First Day Question

[jmommy]

We will be arriving in Orlando around 3pm. Considering time for airport pickup, grocery store stop, check-in, etc....we figure we can certainly get to a park for the evening. We have UPH so that not a problem. Can't decide if we should head to Epcot and catch Illuminations or go to MGM for a bit and try to catch Fantasmic. MGM would probably make for an earlier night which might be better since we would have had a busy day of travel. Any suggestions?????

 

[Shooby doo]

Jmommy have to say that we never count our arrival day as the first,that aside we normally do as you but in the evening go for a meal as a sort of welcome to Orlando,then not too late to bed.Up & at them early(Denny's normally) & then MK as soon as it opens!
I read somewhere that you shouldn't do MK first(I just think it would be rude not to!) but Epcot-AK-MGM-MK,something to do with the educational first.....
SD

 

[matjef9091]

We will be arriving around noon so we are going to DTD and doing Disney Quest as we too have UPH's also. We are having dinner at Chef Mickey's to start our trip out right.

 

[tc]

We like to start with Epcot when we arrive late. Epcot seems to swallow up the crowds, so it's easy to move around. We also love Kaki Gori (a snowcone confection in Japan), so head there first to satisfy our craving. Epcot is a nice, quiet way to start. MGM is also nice, but can seem very crowded in the evening, especially if there's just one Fantasmic.

This year, however, we will be starting with MGM because Rock n Rollercoaster will be shutting down for 10 days of rehab the next day, and I want to get at least one ride on our vacation.

 

[FloridaCat]

You will find that your vacation will seem more relaxed if you spend the eveining setting up the room, good meal and hang out at the pool. Then in the morning you are fresh and ready.

 

[Cindy'sCastle]

If you're like me, I'm usually running on adrenaline when I first get there. My suggestion if you are going to one of the parks would be Epcot. You can probably do something slow paced like innoventions and then go stake a place out for Illuminations.

 

[CK1]

Wow, we're going to seem like Disney-goers-in-a-coma compared to the rest of you! When we arrive, we spend the arrival day getting everything unpacked, exploring the resort, and a leisurely dinner. We stay in DVC villas, so we might even dine in, or go get any needed groceries, etc. THen in the a.m. we usually hit the parks. ON this next trip, however, we don't even plan on doing that... we're spending our 1st WDW day again at the pool! What can I say -- we're water bugs.

Of course, I should note that out of a 11 day stay, we may only hit the main parks 4 or 5 days, and water parks once maybe twice. We just love taking time to enjoy where we are, and where we might want to stay next time! The WDW resorts are just so awesome. Also -- my kids LOVE DTD....gotta go there at least 2 or 3 times per trip and play in the fountains, eat ice cream, build with Legos!

 

[swilphil]

MGM might work best for you, so you can make it an early evening. Plus I like to go to Epcot later in my stay when I'm ready for a break from the frantic pace of the other parks. At MGM, you might be able to ride ToT or RnR or catch Muppets 3D before Fantasmic. If possible, I would highly recommend the Fantasmic Dinner Package. That way you don't have to wait in line forever, plus you get a nice meal.