need suggestions

[bankgirl05]

Ok! So I need some suggestions/ advice. Our flight to WDW is at 6am so that means I will have to load my kids 14, 3 &1 into the car at 4am to get to our airport by 4:45, (small airport -1 hr is plenty of time) once we arrive ME will take us to our resort to check in, however, I don't think we can get into our room until after 3 pm... since we are all going to be tired/ cranky and amped up most of the day, what do you suggest for our first day? I was thinking of packing our swim suits/ swimmy diapers and heading to Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard beach, figuring that if the kiddies got sleepy enough I could find a couple of lounge chairs in the shade somewhere... or should I just run them through one of the parks until we are able to go to our room (cabin actually)?We arrive on a Wednesday, are any of the parks less crowded on this day of the week??? I guess my thoughts are a bit random sorry, just not sure what to do...

 

[lovemygoofy]

Take what I say with a grain of salt because I don't have children but we always have to travel early in the morning.

We usually go check in and get all of our stuff situated and then if we can't get into our room, we go to DTD. It gets us in the disney mood and we can look at all the pretty souvenirs and have a nice lunch before going back to the room and relaxing before dinner. Of course depending on what time we get to Disney we don't even hit a park the first day so we don't waste a day on the ticket.

You could always just walk around the cabin area and the Wilderness Lodge until it was time to go to your room but I understand about children and excitment so that might not be possible. Have a great trip.

 

[laughinplace199]

I think it depends on your kids. Have they been to WDW before? Will the little ones sleep in a stroller?

We had the same situation on our last trip, when our kids were 9, 7, and 2. We were staying at BCV and decided to go to HS until our room was ready. We had lunch, did a few rides/shows, got an ice cream, then headed back to the room. My little one slept in the stroller. The big kids were tired, but not exhausted. We rested in the room for an hour or so, then headed to Spoodles for dinner. For us, doing things in our "neighborhood" was a good solution. We were able to do some things, but not in a rushed way. My kids have been many times, so there is no rush to do/see everything, which helps.

 

[brockash]

I agree with this. We always do DTD on our arrival day. It gets us in the mood, without overwhelming us. Especially since there are soo many things that can go wrong/delay you on your arrival day. For us it's relaxing to just check-in, go to DTD, do some shopping, eat a nice dinner and head to bed relatively early.

Take what I say with a grain of salt because I don't have children but we always have to travel early in the morning.

We usually go check in and get all of our stuff situated and then if we can't get into our room, we go to DTD. It gets us in the disney mood and we can look at all the pretty souvenirs and have a nice lunch before going back to the room and relaxing before dinner. Of course depending on what time we get to Disney we don't even hit a park the first day so we don't waste a day on the ticket.

You could always just walk around the cabin area and the Wilderness Lodge until it was time to go to your room but I understand about children and excitment so that might not be possible. Have a great trip.

 

[Dawncala]

Although you don't mention what time your plane arrives in Orlando my guess is that from New Jersey you don't arrive until around 11 AM or noon. Add on airport walking time and the ME travel time to your resort and you will probably arrive closer to check-in time than you think.

It is also possible that your room will be ready when you arrive. Many times rooms are ready earlier than 3:00 and they will gladly let you have your room earlier if it is ready. Hopefully when they see you arrive with two tired little ones that will be the case.

The water parks close at 5:00 so for the amount of time you would have there it might not be worth the cost of admission. I'd suggest packing swim suits in your carry-ons and enjoy the pools at your resort. Downtown Disney is a good option too. They have boat rentals which would be a fun adventure for all ages and the new Characters in Flight balloon experience might be a fun way to see the kingdom you are about to explore. (I haven't taken the balloon ride yet, but I hear good things)

Have a great trip!

 

[grumpy2]

When we get to our resort before we can get in our room, we check in, leave our luggage with bell sevices and go to DTD. They will give you a number to call to check and see if your room is available. I would think you could find plenty to do at FW to keep you busy till your cabin is ready tho.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Check with the hotel when you get there. We arrived at CSR (during spring break) around 10 am and they had a room available. You may get lucky.

As for distractions... any park will be good. I planned for us not to be able to get into our room the first day so I figured we would check in, go into AK, take an afternoon break (after 3 of course...), and then go back.

Having 2 kids in tow I figured if they were tired enough, they'd sleep, and DD did. DS was too excited to pass out.

 

[kristinw3girls]

We always travel like this. Please, please, please plan a take it easy the first day. I've done this many times with my 3 girls. Many times we are so excited to be there, we head out to a park. Every time I have regretted it. I'd packthe suits and chill at the resort. Plan a early dinner, and maybe hit Downtown Disney for a relaxed evening. Definately plan on a early night. We have had cranky tired kids being dragged to shows and rides, and it only leads to cranky mom and dad! We took this advise last time and it was a wonderful kickoff to our trip in place of a screaming crying mess!

