First day...

[ROBEAR84]

What do you guys plan for your first full day in Florida?

We will fly in late afternoon on the Saturday and DH & family usually don't plan anything for the following day (other than a Walmart shop!) However, I've read a few posts that say it's better to just jump straight in so to speak which does make sense to me. DH said that he finds himself waking up at 4am for days after getting there so would it be ok to plan a proper park day?

I'd really like to see the rope drop show at MK so would it be feasible to do this? We do have a 7,6 & 1 year old. How do children usually cope with this? I'm thinking even if we weren't there for an entire day it wouldn't matter as we'll have another couple of days planned there anyway but DHs family probably won't want to do rope drop anyway.

 

[2Tiggies]

We are there for park opening at the park with morning EMH (if there is one scheduled to open early that day) and then hop midday to the 'recommended' park and usually stay to closing time. If there is no morning EMH then we would do rope drop at the recommended park for the day and hop to the one with the latest closing time/evening EMH. We like to throw ourselves into it on the first day

 

[queendisney]

We are there for park opening at the park with morning EMH (if there is one scheduled to open early that day) and then hop midday to the 'recommended' park and usually stay to closing time. If there is no morning EMH then we would do rope drop at the recommended park for the day and hop to the one with the latest closing time/evening EMH. We like to throw ourselves into it on the first day

That's exactly what we do as well. Chances are you'll be up early on your first morning so it makes sense to just go for it. I used to 'have to' go to MK first but now its as above.

 

[ROBEAR84]

Thank you both

Hmmm... definitely thinking of having a park day then but now going to push it a step further and am thinking about hopping to another park too!

Don't want to overdo it on our first day, but SIL can't stand characters I know that I want to do a few character meals as the kids adored them at DLP, however as FIL and MIL won't be coming to the parks every day, we can't just ditch her to go to a meal. It would therefore ,make sense to do one on this day when she won't be with us. The only character meal I know I want to try and do in MK is CRT, but I know I don't want to plan this for the first day. The other two are Tusker House and Garden Grille. How feasible would it be to go to MK early (depending on EMH as we're not staying onsite) and then have a late lunch/early dinner at one of these. Too much???

As we're staying offsite, not sure it would be a hassle parking wise too.

 

[Elise79]

For us as we are up early we usually book a character breakfast at Ohana for 7.30am which means we still make a 9am rope drop in MK

A proper breakfast is a must for us as we are always hungry on that first morning

If you don't want the character meal I would hit Ihop early and still head to MK for rope drop.

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

Its always MK for us on our first day even if it isn't recommended. Its our tradition to have a Chef Mickey breakfast around 8.30 and then head over to MK. We just enjoy being in the world with no particular schedule. Stay until the parade and then head back to the hotel for a swim, finish unpacking and have a meal and then a reasonably early night so that we can hit it hard for the rest of the vacation.

Although we don't try to cram everything in as we used to, now we know that we'll be back again we take a more leisurely view to touring the parks. We used to try and do it all though before we brought DVC.

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

Its always MK for us on our first day even if it isn't recommended. Its our tradition to have a Chef Mickey breakfast around 8.30 and then head over to MK. We just enjoy being in the world with no particular schedule. Stay until the parade and then head back to the hotel for a swim, finish unpacking and have a meal and then a reasonably early night so that we can hit it hard for the rest of the vacation.

Although we don't try to cram everything in as we used to, now we know that we'll be back again we take a more leisurely view to touring the parks. We used to try and do it all though before we brought DVC.

 

[micksn]

Another one for a character breakfast in a park. Last time we did Crystal palace at 8.05 and were on BTM by 9. This time we have Tusker House booked for 8.00 and plan to be on the first Safari of the day. We are always up early and hungry on our first morning.

 

[queendisney]

A character breakfast on the first morning is an excellent idea. MK for rope drop is a must. Love the train coming into the station with the main gang on it and the main st. performers singing and dancing.

