First Night Help!

[amyb9]

One more week and I will be there- yikes! Help me though, I have a DS who is 9 and DH is up for Anything! We don't get in until 6ish on a Friday night and am confused as what to do. We are spending a lot of time doing Sea World stuff, and were given US/IOA tickets to us as a gift. Of course, the magical part of DW is most important and we are staying on site, but what do we do the first night? Should I make PS at somewhere like Chef Mickeys, or should we just wing it and check things out? Boardwalk or DD? We will be spending our last day at MK, so we could do Wishes that night. help me..... I think I am overplanning! But, I want it to be perfect. It is our first family vacation and I am so excited!

 

[iluvtink]

You know, amyb9, there's nothing wrong with "overplanning" when you're excited ... frankly it's better than underplanning and being bewildered by the tons of stuff to do when you get there.

If you all have not ever been to WDW before, Chef Mickey's is a really fun place to eat. Every so often music plays and everyone swirls their napkins in the air and the characters come out and dance, so it is a very festive, happy place. A really good way to know you're in the middle of the magic, at last! Be sure and call tomorrow a.m. and try to get a priority seating reservation. Chef Mickey's can be pretty popular, and you are kind of arriving in the peak "spring break" season. (Wish we were going then!!!)

If you have just that night, and then the last day at WDW, IMHO you should spend as much time as you can in MK. You will not be able to see and do it all, but that's okay, you need to plan a visit back! If DS is a big roller coaster fan, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain are all in MK, and he shouldn't miss riding Buzz Lightyear. Be sure and take advantage of FastPasses! Since he's 9, MK will be special to him still, and maybe not as much in a year or two when you return... so then you can pick up MGM, AK, Epcot, etc.

My analogy of visiting WDW is that you are a master juggler, with a lot of rubber balls up in the air at one time. (which ride? which show? which fast pass? take a break? where? ) As long as you keep in mind that if a ball falls, it's rubber, and it won't break, and it won't ruin your trip... just keep on juggling! And when your heart is breaking that you have to leave, start planning your next trip and make a list of what you really want to see that you missed this time, while it's fresh on your mind.

Have a great time next week and RELAX!!! I wish you lovely weather, short lines, and lots of pixie dust!

iluvtink

 

[ms_flo]

Just this afternoon I read an article on AllEars (I think) which suggested riding the monorail loops from beginning to end on your first night, especially if you were not planning on buying admission to a park that night. The article described many of the things you could see & it sounded like fun. AND the article suggested incorporating a PS into the "tour". I think it even mentioned Chef Mickeys by name. Enjoy!

 

[mbelec]

We're arriving late afternoon in May, and also don't want to use one of our precious park passes, so we're going to eat at O'Hana's for dinner (games for kids at the Poly), then head for the Calif. Grill at the Contemporary for dessert and the fireworks from the 15th floor balcony - made the ressies yesterday - yippee!

 

[WDWLVR]

Amy - Welcome to the DIS.

You have a few options for that first night. Doing the monorail hotels with dinner is a great start. If fireworks are going on over at the Magic Kingdom you can see them from the beach at the Poly. Don't forget to stick around and see the Electric Water Pagent.

Consider going to one of the mini-golf courses. They are open evenings. A little family fun and disney spirit without hitting the parks.

Or maybe hit Downtown Disney for dinner and some shopping. You can kind of get everyone over that - "wow there is so much to buy" that you get in the parks. Might make your park days more fun.

No matter what you choose - enjoy your first night at Disney!

 

[Magic2000]

On our first night at Disney, we used to always go over to the Boardwalk - dinner and some shopping!! Our favorite restaurant was the Brew Pub - but the last time we ate there, the food was only so-so.

This past October, on our first night, we went to Ohanas at the Polynesian - and it was wonderful!!! We enjoyed the food (and the lapu-lapu!), and then we went out to the beach to watch the fireworks! What a great night!!!

And, so I think we have a new tradition for our first night - dinner at Ohanas!!! We'll be back for July!!!!