 

[allie1078]

I would also chill at the resort. Check out all of the things to do there, relax at the pool, just exploring is fun and sometimes there isn't time the rest of your visit to do it. Also your room may be ready, you never know, and I would still relax that first day with the little ones.

 

[Disneychix]

In March our room was not ready at CSR when we got there at 10:30am. We dropped our bags off, changed into our shorts, toured the resort and got some lunch. We planned to just hang by the pool/playground for a bit but I had DH check to see if our room was ready at about 12:30. Our room wasn't but they gave us a different room instead!
We really lucked out cause me and DS were in need of an airconditioned nap!

I would skip the waterpark and just hang by the pool at your resort. Or you could even take the boat to one of the other hotels and maybe do a monorail ride around?

 

[kim929]

Last Aug our flight was at 6 am we arrived at the resort apx 10:30 our children ranged in age from 4-11. We hoped on the bus and went to Epcot. The children were fine, it was us adults that were tired. I wished we had just went with the plan we originally had, we packed our bathing suits to sit around the pool til the room was ready, I would of really enjoyed that more. By the time we got to our rooms, I was beyond cranky.

 

[bankgirl05]

Although you don't mention what time your plane arrives in Orlando my guess is that from New Jersey you don't arrive until around 11 AM or noon. Add on airport walking time and the ME travel time to your resort and you will probably arrive closer to check-in time than you think.

It is also possible that your room will be ready when you arrive. Many times rooms are ready earlier than 3:00 and they will gladly let you have your room earlier if it is ready. Hopefully when they see you arrive with two tired little ones that will be the case.

The water parks close at 5:00 so for the amount of time you would have there it might not be worth the cost of admission. I'd suggest packing swim suits in your carry-ons and enjoy the pools at your resort. Downtown Disney is a good option too. They have boat rentals which would be a fun adventure for all ages and the new Characters in Flight balloon experience might be a fun way to see the kingdom you are about to explore. (I haven't taken the balloon ride yet, but I hear good things)

Have a great trip!

We arrive in Orlando at 815am actually, it's a direct flight, no stops or layovers, so how long do you usually have to wait for the ME bus at the airport?

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

your flight leaves at 6 am, but what time do you arrive in FL? then you have to figure you are adding at least 1 hr from landing till you arrive at your resort. So if you are coming from near Phila you will get there at 8:30 ish and then the resort at 9:30. Maybe grab some breakfast at the resort, and you could then go to the waterpark for a bit.

 

[Mom2JPL]

Last year our flight arrived before noon (we were also up early, 4:00 am for our flights with 3 little ones, 4, 3 and 2 at time of trip). By the time we got to POP and checked in it was time for lunch. We headed to the food court to eat and then chilled out by the pool for the afternoon. It was a great, relaxing way to start our first day. Kids got to bed early and were ready for a full day at MK the next day!

Have a great trip!

 

[happymommy]

We used ME in December, and I didn't care for it personally. We waited in one line to check in, then in another line to wait for our bus. Then it made one stop before our resort. I actually debated going to get a cab while we were in line. It was also early, and my kids were tired of standing, and getting a bit cranky (not too bad). It wasn't too busy, but I am used to renting a car, which is much quicker, or taking a towncar, which is super quick and so nice. A towncar is about $50 each way. ME added a good hour and a half to our time, so it was about 2 hours till we were actually checking in to the resort. We took a cab back when we left. I'm not saying ME is bad, it's just not for us. We are anxious to get checked in! With young kids, I'd look into a towncar, at least one way. We also only bring carry-ons (my kids each have their own little bag and I have mine) but I know with your kids' ages that isn't realistic (I do laundry so don't pack too much). That way we don't have to wait for luggage. We are usually at the hotel within 45 minutes of landing.

I also don't trust someone else to get my luggage - but I know if you do check bags and use ME they retrieve it for you. I've heard of folks not seeing their bags until very late, though, so there are pros and cons. You either wait for it yourself, assuring you have it, or skip waiting and risk not seeing it until very late.

If the young ones will sleep in their stroller (I'd bring a double), then I'd check in, have the resort hold your bags, and head off to a theme park. Your oldest will probably be excited, so I'd do that. I wouldn't make it a very late day, though, and probably stick with counter service food that night, so the kids don't have to sit in a restaurant. I wouldn't overdo it, but you could be at the theme park well before lunchtime.

 

[tlh0726]

When we went in March (first trip for our kids) all DD wanted to do is see the castle. So our kids were up from like 5am and finally crashed at MK around 1030 that night.
We landed, got our rental car, went to POP to check in, room was ready, deposited the luggage in the room, ate pizza at the POP food court, and hit the park in time to see the one show in front of the castle and then the afternoon parade, left MK for a break, went back to MK, and sat eating hotdogs while watching the fireworks, and rode more rides

No way would my kids or DH on our next trip settle for sitting around the hotel the first day regardless of how tired they were. Gotta see that castle.