Ideas for first ever day at WDW!

[pickers1982]

For your first day...go with your gut and don't try and squeeze too much in.

Create your own first day traditions as that what makes them so special!

 

[torsie24]

I'd just have a CS lunch on your first day if you want to stay in the MK. If you've not been before you don't want to tie yourself down to being anywhere at a specific place or time.

We like CHH, but check this website out so you;re familiar with what the different places do before you get there:

http://allears.net/dining/menu#mk

As I said in an earlier post we don't like to spend the whole day in the park, especially not when jetlag is still hanging over us, so we leave the park and get a more relaxed lunch. But plenty of people do stay all day. You just need to learn what's best for you.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

I'd just have a CS lunch on your first day if you want to stay in the MK. If you've not been before you don't want to tie yourself down to being anywhere at a specific place or time.

We like CHH, but check this website out so you;re familiar with what the different places do before you get there:

http://allears.net/dining/menu#mk

As I said in an earlier post we don't like to spend the whole day in the park, especially not when jetlag is still hanging over us, so we leave the park and get a more relaxed lunch. But plenty of people do stay all day. You just need to learn what's best for you.

Thanks for the link, will check it out!

 

[TNDisneyNut]

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?

Im with you on this one. If you are staying more than 4 days so you have one day for each park, I would explore the resort and just do relaxing things. If you have a long drive or flight, it's a great way to be relaxed and ready for a long park day the next day. Once we hit the parks, we dont want to stop going so it's a nice way to just relax and enjoy! There are so many things to do at POFQ. You can rent bikes or boats, and the pool is awesome. I love the boat ride to DTD. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[higgy66]

We always have lunch at CP around 12.30 on our first day

We wake up early so head to MK for rope drop then call into Starbucks for a drink and muffin or brownie.

We either do frontierland or tomorrowland and then come lunchtime we're usually starving!

We usually have another hour walking around after lunch and then head back to the pool to chill out

We tend to have a TS lunch the first two days and then switch to TS evening meals once our body clocks are onto Florida time

I found on our very first trip we were too tired the first full day night to enjoy the TS evening meal and had we not had an ADR we would have eaten Pizza by the pool!

 

[Holstar]

Could I chime in and ask a quick first timer question?

We've been toying with the idea of Crystal Palace breakfast for a little while - our first full day (we land at about 3pm on the Friday) is a Saturday and we have decided to do MK first day.

There's no EMH and the park opens at 9am. Our girls do love characters, but don't like the formal meet and greets in the parks. The earliest ADR we can get on the 22nd of August is 8:20am - would this give us enough time to eat before the park opens at 9am?

At the moment, our plan for arrival day is to check in, collect resort mugs and relax by the pool (the girls are water babies!). Our plan for our first park day is get there for park opening, try and stay all day and then a 6pm ADR at Crystal Palace... I'm starting to doubt whether the girls will be

I'm tempted to do Crystal Palace in the morning, be free and able to leave MK as and when we get tired, and maybe do DTD in the evening and grab food there - buuuuut, it'll be a Saturday. Am I crazy?

 

[torsie24]

That's far too long a day for a first day. I'd say get breakfast or lunch by all means but I think just take it easy for the afternoon/evening. You don't want to exhaust yourselves before your trip has barely started.

 

[Elise79]

Could I chime in and ask a quick first timer question?

We've been toying with the idea of Crystal Palace breakfast for a little while - our first full day (we land at about 3pm on the Friday) is a Saturday and we have decided to do MK first day.

There's no EMH and the park opens at 9am. Our girls do love characters, but don't like the formal meet and greets in the parks. The earliest ADR we can get on the 22nd of August is 8:20am - would this give us enough time to eat before the park opens at 9am?

At the moment, our plan for arrival day is to check in, collect resort mugs and relax by the pool (the girls are water babies!). Our plan for our first park day is get there for park opening, try and stay all day and then a 6pm ADR at Crystal Palace... I'm starting to doubt whether the girls will be

I'm tempted to do Crystal Palace in the morning, be free and able to leave MK as and when we get tired, and maybe do DTD in the evening and grab food there - buuuuut, it'll be a Saturday. Am I crazy?

