Suggestions please for arrival day

[lisatx04]

We have been to WDW numerous times, but not since FP+ has arrived. We are going at the end of June, and bringing DDBF, 18, who is so excited to be going.

Here is my situation: we arrive in Orlando around 2pm and will get a rental car. Will drive to a grocery store to pick up a few things for the week, then head over to OKW. We have ADR's at 8pm at Chef Mickey's. So now I am thinking of how many days we will be going to the parks so I can purchase tickets. Would you guys rush in to the park that Saturday or just relax before the ADR? I am thinking if we head into MK, that we can maybe get some FP+ for a few rides then go over to dinner. The MK closes at 11 that night, so there won't be a lot of time after dinner to go back in. I don't want to rush but I want to optimize our time as best we can.

Any thoughts are appreciated. What do you do on arrival day??

 

[Rosco1]

If it were me......


I would arrive, unpack, and get in some pool time, and explore the resort.

We spend SO much time going when we are at Disney, it is nice to start with a relaxing first day.

Then I would hit MK nighttime extra magic hours on Sunday night. But our family LOVES MK at midnight.

Whatever you do, have a wonderful vacation!

 

[Disneylover99]

I probably wouldn't plan on going to the park on arrival day. I'm thinking you might have a few hours at your resort once you check in before your ADR. Why not relax and go for a swim? Then head out to Chef Mickey's.

 

[flutterby3744]

We hang out at the resort on arrival day.

If your plane lands at 5, by the time you get your bags, rent your car, go to the store, check in to the hotel, get into your room....it will probably be time to leave (if not cutting it close) for your ADR. Thats all if your plane is on time and everything runs smoothly from baggage to check in. Don't try to pack too much in there, enjoy your trip!

Edit: sorry, just saw your plane actually lands at 2....so you won't be cutting it close. Still I recommending staying at the resort and taking it easy!

 

[lindsayx14]

We decide on going to the park depending on our arrival time. We usually stay at BLT, so it's easy to walk to MK and back, though. We also never have ADRs on our arrival day. I would consider your arrival time late, so I would say take your time and relax until your ADR.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I agree with the PP. We do not make ADrs on our first day in case we are delayed. We usually stay in EPCOT hotels so we usually walk over to EPCOT and eat in the countries. We always go to MK since. It is always opened late.

 

[ZoZo]

I'm with everyone else. I take it pretty easy on arrival day. Don't underestimate how tiring traveling can be. Our plane doesn't get into Orlando until after 4:00 pm, at the earliest. We fly in from Seattle, and we have to get up super-early to catch our flight. To get to the airport by 5:30 am, I have to get up at 3:30 am! (And last month for our trip, I didn't fall asleep until after 1;00 am, so I got about two hours of sleep!) That, coupled with the three-hour time difference, makes me want to call it an early night and start fresh the next day.

We did a trip a month ago, and by the time we caught the Magical Express bus, we were pretty tired out. We went to DTD for dinner Wolfgang Puck Express and a little shopping, then hit the hay.

I sure wish we had the energy to go to a park our first night (I would truly love to do that!) but there's just no way! Maybe if our flight was shorter. But even a nonstop flight from Seattle is six hours in the air, coupled with the extra time at the airport.

 

[hammie59]

We've gone to the parks on arrival day and vowed to never do it again. Initially we felt the same as you OP, wanting to maximize our time. But in hindsight, we felt too rushed and never really enjoyed our resort. We went for an ADR at 50's and didn't get many rides in. If I were you, I'd slow it down that first day.

 

[Day-Day]

We have a flight that arrives at 11:11am and plan to visit Animal Kingdom on that day and will have a rental car; AK closes at 7pm. We have a few key rides and shows that we want to do at AK and this will give us time to accomplish this. We will probably not return to AK again during our stay.

This is the one situation in which the new FP+ really works in our favor. We'll visit the grocery that night or maybe even wait till we take a mid-day break on the following day.