Should we go to a park the first night?

[HeatherHH]

I have everything planned except the first night. We should arrive mid to late afternoon, and my DD is adament about swimming as soon as we get there. I had thought we would go to the MK for a couple hours, see the castle soak up the atmosphere and assumed the rest of the family would want to do this as well. NOT! DS mentioned wanting to go to EPCOT that evening, and I think DH would like to go to the ESPN club for dinner and watch some basketball or whatever, and checking out the Boardwalk would be fun. It was only $4 more to get a 7 day pass than a 6 day pass, so I am would not be burning a days admission. In fact if we don't go to a park we will only be using 6 days. But, I don't want to overdo it after driving all day. AGGH! Any thoughts on what to do?

 

[joyjoy]

For the first time last September, we did not go to a park the day we arrived. We also got there early/mid afternoon. We went to Downtown Disney and then went to dinner at AKL (we were staying at PO-R). When we got back from dinner we did the hot tub/pool. It was very relaxing and a perfect way to start out the vacation. I highly recommend it. Have fun!

 

[MyDreamIsAWish]

When we arrive, we usually hit Epcot for a 'relaxing' stroll type tour for the evening. My kids love Epcot! (Mostly we shop and snack that first night)
We have also done DTD upon arrival, that seems to be a good way to get geared up for DW too!
Have a ball!

 

[MikeWazowski]

I would go to Epcot the first night if you are going to be in the Boardwalk area. If you try to go swimming at the resort, MK, dining at the Boardwalk, and Epcot you will be even more burned out then you already will be from your drive. Try swimming and Dining at the Epcot area.

 

[disney junky]

I couldn't stand to go and not take in a park the first day unless I got there really late. Like midnight. It depends on where you are staying, but I'd do exactly what you want to do....MK to soak up the magic. Take in Wishes, ride a monorail. Do a couple of uncrowded rides.....sorry your family doesn't want to cooperated. If you're at BW, just stroll on over to Illuminations. If he's engrossed in the game, he won't even miss you

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

Hi,

You didn't mention where you were staying, but I'm going to assume it's on property.

I dunno about going swimming, I guess you'd have time for a half hour dip at check in time.

Then go ahead and go over to ESPN for dinner, and then go into Epcot to see Illuminations at 9 p.m.

*IF* you are there on an Extra Magic Hour evening, you can even get a wristband (assuming again you are staying on property) and stay until 1 a.m.

 

[HeatherHH]

I would go to Epcot the first night if you are going to be in the Boardwalk area. If you try to go swimming at the resort, MK, dining at the Boardwalk, and Epcot you will be even more burned out then you already will be from your drive. Try swimming and Dining at the Epcot area.

I wasn't planning on doing it all! I'm just trying to pick one scenerio, and arrive with at least some idea of what we are going to do. Thank you so much for your suggestions! My daughter will be very upset if she doesn't get to go in the pool for at least a little while. Maybe we will vote on what to do for dinner/evening.
By the way, we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[FINFAN]

Here's our story...first took the kids at ages 5 and 10 months...DD 5 barely remembered the specifics of the parks, except for the crowds...she kept asking if we could come back when all the people were "angels" and there would be more room...DS at 10 months closed the parks daily..it was Memorial Day weekend 1995...jammed, open 'til midnight or 1 a.m.
Fast-forward to July 4th, 2000....we figured 5 years had passed, both kids old enought to have great memories. We arrived mid-day and entered MK at dusk, just as the Castle was changing colors and the crowds were lining up for the 4th of July fireworks. DS stopped in his tracks in the middle of Main Street...right at the beginning..and just stared at the castle...he was just beaming! To this day he enjoys the castle more at night than day, and DD handled the crowds just fine...even on the 4th!
So, if your DS has hopes of Epcot, I would'nt hesitate to go...ask your DH if he's o.k. with that after a quick swim...I usually am too tired after swimming to head back to the parks, but you guys may be psyched since it is your first day. Are you ging to be in a resort near Epcot? That will make it that much easier to go there on arrival day.


