First Night at WDW

[Terk-1]

Flying to MCO the day after Thanksgiving and as my flight lands about 10:30am, I'm guessing I should hopefully be at my resort around noon. Am hoping to be able to check in to my room and unpack (it's weird but I have to unpack everything and put things in their place (clothes, toiletries, etc.) by 1pm.

I was planning on heading to EPCOT to catch the 6:45pm Candlelight Processional show with dinner afterwards at the Rose & Crown.

Now I'm thinking about maybe touring some of the resorts around the Magic Kingdom & EPCOT for a little while in the afternoon, then head over to EPCOT in time for the tree lighting ceremony at 6pm, watch the Winter Lights for awhile, then have dinner around 8pm or so at R&C and catch Illuminations. Then do CP on a non-weekend day (just concerned that it will be packed to begin with being right after Thanksgiving) when alot of people have headed back home.

I was also thinking of maybe going over to the Magic Kingdom for a little while, but am concerned that it's really going to be crowded and a little less enjoyable.

What would you do?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hmmm, I am looking at that time also. I usually spend first evening at Epcot. Not too much planning, LOL.

 

[Terk-1]

I'd love to see the Magic Kingdom first, but with it being the day after Thanksgiving, I'm just concerned that the park will be really packed and I thought EPCOT would be more managable.

I was just thinking that if I drop by each of the deluxe resorts around the Magic Kingdom, then over to the BW/BC/YC, then that portion of my touring would be done for the trip.

 

[kldmom2000]

I'd do the CP/Epcot and just do a more relaxed day... for me, my first FULL day has to be at the Magic Kingdom-there's nothing more magical than being there when the turnstiles open and you see the castle for the first time that trip

We're in a similar situation for our trip in Sept... we arrive @ MCO @ 11:35 (it was supposed to be 10:30 but Delta changed the flight time ) We're staying at the YC, so we're going to let the girls swim in Stormalong Bay for a few hours and then head into Epcot around 3pm~we've got ADR's for Garden Grill-we MUST see Mickey on the first night! and we'll watch Illuminations and head back for our big day at the MK on the following day (which will also be my DD's 4th bday!!! )

Have a great trip!!!!

 

[NC State]

We always eat at a resort on our first night. It saves us a park ticket and I enjoy the resort table services just as good if better than the parks. Try Ohanas or Chef Mickeys to watch the fireworks and then the Electic Water Pagent.

 

[Katesdad]

We're in just a few days after you with the same arrival time. We're planning on checking in then touring the resorts to check out the decorations and maybe spend some time on the Water Sprites before heading over to a 5:30 HDDR show and then back to the resort (POR) to unpack and unwind and get ready for the next day. I can't see waisting the money on going into a park for only a few hours on the day of arrival especially since that time of year the park closes early.

 

[Bill From PA]

I won't burn a park day on the Hopper Pass unless I can get to a turnstile by noon. We're arriving at MCO at 12:23 pm on out next 'first day', taking Tiffany to BWV with a grocery stop thrown in and we should be checking in by 2 - 2:30. We'll stroll the BoardWalk, get a bite and a brew at Big River or ESPN then hit PI at night. Our 10 day hopper plus, which expires, has 6 plusses that we use or lose so it makes more sense ot do that than to blow a park day on a short park visit.

Bill From PA

 

[Harambe]

I like your idea of stopping in at the MK resorts. Ride the monorail, soak in the atmosphere! Then head over to Epcot. You could do some shopping after the tree lighting and before dinner.

I'm the same as you for the unpacking! We get to WDW around 3:30, then we'll unpack and head over to MGM after grabbing something at the Boardwalk for our supper. We have nine-day park hoppers that expire, and our first day is one of the nine. Now, my rational is that to add that ninth day only cost us another couple of bucks a ticket, so our first night at MGM - although just a few hours - only costs a couple of bucks!

I can talk myself into anything - LOL!

I'd say save CP for the end of your trip - something special to look forward too!

 

[Terk-1]

I can't see waisting the money on going into a park for only a few hours

I'm doing a package on this trip and it is a $2 difference between a 9 day & a 10 day park hopper pass. So for $2, it's worth hitting a park.

I'm just thinking that it would be a more relaxed way to start the trip by checking in, hopefully being able to unpack and get settled in the room, then grab some lunch at the resort around 1pm. After that I thought I'd head over towards the Magic Kingdom area and view the decorations at the Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian and the Polynesian, then grab a bus to the Boarwalk and view the decorations there, at the Yacht Club, then over to the Beach Club. I'll head into EPCOT via the International Gateway, view the UK & Canada pavillions, before zipping over to the tree to watch the tree lighting ceremony and the Winter lights. As I got an ADR at the R&C for 8:30pm, I can take my time soaking in the Arch of Lights and the Fountain of Nations, before heading over to the restaurant. I can then relax, enjoy a great meal and view Illuminations. Then it's back to my resort and straight to bed! This way I get most of my resort touring in (will do AKL when I go over to AK) at the beginning of the trip.

 

[01Sweetpea]

Friday will be our Epcot day...it is also our ONLY day to do CP. Planning to do the 8:15 show. Maybe head to B&C afterwards since we will have already seen IllumiNations.

We arrive on the 18th. Similiar flights as yours. I hope to be at Poly by noon and in MK by 1:30. With it being Thanksgiving week, I'm getting in as much Mk time as possible before Wednesday. The cost difference between a 7 day park hopper and an 8 day park hopper is $10 total for the 5 of us. For the amount of money I am spending fo this trip, $10 is nothing.

Besides I doubt I could tell my kids...I know we are AT Disney, but we are going to either hang out at the Poly or resort hop for the rest of the day. I'd have a revolt on my hands if I did that!

 

[Terk-1]

I'd say save CP for the end of your trip

I'd like to try and do it on that Tuesday, as I like the guest narrator on that day. I'm thinking early in the week will be a little less crowded than on the weekends.

so our first night at MGM

I thought about doing MGM, but as I'm going there on Saturday morning for the AM Extra Magic Hours, I thought EPCOT would be a nice place to start.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Our first day we usually get to the MK around 1:00 we go on our favs HM, POTC walk around a little and take it all in. We go back to our room and get ready for dinner at the resort, usually around 7 - 7:30. We have a nice romantic leisurely dinner and head abck to our room. We don't like to do much on the day of arrival.

 

[byoung]

Wew where there the friday afer thankgiving last year and wow was it crowded.

 

[Terk-1]

Now I'm wondering if I should do the Magic Kingdom for a couple of hours, then head for EPCOT. What do you think?

 

[01Sweetpea]

Now I'm wondering if I should do the Magic Kingdom for a couple of hours, then head for EPCOT. What do you think?

MK might be very busy on the Friday afterwards. We'll be at Epcot that day...maybe we'll see you. I'll have my lime green Mickey head on our backpack.