First Day Tradtions

[2Tiggies]

We arrive mid afternoon and never go to a park on our first day. DTD is our tradition for the evening: dinner and some shopping.

This year we may have to break that as we only arrive at MCO at 6 pm. Coming from GMT timezone that is already 11 pm so a night in at the resort may be a good idea if we plan on making rope drop the next day. Time for a new tradition.

 

[BlovesC]

When we stay on property, which happens twice a year currently, a bit much for locals , we'll check in around 10am, explore the resort a bit, then hit a park for some rides before ending the night at MK with Wishes. I never plan on hitting two parks on check in day but that's how we always seem to work it. But Wishes on the first night is generally a must! That and a popcorn tub.

 

[Simba's Mom]

On the first day of our vacation, we almost always just hang around our resort and "unwind"-enjoy just being on vacation. If we're at the Boardwalk resorts, we might walk around the Boardwalk area. At OKW-maybe go into Gurgling Suitcase and have a drink. We never make dinner plans, usually eat CS at the resort. If we've gotten there before 3:00 or so, we might make our way over to Epcot for Illuminations, but we concentrate on slowing down the first day.

 

[LorlovesStitch]

We usually check out the resort and then go to Chef Mickey's for dinner, then walk up and down Main Street.

 

[Anne's Family]

I do not feel like I'm really at WDW until I've seen IllumiNations. So it's always a liesurely time at Epcot on the first evening.

 

[pigletto]

We don't have a tradition quite yet. But this year it will be Chef Mickeys for dinner and hitting Splash Moutain in the evening. We discovered it was the favourite of all four of us on our last trip so I can guarantee it will become tradition

 

[phyllis1966]

When DD was younger, we'd check in at about 11 am, have lunch at the GF Cafe, then head off to the MK. When she hit 8 years old and became more of an adventurous eater, we'd head to Epcot and then F&WF first for some tasting around the world for lunch. Then back to the room, which is usually ready by 3 pm, settle in, go to dinner at Citricos, then (hopefully) Spectromagic. By then we're pretty tired since we've been up since 4 am, so it's time for bed! So, since 2007, that's our new traditional first day.

 

[Yarna]

On our first day we always check into the resort around 1:00, swim until 3:30, dinner at Boma, then shopping at DTD. We will probably always retain these traditions.

 

[Disneyaunt4]

We always start at MK and ride Pirates of the Caribbean first. Hopefully we will be doing that in 5 days if Earl doesn't rear his ugly head up here.

 

[disneydreamkate]

We've done something different each time! Our upcoming trip we will be staying at AKL, our first deluxe, so we plan on spending most of our time there exploring and taking advantage of everything it has to offer, including one of my favorite restaurants-Boma! We will be well rested and ready for rope drop at MK the next morning.

 

[Ksquared]

it's funny because I'm a person that likes traditions, esp around the holidays yet we just don't have any traditions when it comes to disney. Maybe becasue our trips the past few years have been so different each time. Last year we drove and snuck in 3 days while down in fl for a family wedding; year before that we went early december with another family. Prior to that it was a trip during Memorial Day with 2 sets of friends....this year we are driving down leaving x-mas day for a trip w/ DH family....I have to start thinking about something I'd like to do our first day that we can make a tradition, no matter how we travel there or who we travel with.

 

[MamaCrush]

If we get to the resort by noon, we hang out and swim until dinner. But we always hit Chef Mickey's for dinner and then take the monorail to MK. I'm one of those who don't feel like they're at Disney until I see the castle at the end of Main St.! And I absolutely must see the night time parade and Wishes. My family not so much, but they manage to indulge me!

We also have a last day tradition. We go to multiple parks and ride our most favorite rides, then go to BOMA for dinner. Gotta love park hoppers or recently, our AP's!

 

[danny1649]

Who have replied so far I have enjoyed reading everyone of them.So many interesting and fun traditions, you are making me so excited to get to WDW.I wish you all magical vacations and wonderful times at WDW. Your Dis Pal Danny a big to each one of you

 

[916chipndale]

we always do the MK and eat at crystal palace the day of our arrival.

 

[TMB1203]

We always try to take the earliest flight possible so that we arrive by about noon. Check into the hotel and head over to Magic Kingdom. We also eat dinner at Whispering Canyon.

 

[Shelly888]

Since this is only our second trip, it hardly qualifies for tradition, but our 1st night we are going to Sci-fi for dinner then catching Fantasmic!

 

[OhioWDWDuo]

We stay at the Beach Club, so the very first thing we do is enter Epcot through International Gateway. DH and I hold hands and -literally- skip down the path from the Beach Club to International Gateway (yes, we're corny). We did that 5 years ago when we first traveled to Disney together (when we were boyfriend/girlfriend, now we're husband/wife!), and we've been doing it ever since. And when we have kids (hopefully), they will do it with us! Once we enter World Showcase, we have lunch at one of our favorite restaurants (in less than 2 weeks- it will be Tokyo Dining!).

Love reading everyone's traditions!

 

[CommandoDawg]

We live about 5 1/2 hours away from WDW so we usually leave mid afternoon or later and usually get to WDW just in time to get checked in and go to bed so that we can make rope drop at one of the parks the next morning. Not a very exciting first day tradition, is it?