First Day Dilemma - Which plan would you do?!

[ashleymrush]

I posted this to my people in the June thread but thought I'd open it up to more traffic here. I'm in need of advice. I'm second guessing what my family should do on the first day. My whole family is just saying "we are ok with whatever you want to do" but the problem is that I don't know what I want to do! So here is my dilemma:

We are driving down on Saturday, 6/17. We will arrive around 3 after an 8-9 hour drive, get settled in the hotel and then head out to a park. As of right now the plan is to go to MK. We have FPs for Splash @ 6, BTMRR @ 7 and Jungle Cruise @ 8. We plan to stick around and stay in the Adventureland/Frontierland area. We have two other full days planned for MK as well so we'll have plenty of time to get all the things done that we want to do. I also plan to watch the new fireworks that night as an intro to our vacation instead of a farewell like Wishes always was. This will make it a late night for our first night.

I am now debating the idea of changing that first day to an evening in EP instead of MK. We only have one full day at EP and it isn't until Thursday so our trip will almost be over by the time we get there and that's hoping that it is a nice weather day. Last trip we never even made it to World Showcase with the boys so we would focus on staying in that area of the park. I would get FPs for Soarin', assuming there are some available for a party of 7 (already have FEA later in the week) and then I'd get the other two for random items that aren't really needed anyway.

So here's the pros and cons to changing to EP from MK

Pros:

• Earlier night after a long day of driving and plans for an early morning rope drop at AK the next day
• Alcohol - I could get a drink or two at EP after a long day of driving to unwind which I could not get at MK
• Slower and more relaxed pace around EP instead of being tired and jumping into thrill rides
• Extra time in EP that we hadn't previously planned for and no threat of really losing time at MK because we still have plenty there
• My youngest son's first "big boy" ride at WDW can be Soarin' just like it was for my oldest son
• Less stress to try to rope drop Test Track and Soarin' later in the week which would definitely end up with a long wait for one of them (we have an FEA FP for our full EP day so standing in line for both of the others on that day would be a must)
  
• More ability for my kids to run around and be "free" in EP than in MK after a long day in the car
• Did I mention I could get a drink...lol!

Cons:

• There is something magical about beginning your trip by walking into the MK and seeing the castle, we won't be there until Monday if we don't go the first night because our first full day is at AK. We have park hoppers but we've got a Tusker House breakfast ROL package so there's no point in hopping that day.
• We would start off the trip with Happily Ever After and see these fireworks that are being raved about (I'm still upset about Wishes going away but willing to watch Happily Ever After with an open mind)
• My youngest son could have his first "big boy" ride on a Disney classic, Splash Mt. if we kept MK
  
• We would be able to eat dinner at Columbia Harbor House which is a favorite for my mom and is difficult to fit in on another day
• I would have to cancel existing FPs and go to book them for EP in the hopes that there is actually a Soarin' available for the evening. Might be a gamble but I could switch back to MK and get all the FPs I have pretty easily I think.
• Did I mention missing out on MK magic to start off the trip...lol!

So I know that was a lot but that is everything that is going on in my head right now! If you were me, what would you do? Just an FYI, this trip includes 7 people. I don't know our group size would have any influence on your decision. I've not been with a group this large and am working on figuring out how to keep everyone happy (as much as possible). The group includes my stepdad (63), mom (53), brother (15), husband (37), me (33), oldest son (8) and youngest son (5).

Any advice you have is welcome! TIA!

 

[Kydisneyfamily]

We are arriving for same day as you and hopefully around the same time. Our plan is just to hang around the resort. We will need to grocery shop. Then maybe swim or play a round of mini golf...just a releasing evening after a long drive.
I agree about MK being a magical start. We are heading to HS our first park day then MK that night. I think I would pick MK and just take it easy. Use your FP, take pics in front of the castle, and relax. Maybe pick up HEA another night so you wouldn't be out so late.

 

[avic77]

If you have a ticket to burn id hit MK i love epcot but starting in MK is magical!
However we drive as well and that first night we are just ready to get in the room unpack and maybe lounge in a pool/hottub. Get to bed early and hit the ground full force the next morning

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I always start in MK and watch the fireworks. It's an amazing way to start our trip.

