Ideas for first ever day at WDW!

[LiquidSunshine]

Hi all,

Have finally got my MDE set-up, magic bands customised, so now starts the very real planning of 2 weeks at WDW!

Trying to decide on what to do during our first ever, full day...!

We are staying at POFQ, so was thinking getting up, maybe have some breakfast at the resort, then take the boat to Downtown Disney spend some time looking around, and then maybe make an ADR for T-Rex.

Anyone have any suggestions or ideas for a first-timer's first day?

 

[Elise79]

As you will mostly likely be awake very early due to jet lag i would grab a quick breakfast and head to MK to see the welcome show. Then spend the morning exploring MK.

In the afternoon i would head back to the resort to explore before dinner somewhere

 

[queendisney]

Head straight for a park...you can do DTD in the evenings or late afternoon after you've been to a park. I'd go to MK if its your first ever trip, its just pure Disney. Get there early for rope drop as the opening show is lovely. Maybe make an ADR for breakfast at Crystal Palace. You'll be awake nice and early so you'll find it won't be a problem.

 

[Tony Toon]

You can't beat walking down Main Street on your first morning of any Disney holiday never mind your very first one ever. As others have said, you can do DTD later in the day at any point in your two weeks. Jet lag means we are always up super early (we're always awake by 5ish) we make an ADR for a Crystal Palace breakfast, arrive in time for the opening show and then go soak up the magic. Make sure you have hankies at the ready - cue for a tear when you realise you are finally there. (at least it will be for us again this summer on trip no. 16)
Mrs TT

 

[edinburghlass]

Our first morning at POFQ last year started at the food court at 7.00 am to get some beignets, 3 for one snack credit we shared them, nothing like a sugar rush to get you going in the morning! We then headed to AK as it was early opening and went straight to the safari I don't remember the rest of our itinerary but we had an early lunch about 11.30 ish.

From memory I don't think the boats to DTD start until 10 ish and while it's the best way to get to DTD you don't want to be wasting time on your first day waiting on the boats to start running.

 

[2Tiggies]

From memory I don't think the boats to DTD start until 10 ish and while it's the best way to get to DTD you don't want to be wasting time on your first day waiting on the boats to start running.

Agreed. And to add to this, if possible, you want to avoid the DTD buses from the PO resorts if possible. The boat is much quicker.

Early character breakfast or a meal at the food court is a pretty sound plan and I'd also definitely be at one of the parks for park opening. MK is a popular choice for first and last days but we don't necessarily follow that trend. We select a park where the hours or activities suit us for that day and just roll with it.

What time does your flight get in? DTD is a popular choice with many of us arriving later in the day/early evening for a first night stop.

 

[chmurf]

a first *ever* full day calls for an early visit to a park

if you have a car, parking at TTC and taking the monorail or boat to MK is something we like to do. Seeing the Castle getting closer and closer, that's something we enjoy.

If you use Disney Transportation, walking early on Main Street is something to do. If it's an EMH then all the better, but a Crystal Palace ADR is also a good way to enter early with an empty Main Street before the park opens.

Don't go to DTD on your first day. You'll be up at silly o'clock and DTD only opens at 10am IIRC (shops that is.)

 

[BlueGiraffe]

We always head to MK on our first full day. There's nothing more magical than arriving there, seeing the welcome show and then walking up Main Street. For us, it's a must-do tradition. Such a magical place!!

 

[Cadbury]

Our first day wasn't a park day (14 day tickets and 17 day stay)
we had breakfast at our resort. Then did some quick shopping at the outlet stores and walmart. A we went swimming and ended up at DTD.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I keep forgetting about the jet lag! And interesting about the DTD boats not starting until 10am......didn't know that!

Someone asked what time our flight arrives. If memory serves me right, it is 3.15pm. Maybe DTD after arriving at our room?!

OK...think I am going to go with the majority and go for MK for rope drop. Breakfast at Crystal Palace. Hit Main Street nice and early (fingers crossed it is EMH for the morning!)

Now, I am about to log into MDE and getting started with my ADR! (can't do anything about FP+ though....VH, no tickets )

Thanks again folks

 

[LiquidSunshine]

You can't beat walking down Main Street on your first morning of any Disney holiday never mind your very first one ever. As others have said, you can do DTD later in the day at any point in your two weeks. Jet lag means we are always up super early (we're always awake by 5ish) we make an ADR for a Crystal Palace breakfast, arrive in time for the opening show and then go soak up the magic. Make sure you have hankies at the ready - cue for a tear when you realise you are finally there. (at least it will be for us again this summer on trip no. 16)
Mrs TT

Will add tissues to my "list of stuff to buy"!

