltm]

We often just go to DTD.

 

[Meriweather]

depends on when we land.....lately it has been 4:30 ish, so no.

 

[JRawkSteady]

We always have a hot dog at Casey's on the day of arrival. It's been tradition for almost 10 years now

 

[butterfly71076]

We usually arrive around 2pm. Get settled at the resort, traditional Chef Mickey dinner, then we usually hit MK. A few rides, maybe Wishes, and then back to the resort. I do think with your time frame, you will have plenty of time to hit a park! Have a great trip!

 

[bjs1228]

Yes, just as fast as we can get there!

 

[ajwolfe]

Always....We've came all that way and are so excited to get a jump on things that there is no way I could hold my kids back from getting into the parks on arrival day - and us parents are just as bad.

 

[katt789]

If you have the ticket, and you want to, you may as well, you've got some time in there. Head over to AK and spend a few hours there!

I personally like to head to the parks on arrival day and we're coming from Western Canada, so it's up around 6am, land around 4:30pm and we race off to a park. We also have AP's so it's worth it ticket wise.

Another choice if you decide you don't want to (and what I do when I'm with a person with no ap) is just head to dtd!

 

[Disworldluv]

We often just go to DTD.

We do the same, it's DTD to get our shopping done. Then a relaxing, wonderful dinner. Rest up and let the games begin the next day early to late.

 

[ParrotBill]

We often do if we arrive by afternoon and the parks are open late enough and we have the tickets to do it.

After traveling, I know that bed and air conditioning look tempting...or that pool... but... Dole Whip and Haunted Mansion are calling!

 

[Gottahavemorecowbell]

We used to only go to DTD for a nice, relaxing meal and then hit the ground running the next morning. However, lately we have been going to MK on arrival day. We normally get to MCO between 10:30-noonish. We check in, get our bearings, take a short nap since we usually get up very early and then off we go to MK around 4:00-close.

 

[Nanajo1]

Very rarely is our room ready. We do check in. We have APs so it is not like using a day. If we are at BWV We will walk to EPCOT or DHS to grab something to eat and catch a show. Or just sit by the pool. No hard charging. If we are OKW we will take the boat to DTD.

 

[SoonerSean]

We usually fly out of Dallas and shoot for a 7-8AM departure. We land in Orlando by 11-ish... ME to the resort... in the park by 2.

 

[brownierose]

No -- we used to go to dtd growing up now with kids of my own we just relax in the room, walk around resort, have meal in food court -- very low key so we can rest before our adventure begins the next day

 

[Disney4Shaw]

We have always gone to a park on arrival day. If arriving really late maybe not. I can understand wanting to save that day for a future trip though. Delayed gratification, ya know?

 

[dawnhaze]

I absolutely do! I fly in early - I think the latest I've ever landed in Orlando was 10:30am - take a short nap at my hotel, and then head to the parks for the afternoon and evening.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

We are also DTD folks. If we don't get there day one, we're not getting there at all. Usually arrive at 2, head to DTD, do all our shopping, get a good meal, have a great dessert, bed early.

Following morning we're out of the room by 7:30 if we could get a CP 8am reservation.

 

[I-4Bound]

I buy the 10-day nonexpiring tickets, too. We never go to the parks on arrival day, mainly because I don't want to use up one of those 10 precious days on a partial day Yes, I am a total cheapskate! I pay $750-plus for those tickets, and I want to get my money's worth out of them

We always visit a local comic book store that my DH and DS love on arrival day, and we usually go to DTD, grocery store, etc.