Epcot on our first day?

[Shrill]

Hello everyone!

Busy planning our trip August 28-September 5th, staying at POR. There are three of us: myself, DH, DD7. It will be the first trip to WDW for all of us, and it will probably be a surprise for DD. We land at MCO at 9:30 am, so I am figuring we will be at our resort by 11 at which point we will definitely need lunch. We will probably be up at 2:30/ 3:00 AM to catch our flight so I expect we will be tired.

I am trying to figure out what to do on that first day. One option is to do Downtown Disney/ and hang out at the resort. This is ideal for fatigue reasons, however I imagine DD will be PUMPED so I don't know if going to a park might be better?

The other option is to go to Epcot. I imagine we could easily get there by 1 (?). We would spend 4 or 5 hours in the park, then eat at Garden Grill so that we could add some characters on our first day (plus I love Pluto and they have Chip and Dale!!). Then back to POR and to bed early for MK the next day.

What do you think? Is there anything particular I am missing? Also, we had been planning 2 full days at Epcot: I'm wondering if it is possible to do Epcot in 1 day and and afternoon, and do it well (since we may not be back).

Thanks!

 

[leahlefler]

We are doing something similar to what you are planning - we will be up at 4:00 am (not quite as early as you) and arriving in Orlando at 9:15 am. We are going to EPCOT that day - I figure we can wander around, have lunch, and return to our hotel when we're wiped out. I did snag a FP+ for Test Track that afternoon (around 3), but figure if the boys are too tired to do it, then we'll just skip it and take a rest.

 

[PoohsFan1]

In 2 days we will be doing pretty much the same thing as what you are planning. We will have to get up at 3am so we can get to the airport by 4am (plane leaves at 5:55am). Plane is due to land at 9:30am and we should be at our resort by 10:30/11am (staying at POFQ). After we drop our bags off we are going to have lunch at the resort and then head straight over to Epcot to ride some rides, eat dinner at Biergarten, and watch Illuminations. We'll then head back to the resort to get a good night's sleep because we will be going to MK bright and early (early EMH).

We will be at Epcot twice however they are 2 half days, we will be going on our arrival day and departure day. We have gone to Epcot enough times that we know what we like and what we want to miss, however if this is your first time going, you may want to do Epcot 2 days because there are so much to see and do in both WS and FW. Have a fantastic trip!!

 

[PSUGuy]

We always land around 9:30 am and whether we use Tiffany or rent a car we do a grocery stop before getting to BoardWalk. We can usually make it to WS shortly after the 11 am opening and there are numerous dining options if you feel the need to eat. We do breakfast at the departing airport so as not to waste time at WDW and with FP+ we've got a few rides in our pocket before arrival. Fatigue can be an issue but adrenalin compensates for that and we get a lot in on the first day and hit the sack a little earlier than usual to catch up on sleep.

Bill From PA

 

[Brian Noble]

We often start at Epcot on our arrival afternoon. However, we have learned after long experience to *not* book an ADR on our arrival day. As often as not, we don't have the energy to deal with a sit-down meal and are better off just grabbing something quick and low-overhead.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I like your second plan. When we went in 2012, there were 7 of us spanning 4 generations. We were up at 4am to catch our flight and we all figured we would want to take a nap when we got to the resort. We were wrong. We were all so high on adrenaline that we couldn't rest. We tried but we really couldn't just lie there. We ended up heading to the park. I think going to a park other than Magic Kingdom for your first day is smart since you will have your child. No doubt, she will love Magic Kingdom. It has been my experience that kids enjoy the other parks more if they aren't thinking about how they wish they could be at Magic Kingdom. If they see those other parks first, they tend to enjoy them more overall. Just my experience.

Anyway, I might hold off on having a Garden Grill ADR, though. There is always the chance that you might be too tired to go to the parks, but then you will feel obligated to go since you have the reservation. Instead, I'd think about having a character breakfast the next morning. It will kick off your trip great and you know you will be able to get to sleep early the night before to truly enjoy the experience the next morning.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Next trip we will also be getting up around 4 am for our flight to MCO.

My plan is still to do MK right after check in which I'm guessing will be around 11 am. MK is our arrival day tradition. I will have some FP+ book, Chef Mickey dinner (also a tradition) and then watch Wishes from the Poly beach. I would love to watch it in the park which we've done in the past but being up that early is going to run us to the ground. Since we are staying at the Poly we can head right back to our room after Wishes and be up for MK AM EMH the next day.

