Resort Day or Park Day?

[TinkFan74]

In May, 2019 I am bringing my 9 year old niece to WDW, this will be her first visit. We have a 10 day stay split between a Poly studio and a Kidani Studio, the problem is that because we live on Vancouver Island flights are often long with two or three legs, and the shortest and most direct flight I could find was a red eye, so we arrive at 6am on our first day. Do we power through and go to a park, or do we take it easy and hang out at the Poly? I have not stayed at the Poly before as I have always cancelled my reservation so that I could use my points for more days at another resort, is there enough to do there to keep us occupied for the day?
TIA

 

[mom2rtk]

I'd take it easy in the afternoon, maybe take a nap. Then head to the MK to watch the fireworks, and maybe do my 3 scheduled FPs.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

A resort day at the Poly is the next best thing to being in the park (in my humble opinion). Lots of things to do, the castle/MK in sight across the water - it’s an exciting/electric vibe (for us at least).

I’d grab a spot at the Lava Pool (main pool) or Oasis Pool (‘quiet’ pool) and camp out until your room is ready (which at a high volume resort like Poly, could take some time). We enjoy lunch at the Oasis Pool Bar & Grill - they have comfy outdoor seating and it’s well-shaded. Sometimes our room has been ready 11-noonish, most of the time it has been ready 1-3ish, once was closer to 4 (stuff happens).

Poly is our favorite resort and we have stayed there quite often over the last few years. We usually take a very early flight, pack a carry-on with our swim and sun gear, and do exactly what I describe above each time. Works well for us (admittedly we have a MUCH shorter flight than you).

Hope you have a good trip.

 

[TinkFan74]

Thanks for the advice, I think the morning and afternoon will be pool time. We will see how we are feeling and might go to the Magic Kingdom for the evening.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Make sure you pack swimsuits, change of clothes, whatever else you might need for a day at the pool in your carry-on. Your room may not be ready until later in the afternoon.

 

[roxiepenguin]

We took the redeye from Seattle in April and landed at 6a. (If I had my choice, that's the flight I'd always take; DH,not so much.)

We took clothes to change into in the carry-ons so we could hit AK once we checked in.

We checked in, changed, left carry-ons with bell services and hopped on the bus to AK. We got off the bus and DH admitted he was too tired to go in.

(Side note: DH has epilepsy and if he doesn't get sleep when he really needs it [he couldn't sleep on the flight], he's more likely to have a seizure.)

So, we waited for a bus back to the resort and napped for a few hours once our room was ready. That rest made all the difference.

We hit AK later that afternoon (still had FPs) and were rested enough to enjoy ourselves.

If we were to do that flight again, we'd use that as a built-in resort day. As it is, we depart next Thursday and we have Friday set as a relax/resort/tour resorts day. (Or maybe a rental car day to drive the area as we're considering a move.)

My advice is if you hit a park that first day (or day of a redeye) maybe plan the next day as a resort day.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[KatyWDW]

We will be doing the exact same stay in May 2019 as well (Poly first then AKL). I vote resort day! This past October we did a resort day at AKL and it was so magical. We had an extremely early flight the next day and it was the best decision ever. The pool was unbelievable! I have never stay at the Poly but I hear the pool is one of the best. Really looking forward to staying there as I love visiting the resort. You could always hit the pool take a nap and then go to MK for the night for fireworks? What day are you coming in? Do you know if MK has extra magic hours that night?

 

[bumbershoot]

I would want to exhaust myself during the day so I could sleep early and TRY to get myself onto eastern time asap.

It never works; I collapse by the 4th day *no matter what I do*, but at least I've had some fun if I exhaust myself. So for me that means do whatever you want to do during the day (parks, swimming, etc), but do NOT tap into being on west coast time to be in the parks at night.

 

[Nancyg56]

Do you have tickets for the arrival day? I would book some FP in a park for the afternoon as a back up, butI would plan a resort day. WE generally do not go to a park on arrival day, but use the time to settle in and explore. For you, the resort may be a great place for your niece to rest if she was not able to sleep. If she is up and wired for sound, head to a park and enjoy, and tehn return in time to get to bed early so she is not exhausted on day 2.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I would also do a resort day. Just swim and rest. And definitely pack your swim gear in your carry-on.

If you get bored later on, you can always go to disney springs...no park ticket required. So much to see and do there. I love the entertainment they have as well as the restaurant options.

 

[kappyfamily]

We’re in Oregon and always take a red eye that arrives at 6am. We go again in June and the plan is to check in, walk around the resort a bit, grab breakfast then head to DS for a little early shopping, grab lunch there then head back to resort for pool/nap time, will sleep by the pool if Room isn’t ready yet. We head to MK at 5pm for dinner and close the park down.

Have fun!

 

[SharonZ]

I would check in and go to one of the parks, since your room won't be ready that early. See how you feel, and then just come back to the hotel for lunch and pool time.

 

[monica9]

I'd do what a pp said and try to exhaust yourself. I'd go right to a park and walk a ton and then head back to the resort around 3 and swim a little, grab an early dinner at the pool bar and go shower and try to sleep by 7pm that way you are up and ready for the rest of the vacation refreshed.

 

[TinkFan74]

Thanks for all of the advice, I have made a breakfast reservation at Ohana, then our plan is to hang around the resort an pool. I will buy 10 day passes as they are almost the same price as nine day passes and make fast pass reservations for the evening, just in case we feel like hitting a park.