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

[Disnsyncey]

1st recommendation. Did you know you can do a night Safari w/o a park ticket for AK? https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/night-safari/

I was REALLY confused that you could get into AK without a ticket, but it's at AKL...or at least starts and ends at AKL.....

 

[zackiedawg]

Sounds like you're coming into a plan - but just to throw this out there: I go to Disney often, 4-5 times a year, as I'm a reasonable 3 hour drive away - I do a mix of solo trips, trips with friends, and trips with larger groups...on my solo trips, and some trips with friends, my arrival day is usually catered around spending time at Disney Springs rather than bother with booking a park day. I don't arrive super-early, usually between noon and 3pm - so after checking in (and unpacking if my room is available), I head over to Disney Springs and enjoy a wide selection of bars, restaurants, live music and entertainment for the rest of the day/night. Sometimes if I arrive earlier, I'll go tour around a resort for a bit just for fun, then head to Disney Springs.

The resorts that are connected to Disney Springs are favorites when going solo for just this reason...my upcoming trip on the 2nd week of December will be at Saratoga Springs, requesting Congress Park section, so I can walk in and out of Disney Springs at will. If my room isn't ready, I walk over, grab a drink, listen to a musician play somewhere - then I get my text that the room is ready, so I walk back, unpack, then walk back to Disney Springs for dinner, more entertainment, cocktails, etc. And no worries about busses back at the end of the evening as my resort is a quick walk home. OKW and the Port Orleans resorts are also good for this, as they at least have the boats to Disney Springs.

There are so many places for live music at Disney Springs - Marketplace stage, Waterside stage, Dockside Margaritas, Paradiso 37, Edison, House of Blues, Raglan Road, Splitsville - plus other spots that play music, have DJs, etc.

 

[AZMermaid]

I’m hearing that you have a.ways wanted to spend time at AKL and for your solo part… you should do what you want guilt free! I say early or mid flight and explore AKL.

 

[WLWildlife]

Early flight- just try to go to bed a little earlier so you are rested.
AKL and enjoy a relaxing day exploring the resort, the animals and the rest of the amenities.
Book the night safari!
Skip the park ticket, you can enjoy the parks the rest of your trip.

We have stopped doing a park on arrival day. We enjoy the resort, DS, mini golf, resort hopping, watching the fireworks from outside the parks, etc. There is a ton of things to do that we never did before because we always went to the parks. Now we make time to settle in and relax and rest for a week of enjoying the parks.

Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[JackiesHubby]

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!!!

Hi,
You've come to the right place for advice. These people helped me out last year and were fantastic. Let me add one new option for you just to start a new thought. On arrival day we liked spending it at Disney Springs allowing my wife to shop (she would win a gold medal if it were an olympic sport) and dining. They have almost every possible category of dining that I could think of. We could easily spend 5 hours there. As for resorts go, you only live once. If you've always wanted to do AKL then treat yourself. for the flight i would do the second choice for the additional cost. Vacation is about enjoyment, relaxing, and spending time with your loved ones. Make the choice that will let you fulfill those ambitions.