 

[larryz]

Then back to POR and to bed early for MK the next day.

Epcot's nice any time, but it might be a bit anti-climactic for the little ones, since it's not as "Mickey-Minnie" as the MK. Frankly, if I were going to spend time in Epcot, I'd eat in one of the countries rather than the Garden Grill. Germany, Japan and Mexico are three of my favorites!

But that's just me... I'm sure the characters at the Garden Grill will make your kids' days... and prep them for MK the next day.

 

[Groomer Gal]

We are doing this as well in May.
Up at about 3 am. Flight at 6:35. Land at 9:35.
Hopefully be at BWV around 11 - 11:30.

We have an ADR at Via Napoli at 2 pm. I made it a late lunch just in case we have any delays. I KNOW we will be too excited to take a nap and our room might not even be ready anyway. Check in isn't until 4 pm so no idea if it will be ready.
I figure we will head into the WS, prob make a FP for Soarin , have a nice big lunch and head back to the resort early to unpack , have our groceries brought up from Bell Services and just get settled.

We head to MK for rope drop the next day so I'm hoping everyone gets to bed early.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

We arrive at WDW on Friday and we plan on hitting Epcot as well. We are driving in (visiting parents in the area) so we have 10:15am breakfast at Chef Mickey's then we have FP+ booked at Epcot for the afternoon. We are eating at Coral Reef for supper at 4:30pm and then we will head back to CR to watch Wishes from our balcony. It's supposed to rain on Friday but we are crossing our fingers and telling ourselves that Epcot is actually the best park for touring in the rain

 

[DisneyFive]

Your plan for epcot would work great, and yes I think 1 1/2 days is good especially with a 7 year old.

I think of our 4 trips, three of them were Epcot on our arrival day. I highly, highly recommend a FP+ for Soarin that evening or afternoon. It's an incredible way to find out how awesome some of the WDW attractions can be. Everyone has their favorite ride, and for me, Soarin is the one that screams WDW to me.

We always save our first or second full day for Magic Kingdom. It's such an amazing park that I don't want to see it on our arrival day, when 1) we're tired 2) we don't have all day there 3) we would miss the park opening show.

Have an awesome trip.

Dan

 

[nessz79]

We like to do Epcot on our first day since we are still tired from traveling and Epcot can be a much more laid-back day. Eat, explore, ride a couple things, and head back when you're tired.

 

[Arden01]

Hello everyone!

Busy planning our trip August 28-September 5th, staying at POR. There are three of us: myself, DH, DD7. It will be the first trip to WDW for all of us, and it will probably be a surprise for DD. We land at MCO at 9:30 am, so I am figuring we will be at our resort by 11 at which point we will definitely need lunch. We will probably be up at 2:30/ 3:00 AM to catch our flight so I expect we will be tired.

I am trying to figure out what to do on that first day. One option is to do Downtown Disney/ and hang out at the resort. This is ideal for fatigue reasons, however I imagine DD will be PUMPED so I don't know if going to a park might be better?

The other option is to go to Epcot. I imagine we could easily get there by 1 (?). We would spend 4 or 5 hours in the park, then eat at Garden Grill so that we could add some characters on our first day (plus I love Pluto and they have Chip and Dale!!). Then back to POR and to bed early for MK the next day.

What do you think? Is there anything particular I am missing? Also, we had been planning 2 full days at Epcot: I'm wondering if it is possible to do Epcot in 1 day and and afternoon, and do it well (since we may not be back).

Thanks!

We went last August and had a similar first day schedule. Early flight from NJ and landed around at MCO 9 or so. We were at our resort by 10:30. We went to MK around 3:30 and stayed until 8. Honestly, I wish we didn't go to a park that day and instead stayed at the resort to swim, chill out, have an early dinner. It set us off on the wrong foot and my daughters were exhausted from the get go after being up since 3:30. They were just too pumped after going to MK the first day to get to sleep that night. It kind of affected our next two days of touring and we ended up skipping some things we had planned to catch up on rest. Maybe Epcot will be more laid back and not as stimulating though, so it might work better. We're going back this summer and staying at POFQ and will be spending the first day at the resort with a trip to DTD for an early dinner. Then we will hit a part at RD the next morning hopefully after a good night's sleep. You know your family best, but going to a park after an early flight just didn't work well for us.