8.20 will not be earlier enough to eat and see all the characters - I wouldn't expect to be out before 9.30.

I also wouldn't plan on staying all day - I think you will all need a break by mid afternoon

 

[duffdo]

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?

Really?? Get yourself up early (which you will be due to jet lag,) breakfast at Chef Mickeys and across to Magic Kingdom for the opening ceremony. Walking into MK for the first time, watching the castle as you walk into its view, the smell of the popcorn. One word. Magical.

 

[Holstar]

That's far too long a day for a first day. I'd say get breakfast or lunch by all means but I think just take it easy for the afternoon/evening. You don't want to exhaust yourselves before your trip has barely started.

8.20 will not be earlier enough to eat and see all the characters - I wouldn't expect to be out before 9.30.

I also wouldn't plan on staying all day - I think you will all need a break by mid afternoon

Thanks guys for this - I was beginning to suspect as much. In that case, we'll grab breakfast at the resort, get to the parks for park opening and maybe pick up a late lunch around 2pm at Crystal Palace. Do you think the girls would be fine until 2pm? Or would an earlier lunch be best?

We need to go to Walmart (is there one close to Disney?) for food for the villa, so we may as well do that after lunch, then relax by the pool for a couple of hours, maybe have a look around DTD in the early evening before an early night.

 

[Elise79]

Thanks guys for this - I was beginning to suspect as much. In that case, we'll grab breakfast at the resort, get to the parks for park opening and maybe pick up a late lunch around 2pm at Crystal Palace. Do you think the girls would be fine until 2pm? Or would an earlier lunch be best?

We need to go to Walmart (is there one close to Disney?) for food for the villa, so we may as well do that after lunch, then relax by the pool for a couple of hours, maybe have a look around DTD in the early evening before an early night.

Because of the time difference we usually have an earlier lunch on the first day around noon.

For food shopping I prefer Publix to Walmart. We only visit Walmart if we want other stuff in addition to food. There are several of both close to WDW - what resort are you at as it will depend which are closest?

 

[Holstar]

Because of the time difference we usually have an earlier lunch on the first day around noon.

For food shopping I prefer Publix to Walmart. We only visit Walmart if we want other stuff in addition to food. There are several of both close to WDW - what resort are you at as it will depend which are closest?

Very good point. I'll have a look at what times are available. I guess my logic was that we'd have breakfast around 7am (at the resort) and then probably grab a mid morning snack - 9-2 would give us 5 hours for rides/attractions on the first day.

We're at Old Key West. I'm absolutely terrified about navigating around Orlando! Hahahaha!

 

[Disney Frenhines]

I'm with most other posters. You will wake up at silly o'clock no matter how late you go to bed, get to breakfast early as it gets busier later on and get the bus to MK take lots of photos even while you wait for rope drop. That moment you get to the start of Main Street USA and look down at Cinderella Castle for the very first time is beyond special. When you are ready go back to POFQ (a fantastic resort, you'll love it) and take the boat down to DTD, I also like the Earl of Sandwich and a Sundae at Ghiradellis, the queues for EoS can be very long (because the sandwiches are terrific) but, move pretty fast. DTD is boring in the morning as there are too few people to add atmosphere.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

Could I chime in and ask a quick first timer question?

We've been toying with the idea of Crystal Palace breakfast for a little while - our first full day (we land at about 3pm on the Friday) is a Saturday and we have decided to do MK first day.

There's no EMH and the park opens at 9am. Our girls do love characters, but don't like the formal meet and greets in the parks. The earliest ADR we can get on the 22nd of August is 8:20am - would this give us enough time to eat before the park opens at 9am?

