Help with our first day and DTD!

[DisWishes720]

Hi everyone!

We are flying into MCO and should arrive at 11:40am on December 10th. We are staying at the Beach Club, so I am figuring we should be at the resort around 1:00pm or so. We are traveling with our 18 month old son and are trying to figure out what to do that first day. Our original plan was to head to DTD for lunch, then back to the hotel and then we have dinner at Kona at 6:55pm and then MK for the fireworks and parade. Looking at our timing now however, I feel like eating lunch at DTD will be too late for our son and we may not have enough time for naps. What do you think the best arrival day plan would be? My DH really wanted to try Wolfgang Puck Express and Goofy Candy Co. Do you think there is a way we can have lunch at the hotel, get a nap in, then head to DTD and take a bus from there to the Poly? I don't want to push it on the first day with the little guy. Should we skip DTD all together and maybe walk around WS and then head to the poly via monorail?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[memakwed]

On our arrival day we only do DTD. This gives us time to checkin and start at a relaxed pace before we hit the ground running the next day. You may want to only focus on your evening events to try to get a nap in at the hotel before dinner and MK. there will be a lot of stimulation going on in the evening. It will also depend on how long your child naps and and if they can nap in a stroller or only a quiet room setting. Sometimes less is more to keep everyone happy. Grown ups can adjust if they can't see it all little kiddos on the other hand we need to work with to keep vacation running smooth and fun for all.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, if you are renting a car DTD is doable but I would go there first and eat,then check into the BC. If you are taking ME to the BC I would get something for lunch right at the BC or YC. There are quite a few options for you between these two resorts. Because even with best case scenario and you arrive at one for check-in you can encounter a wait to actually check-in and this could delay your getting of food till about 2pm. Same thing if you have to take a bus to DTD. The marketplace/store at the BC is a great place to head to first if you need a quick snack for your son! I would think it would be best to feed and get him to nap ASAP to make it to your reservation at Kona. At Disney transportation ALWAYS takes longer than you think! And we always rent a car and I still tend to under estimate travel times when we visit. Joan

 

[DisWishes720]

Hi, if you are renting a car DTD is doable but I would go there first and eat,then check into the BC. If you are taking ME to the BC I would get something for lunch right at the BC or YC. There are quite a few options for you between these two resorts. Because even with best case scenario and you arrive at one for check-in you can encounter a wait to actually check-in and this could delay your getting of food till about 2pm. Same thing if you have to take a bus to DTD. The marketplace/store at the BC is a great place to head to first if you need a quick snack for your son! I would think it would be best to feed and get him to nap ASAP to make it to your reservation at Kona. At Disney transportation ALWAYS takes longer than you think! And we always rent a car and I still tend to under estimate travel times when we visit. Joan

You are so right! I know it always takes longer via Disney transportation and we really want to take it slow, let our little guy adjust before we start the rest of our vacation. Perhaps a nap first if we can get into our room and then DTD before dinner?

On our arrival day we only do DTD. This gives us time to checkin and start at a relaxed pace before we hit the ground running the next day. You may want to only focus on your evening events to try to get a nap in at the hotel before dinner and MK. there will be a lot of stimulation going on in the evening. It will also depend on how long your child naps and and if they can nap in a stroller or only a quiet room setting. Sometimes less is more to keep everyone happy. Grown ups can adjust if they can't see it all little kiddos on the other hand we need to work with to keep vacation running smooth and fun for all.

We will be taking ME. I really think it's important for the little guy to take a nap. He does nap in his stroller, but it is the first day of our trip and he is the type that likes to be a part of the action...especially if it's Disney.

Do you think our room will be ready when we check in? What I'm thinking is have a quick lunch at any of the resort area restaurants, then hopefully our room will be ready, we'll take a nice nap, and depending on the timing either head over to DTD before dinner or just head over to dinner early and hang out a bit at the monorail resorts beforehand.

I've heard mixed things about check in. Do you think the room will be ready for us around 2?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!