Pam

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I couldn't stand to go and not take in a park the first day unless I got there really late. Like midnight.

We are exactly the same! I can't imagine being on-site and NOT visiting a park -- usually MK for us. When dh and I flew into MCO very late at night last July, visiting a park wasn't possible. Since we spent our 1st night at Pop, we ended up walking around that resort at 2 am, taking in the sights. (Note: We weren't the only ones doing this! )

 

[Leota]

I couldn't stand to go and not take in a park the first day unless I got there really late. Like midnight.

That's me too.

When we went to Happy Haunts, we had very little time from when we checked in & dumped our stuff before we had to get ready for the evening's events at the Resort.... We still hopped that monorail to MK & went to shop on Main St. We only had around a half hour in the Park - But we had to see the Castle.

 

[JFrey4240]

We always catch the first bus to MK as soon as we get there. I can't imagine not going since we are all itching to get to the parks.

 

[dawgsgirl]

We usually rest a while and get unpacked, swim, whatever and then go to MK for Spectro and Wishes. It's a good way to start a week at WDW!

 

[kldmom2000]

Our flight is landing in Orlando @ 10:40am. I figure by the time we get our bags and Tiffany Town Car delivers us to the hotel, I'm guesstimating it'll be around 12/12:30.... we're staying at the Beach Club. We'll either grab lunch at Beaches and Cream or in EPCOT and hang around there for a bit... then I was going to do ADR's for the Fantasmic Dinner @ MGM for our first night Thought it would be a fun way to start off the trip

 

[ccw]

Are your passes NO EXPIRATION? If so, I'd save a day for a future trip...it's kinda nice to feel you have at least a little of it "pre-paid." Our tradition is, if we arrive in the afternoon, to just hang out at the resort, then take a bus or drive to EPCOT and hop the monorail for a ride around the WORLD. If you do that, your children get a peek at everything and it is fun to build up the anticipation of what awaits the next day. Plus, you do not start your trip at a break neck pace. Ride the monorail, walk around the resort, enjoy the pool and resort amenties, have a leisurely dinner, and then get to bed at a decent hour. Of course, if the 7th day on your pass is going to expire if you don't use it this trip, then what the heck...go ahead and hit a park that first night...but I would suggest starting with EPCOT.

 

[Mamu]

I'm not a good traveler, lot's of times by the time I'm settled into my room I have a headache.

When traveling with little one, they would rather swim anyways, they love the pools especially the themed ones. I always have good intentions of going into a park, but usually change my mind.

How many times during the day do you hear, "When can we go swimming?" Yes little ones like to swim and when asked after vacation is over "What was the best part of your vacation?" There answer will usually be the pool.

We now check out the resort, swim, and swim and swim some more.

It depends on whether or not your traveling with little one's, and your arrival time.

 

[golden1]

Since we will only have 4 full days in the parks, I will probably head to Epcot the first night we arrive and just have a CS meal and look at the XMAS lights until the kids get tired. We will be staying at BWV so it shouldn't be too much exertion for us. Since I have little ones I want to wait on MK because I am afraid that if we go there first and then have to leave right away, my dd will freak out. Before I had kids, I always would head to MK the first night.

 

[babar41]

I couldn't be so close to MK and not go.

A few years ago DH and I checked in and while I was unpacking I noticed my DH stretched out on the bed Zzzzzzzzzzzz! We had had an early morning flight which translates to I had gone to bed at midnight and gotten up at 1:30 a.m. while DH had gone to bed at 10 and slept till 5. He was tired. When I finished unpacking I stood at the door and yelled... WAKE UP! MICKEY IS WAITING FOR US!

That is when DH realized our vacations at WDW were not meant for relaxation .

Seriously, I can't be that close to the Mouse and not go. Here is a suggestion... take DD who wants to swim first to a waterpark before your vacation so she can swim! Maybe if she had some time in a pool it would lessen her desire to hit the pool first thing. Heck, there are swimming pools everywhere, but only 1 MK! (OK, that statement isn't true, but you know what I mean. You have pools where you live, but the parks are not where you live.)

No matter what, have a great trip!