First Day Agenda?

[Lovebeingthere]

We arrive at Disney on 5/10 and our flight lands at 9:20 am. We are taking Magical Express to the hotel and we realize it will be too early to check in. However, we are going to the resort, getting our keys and are debating - do we go right to a park for the day, or do we call day 1 a "hotel day" and explore, play at the pool and have a nice meal there?

My kids are 3 and 6 and I am conflicted - they are going to be up around 4am for our flight so clearly they will be exhausted and could benefit from a "pool day". On the flip side, how do you tell them that they can't go to the parks for another day?

We have an 8 day trip booked - any suggestions from a more seasoned visitor would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[dogodisney]

For our 2 trips we have made our first day a resort and DTD day. That way it's not over done and we can relax for the parks. I bet your kids would enjoy the Lego Store, World of Disney, as well as Rainforest cafe. The new TREX restaurant is there too so they may enjoy seeing that. It wasn't opened when we were there in Sept. so I don't know for sure what it is like but it looks interesting from the the pics I've seen.

 

[Eeyore's Girl]

Maybe you should keep in mind that May 10 is Mother's Day. I'm not sure how the "holiday" would affect park attendance.

 

[dtripli]

I'll chime in - With your children being so young, and up soo early that morning; I would just chill at your resort. When our kids were younger we would just have an early dinner show scheduled for the first night. Or we would just get familiar with the resort and eat dinner by the pool and relax. It would be a reasonable "bedtime" night so we could all be rested to open the parks on our first full day. Now our children are a bit older 14, 12 and 10 but we have a new addition and he will be 16 months old on our next visit to the World in June - so I will be taking my own advice on day one as well!!!

 

[tribus121]

Just decide what you are going to do after you arrive .you can add the extra day after you arrive for only a few $ Last time we arrived early we did not decide till 2:30 in the afternoon that we wanted to go to a park the extra day only cost us $ 8.we had supper while out and where back at the hotel by 7:30

 

[Aliceacc]

The cost of adding another day to your tickets will be probably less than $20 total.

So why not add the day, and keep your options open? You could always go to the MK, explore Main Street, maybe hit a small ride or two, and then hit that pool.

 

[buzzmom3]

For us, we hit the park but take it easy. I tried a relaxing day last year and it back fired on me. My kids were so excited to be in WDW that not hitting a park right away upset them. I will also have to get my kids up at 4am for our flight. My plan is to go to MK until dinner time, then head back to the resort.

 

[Lovebeingthere]

Thanks for all your ideas & thoughts!

 

[belle&beast]

We had a similar arrival time and we were able to get into our room right away. We had lunch and made it to MK by 1:00!!!! The weather was too cold to swim that day, but my kids would have been devastated not to go to the parks right away. We took it easy and enjoyed the parade and Wishes and Spectromagic and headed back to the hotel. Keep in mind that in Jan. the parks close earlier than they will now, but my kids were 4 and 7. We left home at 3AM to catch a flight 3 hrs away. They slept in the car and on the flight, so they were ready to go when we arrived! DH and I were the ones who were tired! Have a great trip!

 

[mommymeg]

Our plane lands at 9:20 am this Wednesday..woot!
I'm hoping our room is ready...since it's mid week I'm keeping my fingers crossed..if it is ready, we will grab lunch at the resort and try to take a nap. I made ADR's for 4pm at Crystal Palace...to me, it's not officially a Disney vacation until we're walking down Main St. We will then maybe do a few attractions, but head back to the resort relatively early for a good night's sleep and rope drop on Thurs!!! My kids are 12,9, and 4... the older ones will hopefully keep up, and the little guy has his stroller if he can't hang...

Even with 8 days booked I feel like we won't have time for everything... but one thing I don't want to do is rush... I think for your group you might be better keeping it close to the resort...good luck

 

[djp0630]

I would definitely go to the park, but I might have them eat lunch and then nap if the room is ready. Personally, I agree with the pp, it's not officially a Disney trip until we are at the park! I know on our first day, we are going to hit the park, but be more relaxed, since it'll be later. Probably hit the parades & Wishes. Explore, find characters, etc. I know it'll be magical for my 3 year old daughter.