 

[juliebug1997]

If you have park hoppers and would really like to visit MK that night, then you could possibly sneak into Epcot to have lunch.

Have fun!

 

[nkereina]

Hi everyone!

We are flying into MCO and should arrive at 11:40am on December 10th. We are staying at the Beach Club, so I am figuring we should be at the resort around 1:00pm or so. We are traveling with our 18 month old son and are trying to figure out what to do that first day. Our original plan was to head to DTD for lunch, then back to the hotel and then we have dinner at Kona at 6:55pm and then MK for the fireworks and parade. Looking at our timing now however, I feel like eating lunch at DTD will be too late for our son and we may not have enough time for naps. What do you think the best arrival day plan would be? My DH really wanted to try Wolfgang Puck Express and Goofy Candy Co. Do you think there is a way we can have lunch at the hotel, get a nap in, then head to DTD and take a bus from there to the Poly? I don't want to push it on the first day with the little guy. Should we skip DTD all together and maybe walk around WS and then head to the poly via monorail?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

You may or may not arrive around 1pm - might be earlier or might be later. Last trip, it took us a good two hours from exiting the plan to checking in at our resort.

Also, there is a chance your room may not be ready when you arrive since check-in time is not until 3. Because of that, it would be too risky to plan on having your room in time to nap in and then make it to DTD. Whether or not your room will be ready solely depends on occupancy the night before, so how many people have checked out, how many rooms they have to clean, the housekeeping rotation that day, etc. No way to know.

If I were you, I'd eat at BC or on the Boardwalk. You could mosey around WS if you have the extra days on your tickets for that, otherwise it may be a waste of admission. If you took the monorail to Poly, you would have to change at TTC so keep that in mind when planning times.

I probably wouldn't risk DTD on that first day. The buses are so intermittent there and its a hike from there up to Poly. You'd have to get to the bus stop by 5:30 I would say to make sure you get to Kona for a 6:55 ADR. The good thing about DTD is that they are open until 11, so it might be good for a day you are done at the parks early like on AK day.

 

[Marnm02]

We took DD when she was 13mos and arrived around the same time. We checked in, stopped at the room just to drop our bags off, then had light lunch right away at the food court. Then we went back to the room to settle in and rest before going to dinner at DTD. It worked out fine (we had a car) but we didn't do a park after, just stayed and hung out at DTD. For us, it wasn't worth it to pay for a park day just for a few hours, but I know some other DISers really like seeing the parade/fireworks the first night. If you're worried about overdoing it the first night, however, maybe you could re-schedule the parade/fireworks and save yourself some stress and money all in one shot?

 

[AudreyLovesTheMouse]

How about this idea? When you check in, if your room isn't ready, ask for one that is or that will be ready very soon. (I did this one year, no problem, and I got a great room) Have bathing suits and travel-size sunblock packed in your carry on. Your little guy can eat lunch at the BC, swim in the FANTASTIC pool area, and take a nap all before heading over to Kona and on afterwards to MK.

 

[shannonstar]

I would follow PP plan. Although Hurricane Hannah's may be closed for refurb. You could always grab something from Beaches & Cream and then head to the pool.

 

[DisWishes720]

Thank you all for your great tips! We do have park hoppers for each day of our trip so we definitely want to take advantage of them our first day!

How about this idea? When you check in, if your room isn't ready, ask for one that is or that will be ready very soon. (I did this one year, no problem, and I got a great room) Have bathing suits and travel-size sunblock packed in your carry on. Your little guy can eat lunch at the BC, swim in the FANTASTIC pool area, and take a nap all before heading over to Kona and on afterwards to MK.

I love this idea! I think that's what we're going to go with.

I would follow PP plan. Although Hurricane Hannah's may be closed for refurb. You could always grab something from Beaches & Cream and then head to the pool.

Sad that Hannah's may be closed...we love that place! I'm sure Beaches & Cream will be just as yummy!

