Do you go to parks on arrival day?

[coloredimage]

We always do; we always get an early flight (as early as possible) so that we're there by mid-morning/early afternoon. Our normal first day and last day both HAVE to be in MK (this has only been different once, when we went to HS)

That said, last year we left a little later than normal and had problems with check-in that took a couple hours to resolve. By the time we were finally on the way to the parks we were barely making it to our dinner ADR at Crystal Palace. So I can see why people like having lazy landing days. It made for a very stressful day

 

[agavegirl1]

I used to tour my resort and go to Downtown Disney on my first day, but this time we are staying at a value resort and DTD is a mess so we will be going to Epcot for dinner and a few rides instead. With FP+, I will be assured of doing Test Track and Mission Space before dinner.

 

[MataHari22]

I used to, especially when I went for shorter trips, and the cost was less expensive for park tickets. I don't think I would use a non expiring ticket for only a few hours though. These days, I take it slower and I don't try and cram in as much as I used to everyday. I have also started to add in an extra day for traveling. (This year, I booked the 21st-29th October. The first and last days are just traveling.) This way I can relax the day I get to WDW. I am usually up very early for the flight, like 3am, so I am like a zombie by the time I get to the hotel. Last year, we just settled in and unpacked, explored the hotel a bit, ate some dinner and went to sleep early to do rope drop the next day. This year, we may get in a little earlier than last year. I thought about going to DTD maybe, if I had energy. I will probably just relax with some pool time at our resort though.

 

[DisneyFave]

We tend to go to DTD on arrival day. Our tradition is to have dinner, buy a Christmas tree ornament, and turn in early

What a lovely tradition! Thanks for the idea!

 

[Dawn Dis]

We usually get in early afternoon. Tradition is go to grand Floridian for dinner with Cinderella and the steps ride the monorail and stroll around the grounds of some of a different resort each time. Relax and get to bed early....hit the ground running the next day. 72 days... Can't wait

 

[georgina]

It depends. My last trip was 4 nights, so I planned a DHS afternoon/late EMH evening on my arrival day. Then Disney changed the EMH on me at the last minute. I went anyway (arrived after 4 PM in a horrible rainstorm) but had less time there. With FP prebooked it wasn't too bad.

We usually try to arrive late morning so we can hit a park on arrival day when the whole family goes.

My departure day I went to Blizzard Beach in the morning/early afternoon which was very nice!

 

[Dawn Dis]

We usually get in early afternoon. Tradition is go to grand Floridian for dinner with Cinderella and the steps ride the monorail and stroll around the grounds of a different deluxe resort on the monorail each time. This year hoping to see some of the refurb st the Polynesian. Relax and get to bed early....hit the ground running the next day. 72 days... Can't wait

 

[srauseo]

We will on this trip. We are landing at MCO around noon and, if all goes according to plan, we will have some time to relax at the hotel before heading to a 5pm ADR at Chef Mickey's. It's my niece and nephew's first time and we thought this would be a great way to kick things off. After dinner we will take the monorail over to EPCOT and then the kids will bus back to AoA with Grandma and the adults will hit up EPCOT for the night. We have FP+ for Test Track and an After Hours Wind Down ADR at Rose & Crown. It was only like $10 for the additional park day and I was really interested to try out the Wind Down event.

30 Days from the World!

 

[DisneyDarling13]

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!

I love this! We always get a Dole Whip and head right to Pirates of the Carribean...then usually Splash, Haunted Mansion and whatever else! First Day Magic Kingdom is always a "whatever" day.

But yeah, OP...I would say absolutely hit up a park and grab some FP+, it would be absolutely worth it!

 

[Cloudless Nights]

We usually get a 6am flight out of Boston or Manchester, NH and arrive at MCO by 9-9:30am. Usually at a park by 11am and stay all day!

 

[IWRBIE]

We always stay at an Epcot Resort and within an hour of check-in we’re at the Rose and Crown for a few pints while we wait for the next British Revolution set to start.

 

[monaleigh70]

I don't know if I would waste a whole ticket on a few hours max, especially if that means having to go somewhere else as well. We never really know when we'll get there when we drive, well ballpark ,I guess, but we usually arrive early afternoon if we land at MCO.

We usually hang out at the pool, organize our stuff, get a bite to eat usually at a resort and ride the monorail. DTD is another choice for us as well, there is enough Disney magic there to whet our appetite for the following day. Another person mentioned buying Christmas ornaments - guilty as charged! Means a nice respite with a drink for DH since I can never make up my mind.

I've been to WDW as many times with kids as without, so that also would have a bearing on my decision. The smaller they are, the more exhausted they are; the older they are, the more they can wear you down. In that case, I defer to my thresh hold for dealing with whining.

 

[DisneyFave]

We usually get a 6am flight out of Boston or Manchester, NH and arrive at MCO by 9-9:30am. Usually at a park by 11am and stay all day!

Do you usually drive from MCO straight to parks? I'm hoping to make a 3:00 DHS ADR with a 12:35 MCO arrival and checking in (or just dropping bags with bellhop if tight for time) at AKL in between.

 

[CounselorX]

We arrive on Saturdays and MK is usually open pretty late on Saturdays. So, our next trip we'll be arriving at 2:30, get to Pop Century around 3:30, get situated, and get to MK at about 5:00 PM. MK closes at 2:00 AM that night so we'll have a good 9 hours of park time. We like for MK to be our first and last park days

The day that we do nothing specific is the day before we leave. I hate rushing to get packed up and ready to go so our last full day is designated as a day off, but of course if we're all packed up and have things in order then we may spontaneously decide to go to a park.

 

[crazymomof4]

We usually make arrival day a non-park day.
Resort time (pool, gift shop, arcade), trip to DTD and then dinner at Chef Mickeys.
This trip will be little different as we are staying at BC. Flight arriving around 9am. Should be at BC by 11. Pool, lunch from Hannahs, maybe a nap in the room then dinner at Cape May followed by a little after-dark time at Boardwalk, catching some of Illuminations from the bridge and then to bed early (for me anyway)
The rest of our days are go go go with rope dropping and park hopping to catch some late night EMH's so our 1st and last days I have scheduled to be more relaxing. That may be the only time I get to actually enjoy the BC as my kids (14-22) do NOT like to leave parks to take "breaks"!

 

[catra121]

I always go to the parks on arrival day. I get the earliest flight possible and it usually lands around 11am...which means I am usually in the parks by 1pm.

This year it's a little different from normal as the past few years we have usually landed at MCO, taken Magical Express to the resort, checked in (room in always ready...LOVE that), and then headed to Epcot with a 2pm ADR at Coral Reef. After lunch we would hang at Epcot for a little and then head over to MK for MSEP and Wishes. This year...there is no MSEP or Wishes on arrival night so instead we are going to MK first with 3 FP+ set up for Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan's Flight, and 7DMT...then we are headed to Epcot for a 6:30 dinner ADR at Chefs de France and then we will stay for Illuminations. I am SO excited!!

I can't imagine a better way to start off a Disney World trip than a night at the parks and watching one of the night shows. MSEP and Wishes are my favorites...but Illuminations will be a great way to start things off as well.