Options for evening at WDW

[jennat]

We are flying into Orlando and as it is a 6 hours flight it will take up most of the day. We would love to go to a park that evening but don't want to use a whole Day on our tickets to do it. Are there any deals after a certain hour or any suggestions for this?
Thanks

 

[schrodstrip]

I am no expert, but from advice I have got here, it is better to just relax and enjoy your resort for the evening. Then you can wake up fresh in the AM We are in the same boat and won't arrive until 7:30 PM. Would luv to hit wishes, but not really practical for the price of 4 all day tickets, not to mention 2 overtired children the next day. I am still wondering if everyone will be too excited to sleep??

 

[kareneast]

When are you going?

If you are going in October or December they have some hard ticket events at MK on certain nights. Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party in October and Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party in December. If the dates co-inside with the day you are arriving that may work for you.

If not you can alway do dinner at one of the monorail resorts and then watch Wishes from the beach at the Poly.

There are also alot of other things that you can do on the first day that don't involve going to a park. DTD, DQ, mini-golf are a few examples.

 

[jennat]

We are going in Sept. The main reason we want to head over that night is because we are cramming alot of parks into a few days (all four parks into two days...don't freak out!!). We are then heading off to take a 7 day cruise and then back for two days at Universal. Tired yet? It is called the highlight tour . We thought if we could get in the night before we could maybe hit/finish MGM or get a leg up on MK that night, helping to ease so off the next two days. They will be exhausting but we can relax on the ship and recoup!!! Anyway, we have been before and we are mapping out our "must dos". Oh...and buying good shoes...working out....

 

[2gether]

But DW and I had the most delightful meal of our ENTIRE lives on just such a day as you describe. Flew in at about 3:00, and then got ourselves a little dressed up and went to the California Grill at the Contemporary. It is NOT cheap ($$$$)...but if you are trying to cram allot in, you can get seating just prior to Wishes and watch the show from a most inspiring viewpoint. The night we went there was a thunderstorm about 30 miles away on the horizon, and the lightening combined with the fireworks was amazing. A great way to begin an incredible vacation.

Disney should have me selling reservations to the place!

So you know how much we enjoy it, we got the Disney Visa and spent two years earning points so we could afford to go back!

Only 8 more months.....

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

Depending on the time of year (if not around a holiday or summer) the parks close relatively early...but now with the 3 hours 'after hours' at one of the parks...if you were willing to pay a full day rate and were staying onsite...you really could 'do' that park in that amount of time.

But if that isn't an option, watching WIshes from the Poly or the Top floor of teh Contemporary (walking out on the ramparts past the bar at Califorina Grill is great. If you are at the Poly..you can watch Wishes and the Water Pageant both. Or rent a boat (and share) to do an Illuminations Cruise . Or watch a movie over at Ft. Wilderness or do the Hoop de Doo or Luau.
Usually, you can't do these things when you are nonstop parking it...so it might be fun to do something different.

 

[pepe of ohio]

In all of our trips, over 30, we have never gone to a park the first day, arrival times do not make wasting a park ticket condusive to using. We unwind at the resort, Visit DTD, monorail ride around the MK resorts, monorail to EPCOT and back. Evenings are always spent at Fort Wilderness, Crocketts Tavern beer and pizza and the EWP from their beach and back to our resort. Most always stay either Poly or WL. There's alot to do just there let alone the rest of the World and mostly its free and we feel the disney busses are part of the fun. Can go to PO and take the water ferry to DTD and catch lunch at PO or in DTD. Options are many and save that day ticket for a whole day if possible.

 

[disneygoof]

Is is just the two of you or will you have children with you, and where are you staying?

The Boardwalk has lots of options, dinner in one restaurant, dessert in another or from the Boardwalk Bakery and eat it outside while Illuminations is going off in Epcot (from the bridge over to Epcot is a good bet), surrey rides or dancing to work off the dinner and dessert...

 

[sk!mom]

Since you are cramming a lot into only a couple of days, I would go to whatever park is having evening EMH if you are staying on site. That way you could do a few things before the park closes and then enjoy EMH.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Are you traveling with kids? Or is it just adults?

Adults only? Two words. Adventurer's Club. It's the only reason we go to Pleasure Island. Or you could go to the Boardwalk and maybe get a nice meal there or DTD.

Kids? Go to one of the monorail resorts like Poly or CR and watch Wishes. You should be able to see it from them both. Or go to DTD and shop a little. The World of Disney Store really puts you in a Disney mood.

