Please help me plan our first full day!

[wrldpossibility]

am SO confused about our first day! I am in charge of all planning for our group of 7, and I want to make a good "first impression" to start the trip off well. The trouble is, I can't seem to find an ideal plan to do this.

We arrive after a LONG flying day from the West Coast on a Sunday evening. I plan to do nothing that evening except get settled at POR. Monday morning, I think it's best to plan to sleep in, since my kids (and the adults) will be trying to adjust to the 3 hour time difference. We are early risers (like 6 am), but that will translate to 9 am that first morning, and I think making a rope drop would be stressful.

So, I planned to rest in the am. We have a Chef Mickey's ressie for a late breakfast at 10:30. Then what??

Plan A: After CM, take the monorail to Epcot, spend the afternoon, then eat at Coral Reef at 6:10 (already have that ressie). Call it a night so we force ourselves to adjust to the time difference so we can get up early the next day.

Plan B: After CM, take a bus from MK to AK (a pain, right?) and spend the afternoon at AK. Leave at closing at 5pm, take a bus back to the TTC, then to Epcot for our CR ressie at 6:10. Call it a night (see above).

Plan C: After CM, go back to POR to swim/explore, then go to MVMCP that evening. I don't have any tickets yet, and didn't plan to go to MVMCP at all, since my family doesn't stay up late, and we didn't think it would be worth the expense. But this night will be the one time we ARE able to stay up, since we'll still be on Pacific time. The next day, Tues, I planned to go to MK at rope drop. If we stay late at MVMCP, I can skip rope drop and go to MK when we get up.

What I REALLY want to do Monday is go to MK after CM, but it's yellow, and I don't want to start off with crowds and lines, plus we're going on Tues. Even though Epcot shouldn't be too crowded, I worry about getting off on the wrong foot there too, since we'll not getting there until so late in the day. Will we be able to have a pleasant time there? Will we fight crowds since we arrived late in the day? We have other Epcot days. Plus, I don't think Epcot will be as exciting as MK or AK for the kids as a first day experience. I'm tempted to go to AK, but there are so many transportation issues. I can cancel the Coral Reef ressie, although the kids are looking forward to it.

I need help!!

 

[typod]

plan a

 

[Ellielovesdisney]

Hi - I am not sure when you are going...and the ages of the kids and adults...but I think I would do something a little different. Since you are arriving the night before and will be tired I think I would just like to get a snack at the food court and go to bed early. I think the kids will be too excited to sleep in that morning and will be up early anyway. I would not push it - but get to a park that morning. AK is easily done in 1/2 day if you are willing to not see everything. Same goes for MGM. When everyone is tired i'd go back to the resort and have some down time. I think you could keep your evening reservations at epcot then walk around world showcase and see illuminations at 9:00pm. By then everyone will be exhausted and should crash and be on eastern time.

Hope all goes well!!
Holly (disney addict)

 

[wrldpossibility]

Sorry to leave out some info. We're going Dec. 10-20th, and have three kids ages 2, 5, and 7 plus 4 adults (DH and me, and the grandparents). Big group to please!

It seems to me if I want to get everyone on Eastern time, we should go to bed early, right? If we stay up late, then we'll keep getting up late, and I want to get on a schedule where we can get to parks at rope drop. Thanks for the ideas...keep them coming! AK in the morning is tempting!

 

[MermaidMommy]

I agree with AK in the morning -- that's when the animals are usually the most active -- and also that you wouldn't want to do MVMCP and then try to get up for rope drop.

I'm not sure about how flexible your plans are, but if you did MVMCP and stayed up late, could you do Epcot the next day, since you don't necessarily need to get there as early as you would at MK? The reason I ask is that we took DD for her first MVMCP when she was 5 and we all (me, DH, grandma, DD) LOVED it. We liked it so much that we decided to do it again. I know you'll get different opinions from the board about whether it's worth it, but we wouldn't consider going that time of year and not doing it. Maybe you could switch your Epcot dinner ressies for another night, but even if you can't, I still think MVMCP is the better deal. Just my 2 cents!

Otherwise, I would not try to do AK after Chef Mickey's before Epcot. That sounds like a big hassle for people who are still adjusting to a time change. I think, though, that the parks will wear everyone out enough that you won't have any trouble getting to sleep and adjusting to Eastern Time! A relaxing day at POR, then Epcot, or even Downtown Disney before you go to dinner would be good. Or, go check out some of the hotels to see their decorations -- they're beautiful, and the kids will enjoy seeing all of the different gingerbread creations. In the past, when we've gone at that time of year, Epcot wasn't bad to go to later in the day, and the Christmas theme makes the World Showcase even more fun for the kids. Just use fastpasses and you'll be fine.

 

[DiszyDeanette]

I could never imagine going anywhere but MK on the first day. But that's just me!