 

[winniepie81]

I ve done a full MK day once from rope drop to wishes! I m not gonna lie, it was a killer! I went with friends who d never done disney before and think it scared them a bit thinking everyday would be that hardcore!
These days we take advantage of being wide awake at the crack of dawn, normally up before 6am on day one! Last 4 trips it's been tradition to hit sea world first, quite a tame park walking and queuing wise. Then nice dinner at bahama breeze or outback.
This year trying universal on day one, only having 2 disney days this year, so don't wanna peak too soon!

 

[ROBEAR84]

Thanks all!

Think we're decided on MK for rope drop (hopefully! depends on EMH) and then park hopping to Animal Kingdom and our Tusker House character meal. Would have preferred to hop to Epcot as it looks easier but I'm pretty sure in laws won't be coming to AK so makes sense to have an extra afternoon there to do character meal without SIL.

It's all so complicated but we're getting there!

A character breakfast would have been a great idea if we weren't trying to get one of the park meals that we want to do out of the way. We want to do Ohana for breakfast but will do that on one of the in laws 'rest days'... don't think me, DH and the kids will be having many of those!

 

[2Tiggies]

I ve done a full MK day once from rope drop to wishes! I m not gonna lie, it was a killer! I went with friends who d never done disney before and think it scared them a bit thinking everyday would be that hardcore!

A lot depends on crowd levels, season (length of park hours - 9 am to 9 pm is different to an 8 am to midnight day) and the weather. We always do at least one rope drop to close down in each park per trip, usually two for MK but have only done April trips, and September/October trips. Though I have two scheduled for this coming trip, it will be interesting to see how we manage in the July heat and humidity and with park hours being much longer than what we've had the past four years.

Personally, I find that the first couple of days our stamina is much higher than later on in the trip so one strategy would be to put your very long days at the beginning.

ROBEAR, are you trying to avoid EMH?

 

[ROBEAR84]

A lot depends on crowd levels, season (length of park hours - 9 am to 9 pm is different to an 8 am to midnight day) and the weather. We always do at least one rope drop to close down in each park per trip, usually two for MK but have only done April trips, and September/October trips. Though I have two scheduled for this coming trip, it will be interesting to see how we manage in the July heat and humidity and with park hours being much longer than what we've had the past four years.

Personally, I find that the first couple of days our stamina is much higher than later on in the trip so one strategy would be to put your very long days at the beginning.

ROBEAR, are you trying to avoid EMH?

No, it's just that we're staying off site so don't get EMH and want to see the little pre show. I think I read this doesn't happen on morning EMH days.

 

[orangetiggs]

Always 8am res for crystal palace and walk down main street empty

 

[ROBEAR84]

Always 8am res for crystal palace and walk down main street empty

Aw that does sound lovely

Can you book breakfast there for before the park opens then?

 

[2Tiggies]

Aw that does sound lovely

Can you book breakfast there for before the park opens then?

Yes, I have a booking for 8.05 am on a non EMH day so we will be in the park before 8 am.

MK usually has morning EMH on a Thursday. Do check first as they often add additional ones in the very busy times like Easter week, Christmas and New year but the rest of the year any other days are usually safe

 

[Zeebs]

We fly into Miami, first time I booked us a hotel near a massive mall thought we could do a spot of shopping before driving up to Orlando. We were all awake at 4.00 (Mall didn't open until 10.00) so we hit a Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and then drove up to Orlando.

This year we are doing the same but will be in a hotel in Jupiter so we will get up and drive straight to Magic Kingdom to celebrate Madam's 4th birthday and then will check into our house later that day.

We won't do a late night as we all find we start getting tired in the afternoon, we try to stick to the kids normal bedtimes as much as possible so that we can get early morning starts out of them x

Kirsten

 

[ukool]

We spent our first day at MK got thier just as the opening show was starting/ Didnt make it to the fireworks though, saw the parade and was way to tired to stay the extra 30 mins for them lol.

 

[meldobe]

Epcot for us on our first day, bit of a quieter park so it eases us in Epcot on the last day too

 

[joolz1910]

Like others have said - the earliest possible reservation at Crystal Palace and a deserted Main Street/ Castle It was such a great way to start our holiday and we will be doing the same again next year.