Suggestions? What can we do between arrival at noon and dinnertime reservation?

[kwannabee]

Us and our two boys (age 12 and 6) arrive at the airport around 10 am, and we have only a few hours after arrival at DW before we spend our first evening at the Hoopty Doo Musical Review at 5:30 at fort Wilderness. We'll be staying at Pop Century but i dont think we can actually check in til about 3 or so.

Any suggestions as to what we can do in the meantime? We probably wont have our luggage yet so we'll be at loose ends...dont want to use one of our park passes for only half a day...which direction do we head in...what do we do...where do we go?

So excited! Thanks in advance!!

 

[Robin K]

I suggest heading to Downtown for some shopping and looking around. Get the feeling of being at Disney without using a park ticket. OR heading to mini golf for a few hours. We did Winter/Summerland last Sept and had lots of fun.
Good luck!

 

[emmakatbaby]

Fort wilderness is a great place to spend a few hours. You can rent a golf cart and ride around the fort, let the boys have an archery lesson or go on a horseback ride. They all need reservations though. You can also schedule a pirate cruise for them from either the contemporary or grand Floridian . My children have done all of these things and LOVED every one!!!!

 

[DizFan101]

You could:

- walk around the resort (if you don't want to lug your carry on's around you can bring them to luggage assistance.)
- go Downtown Disney which is the main shopping district.
- swim at the resort
- resort hop
- go to DHS but take the boat from DHS to the resorts and Epcot just for something to do. It's very scenic.
- take the monorail from MK.
- if you have kids you can use your arcade vouture (spelling)
- strike up a conversation with some one at the hotel. just for a few min or so.
- take pictures of everything! (Pop Century is the best hotel for photos with the huge items)
- watch tv in the food court.
- window shop @ the resort gift shop. (try on all the hats).

You don't have to use your park passes for the boat or monorail.

 

[Taytortots]

As stated above, Downtown Disney would be a good way to spend your time. There's something for everyone and it's easy to spend a few hours there. Also in Downtown Disney is Disney Quest. It comes at an additional cost but many people enjoy it. You don't use your park ticket.
Swim at the resort. Disney can keep everyone busy, so there's not always time to swim. This will only works if weather permits.
You can also walk around the resort. This works well for a lot of resorts and Pop is one of them because there's so much to see.
Something my family does our first day is go over the trip and finalize our plans. You can go over your reservations and tell the kids what kind of food or if you're having a character meal. Ask everybody what park they want to go to first if you don't already have this planned. Get the kids/family excited. Talk about what they have at the park you're going the next day. This is also a good time to charge cameras etc and make sure you have everything prepared for the next day.
Hope this helped.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Us and our two boys (age 12 and 6) arrive at the airport around 10 am, and we have only a few hours after arrival at DW before we spend our first evening at the Hoopty Doo Musical Review at 5:30 at fort Wilderness. We'll be staying at Pop Century but i dont think we can actually check in til about 3 or so.

Any suggestions as to what we can do in the meantime? We probably wont have our luggage yet so we'll be at loose ends...dont want to use one of our park passes for only half a day...which direction do we head in...what do we do...where do we go?

So excited! Thanks in advance!!

Just wanted to say that you can check in when you get there. You just may not be able to get your room yet. It depends on whether it is ready or not. I like to do online check-in. I have been able to put our approximate arrival time, so they know about when we will be getting there. We usually arrive between 10 AM and 12 PM. Our room has been ready every time. However, I have heard of some people's rooms not being ready yet. I guess what Disney tries to do in that situation is give you a call when it is ready so you can come back to your room if you want. Like I said, I've only read about that b/c our room has been ready every time.

Swimming is something we do sometimes after arrival. We usually eat lunch in the eatery of our resort, then swim or head to the parks. Since you said you don't want to do that, then swimming or DTD are great options. We never seem to get enough time at DTD. Either way, if it were my family, we always put our swim gear (which I have packed into carry-on bags ahead of time) into the lockers by the pool (you will need quarters) so it is there when we get back from the parks or wherever. That way you don't have to go all the way back to your room. It can be quite a hike.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Like others have said visit DTD and some other resorts. Also a good time for some personal picture taking. We are going to send out Christmas Cards with our Disney photo's that we will be taking and mailing them out the next day!

 

[mreid1974]

Not sure if this is your first trip or not but if it is its a great chance to get acclimated to the resort and to the buses. You will be arriving the same time we usually do for our trips. Here is what we like to do. We like to get a small feel of being in Disney. So we hop onto a Magic Kingdom bus once we have checked in and had a little lunch at the food court. We take the bus to Magic Kingdom and go to the resort monorail. We do a lap and half to the TTC. You can take this time to see the resorts on the loop if you want to get off if not do the lap and a half to the TTC. Once to the TTC we get off and take the fairy boat across the lagoon back to MK. This all makes a nice little sight seeing tour. Once across you can take the boat to Fort Wilderness to your ADR at hoop de do. We start our first night at FW too. but we go to Trails End instead.

 

[Princess Hooper]

Moving my similar question to a separate thread. Was worried that I was hyjacking yours, lol.

