need help with 1st evening

[dec2901]

Please help me - I am making my husband crazy. We (no kids) arrive at the Orlando airport at 4:00 pm on Dec. 9th and we are staying at CSR. I am not for sure (that is if our plane leaves and arrives on time) how much time that will allow for us to do anything. So my problem, what to do that 1st night? Go eat a nice dinner? if so, what time to schedule it? Try to catch a park? Just tour our resort?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated by not only me but also my husband and my 2 dogs.

Thanks - Rachel

BTW - I forgot to mention this is our first time at Disney World.

 

[ajleone]

Well dinner is always nice. However I looked at the park times for the 9th, and MGM's EMH are that night. So assuming you made it in on time(say to the resort by 5ish) you could have a few hours at MGM(with EMH they'll be open till 10). Also MK is also open to 10:00 regular hours. I would probably hit one of them.

 

[hniki234]

Personally, I don't like to waste tickets on short days. (I prefer a full day since I have to save up for my trips. I feel like I'm getting more of my money's worth!) I'd relax that first night. Have a nice dinner somewhere. Mostly just rest up for the rest of your trip!

 

[fakereadhed]

Personally, I don't like to waste tickets on short days. (I prefer a full day since I have to save up for my trips. I feel like I'm getting more of my money's worth!) I'd relax that first night. Have a nice dinner somewhere. Mostly just rest up for the rest of your trip!

This used to be more true before this MYW ticket nonsense. Now you can add extra days for next to nothing as long as you're staying more than a few days. To add an 8th day to our tickets was just a few dollars per person.

We are thinking about heading to Epcot for Norway's pastries and Illuminations on our first night. It would be too hard for us to get to WDW and not go to a park, but we don't want to feel exhausted either.

 

[Bibbidybobbidy]

Since it is on a Saturday, maybe you would like to attend Cirque Du Soliel's show. That was going to be my plan for the first day until we switched to sunday arrival (they are dark Sun. and Mon.) Now since we will arrive early in the morning, taking the red eye, not sure what to do besides check in asap and go to sleep for a couple of hours.

 

[flortlebap]

Howl ong are you staying for? If it's a short trip, say 4 or 5 days, I'd hit MGM or MK.

For us though, we arrive at MCO at 14:30 and we're not doing a park at all that day. We're going to the hotel, checking out the grounds and taking a walk, eating something either at the food court or at DTD, and going shopping. But we're there for 14 full days after that, so missing out on a half day isn't really a big deal for us!

 

[JzeroT1437]

We had the same experience in December last year. We went to see Cirque's La Nouba, and ate in the Downtown Disney area. I'd suggest doing the same. La Nouba is an awesome show; you definately won't feel like your night was wasted.

Alternatively, if you can make it to MGM by about 5ish, you can enjoy a few rides, then see Fantasmic, probably the best Disney-based show in all of the parks.

 

[mattsdragon]

traveling is tiring, even when going by plane. My wife and I always head either to DTD and AC for a few drinks and laughs or the Boardwalk for Jellyrolls.

Don't try the park, just a waste IMHO. Do something adult for that first night, no kids you can indulge a bit.

 

[DebIreland]

Check out Downtown Disney! That's where we went on our first night last year (and we're going again on our first day this year) - we found the atmosphere there great and it really got us into the Disney mood!

 

[BankBunny]

This used to be more true before this MYW ticket nonsense. Now you can add extra days for next to nothing as long as you're staying more than a few days. To add an 8th day to our tickets was just a few dollars per person.

We are thinking about heading to Epcot for Norway's pastries and Illuminations on our first night. It would be too hard for us to get to WDW and not go to a park, but we don't want to feel exhausted either.

This is true unless you are staying for more then 10 days becuase the most you can get is a 10 day ticket. After that you have to pay full price for one day. Since DH and I will be there 11 days (including our arrival day) we will have dinner at a non-park restaurant (usually in DTD or on the Boardwalk) and then either walk around DTD or play minerature golf.

 

[dec2901]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. We are staying 7 nights and I already have a 7-day park ticket. I had considered Cirque but if our plane is delayed we could miss the show. Can you buy tickets the day/night of the show?

I guess I am unsure of the travel time from the airport to the CSR lobby then to my room and then to either a park/DD/Boardwalk. The Disney service is picking us up at the airport.

Thanks again for helping!

 

[_chill_]

When we end up arriving late in the afternoon, we usually drop off our stuff in the room and head over to The Boardwalk to soak up some atmosphere and eats. Around 9p we head over to the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT and wait for them to open the turnstiles and watch Illuminations (without using a park ticket ), for a great start to our vacation. Now we haven't done this in a few years (we've been able to get earlier flights), so I don't know if they still do this (open the turnstiles that is).

 

[finnster77]

We're also arriving (by car) on December 9!!!
We plan to hit Epcot that evening for the Candlelight Processional and Illumnations after a nice dinner at the German Pavillion.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

Last year we took the carriage ride at POR (we were staying there). It was beautiful and romantic. It was a wonderful way to start our vacation. Of course we had kids so I guess it was as romantic as it could be with 3 kids... But it was wonderful... I would definitely do it again whether I was staying at POR or not. However, I would like to try the sled ride at Wilderness Lodge, I think that is where it is. But we are never there during Christmas time...

 

[pepe of ohio]

We arrive usually around 2pm, by the time we hit the grocery store and settle in the resort, we like to do the pool and usually get our Hoop Dee Do dinner that first night if possible, always the 9:30 show. It gets our bellys full of food and beer and wine and the show is second to none and starts us on on magical vacation. Tickets are hard to come by on short notice, but you never know, depends on the time of the year, to us its a tradition, not to miss dinner and show.

 

[Chris and Pooh]

Check out Downtown Disney! That's where we went on our first night last year (and we're going again on our first day this year) - we found the atmosphere there great and it really got us into the Disney mood!

Hello,
I concur with DebIreland totally and would like to add that with all the restaurants you will find something good to eat as well