First night activities

[ktmouse]

Just wanted to say hello to everyone. Although it says I'm earning my ears I've been reading on this board since early 2001. I guess now I'm official since I'm posting. I have a question about what to do our first night. My DH and I our taking our extended family members on a trip in November. This will be our third trip home to VWL. My family likes to get to Orlando the night before our DVC trip begins. I like to be able to check in early at VWL and have a full day to relax and have fun with the mouseboats. I've convinced everyone to fly in on Friday Nov. 4th. We get in around 5:30pm. We will stay at POFQ that night. Any suggestions on fun things to do Friday? This will be a first trip for my parents, brother, and widowed aunt. I feel like since I strongly suggested getting there the night before, we should do something fun. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[dianeschlicht]

How about a nice dinner out at one of the resorts? We usually like Artist Point a lot.

 

[lllovell]

We are going over to the boardwalk for a while when we check in on Sunday this weekend. Going to roam around some, let the children stretch their legs, eat at ESPN and getting something yummy from the bakery I have been told is there.

We have never seen the boardwalk, so its a dual purpose trip. We eat and we get to explore some where that we have not seen before!

 

[CharlesTD]

Our routine for the first night is usually dinner at the Rainforest and some shopping at DTD then a swim after we get back to the resort.

 

[carol1231]

I think going to the Boardwalk or to DTD for dinner would be great.

If going to Boardwalk, my suggestion for dinner is The Flying Fish. Great meal, great atmosphere. Then take a stroll around the boardwalk and pick up dessert from the bakery and eat it outside on the boardwalk.

If going to DTD, my suggestion for dinner is Portobello's. This is our favorite DTD restaurant, always a great meal and wonderful service. After dinner take a walk around DTD and window shop. For dessert, stop in Ghiradelli's for a yummy sundae.

DTD will be a little busier, people wise, than the boardwalk. So it depends on which atmosphere you are looking for on your first night.

Have a fun trip!

 

[JimMIA]

On our most recent trip (my 3 year old's first), we cut right to the chase. We went to Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba the first night.

Baby Girl had watched both disks of the DVD of La Nouba at least 100 times [Okay, I watched it with her, but somebody's got to explain it to her!], so she knew the sequence of acts in the show, most of the characters, and even some of the performer's names.

It must be pretty unnerving for The Green Bird during the opening parade to have a 3 year old scream, "HI ELENA!"

When the clowns came out: "Here comes Balty and Sergei...they're soooo funny! Sergei can't talk, right Daddy?"

Toward the end of the show, right after she announced "Bouncy bounce" as the powertrack number started, the gentleman next to me asked, "How many times has she SEEN this show?!"

What a great way to kick off a great trip!

 

[magicalmcwho]

I second the Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba the first night. We loved the show. We had dinner at one of the DTD restaurants after the show.

Jim.

 

[Beca]

I second BW or DTD. DTD is certainly "busier", but there is NOTHING like going to the BW area your first night, having dinner, and then going to watch Illuminations from the bridge between BWV and BCV. To me....that would be perfect!!

But...that is NEVER our "first night" routine. We always have to go have dinner with Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare....but, somehow....I don't think your extended family would get the same "thrill" out of that as my 3 yr old dd does!!!

But, if I had my way....it be an Illuminations "welcome home" every time!!!



Beca

 

[CharlesTD]

Jim where did you get the La Nouba DVD from? My wife and oldest daughter would love to get a copy of it they have seen it 3 times and plan on seeing it again next trip.

 

[WOW]

For the first night, we always go and visit "Cinderella's Castle" if closing time isn't too early. We love to eat at Tony's at the MK.....Always a good choice if you like Italian food and the waiters are extremely good.

If MK closed early, we like to to DTD and eat at Fulton's or Portobello's---great food there too!!!!!

If the weather is bad we will just kind of hang around and eat at the resort.

Where ever you decide I am sure will be enjoyed by all!!!!!!!!!

 

[SoThisIsLove]

The Hoop Dee Doo revue or the Poly Luau might be nice. There is a late show that starts at 930....and the Sangria makes it worth the while!

Heather

 

[Cruelladeville]

You could always stay and explore your resort, walk from the French Quarter to Dixie Landings(or whatever they call it now), and then catch the carriage ride. It's always fun to see both check in areas, and have a drink in the bar at POFQ. Then change into your swim suits, and go sit in the hot tub!

 

[rtobe]

If you have annual passes or don't care about using a park admission - I think Food and Wine Festival may still be going on - That is always a good way to walk and have dinner and catch Illuminations.

Calif. Grill for dinner in time for Wishes - you can see the show from the roof of Contemporary

If you are thinking of the explore your resort and its' pool, remember to pack bathing suit near top of suitcase, nothing more annoying that having to unpack everything for one night to find the bathing suit

 

[Blue&Gold]

We're arriving on a Friday night and have booked one of the "party boats" to watch the Wishes fireworks at MK from the lagoon... You can take a party of 10-12 (with young kids) and it costs around $150ish. They'll cater food and drinks, but the CM suggested we eat at the Poly and the boat will pick us up and drop off at the Poly boat dock. I think the outing lasts around an hour, you get to watch the fireworks and avoid the crowds at the MK. We're staying at BWV, so we have to drive over to the Poly--don't want to deal with the buses, but I think this will be a neat way to start off a big family vacation. Since we're BWV owners, I imagine Illuminations will become a standard event for us over the next few years.

 

[Muushka]

We have friends that join us at WDW every year. We love to have dinner at Ohana and then watch the fireworks either from the table or eating a little earlier and going down to the beach. They are not "Disney people" (if you can believe that) and they are always wowed by the experience.

 

[jimmytammy]

I second the Ohana idea. We do this most trips now and it is a fun way to start the magic without wearing everybody out. After traveling most of the day it is a good way to unwind and yet feel like you are in WDW.

 

[JimMIA]

Jim where did you get the La Nouba DVD from? My wife and oldest daughter would love to get a copy of it they have seen it 3 times and plan on seeing it again next trip.

We ordered it, and several others from Cirque's site http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirquedusoleil/default.htm

 

[karebear1]

Go to Ohana, watch the fireworks then get on the monorail and take a nice little trip around MK and EPCOT to give them a little taste of what they are in for! IF you can time it right, you can ride the monorail during the fireworks and they will slow the monorail down so you can see them.

 

[WDWJWEB1]

Hi Ktmouse


When we go to Disney it depends on what time we get to the resort as far as what we do .

If we arrive early, it's drop off the luggage and hit MK. There is nothing like seeing the castle on day 1. it's like now the vacation is official.

If we arrive later in the day, say early evening, if MK is open we go there if not then we go over to DTD, DS loves Disney Quest and DD loves to shop, and me I just love it all including the food

 

[Yippieskip]

We are arriving around 3-4pm for our first trip to WDW. For our first night we are planning on a little swim and then Chef Mickey's for dinner around 7pm. My kids CANNOT wait to meet the mouse!! Afterwards, MK fireworks viewing from the Contemporary 4th floor observatory. I understand you can see also see them from the Contemporary's California Grill too without even leaving your seat.


I do have a question about riding the monorail...are we crazy to try to ride it between 6pm and 9pm??? Or will everyone still be at the parks?