 

[Elise79]

Thanks for all your suggestions! I keep forgetting about the jet lag! And interesting about the DTD boats not starting until 10am......didn't know that! Someone asked what time our flight arrives. If memory serves me right, it is 3.15pm. Maybe DTD after arriving at our room?! OK...think I am going to go with the majority and go for MK for rope drop. Breakfast at Crystal Palace. Hit Main Street nice and early (fingers crossed it is EMH for the morning!) Now, I am about to log into MDE and getting started with my ADR! (can't do anything about FP+ though....VH, no tickets ) Thanks again folks

If it's your first visit I would save the breakfast at CP for another day. You will be hungry early (your stomach will think its mid morning!) so I would plan at eating at your resort and then head to MK for the opening show.

Empty Main Street is nice but watching the opening show is much more magical

If the park opens at 9am you want to head for a bus about 7.45am which will give you plenty of time to eat at the resort first.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Just checked the Disney site, and my first day MK has the morning EMH, so will be open from 8am.

Is there buses earlier than 7.45am, as I want to be there for the opening ceremony (I am assuming it is done for 8am during EMH?)

 

[joolz1910]

We arrived in the afternoon and took the boat to DTD and had dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. For our first full day we got up early and had an early ADR at Crystal Palace (I think it was 8.15) and had photos outside the Castle. A great day to start our holiday

 

[LiquidSunshine]

We arrived in the afternoon and took the boat to DTD and had dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. For our first full day we got up early and had an early ADR at Crystal Palace (I think it was 8.15) and had photos outside the Castle. A great day to start our holiday

Yeah thinking DTD after check-in. Will have to look Wolfgang Puck Express up.

Earliest ADR for Crystal Palace I managed to get was 8.45am.

 

[2Tiggies]

Just checked the Disney site, and my first day MK has the morning EMH, so will be open from 8am.

Is there buses earlier than 7.45am, as I want to be there for the opening ceremony (I am assuming it is done for 8am during EMH?)

Buses start between 6.15 and 6.30 am. They are less frequent earlier on than they are from around 7 am so try be waiting in good time for your bus.

I am not sure if they do the opening ceremony on EMH days (?) but if it's an early opening, I would not choose that day for CP breakfast as it gains you nothing and the park will likely be busier than on other days that week. I know everyone head right to MK for the first day but we have only done so once. We prefer to work with the park that suits our plans for the day best.

If you land at 3.15 pm you should be checked in at POFQ no later than 6 pm. Go get your mugs from the food court so you have them in your room and don't have to faff with them the next morning (I need my coffee so I'm usually outside those doors waving my resort mug at 5.55 am on the first day )

You could get a boat to DTD by 7 pm, have dinner and walk around and head back by 9 or 10 pm for an 'early night'

 

[married2mm]

a first *ever* full day calls for an early visit to a park

if you have a car, parking at TTC and taking the monorail or boat to MK is something we like to do. Seeing the Castle getting closer and closer, that's something we enjoy.

If you use Disney Transportation, walking early on Main Street is something to do. If it's an EMH then all the better, but a Crystal Palace ADR is also a good way to enter early with an empty Main Street before the park opens.

Don't go to DTD on your first day. You'll be up at silly o'clock and DTD only opens at 10am IIRC (shops that is.)

I agree- mk is the place to be.
As early as physically possible!
There's really nothing like it-just wonderful.

We call travel day-day zero-as we've never managed to go anywhere or do anything. It's literally eat,unpack,sleep.
Then as others have said-it's silly o'clock-day1-and you're giddy and raring to go.

 

[joolz1910]

Yeah thinking DTD after check-in. Will have to look Wolfgang Puck Express up.

Earliest ADR for Crystal Palace I managed to get was 8.45am.

Have you got the free dining? If yes, WPE is a counter service meal and fabulous value for money.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

OK, maybe aim for 6.30am bus and can always catch the opening ceremony another day.

Def get mugs on arrival! Get into room...and then head to DTD for a look round and maybe a bite to eat.

No DDP. For some reason it didn't come with POFQ? (I had originally booked for CBR, but had always had my heart set on POFQ. When I changed I was told I wasn't entitled to DDP anymore. Not too worried about that!)

Had a look at Wolfgang Puck Express and it looks like the right place for 1st night DTD visit.

 

[Elise79]

Just checked the Disney site, and my first day MK has the morning EMH, so will be open from 8am. Is there buses earlier than 7.45am, as I want to be there for the opening ceremony (I am assuming it is done for 8am during EMH?)

The show will be about 7.45am then with buses running from about 6.30am