Ok so here's our plan for the first day at this moment...
1:00 (hopefully) - arrive and check in (have swimsuits and sunscreen packed in carry on and ready to go )
-lunch at BC or BW spot
-pool time until room is ready
-nap/settle in
-head over to Kona for dinner (6:55pm ressie)
-MK for parade/fireworks

Hopefully the weather will be warm enough for pool time!

 

[nkereina]

How about this idea? When you check in, if your room isn't ready, ask for one that is or that will be ready very soon. (I did this one year, no problem, and I got a great room).

This is certainly something you can do but if you have a specific request, you could get a room that doesn't meet your request. Last year we stayed at POR and I wanted a room in the mansions. Evidently they got to the mansions last that day because our room wasn't ready until 2:30

I would follow PP plan. Although Hurricane Hannah's may be closed for refurb. You could always grab something from Beaches & Cream and then head to the pool.

LOVE B&C but if you do to-go, the menu is limited. Could be worth the wait to sit down though if you have time to kill!

 

[FigmentChick]

Hi everyone!

We are flying into MCO and should arrive at 11:40am on December 10th. We are staying at the Beach Club, so I am figuring we should be at the resort around 1:00pm or so. We are traveling with our 18 month old son and are trying to figure out what to do that first day. Our original plan was to head to DTD for lunch, then back to the hotel and then we have dinner at Kona at 6:55pm and then MK for the fireworks and parade. Looking at our timing now however, I feel like eating lunch at DTD will be too late for our son and we may not have enough time for naps. What do you think the best arrival day plan would be? My DH really wanted to try Wolfgang Puck Express and Goofy Candy Co. Do you think there is a way we can have lunch at the hotel, get a nap in, then head to DTD and take a bus from there to the Poly? I don't want to push it on the first day with the little guy. Should we skip DTD all together and maybe walk around WS and then head to the poly via monorail?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Our family always visits DTD on arrival day rather than going to the parks. However, we usually get in about 2 to 3 hours before you do. In my opinion, your re-tweaked plans of napping and then going to DTD then the Poly would work well. I've had an 18 month old at Disney and can't tell you how helpful those naps are!

Just an idea - have your DH eat his Wolfgang Puck the second he gets there to save room for Kona! (and the candied apples at Goofy's are OMG!)

 

[glass half full]

We are planning DTD on our first day as well. We don't even know when our flights are going to be yet.
We arrive at Poly at some point, pool time if possible then off to DTD. Dinner reservation will be made after flights are secured. My question is...I hear there is a big convenience store across the street from DTD. How crazy is the idea that I could get over there and grab a 12 pack of beer and water to bring back to the room.
We will be using disney transport to and from the Poly.
thanks!

 

[nessz79]

Sad that Hannah's may be closed...we love that place! I'm sure Beaches & Cream will be just as yummy!

Ok so here's our plan for the first day at this moment...
1:00 (hopefully) - arrive and check in (have swimsuits and sunscreen packed in carry on and ready to go )
-lunch at BC or BW spot
-pool time until room is ready
-nap/settle in
-head over to Kona for dinner (6:55pm ressie)
-MK for parade/fireworks

Hopefully the weather will be warm enough for pool time!

I think this is the best plan.

 

[tzeitel]

We are planning DTD on our first day as well. We don't even know when our flights are going to be yet.
We arrive at Poly at some point, pool time if possible then off to DTD. Dinner reservation will be made after flights are secured. My question is...I hear there is a big convenience store across the street from DTD. How crazy is the idea that I could get over there and grab a 12 pack of beer and water to bring back to the room.
We will be using disney transport to and from the Poly.
thanks!

Only in a cab. It is not right across the street, more like a couple of long blocks and across a very, very busy street. The supermarket is in a strip mall so you also have to walk past a restaurant (or 2) and across the parking lot. It might not seem like a long walk when you are in a car but if you are dragging beer and water it would feel like a hike