First Day Arrive-What to do when not in park

[Planning fanatic mom]

We did DTD too and ate at the Earl of Sandwich. We stayed at POR so the boat ride was so cool. The DDs also bought their stuffed character that night so that mousekeeping would have something to "play" with when they cleaned out room. Our favorite was goofy swinging from the blinds.

I've always wanted to try Chef Mickey's or Hoop-de-du revue. The sing along and campfire sound interesting too.

Have Fun

 

[karters*mom]

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?

Do you have a car?
We hit a tonne of shops. 2 Disney outlets. Stuff was SO much cheaper there!
We put 386 Miles on our Rental Car...lol
3 fleamarkets, disney outlets, tonnes of shops...lots of fun!

 

[mrs_hower726]

The DH and I are going to be in WDW for our first time in a couple of weeks and we will be getting in around noon. We are staying at the POR and we're going to grab lunch there then head to downtown disney to hit some of the stores. We are eating dinner at Planet Hollywood (they are on the dining plan) and by the sounds of others, dessert of Giradelli chocolate sounds delicious!!!

I also have read others that like to hop from resort to resort to take a look of what they all look like.

Have fun!

 

[dburg30]

How many days are you there for? After what, 5 or 6 days, extra days are like 2 bucks or something silly like that? If staying for that long, get the extra day ticket, and go hit a park!!

 

[ZoZo]

Downtown Disney is very fun. I like Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck Express for inexpensive, quick places to eat. You can do some shopping and looking around.

You could also do a little resort-hopping. It's fun to go to a new hotel like Animal Kingdom Lodge or the Grand Floridian and really look around.

Another fun place to spend some time is Boardwalk.

 

[idlewoman1]

We have actually driven to the Contemporary and hopped on the monorail and rode it around and then you can transfer to the other monorail that takes you around EPCOT, that is if you have a rental car to get you to the Contemporary. We have also enjoyed the resorts pool and then had a nice dinner at one of the resorts and shopped a bit at Pleasure Island. Have a great trip.

 

[DisneyMagick2008]

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.

Downtown Disney's a great idea. I've never been, never really thought about going or trying to work it in with all of the theme park fun and everything, but next time I arrive in the afternoon, I'm there. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Rora]

Like most have said DTD is the place to go.. However, it can get hectic so maybe you want to opt for relaxing at your resort or resort hopping (my favorite!!) Almost every resort has a gift shop with different themed merchandise unique to that particular resort and the resorts are just beautiful in themselves.. No matter what you do, you'll have a great trip!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

We should be arriving around 12/1 on our arrival day also. I think we'll have lunch at the foodcourt, go to the pool, and check out the resort.
Then we're going to have dinner at chef mickeys, then go play Mini golf. My kids love mini golf, and the courses look so cute here.
we're not going to do a park either, I want the kids to get to bed pretty early, as we usually go for very early flights when we fly. I don't want to start them off exhausted for the week. Although i'm sure whatever you do in disney will be nice.

 

[kg66]

This trip we're doing something different. I usually like to set up and go right to MK. This trip we're arriving at POP around noon. We'll grab lunch, unpack a bit, lounge at the pool all afternoon. Dinner at WL then over to FW for the campfire & movie.

That's the plan so far!

 

[polyfan60]

Usually we swim and what we did last trip was we went swimming then we walked to Epcot and then went to the arcade at ESPN. Downtown Disney is also a fun way to catch a movie and eat dinner!

 

[ADAMS4]

We do DTD, and eat at earl of sandwich.

 

[05MM08MM]

We should be arriving at the airport around noonish, and figure another hour & 1/2 after that arrive at our resort to check-in early. If we can't get a room right away we may jump on a bus to another location, but if not we will settle in our rooms for a while and check out the resort since it will be our first visit their, maybe go for a swim & then rest for a little while. We have an ADR at 1900 Park Fare for dinner, then plan to watch the water parade from our hotel at night.

We plan to do DTD our last day their before we take our flight back home.

 

[BigDopeyMom]

Do you have a car?
We hit a tonne of shops. 2 Disney outlets. Stuff was SO much cheaper there!
We put 386 Miles on our Rental Car...lol
3 fleamarkets, disney outlets, tonnes of shops...lots of fun!

This will be our 4th trip to Disney, first time we are renting a car...can you tell me where these outlets and flea markets are? Sounds like FUN!!

