Help me choose the best first day activity!!

[missy28]

Ok, I am playing tour guide for the second time to my friend's family... I am 30 (single, no kids) Mom 33, Dad 34 (my friends from an old job) and their 2 kids, DS 8 and DD6. The first trip was 2 years ago. We arrive Friday, July 2 in the pm, and want to relax on Sat. and not go to a park. Last time we were there, we only went to the parks and didn't get a chance to explore other areas of the property. We are staying off property at Marriott's Horizon's resort. So, here are my ideas. Please let me know which one you think would be the best!

Spend the morning at the resort pool and then go to the Hoop de Doo Revue, the Polynesian Luau, or Whispering Canyon for dinner

Go to a water park—Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon

Play mini-golf at 1 of the 2 mini-courses and then spend the evening at Downtown Disney

Have dinner at the California Grill (or just dessert) and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the top of the Contemporary

Have dinner at Ohana’s at the Polynesian and watch the fireworks and the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach

Their 2 children are extremely well-behaved (which makes it a joy for me to travel with them!) so I am not concerned about that. This is my treat to them since they are footing the bill for the lodging. I also am an AP holder so I'd like to utilize some of my discounts. We are also planning on the Family Magic Tour at MK on the day we spend there. Any thoughts for the first day?

 

[liznboys]

All of those sound like great ideas!! We also like to NOT go into the parks on our first full day. It's nice to ease into things that way. Last year, we spent out first full day visiting a couple of the resorts, then went to 'Ohana for dinner and watched the fireworks on the Poly beach. It was a great day!!! We'll be doing a similar thing next year.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We always go to a character dinner the night we arrive since we don't attend the parks that first day. It gets the kids ready for all the fun that's ahead.

Our first day at the parks will be at Animal Kingdom.

 

[jpd3]

It's the Hoop De Doo Revue for us. We usually like to park at the Contemporary and ride the boat over to FW. If you get the 7:30 showing when you ride the boat back to CR you have a pretty good shot of seeing Wishes from the water. Low on the horizon but still good.

My kids love the show and it really gets them into the Disney spirit. Plus the strawberry shortcake is to die for!

Have a great trip

 

[missy28]

I made PS for Whispering Canyon Cafe, (because they have never been there and don't know anything about it!!) for 6:10. I think we'll hang out at the resort and make use of their mini waterpark for most of the day until dinner. After dinner, I've decided to head to the Poly beach to watch the fireworks.

Any ideas on how best to get from the Wilderness Lodge to the Poly? We'll be driving, but I'd like to take the boat at some point. I was thinking, maybe park at the Poly, take the boat to MK, switch boats to WL, and then take the reverse (or the monorail to Poly from MK). Or is that too much? I know it would take about an hour each way to and fro... maybe it would just be easier to drive.... ACK!!! Too much planning....

 

[turnlisa]

We stayed in the Poly Concierage last year and asked the staff there about the best way to get to WL for breakfast at WCC. We were told to drive. It only takes a couple of minutes and was really convenient.

On our first day we usually go to DTD to shop. It gives you an idea about some of the souvenirs you will see in the parks and also lets you get into the Disney mood. In the evening, we do the mini-golf at Winter Summerland. My oldest DS just loves it and it is a lot of fun. Since we are staying at the Poly, we then go back to our room to watch the EWP and the fireworks over the castle. Have a great time and enjoy!

 

[inthemood]

We always familarize ourselves with the resort. Then we have a character dinner!!! Get lots of rest and take to the parks the next day!!

 

[my3princes]

My suggestion would be to take the ferry from the WL to Fort Wilderness. Do the campfire program (they can meet Chip and Dale and see a Disney Flick) after the movie head down to the beach. From there you can watch Wishes and catch the Electric Water Parade. We are staying in FW and always have a great time with the campfire program.

 

[Jen D]

Best to earmark "hotel time"-- that means the pool, or, hold your hats, a nap. We always take early morning flights to Disney that we had to get up at the crack of dawn for (and personally I never get any sleep the night before.) Our first trip we did a park day one (Epcot, Illuminations) and were exhausted. Last trip, I was determined not to make that mistake again. So, we fly in that morning, make a grocery stop, are at resort by noon, rush out for a couple hours at the pool, then spend the afternoon at Downtown Disney... by the time we caught the bus for our first night dinner at Chef Mickey's we were all falling apart.

I'm trying to play it smarter this time-- we have UPH's so we may do a little token park time in the afternoon just because we can, but no pressure. We're staying at the resort, eating at the resort, and resting. Travel days are just exhausting.

 

[lazarru]

I second the Hoop De Doo Revue. We just got back and did that the 1st night. It works out well as you can relax in getting over to FW, check out the animals and such then have a great show.