 

[nichanda]

An alternative to Downtown Disney would be to visit Disney's Boardwalk. I find that a less hectic place (especially after traveling) with the same nice Disney feel to get you in the Disney spirit.

 

[dzneelvr]

Don't try to do too much in the first few hours, especially with kids who have been confined too longPut your swim suits and some toiletries in a carryon and spend some time getting acquainted with your resort facilities, swim, maybe shower off the travel layer, get a beverage and relax a bit poolsidethere are usually pretty decent shower facilities by the pools. then head over to your ADR a bit early and explore there.

 

[Jayson626]

I agree with those that said not to do too much uponn arrival. Depending on the length of your stay, you may need the rest considering how much you will be doing in the days ahead. Downtown Disney is a great idea as well, but can get very crowded at times. If this is the case, it might be discouraging to have that as a first vacation experience.
I would definitely consider going to play some mini-golf, as another has suggested. There is also Fantasia mini-golf which is a blast, but make sure you play the Fantasia Gardens which is a much more fun and interactive experience. Your kids should love it.
There is also a Mcdonalds nearby if you are staying at an All Star Resort to buy some time and food lol.
Before you know it, you will have had a blast and it will be time for check in.
Whatever your plans, just make sure your family is having fun doing it. Good Luck!

 

[Brit_Jude]

I would just check out the resort and relax. If your are using Disney transportation to get to HDDR it will take you a little while to get there anyway. If it were me I would be at the bus stop at 4pm, you can always check out Ft. Wilderness if you get there a little early. Going somewhere first might make you stressed getting to your ressie and you don't want to be stressed getting there.

Your room might be ready when you get to PoP. I bet the kids will be sooo excited once they get to the resort and you might want a little something to eat and take some cool pictures with the props. There are so many cool things to look at the PoP Century report.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Your room may be ready. Do online checkin as I have heard you have a better chance that way. Have lunch, go to the pool. Then around 3:30 take the MK bus. Frm there you can take the boat to FW. You arrive on the beach and it is a short walk to Pioneer Hall. There are animals and a shop there also so explore some once there but you need to check in and get your table assignment and picture taken before you can be seated.

 

[NLD]

Any suggestions as to what we can do in the meantime? We probably wont have our luggage yet so we'll be at loose ends...dont want to use one of our park passes for only half a day...which direction do we head in...what do we do...where do we go?

Have you checked into how much it would cost to add an extra day to your passes?

It is really cheap to add a day on multiple day tickets, depending how many days you already have.

It's probably one of the cheapest things to do, actually.

If it were our family, we'd probably go to MK. For something like $8 more per person (to add the day), that's a much cheaper way to spend three or four hours than Disney Quest, shopping at DTD, or mini-golfing.

Now if you don't want to go to a park because you'd rather do something more relaxing.... or you only have like 2-day tickets and it would be more expensive to add another day... then that's one thing.

Would just hate to think you're passing up park time based on expense, if it's NOT actually that expensive for you to go.

 

[Happy Mom2]

You can check in at the POP when you arrive. If your room is ready, you can go to your room. If not, they will text you when it is ready. You can go to DTD, explore the POP, or go explore other resorts.

 

[tina.tina]

I agree with the person who suggested you think about adding a day to your tickets. I couldn't resist heading over to MK the first day. If you've never been, it will be a great way to orient yourself to the layout of the park. Plus, you may be able to pop in on Main Street and see Mickey right away. If the MK is still open after the HDDR, you could ride the boat back there for more fun.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I agree with the person who suggested you think about adding a day to your tickets. I couldn't resist heading over to MK the first day. If you've never been, it will be a great way to orient yourself to the layout of the park. Plus, you may be able to pop in on Main Street and see Mickey right away. If the MK is still open after the HDDR, you could ride the boat back there for more fun.

I agree too. That's what I usually do. The more days you buy, the cheaper the tickets are. I had the option to purchase a day of tickets last trip, and it turned out they were about $5 each person b/c we had so many days already.

 

[MinnieLee]

You didn'tm ention when you would be traveling. If it is around the holidays, do to the GF and see the gingerbread house and monorail over to the other resorts to see their displays. Then take the boat over and walk around the campgrounds. It is amazing how the guests with motor homes decorate!

If not at the holidays, hang out at the resort a bit and start relaxing. Give yourself enough time to get over to FW and there is a small area with animals and the stables with the horses used all over WDW a few minute walk from the boat dock or the bus stop. FW is really a nice area to explore. You can go to Crocklett's, get something to drink and sit on the porch in a rocking chair taking it all in.

ENJOY

 

[bopper]

My advice is:

If it is warm (or barely warm enough), go swimming. Otherwise the rest of the time the kids will see the pools and then ask if they can go but you won't want to go because you have park tickets. Make sure to bring your swimsuits in your carry on.

Downtown Disney is another idea, but I find we stay too long and get tired and then are worn out for our first park day.

Explore your resort. See if they have a video game arcade. See what other "extras" they have...like at Port Orleans they have carriages to ride in. At All Star Sports they could play around in the "football" field part. See what is special about Pop Century.

Otherwise, explore Fort Wilderness. I am sure the boys would love that and you would already be near the HDDR.