 

[srwarden1928]

We went to Cirque on our arrival day. It was a nice Disney beginning without burning a park day. We planned to walk around DTD after, but it was pouring down rain. Then it didnt rain again until we were packing the car to leave.

 

[EJKONZ]

We always drive to WDW (I need more than three oz. of liquid to keep my old self in presentable shape!) and will check in at the resort (SSR) by noon then off to the outlet malls! After a few hours of shopping and a quick stop at the grocery store in the Crossroads center, our room should be ready so we can "move in". We will acclimate to the resort (our 1st time - not DVC members) then either head to DTD (our usual M.O.) or perhaps, as this trip is one where we are trying to do different things than usual, we might explore some other resorts ... we have never seen or been to the Boardwalk area!

 

[dis75ney]

We'll be driving down from Chicago and spending our first day in Florida at Kennedy Space Center. We'll most likely spend all day there (DH and DS and HUGE space buffs), and from there we'll drive to Orlando and have dinner at the McDonalds with the world's largest Playplace (we saw it featured on the Travel Channel and DS would love it) before heading to Pop. We'll most likely spend the rest of the evening relaxing in our room and getting to bed early so we're ready to hit the parks the next day!

On previous trips, I've hit DTD, or just burned a day from my ticket - I've always stayed for longer than five days, so an extra day has never cost me more than $20. I suppose it all depends on how early you get to WDW on that first day...

 

[retire2disney]

Downtown Disney's a great idea. I've never been, never really thought about going or trying to work it in with all of the theme park fun and everything, but next time I arrive in the afternoon, I'm there. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have to say that the first time we ever went was 2 years ago. We had NO idea how great it was. At that time, our kids were 11 and 5 and they had such a blast!! I really thought that our kids would be bored. Not at all which was a great surprise. If your not wanting to head to a park, this would be a great place to head. We've eaten at Wolfgang Puck cafe, Wolfgang Puck express, Raglan Road and the Rain Forrest. I'm not a big fan of Lego's, but I have to admit it was really very cool. There is sooo much to see there. Have a blast where ever you decide to go!!

 

[exwdwcm]

a few different things we have done......

if we are arriving late afternoon or something- we might just tour our resort- which is a task in itself, then have a nice dinner- usually Chef Mickey's is a great way to start off the trip- a nice ride aroudn the monorail, pass by the MK and wave hi, then stop at Contemporary for Chef Mickey's. We have also done California Grill on our first night as a nice first night dinner and watched the MK fireworks over dessert.

Of course there is downtown disney and Earle, my favorite counter service! or just tour some resorts- they are worth checking out, especially during the holidays.

we've also done disneyquest on our first day.

maybe visit fort wilderness, there is a petting zoo, horses or canoeing. check out the campfire or hoop dee doo.

there is also the electrical water pageant you can see from the MK resorts- maybe have dinner at the Poly (Ohana) and then go down to the beach and watch the parade and then WISHES!

Check out the boardwalk- have dinner there and watch Illuminations from there. Grab ice cream at Beaches and cream afterwards!

 

[exwdwcm]

This will be our 4th trip to Disney, first time we are renting a car...can you tell me where these outlets and flea markets are? Sounds like FUN!!

i know there is one at the outlet mall on 535, right off i-4. you just head on 535 opposite of DTD area. and you will see a smaller outlet mall on your left- there is a disney outlet store in the back. It is the second one listed below I believe and I think the closest.

Disney's Character Premiere - Suite #1252
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m - 10 p.m. · Sunday, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Summer Hours: May 28 - Sept 5:
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m - 11 p.m. · Sunday, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.
8200 Vineland Avenue, Orlando, FL 32821
Mall Office: 407/238-7787
Store: 407/477-0222

Character Outlet
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m - 9 p.m. · Sunday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
15591 State Road 535, Orlando, FL 32821
Mall Office: 407/238-9301

two more that are closer to universal than disney.

Character Premiere - Mall #1, Store #47
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m - 9 p.m. · Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
5401 W. Oakridge Road, Orlando, FL 32819
Mall Office: 407/352-9611
Store: 407/354-3255

Character Warehouse - Mall #2, Store #109-110
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m -9 p.m. · Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
5401 W. Oakridge Road, Orlando, FL 32819
Mall Office: 407/352-9611
Store: 407/354-5285