First evening question...

[texhanddoc]

My family and I will be arriving at the Polynesian on Sunday, October 1. My wife and I havent been since we were little and are really looking forward to a magical experience with our kids. We are taking grandparents too. We will be arriving in the afternoon on Sunday. I am looking for guidance on what may be the best way to "introduce" the family to the type of experience they are about to have. I think we want to have a slow, relaxed check in and then do something in the evening. I am currently trying to decide between Hoop-de-doo and a character dinner like Chef Mickey's. What do you all think or do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks. Its not until October and I cant wait !!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Personally for me, I am not there until I see the Castle. We always high tail it over to MK to see it. We also have a new tradition of saying hi to Mickey in Toon Town once we get there and saying goodbye right before we leave.

Have fun!!!

 

[Darth Sidious]

Well, the first full day we are there we always do Chef Mickey's breakfast and then head over to MK, from there we pretty much wing it.

 

[Msslaydbug]

It seems to have become a tradition for us to go to Ohana and then walk out to the beach to watch fireworks. My dad also likes to go for a ride on the monorail.

 

[brodieSS24]

Since you're arriving in the afternoon, I'd make it a plan to stay at the Poly and have a very relaxing time.

Let the kids enjoy the pool and volcano slide... walk around the grounds of the Poly and note how gorgeous the place is. I loved dinner at Ohana's (great tropical drinks too!).

The suggestion for the monorail ride is a good one as well.... maybe stop at the Contemporary or the Grand Floridian just to take a look around.

Then, definitely stroll out to the beach (or in our case... open up the sliders in our Lagoon View room) and watch the fireworks. Perfect.

I'd save the HoopDeDoo (never been, but hear it's fun) and the character meals for a bit later in the stay.

By the way.... I've been to Disney twice.... the first time, I stayed off site and due to several issues, I had the worst vacation of my life (not all specifically Disney related) and vowed never to return. I was somehow convinced (coerced???) to return to Disney. *I* decided we needed to stay onsite... and the we ended up at the Poly (with concierge no less).

Well, this resort... and several other vastly improved conditions (again... not necessarily disney related) made me a believer. I really want to return in the not so distant future!

Cheers....

Gusman

 

[brivers222]

We always go to MK the first chance we can... As stated above my DW doesn't feel like she is there until she can see the castle.

 

[The Sweetness]

I vote for a relaxing afternoon and dinner at a monorail resort (CMs, 1900 are character meals, ohanas, Not character for dinner, I dont think. Only breakfast) Thats a great way to kick things off CMs has Mickey Mouse, and I believe 1900 has Cinderella, if that helps (those 2 are both buffets)

 

[Allison]

I would say dinner at 'Ohana and then watching the fireworks from the beach. Maybe take a walk over to the GF if you haven't been there. It's a beautiful resort and my husband and I had a nice time walking over there from the Poly.

A monorail ride would be nice.

 

[Bill From PA]

We try to arrive at MCO early enough to hustle to the parks and capture the first day. On the one occasion when we got to WDW in the early afternoon, instead of burning a park day on the hopper pass, we went to Cirque 'du Soleil. That gave us a pleasant stroll through DTD and the Cirque was a 'must see' in our opinion. It's not cheap, but it's worth the cost and your party will be exposed to the unique sort of entertainment that Disney offers as well as getting a taste of the scope of WDW and its transportation system.

Bill From PA

 

[eeyoregirl]

Hi texhand doc,

I think that you are right on the money. We do just what you suggested--check in, get acquainted with the resort, maybe swim, then go out for the evening. A dinner show like HDD (our favorite!) is great or a character dinner is fun, too. It gives you a chance to taste the Disney magic (and maybe meet some characters) without going to the parks. Maybe then go to Downtown Disney for a little more magic before heading to the parks in the morning.

Have a great time! Whatever you choose to do, I'm sure you will--it's Disney!

 

[WDWNicole]

I would suggest a character dinner or show and a ride on the monorail.

 

[mickeyluv]

My family and I will be arriving at the Polynesian on Sunday, October 1. My wife and I havent been since we were little and are really looking forward to a magical experience with our kids. We are taking grandparents too. We will be arriving in the afternoon on Sunday. I am looking for guidance on what may be the best way to "introduce" the family to the type of experience they are about to have. I think we want to have a slow, relaxed check in and then do something in the evening. I am currently trying to decide between Hoop-de-doo and a character dinner like Chef Mickey's. What do you all think or do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks. Its not until October and I cant wait !!!

We stayed at The Poly for our first family trip in 2004 and I can tell you that the resort is like a vacation within itself (I really wish we were staying there again this year ). If it were me, I would get settled into my room and stay around expoloring the resort. The kids can swim at the pool. The Poly has one of the best pools, the Volcano Pool with large slide and huge waterfall. Go ahead and make ADR for Ohana's for Sunday night. You can try to time it so that you'll be in the restaurant when the fireworks start (ask if they have a window table facing MK available) or you can go down to the beach or Sunset Point after you've finished your dinner and watch the fireworks and the electric water parade. Also take a ride on the monorail. It is beautiful at night!! This way you will have a nice, relaxed evening and be ready for the parks on Monday, but watch out for MK on Monday. The MK is packed on Monday, maybe try a different park that day and save MK for Tuesday. Have a great trip! (Do you think I would fit in one of your suitcases )

 

[dizagain]

Hi! Our last trip in May we arrived in mid-afternoon. We settled into POFQ, the girls took a little swim, and we headed over to MK on the bus. We didn't go IN...we hopped on the monorail and waved at the castle and rode to the Contemporary for our dinner at Chef Mickey's. We walked around and returned to MK for a bus ride "home". A perfect start for us!!

 

[tommygirl79]

Our family just went to WDW January 7-13 and we all agreed that our first night from this trip will be tradition on all our trips to come. We arrived at our resort (CBR) in the early afternoon. Spent some time seeing the resort, eating lunch, getting settled in the room (can't handle living out of suitcases), etc. Made ADR's for Chef Mickey's at a fairly early time (I think it was 5:15 or so). In order to see the castle first thing (which we have always made a priority), you could ride the monorail around by Grand Floridian and then in front of the MK to get that first magical glimpse of the castle. Then ride around to the Contemporary for Chef Mickey's for dinner. We found this place to be the BEST first day experience for us. The character interaction here is WONDERFUL! And it has the "core" characters - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale (and I've heard sometimes Donald) and it just says "Disney" the whole time. The atmosphere is fun and the food is good. The kid's buffet was AWESOME for our girls. We even lucked out and got a WONDERFUL view of the castle from our table that we had no clue even existed. This will now be a MUST DO for our first night from now on. In fact, my DFIL is taking us next year (a free trip - what am I to do) and we plan on going there first again....

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

We started a tradition this year that on the day we get to Disney World, we go to Magic Kingdom to have dinner at the castle. Cinderella is downstairs taking pictures with all the guests and the food is wonderful.