First timer first day query

[snod911]

Hi everyone. I'm so excited--my friend and I are taking our first trip ever to WDW. We're arriving around 230-3PM at WL and from there have no idea what to do first, as I'm not sure whether it's worth it to use our pass for such a short time. Does anybody have any favorite first day/partial day ideas that would work for us, staying at WL? I'd be grateful for any suggestions. Thanks sooo much!

 

[mulgar]

congrats on making your first trip.
Now questions
Do you have a ticket deal that gives you tickets for everyday of your stay?
How long is your trip and what would you like to do

 

[Palendat]

If you are already getting a 7-day or longer pass, I would add an extra day (for like $5 or something, very reasonable) and spend the evening at Epcot. If not, then I'd either do a character meal at 1900 Park Faire or one of the other resort character meals. But that's just me!!!!!

 

[sunny04]

I agree...if it's okay for you to use this day, I would go for either Epcot or a character meal too. These are the two things we do on partial days.

 

[ottawa-newbie]

It's our first time going too and on our first day we are going to Hoop de doo and planning a trip to DTD

 

[newholidayx2]

as soon as we checkin to the VWL DS13 & I are having lunch at Whispering Canyon
then we're going monorail resort pool hopping! (DVCers)
maybe dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe

 

[snod911]

congrats on making your first trip.
Now questions
Do you have a ticket deal that gives you tickets for everyday of your stay?
How long is your trip and what would you like to do

Wow, thanks so much folks for all the advice already! To answer the questions, we'll be there for 8 days total and will probably have a 7 MYW ticket not linked to our stay. So one option might be to save the 7th day for our last day and not use our pass on the Saturday we arrive.

My friend and I are 27-30 and we're probably most interested in the rides and Epcot-type attractions. Love going out to eat, though too! We'd thought about planning a meal somewhere that would get us in the Disney spirit and then maybe just chilling by the pool or something. Any other thoughts?

Thanks again for all the advice--these forums are great!

John

 

[TZMOM]

Hey - how about trying out the water mice????

 

[elastigirlfan]

Hi. Congrats on your first trip. You could have dinner somewhere at one of the resort restaurants, there's a lot of good ones to choose from. You could go to DD, you could go resort hopping and check the other resorts out, you could rent those little zippy racer boats on Bay Lake, or you could just hang by the pool and relax for your next day at the parks. Those were just a couple of ideas that came to me right away. I hope you have a great first trip!

Alyssa

 

[cowtownmom]

Downtown Disney is also great to do the first day when you don't have a full day. Lots of fun shopping and eating. You would still have enough time to eat dinner at one of the resorts too.

We began our last trip at DDT to get into the Disney spirit and we're starting our trip in June that way too. I love to shop so I can spend HOURS there!

 

[ReninDetroit]

Yeah, I always do DTD on the first partial day too.

That's what I'd suggest. There's something for everyone there, and it's a great way to spend a few hours.

 

[eeyore45]

Dont forget the Boardwalk, hit the monorails and stop at a resort or two to try a speciality drink!!

We're making a PS at Ohana's. I figure we'll get to our resort around noon, dd will want to hit the pool, dh will want to take a nap!! So if our rooms arent ready, we'll let dd put a swim suit on, and will sit by the pool and relax. Maybe take the boat over to DDT, or find a place to get to the Boardwalk, so many choices, but we'll eat at OHana's and watch the fireworks from the Poly beach!!


Like you I dont want to use one of my 7 days on my first day there, or maybe I do... Choices Choices!!

 

[snod911]

Dont forget the Boardwalk, hit the monorails and stop at a resort or two to try a speciality drink!!

Sorry to be so oblivious, but is it possible to travel around to the other resorts on the monorail/buses without having to activate one's pass? How does that work?

Any reccomendations for a first night nice dinner for 2?

John

 

[eeyore45]

Sorry to be so oblivious, but is it possible to travel around to the other resorts on the monorail/buses without having to activate one's pass? How does that work?

Any reccomendations for a first night nice dinner for 2?

John

OK there's a loaded question!!

Everyone has their favorite!! What are you looking for?? Here's a link to allearsnet, on the left is a list of all the places, click and find a list of menus that way you'll get what suits your needs best!!

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

We're traveling with DD 8 and my parents, we ate and dd loved Ohana's last year, I love they bring me meat, and shrimp, all I want!! YUM They have activities to keep dd entertained.

Hoop de doo Review is at Wilderness - we did it years ago, it was ok, but not something we enjoyed as much as so many others. Its a fun, entertaining, corny show, with food like the wild west...

The Wilderness Lodge has Whispering Caverns...

Animal Kingdom Lodge has lots to see and do around their resorts good places to eat, check out themenus!

Grand Floridian has lots of fancy places, as does the Contempory has the California Grille, if you make a reservation late enough at either Ohana's (Polynesian) or California Grill, you might be able to see the fireworks. The Steakhouse at the YachtClub gets awesome reviews by some, and its a resort at Epcot, and there is a Boardwalk to walk and entertain ....

at DTD they have different places to eat, and shop..

You can access the transportation on site since you are staying onsite, I think we're staying at the Port Orleans, so we'd take a bus to the Ticket and Transportation Center, and get on the monorail to go around and stop at the different monorail resorts! There is a fun thread somewhere about "drinking around the world" that talks about specialtiy drinks at the different resorts!

 

[gardengal]

Get settled into your room. The take the boat over to the magic kingdom but dont enter. Get on the resort monorail to the contemporary and have an early dinner at chef mickeys (make sure to make a ps). Do some shopping at the stores at the contemporary. Then take the monorail over to the grand floridian or the polynesian to watch the fireworks and look around the hotel. From the polyneisan you can watch then from the beach and at the grand floridian from a boat dock.

Settle in your room to watch disney television which gives you planning ideas for yout trip and get to sleep early.

Michelle

 

[ncbyrne]

I wouldn't waste a day on a ticket when you are arriving so late in the day. I would second the idea to visit some of the resorts. You don't have to use a park ticket to ride the monorail or to visit any resorts - feel free to browse around the grounds of any resort. There are many resort restaurants to choose from with lots of great food. Here's a link that will give you all of the WDW menus. http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm Click on Resort Hotels under Dining (upper left side of page). From the Wilderness Lodge you can get to the monorail by taking the boat to the Contemporary. Just hop on the Resort Monorail and get off at will.
A trip to Downtown Disney would be a good first day thing to do too.
I would also recommend renting some of the two person water speed boats. If you take the boat to the Contemporary, I'm sure you'll see some of them in the lake. They are FUN!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Just wanted to add...we are also going for 8 days/7 nights, and were planning on buying the 7 day passes. When I was shopping around for prices, I saw that on Ticketmania.com the 8 day and 9 day MYW prices are actually cheaper than the 7 day! (At least that's the case for our total- 3 adults and 2 kids). We aren't going to have any non-park days this trip.

 

[mulgar]

buy the extra day it can't be more than 5.00 to add it we are going to be there 7 days and six nights and the difference between 6 day tickets and 7 day tickets were three dollars

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

Every night there is an electrical water parade around bay lake. Your WL check-in counter can tell you what time it passes by the WL.

 

[Georgieut]

I bet my day of arrival plans is the oddest. My DH and I are going to go play golf at the Palms. The resort guest discount was grand. To play a PGA tour course is exciting to me. The Palms runs along the back side of MK by the Poly Resort & Floridian. One of the courses even has a Mickey shape sand bunker. How cool is that. I have to find me a Mickey Mouse head cover. What ever you do I am sure it will be great!