Parks on first day?

[PSUGuy]

We go in Oct/Nov for Food & Wine, arriving at MCO 9 am or earlier. We hit Epcot the first day after checking in at Board Walk. We're usually on the 'ride' pictured below by the time Carl opens th etaps.

Bill From PA

 

[DaniMoon]

We arrive at 8:30 am our arrival day, as of now we are just going to be doing a Chef Mickey brunch and pool time, relax for rope drop the next morning. But, I am going to make 3 FPs for our arrival day -- just in case we change our mind, or if the weather forecast shows a miserable rainy day during our trip then I can swap around our down day. We have 10 day park hoppers. We do plan to go to MK our departure day, our flight home is 8:40 pm.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Are you planning to rope drop or do early magic mornings the next day? If so, I wouldn't go to any parks on your arrival day.

 

[joyjoy]

So now I'm confused. We were not planning on doing a park on arrival day, but after reading all of this we changed our minds. We currently have 7 day base tickets and I want to add a day. It's 2 adults and one 3-9 child. I called and they said 1) I could only add days to our pkg at the parks and 2) it was nearly $100 for the 3 of us. What happened to the $10 per person? Waaahhh.

 

[StuckInKS]

If we have the days to "waste" (like we have AP or 10-day tix with a 9-night stay) then we go even if it's only 2-3 hrs. However, if we have 10-day tix and a 12+ nighty stay then we don't. Also, one year the last MNSSHP was on check in day, so we went to that and this trip our check in day is May 11th and we have the Wishes dessert party so we will go for that. So really it just depends lol.

 

[izzy25]

I just checked Disney's website and a 7 day pass is $1,210. An 8 day pass is $1,240 for the three of you. So I'm only coming up with a $30.00 difference.

 

[bluezy]

So now I'm confused. We were not planning on doing a park on arrival day, but after reading all of this we changed our minds. We currently have 7 day base tickets and I want to add a day. It's 2 adults and one 3-9 child. I called and they said 1) I could only add days to our pkg at the parks and 2) it was nearly $100 for the 3 of us. What happened to the $10 per person? Waaahhh.

Phone CMs are notorious for giving out bad information. All you need to do is go to guest relations at any park or DS and tell them you want to add a day to your tickets. It will cost you ~$33 for the 3 of you.

 

[OB1]

I think we would explode if we were in Orlando at 10 in the morning, and just skipped everything to chill for the day. Even if you add a day, which is only about $12/ticket, I would do a partial day for sure. WE would go to the parks if we arrived at 5pm just to get a taste. What a great problem to have.

 

[FrancoFun]

Phone CMs are notorious for giving out bad information. All you need to do is go to guest relations at any park or DS and tell them you want to add a day to your tickets. It will cost you ~$33 for the 3 of you.

Reading this thread has really made us want to try out a park on the first day. Do we have to add a day to our 5-day ticket before we use the first day? Or can we do it at any time? Also, is this something that they can do for us at the resort? Just trying to time the addition so it has the least impact on our touring.

 

[bluezy]

Reading this thread has really made us want to try out a park on the first day. Do we have to add a day to our 5-day ticket before we use the first day? Or can we do it at any time? Also, is this something that they can do for us at the resort? Just trying to time the addition so it has the least impact on our touring.

You can do it any time as long as it's before you use your last day (though when we did it last year, the CM -- who happened to be the manager -- at Guest Relations at DTD/DS told us we just had to do it within 14 days of the first use of the ticket. But I'd rather be safe than sorry and make sure to do it before using the final day on the ticket). I'm thinking you might be able to do it at the resort, but we just did it where it was convenient one afternoon. It doesn't take very long. If you're planning to do any afternoon breaks, it might be easy to stop at GR on your way out of the park in the afternoon. We chose to do it at DTD/DS because 1) We weren't on any kind of schedule that afternoon; and 2) There were nice comfy chairs to sit in while we were waiting for our turn.

 

[odd man out]

Been following this thread. I'm surprised how many people arrive early. We will have one layover en route flying from MI so don't figure on arriving early enough for park time. I am planing a trip for just my wife (ages 60 +/-) and so will want to chill the first day (no park), but still will have some time for magic. Probably staying at AKL with rental car. Suggestions?

 

[North of Mouse]

We always go straight to the parks on arrival day, but then we drive, arrive early, and have AP's.

 

[kenshinelite]

One suggestion is go see a resort you've never gone to. Like Port Orleans and try the Beignets and sights.

 

[fsupharm77]

We are landing on May 17th at 8:30 Pm and they just extended park hours at MK to 10pm with EMH until midnight. Our first thought was "Maybe we should head over for an hour or two" Other than a 9 am breakfast at 1900 PF we really have no plans the next day so we may do it. Just have to talk DD14 and DS11 into it after they have a full day of school before boarding the plane!

 

[Euby]

I have never done a park on arrival day. For me, arrival day is shopping day. Groceries, Disney Character Warehouse (both I-Drive and Vineland) for some discount Disney souvenirs, and maybe a visit to Disney Springs. I like to use it as a day to get settled into my room and check things out around the resort.

 

[beccasmom]

Resort location and the kids' ages always seemed to play into our first day decisions. We've done everything from hitting a park to hanging by the pool to a fun dinner (like HDDR). We've had fun doing all of those things! We're arriving earlier this year (landing at 1:00 p.m.) and have a larger than normal group, so I suspect we'll have groups going their separate ways.

 

[mamamelody2]

When we went last September, we arrived around 3PM and did not go to a park. Had dinner at the resort (POR) went swimming, got settled into the room. That was with a group of 13, though. Very hard to get them all moving. LOL.
This November it will just be my husband and I. Southwest hasn't released flights yet, but if we are able to even get in a couple hours at Epcot that first night, we're doing it! We have 8 day hoppers, so that 8th is only $10 each. Definitely worth it. If we were going with the kids, though, it would be settle in at the resort and pool time. What is it with kids and wanting to go to the pool all. the. time. at Disney??

 

[Drusilla99]

I'm not one to sit at the resort when the parks are that close. We've gone to the parks when we've taken the red eye and arrived at 6 am, and we've done them when we don't land until 4 pm. Ultimately, it's your wallet and what you're comfortable with. It's definitely doable.

 

[DaisyJ]

I agree that going to a park on arrival down is pretty irresistible but I'll throw an alternative out there. Use your arrival day to make your Walmart run and gathering any other off property stuff you might want/need (thinking alcohol.) Get settled into your resort and have a look around. Not sure where you're staying but this might also be a good time to make a tour of the monorail resorts for the fun of riding the 'rail and maybe having a drink or bite to eat. This might also be a good time for Disney Springs. The best part of all is that you get back to the resort in time for an early bed time so you can make RD the following morning. This plan gives you a very definite Disney vibe while not burning any passes.

Now that you have to go through security at each hotel before getting on the monorail, that option has lost all its appeal to me.

 

[izzy25]

Well it's official. We upgraded our passes from the 5 day to the 6 day park hopper passes. For an extra $14.00 a person, you can't go wrong. Thank you everyone for your insights and opinions! 185 days can't go fast enough!