Ideas for our first night?

[disneyfansmandl]

My DW and I are arriving at CBR at around 5:30pm on Saterday Oct. 14th. I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on what to do the first night. I hear check in may take a while and am not sure if we'll have time to get to a park. We do have Park Hoppers including that day.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Got Quattro?]

Get Illuminations or Fantasmic done and out of the way. Then you can not worry about being at MGM or EPCOT at 9:00pm for any part of your trip.

On day 4 you could walk on Soarin instead of waiting for illiminations.

 

[Robo]

My DW and I are arriving at CBR at around 5:30pm on Saterday Oct. 14th. I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on what to do the first night. I hear check in may take a while and am not sure if we'll have time to get to a park. We do have Park Hoppers including that day.

I like the ideas of IllumiNations or Fantasmic! from -Got Quattro?-,
I wouldn't call getting a chance to see IllumiNations or Fantamic! getting either one of them "DONE and OUT OF THE WAY."

That sounds like something you'd say about getting a TOOTH PULLED!

(I know what -Got Quattro?- meant, it just "SOUNDS funny.")

I like these shows so much that maybe a more positive way to say it would be... Go the first night and get to see a show SOONER, and allow a chance to see one again, if you like, later in the trip.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Sorry but MGM closes @ 8:00pm on October 14th the Morning Extra Magic Hours for MGM are at 8:00am not the Evening Extra Magic Hours

October 2006
Morning Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom® Park - October 5, 12, 19, 26
Epcot® - October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Disney-MGM Studios - October 7, 14, 21, 28
Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park - October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Evening Extra Magic Hours
Magic Kingdom® Park - October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Epcot® - October 4, 13, 20, 27
Disney-MGM Studios - October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park - October 6, 11, 18, 25

The Magic Kingdom is open until 11:00pm, (Saturday Night) I would visit EPCOT if you arrive around 6:00-6:30pm you would have several hours to enjoy the Food & Wine plus a few attractions.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Forgive my ignorance, but can you cancel your park hopper for that day and get a credit on your trip? It's so late in the afternoon, and you could easily entertain yourselves at Downtown Disney for free. For me, it just wouldn't be worth the admission price for a few hours. There's so much to see on property (resorts, Downtown Disney) where you can indulge in Disney magic withouth having to use a pass.

On our last trip to Disney we arrived in the late afternoon and had a great time in Downtown Disney. You could also walk around some of the really nice resorts and soak in the atmosphere. If you did a character dinner (at a resort) it would totally be a Disney Day, but without the ticket price.

 

[BYC]

We arrive at MCO at 9:40 in the AM, but we are going straight from the airport to Seaworld. After that, we will check in at POP, and head to House Of Blues in DTD for our first night. When we were last there 6 years ago, my son was so disappointed that we couldn't get in there to eat, because I had no idea the I needed to make ressies in advance (I have learned ALOT from these boards!). I think DTD is a good way to start!

 

[Robo]

Sorry but MGM closes @ 8:00pm on October 14th the Morning Extra Magic Hours for MGM are at 8:00am not the Evening Extra Magic Hours

Yes, and I even looked that up before I posted.

I really find the way the EMH's are listed confusing.
I always have to look more then once.

Anyway I edited my post to reflect the proper info.

 

[wdwpirates]

My vote goes to Illuminations. My DH and I always like to do that on our first night. We will get a couple beers and some popcorn and stake out a good bench in Canada. It's our little tradition now. And like the OP said on another Epcot night during Illuminations you can just walk on to Soarin'.

 

[The Mick]

EPCOT World Showcase all the way. Plan on using Food & Wine as your dinner. Then stay for Illuminations.

 

[LoveMickey]

I vote for Epcot also. Like others it is a tradition to go to Epcot the first night and our last night.

 

[JzeroT1437]

This should be a Downtown Disney/Epcot night for you. Epcot's World Showcase is usually open until 9 at night, at which point Illuminations is presented, which is a fabulous night-show only outdone by Fantasmic!. Also, most of the people leave immeadiately after this, since the park is closing. It's nice to sort of walk around and explore the world showcase in this time; nobody's around, and it's lit up beautifully.

Also, there's Cirque Du Soliel: La Nouba in the Downtown Disney area. It costs about $80 to get in, but it's an absolutely awesome show, and there's a lot of really nice restaurants and shops to visit in the area afterwards.

Between the two, I'd go with the Cirque show, but if you're looking to save some cash, I'd go with Epcot. You'll enjoy both.

 

[mattsdragon]

Are you driving or flying? Any kids?

If the answer to the second question is "no", then I recommend PI and one of the comedy clubs or Boardwalk and ESPN or Jellyrolls. They are nice ways to unwind after a trip. I really shy away from recommending parks on the first day. I don't see a purpose in using a day on your ticket and dealing with DISNEY after a long day of travelling. While DTD can be busy, there are nice distractions to get your mind off the idiots on I-95 (or in the airport terminal).

 

[mousebit]

Our tradition is to explore the resort, change and head out for a nice dinner in or close to MK (CRT, CP, 1900 PF or CM). Then we head to MK because nobody can wait to see the castle and Main Street! We stay for Spectro and Wishes.

I usually plan a late start for the next morning since we're tired from traveling and a late night. Usually add a later character breakfast (brunch) and a short park day. (Like Donald's, then AK or Akershus, then Ep WS)

It works for us because in a short time, we've seen the castle, Main St., a parade, fireworks and characters at two different meals. Now, everybody has gotten their Disney fix and is in full Disney mode!

