Help me decide! What should I do on arrival day??

[Jsharp13]

Frequent DIS'ers... or just big Disney World fans... help me decide!!!
I am planning a trip in Jan/Feb of next year, and it's going to be a mash up of a solo trip, my son joining, and my friends joining.
I've been yearly for the past several years, so I'm very comfortable and familiar with the Disney bubble, and what I am hoping to see and do.
After booking my flight, I have reconsidered and saw a price drop and might come in one day early... but of course my lodging is not available for that extra night at the front of my vacation. Wherever I end up, I know I'll need to transfer my bags, either on my own or with Disney, and I'm ok with that.

I will be arriving SOLO at this point, so these plans are just for ME!!!

Here are my options - what do you think would be a great use of my time and money, but also just a great experience?

1) Flight: Depart so early Land early (10 am). Resort: Something near Epcot, like Beach Club, around $500 , or Dolphin around $400, with the plans to relax and then enjoy Epcot After Hours starting at 7 pm.
-- Cons: Early, and I'll be tired. Likely can't get into room for a bit. What to do for a full day (don't want to add a park day, if I'm going to pay for After Hours). Expensive room. I love Epcot, but I know I won't ride Guardians 5 times. Maybe once, and maybe Remy once. I like the World showcase and I know that's not open for After Hours, so is that cost even worth it??

2) Flight: Medium, land 1 pm. Resort: Something near Epcot, like Beach Club, around $500, or Dolphin around $400, with the plans to relax and then enjoy Epcot After Hours starting at 7 pm.
-- Cons: I won't be as tired, but the flight is more and I'll have to purchase a few miles just to make this work. Same cons for my Epcot After Hours Concerns.

3) Flight: Later, land 5 pm.
Resort: Something near Epcot, like Beach Club, around $500, or Dolphin around $400, with the plans to relax and then enjoy Epcot After Hours starting at 7 pm.
-- Cons: Affordable flight. Drop bags and get right to Epcot. Same cons / concerns for value of Epcot After hours.

Now, a different scenario...

4) Flight: Depart so early Land early (10 am). Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge, pricey at $500 (unless I can keep watching for a DVC rental). My plan for this day would literally be just to explore this resort, and watch animals from all the public viewing areas, eat at the restaurants, activities, etc. Just a nice resort day at a resort that I have always wanted to stay at! No park, no After Hours. My plans the next day are to go to Animal Kingdom, and while I know it's not directly accessible, it is closer, and certainly gets me into that Animal Kingdom mood before that park day. Maybe I'll even get into bed nice and early and crush that early entry the next day!!!
-- Cons: Early, tired. Expensive resort. No park.

5) Flight: Medium, land 1 pm. Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge, pricey at $500 (unless I can keep watching for a DVC rental). Resort Day.
-- Cons: Early, tired. Expensive resort. No park.

And, a third, kind of in-between scenario:

6) Flight: Depart so early Land early (10 am). Resort: Moderate, like Port Orleans Riverside, around $300. Plans to relax and then enjoy Epcot After Hours starting at 7 pm.
-- Cons: Early, and I'll be tired. Likely can't get into room for a bit. What to do for a full day (don't want to add a park day, if I'm going to pay for After Hours). Room isn't too expensive, but end of the night transportation will be considered (but POR looks close). I love Epcot, but I know I won't ride Guardians 5 times. Maybe once, and maybe Remy once. I like the World showcase and I know that's not open for After Hours, so is that cost even worth it??

7) Flight: Medium, land 1 pm. Resort: Resort: Moderate, like Port Orleans Riverside, around $300., with the plans to relax and then enjoy Epcot After Hours starting at 7 pm.
-- Cons: I won't be as tired, but the flight is more and I'll have to purchase a few miles just to make this work. Same cons for my Epcot After Hours Concerns.

8) Flight: Later, land 5 pm. Resort: Resort: Moderate, like Port Orleans Riverside, around $300., with the plans to relax and then enjoy Epcot After Hours starting at 7 pm.
-- Cons: Affordable flight. Drop bags and get right to Epcot. Same cons / concerns for value of Epcot After hours.

Can you see how I have spun myself into a downward decision spiral? Therefore, please don't give me any more options or my head my explode! (And, know that I probably have already looked at a million other options before narrowing it down here, such as monorail resorts - monorail won't run at the end of After Hours, so that decreases that value; Value resorts like All Stars, which I actually really like, but they are full...)

Thanks great DIS'ers!!!

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

For starters, I would definitely choose the early flight. I don't do well waiting for flights after I'm awake. I'm antsy, pacing, checking my watch, unable to focus on anything else. I'd rather just get up early and get it over with. I don't usually sleep well the night before a trip anyway. This also gives you some cushion in case there are flight delays / issues. That's just me though, if you are able to have an enjoyable productive time while waiting several extra hours to go to the airport, it might not be an issue for you.

Second, I would choose the AKL resort day. I always wanted to stay there and haven't had the chance, and would really love just decompressing and exploring rather than going into Epcot for a few hours.

 

[Skippyboo]

If you’re going to pay for an After Hours, I would not pay large amount of money for Deluxe or Moderate. I would just book an All Star or Pop for a night or one of the hotels in DS area like the Drury.