Not sure what to do on our arrival day

[ToyStoryBo]

Please help me plan our arrival day. There are several factors I have to consider, so I am just not sure what we should do....

First of all, we are a family of 7. At the time of our trip, the kids will be 11, 9, 8, 5, and 2. Our plane lands about 11:30am, so I anticipate we will get to our hotel somewhere around 1. My parents have decided to fly down with us and stay for a few days, which means they will only have 2 full days to visit parks. Their only requests are to see the Grand Floridian and to go to Epcot.

I don't want to waste our arrival day, yet I am afraid to plan too much because we will probably be exhausted from all the shuffling around without any additional shuffling to and from parks and restaurants, kwim?

OUr last trip, we spent arrival day at DTD, but I don't feel like we have that time to spare with the grandparents along this time. We will be there for 8 nights, so I am not worried about having enough time to see what we want to see.

any thoughts? TIA

 

[HeatherC]

You could always take the kids to the pool for a few hours...then have dinner at the Grand Floridian...watch the electrical water pageant, take a ride around the lake on the monorail and head back to your resort for some sweet dreams.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[cmaee]

I would spend the afternoon relaxing at the pool at the resort. I would travel to the Grand Floridian and have dinner at their food court in the early evening. Then I would go over to Fort Wilderness for the campfire singalong with Chip and Dale. You can buy smore kits from the store there and they have fire pits for you to roast your marshmellows. After the singalong with Chip and Dale, you could stay and watch the outdoor movie of the night or walk over the beach and watch the electrical water parade before riding the boat launch back to the MK and catching a bus back to your hotel. The singalong with Chip and Dale are free. You would only have to pay for the smore kit if you wanted one.

 

[MiniGirl]

I would spend the afternoon relaxing at the pool at the resort. I would travel to the Grand Floridian and have dinner at their food court in the early evening. Then I would go over to Fort Wilderness for the campfire singalong with Chip and Dale. You can buy smore kits from the store there and they have fire pits for you to roast your marshmellows. After the singalong with Chip and Dale, you could stay and watch the outdoor movie of the night or walk over the beach and watch the electrical water parade before riding the boat launch back to the MK and catching a bus back to your hotel. The singalong with Chip and Dale are free. You would only have to pay for the smore kit if you wanted one.

What she said.

 

[budbeerlady]

Our arrival day is always like this.... (up early at hotel by airport, have earlier flight out. Either 8 or 9am) We use ME and are at Disney around noon. We either dump the carryone in the room or leave with bell services after we change since we are coming from the cold midwest.

We head out to the MK and get our favorite snacks and poke around. We ride the easy stuff like TTA or pirates. Just to get us in the mood. We have dinner at Epcot around 6 and then head back to the room. We either get the bags from bell services or they are already in the room from ME. We throw Dd in the pool for a few and hit the bed by 9pm.

She would be WAY to excited to hit the pool or not go to a park on arrival day. Its a long day but I dont know how you could refrain from going?

 

[tdsimcic]

I would spend the afternoon relaxing at the pool at the resort. I would travel to the Grand Floridian and have dinner at their food court in the early evening. Then I would go over to Fort Wilderness for the campfire singalong with Chip and Dale. You can buy smore kits from the store there and they have fire pits for you to roast your marshmellows. After the singalong with Chip and Dale, you could stay and watch the outdoor movie of the night or walk over the beach and watch the electrical water parade before riding the boat launch back to the MK and catching a bus back to your hotel. The singalong with Chip and Dale are free. You would only have to pay for the smore kit if you wanted one.

any idea what time the campfire singalong starts....and does it happen every night
tia

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

You're getting there early enough that you could do a leisurely afternoon at the MK.

We usually don't get in til after 3. We explore the resort, possibly swim, and do an early dinner at Chef Mickey's to kick off the trip. Depending on the time/crankies, we go to the MK to see the fireworks or watch them from the Contemporary.

 

[Tricia's mom]

any idea what time the campfire singalong starts....and does it happen every night
tia

It is evry nite weather permitting at 7 I believe. Trails end restaurant is also very yummy and affordable buffet . There is also the horse stables to walk around. Its a fun night. Then hop aboard the boat to TTC and take the monorail to Grand floridain and maybe catch the water parade on the beach ( from either fort wilderness or Grand floridian)

 

[tdsimcic]

What she said.

do you need to make reservations for the sing along

 

[cmaee]

any idea what time the campfire singalong starts....and does it happen every night
tia

do you need to make reservations for the sing along

It happens every night either at 7:00 or 8:00. It depends on the time of year you are going...April is when it changes to 8:00 I think. No need to make reservations. Just show up. There are bleachers to sit on. If it is bad weather, they do the singalong on the covered porch.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We like to make our arrival day just a day to relax. We get unpacked and usually go to DTD for dinner.

Since the OP is arriving early in the day it would be easy to spend the afternoon in a park. The DGP's want to see Epcot and the GF. You could do either of these things on that day. I like the idea mentioned before of an afternoon at the pool and then dinner at the GF. Then do Epcot the next day. That covers the DGP's requests. If they are keen to see ALL of Epcot I would spend a few hours there on arrival day then have dinner at the GF. Then back to Epcot the next day to finish what you missed.

 

[ToyStoryBo]

We like to make our arrival day just a day to relax. We get unpacked and usually go to DTD for dinner.

Since the OP is arriving early in the day it would be easy to spend the afternoon in a park. The DGP's want to see Epcot and the GF. You could do either of these things on that day. I like the idea mentioned before of an afternoon at the pool and then dinner at the GF. Then do Epcot the next day. That covers the DGP's requests. If they are keen to see ALL of Epcot I would spend a few hours there on arrival day then have dinner at the GF. Then back to Epcot the next day to finish what you missed.

Thanks for all the suggestions!! I think I have decided to go to Epcot on arrival day. We will eat at LeCellier, and hopefully see the candlelight processional, at least. Hopefully, Illuminations depending on how the kids are doing.

The following day, we will go to MK and take the boat to the GF for dinner at 1900 Park Fare.

The DGP's last day, we'll go to DHS so they can see DS w/Buzz Lightyear, and eat at Pizza Planet with us. DS,4, is ALL about Buzz these days! Then they can see the Osborne lights, and we'll go to Ohana for dinner.

How does that sound for their itinierary?

 

[camdensmom]

which resort will you be staying at?

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

You could always take the kids to the pool for a few hours...then have dinner at the Grand Floridian...watch the electrical water pageant, take a ride around the lake on the monorail and head back to your resort for some sweet dreams.

Have a wonderful trip!

THIS!! Exactly what I was going to suggest.

I like to get a good night's rest (well, as much as possible since I've always got a mean case of "I'm too excited to sleep") before I hit the park early, so we never go to the park on our arrival day.

 

[ToyStoryBo]

THIS!! Exactly what I was going to suggest.

I like to get a good night's rest (well, as much as possible since I've always got a mean case of "I'm too excited to sleep") before I hit the park early, so we never go to the park on our arrival day.

looove your pictures!! Where did you get the Prince Charming costume?? Adorable!!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

looove your pictures!! Where did you get the Prince Charming costume?? Adorable!!

Aww, thanks!! I made his costume...we won't discuss the fact that it took three days.