 

[GatorChris]

Epcot would be perfect for a day like that. It's open the latest, so that's a good start. Plus all the World Showcase entertainment starts after Noon - if you consider what they have there now "entertainment". You could enjoy a good meal from World Showcase and catch Illuminations. It's what I would do if I had a half day.

 

[ruthies12]

We always do dinner at chef mickeys on our arrival day to say hello to the characters.

I think your epcot plan could work just fine. If you end up deciding not to do garden grill you could always fp+ character spot as a way to stay hello to characters. I would not plan to stay for Illuminations though, I would plan to leave the park earlier in the evening. I would hit the pool at the hotel to burn off any leftover energy in the 7 year old then get her to bed early for a rope drop morning the next day.

 

[DisneyFive]

We always do dinner at chef mickeys on our arrival day to say hello to the characters.

I think your epcot plan could work just fine. If you end up deciding not to do garden grill you could always fp+ character spot as a way to stay hello to characters. I would not plan to stay for Illuminations though, I would plan to leave the park earlier in the evening. I would hit the pool at the hotel to burn off any leftover energy in the 7 year old then get her to bed early for a rope drop morning the next day.

I agree. I would NOT, repeat NOT , set yourself off on the wrong foot staying late at Epcot that first night.

Dan

 

[Shrill]

I agree. I would NOT, repeat NOT , set yourself off on the wrong foot staying late at Epcot that first night.

Dan

I was thinking we would have an early dinner (5 or so) and then back to the resort. With any luck, she'd be fast asleep by 8 (she is usually a good sleeper). We would see Illuminations on our other Epcot day.

 

[Collette]

We went last August and had a similar first day schedule. Early flight from NJ and landed around at MCO 9 or so. We were at our resort by 10:30. We went to MK around 3:30 and stayed until 8. Honestly, I wish we didn't go to a park that day and instead stayed at the resort to swim, chill out, have an early dinner. It set us off on the wrong foot and my daughters were exhausted from the get go after being up since 3:30. They were just too pumped after going to MK the first day to get to sleep that night. It kind of affected our next two days of touring and we ended up skipping some things we had planned to catch up on rest. Maybe Epcot will be more laid back and not as stimulating though, so it might work better. We're going back this summer and staying at POFQ and will be spending the first day at the resort with a trip to DTD for an early dinner. Then we will hit a part at RD the next morning hopefully after a good night's sleep. You know your family best, but going to a park after an early flight just didn't work well for us.

I think this is great advice. Since you have a nice long week at WDW, and unless you really have your heart set on going to a park that first day, I would spend that first day at the resort getting unpacked, settling in and enjoying the resort itself. POR is beautiful. Maybe ride the boat to Downtown Disney. Dinner at POR or DD. Get a good night's sleep and be at MK for the opening show.

I think you should easily be able to do Epcot well in a full day and an afternoon. For me doing WDW well would be to plan your "must do" rides and attractions, have some fun dining experiences, enjoy some rest and down time and then see what else fits into your days.

Have a great time planning this fun vacation for your family!! And have a great time there, too!!

 

[DisneyFive]

I was thinking we would have an early dinner (5 or so) and then back to the resort. With any luck, she'd be fast asleep by 8 (she is usually a good sleeper). We would see Illuminations on our other Epcot day.

Looks like a great plan. ...although it can be hard to leave a park once you're there, it's so much fun... but hitting Epcot for a bit to get you a taste of WDW would be a nice start. I would definately try to have at least one headliner booked with FP+, like Soarin or Test Track. Epcot has a very nice dedicated character spot meet and greet as well.

Soarin or Test Track, character meet and greet and Dinner would be a great itinerary and then head back for an early night.

Of course, it's totally up you you. You know what works best for your group. You could just chill at the resort too. (although we have found the urge to be at a park too irresistable)

Dan

 

[Shrill]

We often start at Epcot on our arrival afternoon. However, we have learned after long experience to *not* book an ADR on our arrival day. As often as not, we don't have the energy to deal with a sit-down meal and are better off just grabbing something quick and low-overhead.

Hmm...yes I see your point. I realize that most table service restaurants need to be booked ahead....what are the chances of Garden Grill having space for walk ups in the last week of August, especially if we went a bit early (eg. 4:45 or 4:30)?