First Day Arrive-What to do when not in park

[brown eyed girl]

When we arrive on the first day we usually arrive after noon and don't use a park ticket on that day. So if that happens, what do you do on the first day and where do you eat?

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I always head to the parks, but you could...

1. enjoy the amenities at your resort.
2. go to Downtown Disney (lots of great places to eat).
3. visit other resorts and perhaps eat at one of their dining options.

If it were me and I didn't plan to go to a park, I would probably go to DTD and shop/eat/wander around.

 

[brown eyed girl]

That's what I'm leaning towards...what's the best place to eat Downtown?

 

[MNFootballMommy]

On our last trip, we ate at Boma (a new place for us, so we had time to explore the resort as well) then took the bus to DTD and got the stuff that we KNEW would be shipped home (personalized C-mas ornaments, etc.) or would be needed to start our vacay out right (lanyard, etc.) so that we were ready to hit the parks the next morning!

 

[MinnieMO]

Earl of Sandwich is reallly good we ate there on your first day


We got to POP bought our cups while mom checked in and then headed to the room unpacked and headed to DTD and ate supper and shopped and then went back and went swimming for awhile and then right to bed and a always start out with MK

 

[Dawn68PA]

We always do DTD on our first day. DDs like to go to Disney Quest and do some beginning of the trip shopping in World of Disney. Wolfgang Puck was a nice meal. Very informal for our first day. This trip we are going to a resort for dinner but still doing DTD.

 

[goofiecrazy]

How about heading over to FW and doing the movie and the campfire.

 

[stopher1]

We like going miniature golfing at Fantasia Gardens on that first afternoon - and then dinner at the Boardwalk is nice.

If not that, we will swim or explore the resort - or head over to DTD. We like Rainforest Cafe, Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck Express. Then the kids love to explore what might be new at OUAT.

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

You could go to GF or Poly and watch the Wishes Fireworks from the beach and also watch the Electric Light Parade on the Water...

 

[marypoppinswannabe]

To "get in the Disney mood", DTD is the best place to go.

The last two times we have gone, we ate at the RainForest Cafe, shopped for a little while and then ate a sundae at Ghiradelli's.

However, I am thinking that I might want to check out Disney Quest this time.

 

[The Lion King]

Our first day we explored the resort and had dinner at 'Ohana. I wish I had known to head to DTD. We didn't get to spend much time there so I will make sure to do that the next time we go.

 

[Wife2Grumpy]

You could go to GF or Poly and watch the Wishes Fireworks from the beach and also watch the Electric Light Parade on the Water...

We have done this and loved it!!!!
Though, if you are going in December or any of the non summer months, you
may want to take a blanket or jacket. The wind off the lake was pretty cold.
We ended up putting on our rain ponchos to keep warm. It was still fun!!

 

[J&J'sMOM]

We take some time to expore our resort and then head over to CR to eat at Chef Mickey's!!!!

 

[Zoebear]

Are the rest. in DTD on the dining plan ?

We are going on our first night , and I'm wondering if Earl of Sand or Wolfgang Puck's would be available for CS or TS credits........

 

[suzimar57]

we're planning on spending our afternoon/evening arrival day at our resort - we'll check in, store the luggage, eat at the food court, wander around the property, walk along (half) the lake, sit poolside - just unwind and transition into "vacation mode" - no DTD for us: did that last year, DH wound up with a migraine (too much overload for him with crowds, noise, heat, sunlight) - no parks either or taking busses to another resort - just staying put!

 

[Just(donald)Ducky]

When I went there in jan, Wolfgang pucks was closed. Don't know why.

However, earl of sandwhich is good, good food and takes CS credits. Very good.

This past time we went, we got off the plane, ran to get our rental car, ran to wal-mart to go shopping, ran to the hotel, ran to the room, unpacked really really fast, then ran to Chef Mickey's. By the end of the night, we were exhausted from all the running, plus the boys spent more time in the little shops in the contemporary then actually eating dinner.

Next time, we are skipping buying stuff at wal-mart (such as hassle!), going to the hotel, then going to DTD for earl of sandwhich, shopping, then a sundae at ghiradles However you spell it, it was SOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! We got one of those huge sundaes....

Question: can two adults and two kids knock off a sundae with 8 scoops of icecream and 8 toppings?

Answer: No. No they can't. But they had a great time trying! BEST SUNDAE EVER!

 

[tandj]

We're staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We're going to use the resort's pool, go on a hotel tour, do the arcarde, eat dinner at Boma and then go to the Boardwalk. There we plan on renting a bike, and stopping at the carnival games and sit outside the Big River Grille. I think there's miniature golf too!

 

[Abharmagic]

Go to Downtown Disney- that's what we did and will do again on our first day- it's very fun!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

You could check out other resorts, hang out at your resort, or go to DTD. If you go to DTD, Wolfgang Puck Express is a GREAT place to eat.

 

[powellrj]

If there is a hard ticket event the night you are there like MNSSHP, P&PP or MVMCP you can enter the park after 4 with just your party ticket and not have to use a park ticket for the evening. We did this on our last trip and it worked out great! We arrived around 1, had lunch at Rainforest at DTD, checked into hotel and headed over to MK!