opinions on parks on arrival day.

[BaseballMoM2007]

We arrive on Saturday 9/5 to mco at 4 pm I have us an adr at our resort (csr/Maya grill) st 6 pm. I saw today that this day is emh at mk so will be open until midnight. The next day we have a lunch adr at dtd at noon and dinner at epcot at 740 at rose and crown for illuminations. If we stayed up late day one we would be able to sleep late the next day.. Would you do it? Right now I have 1 full and one 1/2 day planed at mk so this would give us a second 1/2 day. We are planning to fp wishes later in the week so this would be more about getting in as many rides as possible before ds7 is ready for bed. Any of your 7/8 year olds stay up late enough to enjoy pm emh? Anyone have a suggestion for plan of attack if we do go for it?

 

[compshu]

The only thing is that your first night in MK, of which you might have only 4 hours to tour (6pm dinner at CSR, done maybe around 7 then travel time to MK) would cost you a whole day's ticket.

 

[BaseballMoM2007]

Yeah 8-12 was time frame I was thinking. We have 7 day tickets right now so an extra day is just 10pp so $30 the cost isn't really a concern. We could do away with the table service meal also and grab something in pepper market because later in the week I have one extra adr and was going to have to pay oop for a meal at some point.

 

[compshu]

I like to maximize my time in the parks to get the most value out of the tickets, but since the additional day is affordable for you, I would say go for it. I would also agree with the decision to go with QS on arrival day to get into the park more quickly, and it looks like it will also save you from paying for a TS later in the week, so all around a great idea.

 

[CarolynFH]

A 6 PM ADR when you land at 4:00 is also ambitious - if there are any delays in flight, transport to CS, getting to your room, etc., you might miss it and incur the $10 pp penalty. Another reason QS might be better that night.

 

[JanaDee]

We always go to MK on arrival day. Odds are good you'll miss your resort ADR at 6pm.

 

[eeyore45]

A 6 PM ADR when you land at 4:00 is also ambitious - if there are any delays in flight, transport to CS, getting to your room, etc., you might miss it and incur the $10 pp penalty. Another reason QS might be better that night.

Well, since you asked... I know for us, I plan arrival day with no plans. If we're too tired, we'll nap, eat at a QS at our resort... but if we see the castle, and want to go to the castle, then we do.. .and we'll eat QS in MK... we'll wander, take it in, ride rides that don't have lines (as if that ever happens, but some of the faster loading attractions - Buzz and HM used to do this, as well as Pirates, I think People Mover, etc and just watching the shows at the castle, I play it by ear/sight) a couple of rides and then evaluate how tired you are on your travel day (I tend to stay up way too late packing, get very little sleep stressing over making it to the airport,etc etc)

I wouldn't stay too late, head back to the resort and get ready for the next day... it just depends on you and your family

 

[compshu]

... it just depends on you and your family

That's the key right there. When we were stationed in Hawaii, our flights were so long that the only thing we planned to do upon arrival was for my wife to get a massage, hang out in the room, and maybe stroll around DTD. This time, we are coming from NC and driving, so it may be a bit different, though we are still planning to just visit DTD and the resort. Then again, with MK right across the Seven Seas Lagoon from our resort (GF), we may change our mind.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

I would skip the Maya Grill dinner to get extra time at the MK. We always plan to visit a park on our arrival day. See if you can snag some good FP+s for that afternoon/evening. Getting some things done that first day will make the other MK time less hectic. As for your 7 YO, go until he can't go anymore then head back to the resort. You say you don't have an early morning planned the next day so that should work out great. When our kids were that age we kind of let them dictate our mornings and evenings. The first few days into the trip they were always ready to go early and ready to stay late, but as we got deeper into our trips letting them decide helps with the grumpiness factor. Good luck and have a great trip!!!!

 

[nooneshome]

I would cancel the ADR and make a beeline to MK and catch a quick CS meal. And then ride ride ride. Maybe you can snag an FP+ for A&E and 7DMT for late night.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

You will get to the MCO gate at 4:00, get on the bus at 4:15, the bus will leave at 4:30, arrive at the resort at 5:30, get in the room and settled (if you check in at lobby) by 6:00. That's being generous. You may want to ditch your ADR.

The wife and I had the "After Hours" scheduled last summer for arrival day. We did get into our room by 3:30 but it was pushing it to get to Garden Grill by 5:00 and by the time of the "After Hours" we were D-U-N.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I'd do it. Then again, I generally prefer staying late and sleeping in over waking up early anyway.