First Night Ideas??

[tinkerbeth]

Well, here I go, starting to plan my August vacation. We are landingin Orlando at about 2:45 pm and I thought it would be nice to go to Chef Mickey's for the first night. How hard will it be to see the fireworks from there? It doesn't say much in the guidebooks about this.

OR - Any other ideas for the first night??

Beth

 

[disney queen]

you would have to go on the observation deck in order to see the fireworks. are you just set on fireworks the first night? if not, how about the hoop dee doo at fort wilderness?

 

[orvilleair]

Any more info about you travel party would help. Where are you staying? Any character meals? Do you have park hopper tickets on the first night? Chef Mickeys is a good place but I don't know about the fireworks view.


As for me, Our party of 6 (4 adults and 2 small kids) went to a character meal at Epcot (Garden Grill) then Illuminations. Garden Grill has ok food, but great character interaction. Illuminations is good as always. Rode Rio del Tiempo and Maelstrom, but Test Track had a 90 minute wait.

We planned our vacation around the fireworks. We decided to get into the Fantasmic dinner package at MGM. I called 60 days before I left, and there were few openings left. Once I booked that, we decided to spend our first full day at MK and watch Wishes. That left the first night for Illuminations.

 

[tinkerbeth]

Hello,

Thanks for the responses. I'm not really set on the fireworks...I'd like to do a Character meal. We have a 2 year old son and I thought that seeing Mickey would be a good way to get him pumped for the rest of the week. We will be staying at Pop Centurey and we will have either UPH or APs depending on the discounts when they come out for August.

I thought of the Hoop De Doo but I want to save that for the night of my birthday - we're celebrating my 30th at WDW. Who says you have to grow up?

Beth

 

[tinkerbeth]

Hello,

Thanks for the responses. I'm not really set on the fireworks...I'd like to do a Character meal. We have a 2 year old son and I thought that seeing Mickey would be a good way to get him pumped for the rest of the week. We will be staying at Pop Centurey and we will have either UPH or APs depending on the discounts when they come out for August.

I thought of the Hoop De Doo but I want to save that for the night of my birthday - we're celebrating my 30th at WDW. Who says you have to grow up?

Beth

 

[jacksonsmom]

For our first night we have a PS at Chef Mickey. It is a great way to start your vacation with the Mouse

Not sure about your fireworks question though.

 

[mom7011]

For those with first night PS' for something in MK, do you have to use one day of your park hopper pass to get in? We will arrive late afternoon or early evening and I wouldn't want to use a full day just to get in for a dinner. Anyone help?

 

[3PRINCESSMOM]

tinkerbeth: With UPH or AP's I would go with what a PP said, The Garden Grill, in Epcot. We have begun our past 2 trips there. Epcot is a great park to start things off in. Plus, the GG has good food and GREAT character interaction and service. You can plan it so you'll be able to stick around for Illuminations.

MOM7011: Yes. Any PS at a MK restaurant requires park admission. If you will not have an UPH or AP, don't burn a park day if your arrival will be later. Plan a character meal at a resort or do the Hoop Dee Doo. I have to agree with the OP on that one though, I find I like to build up to our HDD night. I don't like doing on day 1. Just my personal preference.

Both of you, have a magical time!

 

[goodferry]

If you have UPH, why not go to MK and eat at Liberty Square? The character meal there is awesome.

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by mom7011
For those with first night PS' for something in MK, do you have to use one day of your park hopper pass to get in? We will arrive late afternoon or early evening and I wouldn't want to use a full day just to get in for a dinner. Anyone help?

To dine inside any of the parks, you do have to use a day of your park hopper. But there are lots of great resort restaurants to try without going in a park. Lots of families with young children seem to like Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary or 'Ohana at the Polynesian. Hoopde Doo at Fort Wilderness is tons of fun for everyone we think.

 

[crisi]

We don't take our kids near the MK the first day we arrive - once they see the castle, they want to go into the MK and we never have time or energy for that on travel day. I think they'd be disappointed with Chef Mickey's with the castle so close. So we do Epcot or hotel restaurants away from the MK. It would be a good night for Boma to look at animals. Spoodles. Whispering Canyon Cafe.

(If your two year old has never been, he won't know what the castle means and you'll be safe).

 

[mareb66297]

what we like to do our first night is book a character dinner for the kids, then they won't be bugging to see mickey at the park. then we head over to mk to catch the night parade. we like to see it then because somtimes after spening all day in the park the little ones can't make it until parade time!!