suggestions for 1st evening

[cook4you]

We are arriving in Orlando @ 1:45 June 1st and we want to get some advice on what to do the first evening. We have 5 day hopper passes and will be flying out June 7th @ 12:30. Should we go to MGM to see the fireworks the 1st evening ? I know I won't be able to get the family up and going early if we do fireworks on a day that we have been going since early morning.
Any suggestions would be great I don't want to waste time or the passes, but I want to see all the fireworks at each park. Also I would appreciate any suggestions on which park on what day, to avoid the crowds.

 

[TINKFAN3]

I suggest Hoop dee do at 5:00 at Fort Wilderness then off to the fireworks at MK. But then you don't want to lose a day for Fireworks. Ohana's has a great evening show and the Water Pagent is great..plus if you time it right you can view Mk's fireworks from the beach!

 

[cook4you]

MK as of right now closes @7 pm and has no fireworks the ist of June.

 

[Piper]

I am arriving on May 31st and plan a non-park day. I am going to eat lunch, ride the monorail, do a little resort hopping, have dinner and go to bed early. I know we won't have slept the night before and will have gotten up early.......an early night that first night should make a more enjoyable and rested vacation!

 

[DEH3rd]

we always do chef mickey's on the 1st night. It really sets the tone for the "disney experience". then, go back & have a drink poolside. Fun & relaxing way to start!

 

[lucysdad]

Downtown Disney!! You can get the ball rolling with a fun dinner and then shop and try to not get carried way by all of the fun Disney toys you can buy. Downtown Disney is very magical. Also, consider going to Chef Mickey at the Contemporary for dinner. That's our first night tradition. The buffet is fine and the character involvement superb. It's a gas when everyone does the napkin wave! The Boardwalk is also fun, especially at night. None of these destinations require admission on your pass.

 

[arielfan]

When we went in Feb. this year we decided not to waste a day on the passes and went to Downtown Disney, shopped around and had dinner there...You could shop around there for hours just looking in the shops...Go back to your room for an early night swim and relax..So your ready for the parks the next day...

 

[Jordan's MOM]

We will arrive around noon on our first day this year. In the pass it has been much latter in the day. We will be there for 6 full days not counting travel days, and will have 6 day hopper -plus tickets. Our plan is to use one of our plusses to hit a water park that afternoon if the weather allows. (we are going in Dec) If not we will do DQ. We plan to get a PS for Ohanna's that will allow us to see the MK fireworks from there. We don't waste a park day for 1/2 day.


Jordan's mom

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Obviously there are hundreds of things you could do ther than going to one of the parks. Last trip (and the upcoming trip) we arrived at resort around 4pm. It was great to unpack, kick our shoes off and take our two kids to Downtown Disney. Kids wanted to eat at McDonald's . We explored the World of Disney, the Leggo store, etc. and caught a bus back to the resort for an early bedtime. That got us off to a good, well-rested start to our vacation. It's probably what we will do again in June.

 

[Beanie]

We also do Chef Mickey's the first day we get there and then we either go to Downtown Disney to let the kids play at Once Upon A Toy or the Lego place or we go to Boardwalk and walk around and play in the arcade or rent a Surrey bike, which is alot of fun!

Have a wonderful time!

 

[pjweakly]

Disney Quest!! Reading between the lines I am guessing you will be taking the kids. They will love Disney Quest. I am not sure what to tell you about avoiding the crowds during June

 

[Planogirl]

Do something at Downtown Disney your first day. It's a great way to start your vacation IMO.

As for crowds, do your best to get your family moving early particularly when you go to the Magic Kingdom. Epcot shouldn't be too bad and MGM is hit or miss. Animal Kingdom seems to quiet down after the parade but it is awfully hot.