 

[mecllap]

MK is always a great choice for the first day -- and it's very convenient from Chef Mickey's. Try to get the boys and one adult on for a ride in the front of the monorail (ask the CM) -- it's worth the wait if you have to skip a train to do it for them. You're going at a time that should be somewhat less crowded, so getting there for the "rope drop" isn't such a big deal. It will help you a lot to read all the tips on this board and others (intercot, etc.), since it's your first trip.
Be sure to get a PhotoPass card right away (free, do a search on the boards for how it works) and take every PhotoPass opportunity you find -- look for the costumed people with a huge camera.
I haven't been to MVMCP, but I think from what I've read, that with your group that would be a better choice for you than the Coral Reef.
The main advice, is don't try to do too much -- have a plan, but be very flexible -- the Parks are large; visiting is exhausting. You won't be able to do everything you want to do -- even if you prioritize. We've gone for 10-12 days and still left things undone. There are things you will want to do twice, rather than something new.
Anyway -- for your first day plan -- don't overplan -- do your CM breakfast and go to MK (and be aware that it can take quite a while to get back to your hotel at the end of the evening at MK, even when you're taking a bus to a hotel onsite --altho that probably won't be as hard for you at that time of year). (Or do your breakfast and just go to Epcotand do your dinner at CR with some of the attractions there -- that's a good plan -- it's just that MK is what most people think of when they think of Disney (the boys will actually enjoy a lot of things at Epcot; it's not just for older "kids" anymore).

Good luck -- have a great time!!!

 

[Harambe]

Sorry to leave out some info. We're going Dec. 10-20th, and have three kids ages 2, 5, and 7 plus 4 adults (DH and me, and the grandparents). Big group to please!

It seems to me if I want to get everyone on Eastern time, we should go to bed early, right? If we stay up late, then we'll keep getting up late, and I want to get on a schedule where we can get to parks at rope drop. Thanks for the ideas...keep them coming! AK in the morning is tempting!

I think you are right on the money with the Epcot idea. You can spend the afternoon in future world (Living Seas and the Figment ride for the little ones, Soarin' and Universe of Energy for the adults, maybe Test track or Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, if your 7 yr.old is a dare devil) - then eat at Coral Reef.

Then before you go back to your resort, take the kids on the Mexico and Norway rides. These rides are simple, but the kids may not enjoy them after they visit Magic Kingdom!

Than the following day can begin early at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[wrldpossibility]

Keep the brainstorm flowing! It's great to have so many options. One reason I don't mind NOT starting our trip at MK is because the kids have spent 3 days at Disneyland (and the adults all grew up near it), so MK is not brand new to us. I'm sure it will still be the kids' favorite, and obviously we all love it because we love Disneyland and can't WAIT to experience WDW, but the adults are more excited about the parks we've never seen. So that was the basis behind my first 1/2 day being in Epcot. But I won't do it if the kids are crying (figuratively) for MK!

If it weren't for the darn ADR's that I feel it's important to make, we could just have several plans, and decide then. But I want to know ahead of time. Hmmm. I'm leaning toward keeping my Epcot plan and getting to MK first thing the next morning. Do you think all the FPs for Soarin and TT will be gone by the time we get there in the early afternoon on Dec. 11?

 

[Harambe]

I don't think the FPs will be gone, since you are going at a slow time of year. You may be able to grab a FP at one and line up for the other.

 

[Ellielovesdisney]

I didn't realize you have such a nice long trip planned - we only usually have 2-4 days. In that case - by all means relax in the morning - or be flexible and go to a park if the family is just too excited to wait. How many day tickets did you get?
Holly

 

[barneythebassett]

I have heard of people waiting to do MK last b/c other parks were a bit disappointing to the kids after the MK. But....once you are in sight of the castle, will you be able to resist? If I were eating at CM, I would hop on the monorail (ask to ride in the front) and be at the MK in a jiffy!

AK is very relaxing in the early morning and your kids would likely be fascinated with that as well.

Don't forget to go to the World Showcase in EPCOT and hear all the Santas of different countries tell stories. I did this when DS was 3 and DD was 5 and have some wonderful pictures. The ladies in our group and my kids spent the afternoon casually strolling around World Showcase, seeing Santas and watching the street shows. It was wonderful. The men in the group stayed in Futureworld and looked at electronics or videogames or something.

Just don't try to do everything the first day. We have been on multigenerational trips everytime and try to plan something for everyone even if it means that we occassionaly split up and then meet back up for a meal or a ride everyone wants to do.

 

[wrldpossibility]

I have 8-day park hoppers. I love the Epcot Santa idea, and I have fully planned to do that. I'm only wondering if it should be the FIRST thing, you know? It seems like a more relaxing thing to save for after some major parks have been done. (It seems like heaven to me, but will the kids be too excited? Then again, what's more exciting than santa?)

In addition to whatever we decide to do this first day, I have planned:

2 more MK days
1 Epcot FW day
1 Epcot WS afternoon and dinner/Illum.
1 AK day
1 DS day
1 pick our favorite park day
1 rest day

The reason I'm considering AK is that I'm sure my kids will want to spend more time there (probably go there on the favorite park day). In addition to our DS day, we will also spend an evening there for a FDP. I want to take advantage of the first day and not "waste" it, but also not hit the ground running, you know? So torn!!