Parks on arrival day

[Fab 5]

In our past visits, I've never visited parks on arrival day. This will be a shorter trip from Sunday checking out Friday with 4 day hopper. I'm thinking of doing parks on Sunday so I can build in a resort day on Tuesday. I'm wondering what time you think we need to arrive to make it worth using a day.

 

[skippytx]

Depends on the hours. If MK is open late, anytime before noon wouldn't be bad. If things close early around 8, you'd want to be there pretty close to opening I think to maximize "value"

You driving or flying in?

 

[Praying Colonel]

In our past visits, I've never visited parks on arrival day. This will be a shorter trip from Sunday checking out Friday with 4 day hopper. I'm thinking of doing parks on Sunday so I can build in a resort day on Tuesday. I'm wondering what time you think we need to arrive to make it worth using a day.

Depending on park hours you can get to the park as late as 3 or 4 and still have a good touring day in a park, especially if you have FP+ for the high-demand attractions.

Regardless of whether you go on your arrival day, I'd set aside some time for a resort day. YMMV but it's hard for me to go 4 days straight without hitting the wall.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I agree, it depends on park hours. It also depends how much value you place on having those 3 pre-booked FP.

Though I'd make sue to give yourself a healthy amount of slack time between when you expect to arrive and when you plan your first FP or ADR, especially if you are flying. Sadly, flight delays are pretty common.

Then again, with the current ticket prices and structure, there is also something to be said for a non-park arrival day as well. Even better, make your departure as late as possible. If you don't make it to the park- for some reason- on a planned park day, you could add a few hours on the last day as a potential option.

 

[kniquy]

. I'm wondering what time you think we need to arrive to make it worth using a day.

I think to make it "worth" using the ticket i would want an early arrival (being at the resort by noon) able to be in the parks by early afternoon. If you are arriving later in the day then i would probably just look at adding on a park day to your hopper.

Usually our arrival day we would have been up early 3-4am to catch our flight, so we can't stay up late that day but if we can hit the parks and then leave by 8pm we can get to bed at a reasonable time.

I would just consider adding a day to your park hopper - this way you can still go to a park on arrival day and even if it is only for a little while it will give you 3 more FP to help with your park planning. If you still want a "resort day" then you can still hit a park - either going for RD and leaving by noon or just do your resort day and go to a park for the evening.

 

[Farro]

We always do a park on arrival day. Usually Epcot, last time was Magic Kingdom. We just make fast passes for the evening. We wander in the park around 5 or so. Great!

Oh, we always buy length of stay hoppers, so we aren't really worried about using up a day.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Always MK on arrival day!

 

[kiramay]

We always go on arrival and departure days. On arrival day we do our 3 fastpasses, maybe a few other rides or shows depending on lines, and dinner. We usually fly out early, like 6 am, land by 10, and are in the park by 12-1 pm.

 

[Shellyred8]

If you had a really early start on your arrival/travel day, and then stay late in the park that night, it might be challenging to get an early start for the park the next day. Just something to consider.

That being said, I like to go to a park on arrival day, as it's just a great way to start the trip for me.

 

[Mome Rath]

In our past visits, I've never visited parks on arrival day. This will be a shorter trip from Sunday checking out Friday with 4 day hopper. I'm thinking of doing parks on Sunday so I can build in a resort day on Tuesday. I'm wondering what time you think we need to arrive to make it worth using a day.

In your situation I don't think I'd do it, as you aren't adding a day, you'd be trading a half day for a full day. But, if a totally down day is what you are aiming for then on arrival day I'd go for at least 1 or 2 o'clock. All of that is subjective though, it's totally up to the individual and group choice.

 

[gharter]

It all depends on when we get in as to doing a park or not, even with APs.
Most of the time, we use the day of arrival to enjoy DS.

 

[dominiondad]

We have a 2:30 arrival next month and will definately hit the parks. I realize we aren't getting a lot of hours in, but the 3 FP+ that we get to use free's up our FP's on other days for different rides. This is especially true for parks that have the tiered FPs.

 

[Fab 5]

Depends on the hours. If MK is open late, anytime before noon wouldn't be bad. If things close early around 8, you'd want to be there pretty close to opening I think to maximize "value"

You driving or flying in?

We are driving in. We'll be leaving Michigan on Friday morning. My friend and her 2 kids(who have never been) will be going with us. They have also never seen the ocean so the plan is to stay Saturday night near the Atlantic side and then head over to Disney Sunday.

 

[slpeters]

One of our recent trips we stayed at the Swan and did our arrival evening in Epcot. I think we arrived at about 4 and between the FPs, a nice dinner reservation and evening EMH it was a great evening. As far as the value we were on 7 day tickets so the extra day was like $15 so I thought it was great value. On the other hand I would never do a resort day, so...

 

[cakebaker]

We have AP’s so we don’t worry about whether it’s worth it or not. If I’m at Disney though, I’m going to be in a park that day. We take afternoon breaks, but we don’t ever take an entire day off.

We’re doing the DAH at the MK on our arrival day. I wouldn’t choose to do it but it’s the only day it’s offered during our trip. Fingers crossed our room is ready when we get in around 2. We’re going to need a rest after a 6am flight!

 

[Disneypro1]

We never do a park on arrival day. We always go from Saturday to Saturday..with Sunday being AK day. Well do Disney Springs arrival day.

 

[eva]

We always go on arrival and departure days. On arrival day we do our 3 fastpasses, maybe a few other rides or shows depending on lines, and dinner. We usually fly out early, like 6 am, land by 10, and are in the park by 12-1 pm.

Good to hear this. I was trying to decide what time to make FastPasses for on our arrival day. Our flight is scheduled to arrive at 9:20am. We were hoping to be at BWV by 11:00/11:30. Deciding which park is difficult too. We normally go to Epcot on arrival day. But it will be a Saturday during F&W. We might brave the crowds. It is tradition to ride Spaceship Earth first. It will either be that or HS.

To the OP, I would add another day to your tickets. For a minimal amount you can have flexibility. You can make FP+ for all the days you will be at WDW. You don’t have to use them. But even on a resort day you could hit a park late in the day or after dinner. We are planning a semi-resort day on our trip. We have a 4:30 reservation with ROL package at Tiffins one day. We plan to enjoy the pool and the BW that day. Then head to AK for a very early dinner. I plan to schedule a FP before dinner and two after. If we use them great, if not no harm.

 

[PSUGuy]

We always stay at Board Walk and always take the first Southwest flight out of PHL, this year we land at 8:30 am. After a Publix stop and check in we're in the pic below by the time Carl opens the taps. After a liquid breakfast it's off to Soarin and other Future World attractions. Since we go for Food&Wine we start our grazing.

Bill From PA

 

[Fcarder]

The first time ever went we went to MK as soon as we put our bags in our room and got on the Speedway. Now we go once or twice a year and my kids who are 22, 20, 17 still want to go to the Speedway first. The other problem is we stayed at OKW in the nicest rooms I've ever stayed in. Now I hear why can't we stay there.

 

[nurseberta]

It all depends on what you want to get out of it. We have hoppers and are staying at Swan so it’s quick and easy to do a midday break so we will have time on the afternoons to get some resort time in. If that’s you then I would do a few hours in the parks on arrival. We are doing HS planned on arrival day from about 1-6pm then hopeful all tuckered out for an early bedtime and EMH MK the following AM! we depart from Boston at 7:40am so it will be an early morning but I can’t keep my 8 yr old at the pool when he can literally see tower of terror from the hotel! If you are going to open-close your other 4 days a resort day my be a nice way to start your trip though so it all depends on your touring style