Favorite Arrival Day Strategies?

[photobob]

We are drivers and it's about a 9 hour drive for us. We usually arrive at 4 pm and check in. We take lots of stuff with us and what we usually do is, I take the kids to the pool and DW unpacks and gets the room the way she wants it and joins us at the pool later or she takes a nap. Dinner at the resort, early to bed, early to rise. MGM is usually our first day park..

 

[EsmeraldaX]

The only thing I *MUST* do on my first evening is eat at the castle

 

[goofy4tink]

We eat at Chef Mickey's that first night. This year, we're arriving a day earlier than usual. So, we are getting a late morning flight and arriving MCO around 2ish. We'll go check-in, wander around a bit, have an early dinner at CM's. I'm hoping it might be an E-night at MK. It was last year. If it is, we'll do that.

 

[rykdad]

In the past, we didn't have UPH or Length of Stay passes, so we would wait until the following morning to visit the Parks. On the day of arrival, we would shop at Downtown Disney and then have a character meal at one of the resorts. Our kids really loved the giant Disney Store and the Lego Store.

This year we will have UPH passes, so we plan on going to Disney Quest since we have never been before, then have dinner at Downtown Disney.

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

Were trying something different this trip. I purchased a package (couldnt resist the kids stay&play free deal) for 5 days with a late night flight out on the last day and purchased a room only reservation (with code) for the night before "official" package check in, arriving around 8ish so that we can get a good nights sleep and hit the parks bright and early to take FULL advantage of our UPHs. (Sorry for the runon sentence. Im a little proud of my myself and my great idea)
Flying stresses me out and I dont get any sleep the night before I fly. Im afraid Id poop out too early if we flew out early morning on day 1 and hit the parks.