First day magic

[Fargoman]

What suggestions do you have for getting our trip off on the right foot?

We are a family of 5, with children ages 2, 9 and 12 and we'll be staying at the Contemporary.

We anticpate arriving at 1:30 p.m.(Aug. 2) Keep in mind, our day will have begun with a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call to catch a 7:30 a.m. flight.

I anticipate adrenaline will be high, though.

What might make the most memorable "first night" for our family?

Thanks for your insight.À

 

[samoyed]

We always do Chef Mickey for Dinner on the first night. The Characters and the restaurant always get you in the Spitit of Mickey.

 

[Disney Fool]

If you don't plan to enter the parks on the first night, why not hop the monorail and take a ride after dinner? Ask the CM's at the monorail station to let your children ride up front. This is best done at the resorts (try it at the Poly or the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary is usually very busy) Do some Resort-hopping and shopping. Purchase autograph books and special pens. And, as a prelude to the next day's activities, when the monorail stops at the Magic Kingdom, let the kids see it from the monorail. Since you're staying at the Contemporary, go up to the look out on the top of the building and watch the fireworks from MK.

<font size="2"><font color="#F0000"><font face="Comic Sans MS">
<marquee>Charter Member of the Swan/Dolphin Cheerleading Team!!</marquee></font></font></font)

 

[ddickson]

Chef Mickeys and watching the fireworks from the contemporary. We did it and it just starts the trip out on the right note.

Unless, of course, if you were planning to do a park that day.

 

[yeartolate]

Yup, Chef Mickeys and fireworks. How about gift baskets waiting in the room for the kids?WDW florist did a spiffy semicustum job for us!

 

[debster812]

After your dinner, and monorail ride, find out what time the Electric Water Pageant will pass by your resort. The last time we were there as a family we would eat dinner, ride the monorail (up front of course) and head to the beach for the Electric Water Pageant. It's magic at it's best and should help get in the mood.

 

[Pluto]

That is the way we start our trip off each year, dinner at Chef Mickeys, watch the fireworks from the observation deck, and then a trip around the monorail loop. Hope you have a great time, we will also be at Cont, we are going in June!

WDW 92,93,94,95,96,97,97,98,99,00,00

 

[mchames]

I don't mean to be a naysayer here... But Chef Mickey's may be TOO much for your first night, especially if you'll be getting up around 5:30am.
In January we took a 6:30 am flight and my DD's (1 and 3 at the time) were up and raring to go all day. At about 3:30pm the girls took naps and when we woke DD3 at about 6:30 for a 7:15 PS at Whispering Canyon Cafe, she was none too happy. She probably could have slept trough the night! We walked downstairs to the restaurant and no amount of coaxing could get her to be a cooperative and pleasant dining companion (she's usually pretty good in restaurants). Anyway, we decided to leave before we even ordered and went back later in the week when she was in a better mood and was able to enjoy all of the activities. We wound up picking up some food at the snack bar and eating in our room. She ate a chicken nugget and immediately went back to sleep and was raring to go for an early character breakfast the next day.

My suggestion would be, if your kids are pumped up when you arrive, to do a character lunch, relax, and go to bed early to catch up on your sleep so you're ready for major activity the next day. I don't know if there are any character meals outside of the parks at lunch though. If you want to go to a park try the meal at the Crystal Palace in MK.

This was just my experience and I would just hate to see you go to Chef Mickey's and not be able to enjoy yourseves because everyone is tired and cranky. You may just want to play it by ear and see how everyone is doing when the time comes.

Good luck and have a great time whatever you decide.

Mary