First Day Plan

[luvdisney999]

I've been trying to revise our first day plan over and over again. Let me know what you think about this:

9:30 Arrive at MCO
11:00 Arrive at POP
11:30 Head to MGM -> get AP -> head to Dolphin Resort
QUESTION 1: What is the fastest way to go from MGM to the Dolphin Resort?
QUESTION 2: Is the Boardwalk close to here, may want to grab food on the Boardwalk?
QUESTION 3: Anyone tried the Dolphin Fountain and Snack Shop? Is this place like a counter service or a sit-down full-service? We just want a QUICK bite!
12:00 Head to Fantasia Gardens to play mini-golf.
QUESTION 4: Is mini-golf crowded in the afternoons? Will 2 hours be enough time?
2:00 Take taxi back to POP -> check-in & explore resort a little
3:00 DTD -> dinner at Rainforest Cafe
5:30 Tour Monorail resort hotels
7:00 Return to POP -> explore & crash!

Will this be enough time? Can we accomplish this? Need some suggestions? We definately need to accomplish 4 things:
1. Hit a theme park to activate my AP -> using old ticket to purchase, so must be a theme park!!!
2. Mini-golf
3. DTD
4. Exploring POP, GF, Poly, and CONT.
+ Lunch & dinner somewhere

Anyone have any better suggestions? All help is more than welcome!!!

 

[newholidayx2]

bus to MGM
boat to Dolphin
Fantasia mini-golf is right behind the Swan which is next to Dolphin
The Dolphin is on the Boardwalk

 

[addicted2disney]

Check into POP when you get there. You MAY be able to get your room. If not, you will still be checked in and they will take your luggage up when its ready. THen you dont have to come back to POP in the middle of the day for check in. From MGM to dolphin, you either take the boat or walk. The walk is about 20 minutes. Its a nice walk along on the water way. IF its hot, then I would take the boat over. Dolphin isnt technically ON the boardwalk, but right beside it. The Dolphin fountain and snack shop isnt counter, but a small sit down ... We ate here once. There isnt anywhere else "quick" on the board walk.

I dont think you are going to have enough time to eat at Rainforest, explore monorail hotels and be back to POP by 7 unless you are rushing around. It just seems to me that you are spreading yourself out too far for just one day... MGM, Dolphin, Mini golf, POP, DTD, Monorail resorts, POP

You HAVE to get all four of those things in on the first day?

THen.. why dont you take bus from POP to MK.. activate pass, and walk over and get on the resort loop monorail and explore the resorts first. You can get lunch at any of the resorts! From the last resort you are at, take a bus from there to DTD. Have dinner there if you want ( or just snack at DTD and wait until you are back at POP for dinner.. will save money that way too. Rain forest is pricey) From DTD, take the bus to Swan & Dolphin, and walk over to mini golf. ( is golfing a MUST??) From golfing.. to get back to POP is going to be a hassle, and after all the other running all day, you may not even feel like golfing. From minigolf... you will have to get back to S&D and then get back to MGM for a bus to POP... or spend the money on a taxi.

 

[Princess Glenda]

I agree with addicted2disney--Go to Mk to activate your pass and do the monorail tour mid-day. Your original plan really rushed your lunch--evan a quick one. You only had from 11:30 to 12:00 to get to Fantasia Gardens. During the heat of the day is a great time to ride on the monorail and to see all the resorts. There are lots of counter-service restaurants to choose from on the monorail line. That way you can go to DTD and Rainforest Cafe later in the day and relax and enjoy yourself more.

 

[calie_j]

This does seem very rushed for a 1st day. Boardwalk is right next to Epcot's international gateway, could you activate your AP there? Or as other's suggested activate it at MK, it's one of the stops when you tour the monorail resorts.

It's looks like you're only going to DTD to eat (3-5:30 isn't enough time to do much more then eat at rainforest especially with travel time there and back), you could save alot of time to plan dinner at one of the monorail resorts instead of traveling to DTD and back.

Instead of traveling to POP at 2 to check in and explore save the travel time back and forth by checking in when you arrive in the morning, if your room is available you can settle in otherwise wait until you return in the evening to settle into the room and explore the resort.......unless you needed to change for dinner.

Cut out any unnecessary travel to streamline your plans and you should be able to accomplish your plan.

HTH, Calie

 

[fan4life]

I would eat lunch at pop before you head out to do anything.
After traveling all morning i think the family needs to refuel.
pop has lots of food choices and it is very quick.
Trying to find a place to eat /can make kids grumpy
trust me.

 

[luvdisney999]

9:30 Arrive at MCO
11:00 Arrive at POP -> grab lunch
QUESTION: If I still have to get my AP, can I still check-in without it and then show it to them later?
11:30 Head to MGM -> get AP -> take boat to Dolphin Resort
12:00 Head to Fantasia Gardens to play mini-golf.
QUESTION: Is mini-golf crowded in the afternoons? Will 2 hours be enough time?
2:00 DTD -> dinner at Rainforest Cafe
5:00 Tour Monorail resort hotels
7:30 Return to POP -> explore & crash!

Will this be enough time? Can we accomplish this? Need some suggestions? We definately need to accomplish 4 things:
1. Hit a theme park to activate my AP -> using old ticket to purchase, so must be a theme park!!!
2. Mini-golf
3. DTD
4. Exploring POP, GF, Poly, and CONT.
+ Lunch & dinner somewhere

Anyone have any better suggestions? All help is more than welcome!!!