 

[Tinkim]

Normally when we go to WDW the first day is spent grocery shopping, unpacking, etc. However, with the new MYW tickets this last trip I decided to buy a 6-day pass instead of a 5-day pass because the difference in price was only about $3 each so for $12 I could justify going to MK on arrival day at 4:00 and doing some rides and seeing SpectroMagic and Wishes. I felt it was worth it and the kids were tired but we had a great night. With the new passes the longer you stay the more value you get. If you feel you are getting there too late or you are buying shorter passes another option would be to make a PS somewhere for dinner and take a loop on the Monorail or go to DTD. That was our original plan but when the MYW passes came out I changed my mind.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I would go to DTD or Boardwalk. We have AP's but our ex-change student did not, they let us into Epcot through the International Gateway at 9:00 to watch Illuminations without anyone running their ticket through. I'm not sure if you are taking kids with, but my DD's love the Boardwalk, it's nice way to get some of the magic without using a ticket if you get in late. (parks do close early in September)

Also, like sk!mom said, if you get in early enough to hit the last couple of regular park hours and then tack on the 3 hour EMH that would be worth using a ticket IMO. Hope you have a great time, we did the cruise last May and loved, loved, loved it (don't miss the shows)!

 

[jennat]

Thanks for all the great replys. I am sensing a theme...don't go the first night. It's not that I didn't have anything to do , it'sjust I was trying to ease the load off the next days. You all gave great suggestions.
It is my DH, DD 6, DS 9, and myself. We are staying at Pop Century (I think, haven't fully made up my mind)

What is MYW? I have never been to DTD....what is it like? I was assuming like Pleasure Island, but have been wrong countless times before .

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Hi,

Since you are traveling with small kids, I'd avoid PI. It's not really a place for children. PI is Disney's adult entertainment complex, several nightclubs (something for every taste) and shops.

DTD is the other side , near PI but not the clubs. DTD is very fun for kids. Check out the Lego store. There is a playground where kids (and adults) can play with legos and build. There are also several large lego creations around the area. Then there are a bunch of Disney themed shops and restaurants. World of Disney is a HUGE Disney store. Once upon a Toy is a huge Disney toy store. During the day, you can rent boats from the marina at DTD.

DTD does not cost anything to go in and shop. PI does charge to go into the clubs. But DTD shopping is a nice , free way to spend an evening.

If you are staying at Pop Century, you might really like taking a walk around the grounds. It looks really neat at night! Here are some pics I took in Dec.
Be sure to check out all the Pop Trivia signs along the walkways.

http://www.homestead.com/esmespage/PopCentury.html

Sheri

 

[jennat]

Sheri, I so enjoyed your website. It made me even more excited. My DH is worried that we won't like POP because it is to motel(Y) but I think it will be perfect. It seems to me the ambiance will make up for the same motel(y) feeling. And how often are you in your romm, anyway? We are only there for three nights and with the cruise ($$$$$) it fits into our budget!!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Sheri, I so enjoyed your website. It made me even more excited. My DH is worried that we won't like POP because it is to motel(Y) but I think it will be perfect. It seems to me the ambiance will make up for the same motel(y) feeling. And how often are you in your romm, anyway? We are only there for three nights and with the cruise ($$$$$) it fits into our budget!!

We're just two adults and we thought Pop was a BLAST! And if we thought so, I'm sure kids will love it. It's very bright and fun. It has a real Disney feel to it. The giant Lady, Tramp, Balloo, and Potato Heads etc. really make it fun. And the 60's pool is great.

 

[eeyore0062]

There are lots of things to do in the evenings at WDW without going into a main park.

You can check into your resort and take a swim in the pool.
Get a PS for a character meal to get you in the mood.
Stroll through DTD and make sure to take the kids to the newly renovated and just opened Lego shop.
Catch a movie at the AMC 24 Complex at DTD WestSide.
Play miniature golf at either Winter/Summerland or Fantasia Gardens
Go to Disney Quest
Go down to Boardwalk and walk around, grabbing a slice of pizza and play carnival games.
Rent a surrey bike.
Go to a dinner show like Hoop de Doo Review or Spirit of Aloha Luau
Go to Fort Wilderness for the Chip and Dale sing along and Disney full length feature movie.
Go to one of the monorail resorts and hop on the monorail and ride.
See Cirque du Soleil La Nouba
Stop by Port Orleans Riverside and catch the piano player in the lounge.

 

[disneygoof]

I second Hoop Dee Doo with children. It's a blast.

The only downside is getting there...it's not that easy. From POP I doubt there is a direct way, so I'd recommend bus to ttc, monorail to MK, boat to Fort Wilderness/Pioneer Hall. Otherwise it's two buses to Fort Wilderness and a third to Pioneer I think? Or you could take a taxi.

After the 5:00 show you can watch a 7:00 Wishes from the beach while waiting for a return boat to MK. Then take the resort monorail to TTC to avoid the masses leaving MK at close.