At the moment, our plan for arrival day is to check in, collect resort mugs and relax by the pool (the girls are water babies!). Our plan for our first park day is get there for park opening, try and stay all day and then a 6pm ADR at Crystal Palace... I'm starting to doubt whether the girls will be

I'm tempted to do Crystal Palace in the morning, be free and able to leave MK as and when we get tired, and maybe do DTD in the evening and grab food there - buuuuut, it'll be a Saturday. Am I crazy?

You may land at 3pm, but, you will not get to your resort much before 5pm because of Immigration, waiting for your baggage and transportation, by the time you check in to your hotel you are looking at 6pm probably, so spend the first evening exploring your resort and letting the kids enjoy the pool. I used to think I'll head straight to the park, great idea on paper, until you get there and then it's a case of 'I don't think so' And if your flight is delayed too.

Sorry I just realised I quoted the wrong message, but, to anyone else thinking of heading straight to the parks after landing it's the same advice.

 

[Holstar]

You may land at 3pm, but, you will not get to your resort much before 5pm because of Immigration, waiting for your baggage and transportation, by the time you check in to your hotel you are looking at 6pm probably, so spend the first evening exploring your resort and letting the kids enjoy the pool. I used to think I'll head straight to the park, great idea on paper, until you get there and then it's a case of 'I don't think so' And if your flight is delayed too.

Sorry I just realised I quoted the wrong message, but, to anyone else thinking of heading straight to the parks after landing it's the same advice.

I have no intention of going to MK on the day we land, as I realise it'll be a good couple of hours before we're at OKW and checked in. I know our girls will be beat from travelling, so we're going to relax at the resort and if they're not too tired, maybe wander to DTD for an hour or so.

We're doing MK our first full day, the Saturday

 

[Elise79]

Very good point. I'll have a look at what times are available. I guess my logic was that we'd have breakfast around 7am (at the resort) and then probably grab a mid morning snack - 9-2 would give us 5 hours for rides/attractions on the first day.

We're at Old Key West. I'm absolutely terrified about navigating around Orlando! Hahahaha!

Orlando is really really easy!

OKW to Publix at Vineland Ave:
Right out of OKW, upto the end of the road turn right.
At the end of the road there are traffic lights and you need to turn left.
On this road get in the right hand lane - at the end of the road you want to a right but in the left of the 2 right hand turn lanes.
This is the 535 - get over in to the left hand lane - there is a set of lights with no turns (junction with the I4)
The next junction is Vineland Ave and you need to turn left on to it. Follow Vineland round past the Outlets and Publix is on the left

Here is a link to the Google Map Instructions

The Vineland Ave Publix is the closet to OKW however we prefer the one at Celebration.

The other thing you might want to get yourself is a copy of Mapmans Map - it shows all the local tourist places and restaurants and is really easy to use. I like it better than sat nav as in I can see excatly where something is before setting off.

 

[bex7583]

we did CP breakfast our first day on first visit and thought it was great , my kids want breakfast !!

i didnt want to be tied to a reservation at any other time of day incase they were tired etc

main street was almost empty as we were walking u to the castle got some lovely photos . breakfast was filling and they got to meet there first characters in a relaxed manner

i think it had been about 11pm by the time we got to our room the night before so we were not up mega early ( i did wake up in my clothes tho so must have been exhausted)

 

[Pegasus928]

I would echo what everyone else has said about the benefits of having an early breakfast in the park. Great photo ops on Main Street and the fact that you will be up early anyway make it a no brainer for me.
We made a mistake last time we went by planning our first day at MK watching the opening show - only to turn up at TTC and not being allowed on the ferry or monorail because it was EMH at MK - so check that before you make a decision.

 

[1andrea]

Magic Kingdom for rope drop us the best plan!! If Its your very first visit I wouldn't go straight to a sit down breakfast as you'll be itching to get out to explore!

 

[TraceyTalbot]

We going for the very first time in September on honeymoon, we doing mk rope drop on our first full day and having breakfast at cp. I can't wait to have breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and friends on first day, we planning on a relaxing first full day but we in Orlando for 28days with a 21days disney pass so we got time to do the park full on, we planning that first day will be our only sit down breakfast.