 

[Travelstovegas]

I think it's going to be hard for any of us to say what you should do, since it's such a personal preference!
But I will say that after a long car ride, I'd definitely be more up for a relaxing, leg-stretching & earlier evening (with a drink!) rather than a rushed, packed late night. Just my two-cents, though. I'm going later this year with extended family and we'll have 5 children all aged 6 and under. We decided to do Epcot & AK as our first parks because we figured that MK will be such a hit that if we did that first, all the kids would just be counting time until we could get back there - and none of the rest of us want to hear "can we go back to the castle park now??" over and over again.

Good luck making a decision!

 

[Accident]

For some, I find that they don't really feel like they arrived until they turn the corner to see main street.. This might be what your dilemma really is.. I also know many like a strategy of not hitting MK right away with kids and ease into it but for most, the first point will be more important to consider.

I've done other parks before MK, we never really felt like we arrived and I end up hopping to MK the same day after we realize that we should have just started there, even if the only thing we do is walk around and get some snacks and call it an early night...

It's going to come down to your group.. would they rather have a casual evening with a couple rides in MK or epcot? the kids will pick MK most likely but that might be a good reason to do it another day.

 

[danielocha30]

EP got my vote at the mention of alcohol
But you have everything planned for MK and it's a great plan, get the drink at the hotel bar and hop to MK

 

[amberpi]

I think Epcot sounds like the way to go, but I'm biased. You could also do Illuminations without having to wait so long, since there are a ton of great viewing options. I think the more leaisurely pace at Epcot would win out and, as you mentioned, you've just got the 1 day there. Your choices are MK or Epcot - good choices for any Saturday!

 

[ashleymrush]

EP got my vote at the mention of alcohol
But you have everything planned for MK and it's a great plan, get the drink at the hotel bar and hop to MK

We are staying at OKW and will have groceries with us. I suppose I could put one of my bottles of wine in the cooler on the way down and just pop it open when we are settling in to the resort...assuming we can get a room. Check-in is at 4:00 and we'll get there before then.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

My biggest question is - have you ever done this drive followed by a park before? I ask because I'm wondering what your energy level will be after an 8 - 9 hour car ride.

Personally, I would pick the option that is the least labor intensive, which, for me, would be EP. Especially if your only goal is to do Soarin', some minor attractions and walk around WS. If you do that, you could even scoot out the back of EP at the IG entrance when you've had enough and uber back to your resort to keep walking to a minimum. (You also don't mention where you are staying which would factor into my decision as well).

Last year, DS9 and I went down to WDW and I thought it would be a great idea to take the earliest flight (8 am), so we could get to EP by noon and have almost an entire day there (we were staying at the Swan). After waking up at 5 am to get to the airport, flying, getting to the resort and getting into EP, we were about to drop at about 4 pm and had to go back to our resort. We both fell asleep until about 7 pm and then went back out for a Boardwalk stroll. We had fun, but things definitely did not go as planned because we were absolutely exhausted. I now know to take the later flight and arrive rested to begin our trip. I know this may be a little apples and oranges, but I would think about how tired you may be and the fact that you plan on RD the next day. Again, I would make the choice that is the most relaxing. If that happens to be EP, I think you would have a great time. The MK castle isn't going anywhere!

 

[ashleymrush]

My biggest question is - have you ever done this drive followed by a park before? I ask because I'm wondering what your energy level will be after an 8 - 9 hour car ride.

Personally, I would pick the option that is the least labor intensive, which, for me, would be EP. Especially if your only goal is to do Soarin', some minor attractions and walk around WS. If you do that, you could even scoot out the back of EP at the IG entrance when you've had enough and uber back to your resort to keep walking to a minimum. (You also don't mention where you are staying which would factor into my decision as well).

Last year, DS9 and I went down to WDW and I thought it would be a great idea to take the earliest flight (8 am), so we could get to EP by noon and have almost an entire day there (we were staying at the Swan). After waking up at 5 am to get to the airport, flying, getting to the resort and getting into EP, we were about to drop at about 4 pm and had to go back to our resort. We both fell asleep until about 7 pm and then went back out for a Boardwalk stroll. We had fun, but things definitely did not go as planned because we were absolutely exhausted. I now know to take the later flight and arrive rested to begin our trip. I know this may be a little apples and oranges, but I would think about how tired you may be and the fact that you plan on RD the next day. Again, I would make the choice that is the most relaxing. If that happens to be EP, I think you would have a great time. The MK castle isn't going anywhere!