BTW, I never worry about "wasting" a day's ticket for a short evening in MK. We usually stay a week or longer, which makes the cost of that extra day's ticket only a couple of dollars more pp. Well worth it IMHO.

 

[DisHubby]

My DW and I are arriving at CBR at around 5:30pm on Saterday Oct. 14th. I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on what to do the first night. I hear check in may take a while and am not sure if we'll have time to get to a park. We do have Park Hoppers including that day.

Thanks for any help!

If it's just you two, I'd say see bout getting a reservation at the California Grill at the Contemporary resort (request a window seat, you may have to wait a few more minutes, but worth it) Then after dinner, (or part way through it depending on the time you get there) you can go out on top of the resort balcony and watch Wishes at the MK. ( They pump the music/audio in so you can hear everything. My DW and I found this to a great way to change how we see that display. Since you see it from further back you really can see how massive it really is. Plus you get a fantastic dinner to boot. It's a bit more expensive to eat there but well worth it to spoil yourself a little. If interested, the link to the menu is below. But if you want to do this make sure to get a reservation.



http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_cg.htm



Good luck!

 

[bleeps]

Forgive my ignorance, but can you cancel your park hopper for that day and get a credit on your trip?

The thing is, though, that the price-per-day drops incredibly low once you're already buying tickets for your length of stay. You'll be amazed, if you haven't looked at it closely before, how cheap it is to have tickets for every day of your trip (as long as you're staying for more than a weekend). I was all over the idea of "saving" the ticket cost for our first day on our upcoming trip and doing just resort stuff, but my DH checked and said, ah, I don't think we need to save the coupla bucks since we're there to have fun....

 

[Disney Doll]

I vote for a lesiurely stroll through the WS at Epcot, enjoying a snack or a beverage of your choice, finding a cozy spot for IllumiNations, even if you find your spot early and sit there to "people watch" for a while, then a leisurely stroll back to the buses to take you home.

If you have a car, I could also recommend driving to the Boardwalk to dine, then take a lesiurely stroll to Epcot to see Illuminations, then a leisurely stroll back to your car through the International Gateway and along the Boardwalk.

For us, no trip is complete without the wings at ESPN and a burger from Beaches & Cream (at the BC). Our perfect first night would probably consist of dinner at Beaches & Cream or ESPN with a stroll over to Epcot to see Illuminations.

 

[Foladar]

My DW and I are arriving at CBR at around 5:30pm on Saterday Oct. 14th. I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on what to do the first night. I hear check in may take a while and am not sure if we'll have time to get to a park. We do have Park Hoppers including that day.

Thanks for any help!

I agree with what others have said about fireworks, we arrive on Monday (the 16th, right after you!) and we're going to do a park for fireworks too (undecided still) .. see you there!

 

[amyminzey]

Here are the ideas I had for our first night on our disneymoon (mind you, I haven't been to disney in over 15 yrs and FI has never been). I got all these ideas from people on the dis:
*enjoy room w/ gift basket (sent previously to pick up at check-in; will have sparkling cider, chocolates, etc. - but you can put in almost anything)
*take a carriage ride at POR
*take a fireworks cruise
*lounge at the pool
*get a couples massage
*explore your hotel
*take the monorail all the way around the loop and explore all the hotels
*Downtown Disney and/or Boardwalk; along w/ Pleasure Island and DisneyQuest at DTD
*go to Hoop-De-Doo, Chef Mickey's, or another character meal/signature dining service/table service meal
*play mini-golf (or "regular" golf), rent a boat/mini-speedboat, etc.
*see La Nouba (Cirque show)
*eat dinner at Cali Grill and watch the fireworks; or sit in chairs in the lounge next to Cali Grill with champagne and appetizers and watch the fireworks
*take the first bus that comes along and go to whatever park it goes to
*relax at a movie at the cinema
*go to Polynesian, sit on beach, watch monorails, see CR and GF resorts lit up, watch fireworks, and relax by Seven Seas Lagoon
*at FW - go on a horseback ride, go to Hoop De Doo, then go on a hayride
*go to Epcot, have dinner, and enjoy the park
*get "maintenance" stuff done: get refillable mugs, get park maps, timesguides, and transportation guides from resort, get any groceries from Goodings or other place, get mouseears, buttons/pins, autograph books, or whatever else, go back to room, order in pizza, watch a disney movie, and plan your days

 

[disneyfansmandl]

Thanks to everyone for all the ideas. I think we'll go for Epcot but I am concerned about crowds. We have only visited WDW mid-week in our past and I am not sure how busy it will be on a Saturday at Illuminations. We are renting a car from the Dophin starting the next day to get around a little quicker. So I thinks it's Epcot (maybe some beer for me to unwind).

Thanks again for all the help.

Mark and Liz

 

[Disney Girlie-Wirlie]

Do your Park Hoppers expire?
It would be ashame to waste them on going to a park just for a firework show.
I don't know how long your staying either though.
I think the best thing to do when you get in at that hour is just take it easy and save yourself for your first full day at the parks.
My sister and I are arriving next Thursday at about 5 as well. When we get in, we'll check into Pop and settle in and then take a bus to DTD. We'll grab a little bite, walk around a little, and maybe check out Raglan Road before calling it a night and waking up early the next morning to hit up Animal Kingdom then MNSSHP in the evening.
Enjoy your trip!