We have done the drive and then gone to the park in the past. We live in NC and I have family that lives in FL so we make the 9 hour drive down at least twice every year and 3 times in a Disney trip year. We are also early risers and the kids nap great in the car (even at their current ages). Last time we did EP first but I think they'd be fine with either park. My mom, stepdad, and brother are flying down and will get there about an hour before us so they won't be as tired. I'm very jealous but she got first class tickets for free because of an issue on a previous flight...we aren't so lucky and have to endure the drive. I'm always so pumped when we get there that I'm too excited to take it slow. I'm ready to throw stuff in the room and go.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The reason I would do a park on arrival day is because of FP+. It makes it way too easy to have 3 preset rides. Even if you are tired you can get three rides done and leave. It makes it worth the extra $10 or so to enter a park.

 

[Jfsag123]

I would do Epcot as it sounds like the easier arrival day plan. However, we actually prefer starting with Epcot as our first park, so I don't have the "I'm not at Disney until I see the castle" factor at work. If you're set on MK I would save the fireworks for later in your trip. You said you have two more full days at MK, so plenty of time to catch them. I don't think I'd want a late fireworks night (including transportation time back to the resort after the fireworks) at the end of a long driving day with an early start planned the next morning. I get that you are trying to not save the fireworks for the last night, but maybe do them on that middle MK day.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I'd stick with your current plan at MK. Let HEA be optional depending on you energy. It will be crowded!
You said you have hoppers. Maybe break one of your full MK days into hopping to Epcot in the morning to hit TT and Soarin. Walk the World Showcase on the day you have FEA FP.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I would do Epcot simply because 1 day is not enough to me.

 

[GillianP1301]

I used to think that arrival day at MK was a must because it was the best place to really feel like you have arrived. After a few trips though, that became less of a priority. So I almost always recommend first timers to start at MK on arrival day, but since you have been to WDW before, I would recommend your EP option for arrival day and my biggest reason is that having only 1 full day at EP is tight and you already have 2 full days at MK planned, so you'll get to everything you want there. Also, travel days can be pretty exhausting so having an earlier bed time on arrival day is a big benefit and will leave you more rested for the vacation ahead of you.

 

[tlmadden73]

In general I don't hit a park the first day even if I arrive "early". I even split my drive (stay overnight near the Georgia/FL border) up so my second day drive is only like 3 hours.
BUT .. I do want to take advantage of getting there early, so we hit Disney Springs for the afternoon .. eating lunch and/or dinner there (depending when we arrive). Last trip we got there around 1, grabbed a lunch .. explored the new stuff, hit the Lego store and Disney store and the toy store, checked out the Car 3 promotion they had there (but opted not to wait in line) .. and got to our vacation home at dinner time with plenty of time to hop in the pool before hitting the parks early the next morning.

My reasoning:
1) Everyone can be tired/cranky from sitting in a car (even if it is a shorter drive).
2) Driving .. you just can't predict when you will arrive. I've hit traffic jams on I-95 and I-4 due to construction or an accident that puts you 30-60 minutes behind as you get stuck going just a few miles during that time. This last trip I was planning on getting to WDW at noon .. I didn't get there until almost 1:30 due to construction delays and having to make an extra pit stop because of that delay.
3) I like to have time to prepare for the next day (unpack, get clothes set out, prepare what to bring in the parks with you)
4) I like to have the time to rest up before doing the theme parks my way (getting up early and staying up late )
5) I just like Disney Springs and it offers a flexible "Disney" experience without "wasting" money on a ticket you only get to use for a few hours. And unless you have an day off from a theme park, sometimes there isn't a good time to hit Disney Springs.

 

[mtemm]

Epcot, for all the reasons you mentioned as a pro

 

[ashleymrush]

Everyone is so convincing! Now I'm even considering getting a hotel on Friday night and driving half way though my husband may kill me if I bring up spending even more money!

 

[AngieInOH]

Since you've been there before I think I would choose Epcot. You won't feel so rushed and you'll be able to enjoy two prime FP options since you'll be there two days. Take it easy, enjoy the park. One of my favorite things about our last trip was watching Illuminations at the back of the park. We hung around just for a bit afterwards and enjoyed the park almost to ourselves as we walked to the front. For me, it was magical.

As a side note we went to MK our first night there after flying in around 1:00. I felt so rushed to meet our FP times (we hung out at the pool a bit too long before going to MK). It was my girls first ever visit and I felt like we didn't get to just enjoy the moment. So take it easy, relax, and enjoy!!