Tell us about your arrival at WDW.....nothing beats the first day of vacation!

[Jen D]

I love reading the posts. However, the first day of vacation is often the least successful for us. Everyone is usually sleep deprived, especially dh who stays up half the night finishing work while I stay up half the night packing. Still, we usually buzz along on excitement until we hit MCO. The flight is a bit of a chore these days as we have a toddler to entertain. But I hate luggage at MCO, it seems everytime we go we have to wait about 45 minutes for luggage. Definitely doing ME next time!!! By the time we're enroute we're tired, cranky and hungry.

I have tried mightily to break this cycle. This last trip I tried a late morning flight and I thought it might work, we were well rested for the most part and ate breakfast at home. But general fatigue still sets in by late afternoon. I always have a very nice ADR somewhere but going seems like a chore, even if it is in our hotel! We never enjoy that meal as much as later meals.

Sometimes pool time works well in the afternoon for the kids while DH sleeps but this trip is was too cold to swim.

I know my post sounds like a buzzkill, but I know I can't be alone. I think the DH is the problem, bless him. He just takes a day or two to get in vacation mode.

I think next trip we'll do room service the first night!

 

[kerry34]

Our first day starts around 230am and it is usually accompanied by me screaming at the top of my lungs. For our family the designated wake up call is me yelling "Who wants to go to Disney World". This is the funniest thing because once I yell that you hear a thundering of feet as everyone is jumping out of bed, running out of their rooms and screaming "I do!!!!! I do!!!!" Everyone gets dressed and off we go. We always drive even though we live far away. Once we get on the turnpike the kids fall back to sleep and DH and I spend a few hours chatting. Alot of people would find the ride horrible but we dont mind it. It is part of our adventure!!

 

[kaabost]

I love reading all of your "first day" stories. It seems that the Disney World commercial is pretty accurate (the one where the kids and dad are too excited to sleep).

 

[jamal]

Oh, I get excited just thinking about it! We usually fly in the late afternoon after we get the kids from school. Oh, and we also usually tell them we are leaving a day or two later then SURPRISE!! Let's go to the airport. we always have some element of surprise.

Anyway, when we get to WDW, we have to have dinner at Chef Mickey's that first night. Nothing feels more like being really truly there than waving your napkin, cracking open that new autograph book, then getting just close enough to MK to know that the next morning will be magical!

 

[Punkin's Mom]

We celebrated our arrival at Disney World by scaring the crap out of the kids on the VERY FIRST RIDE we went on. It was great. Nothing says "magic" like a screaming 2 year old. Except maybe a 4 year old begging to go home between sobs. The people around us were soooo excited to be riding with us.

Needless to say, I was a little worried about the next 4 days, but things turned around and we had a fantastic, magical trip. We're going back in December (leaving the 2 yo at home though) and I'm thinking of changing our arrival day routine up a little. Fewer blood-curdling screams.

(By the way, it was the Great Movie Ride at MGM. I know, I know - it says right there on the sign that it might be scary for little kids. I thought they were joking.)

 

[Leota]

We usually hop the first flight out of town, which means getting up at 3:30am...That's ok, I can barely sleep the night before. I'm terrified that I didn't set the alarm, or it won't go off & I'll miss my flight. It's never happened, but that's because I check the clock every hour on the hour....

Once I'm on the plane, I'm in full vacation mode. In a few short hours, I'll be "Home". Like WaltD4Me Said, MCO is like Home to me. I love the monorail to Baggage Claim, grabbing my stuff, saying Hi to Max (our favorite Towncar driver) & heading off to grab supplies (water & coke) before checking in.

After checking in, we usually dump our stuff & head right to Epcot for lunch (we usually stay in the Epcot area). If we stay MK or AK area, that's where we head for lunch.

We do the Park for a bit, then go back to the room, swim or nap - get dressed & head for a nice dinner. Usually after dinner (which is usually later when we're in WDW) that first day, we're so tired we just can't go any longer. Then it's off to bed for a good night's Peaceful Sleep, knowing that the next day will be all fun & relaxation with no worries......

I love the first day!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

our first day is spent travelling.9 hour flight from uk gets us into sanford for about 6pm,then we drive to our hotel,check in and head out to eat.
Last time we stayed at royal plaza,we walked up to crossroads and then on the way back spent 10 minutes staring at the magical gatherings sign (the lit up one with tinkerbell on it).We were so excited to be there and see our first bit of disney magic!!!!

 

[SConnick]

My wife and I visit WDW every 3 or 4 months -- the engagement happened there, the honeymoon happened there -- you get the picture... And we always joke right before we go, that we feel like those two little kids on the Disney commercial - they're in bed but awake, giggling, dad comes in to tell them it's time to go to sleep, and the boy replies "but we're too excited".....

I guess you have to have seen the commercial.

 

[Cinders Mum]

our first day starts early 0100EST for the 1 hour drive to Glasgow, then check in for our 9 and 1/2 hour flight, this year into Sanford, pick up by our towncar, pick up groceries on the way and check into the Polynesian Resort around 1630 EST. Normally we head to DTD and mooch around, but this year because we are arriving that little bit earlier we are just gonna stop at the resort, have a swim probably grab a quick bite (and buy our refillable mugs) at Captain Cooks then off to bed around 9pm (will try and stay awake long enough to watch Wishes from the beach (or our balcony if I am lucky)... then with the time difference our body clocks will have us up and about at 0430 EST ready for MK opening ...lol

Val
xx

 

[sunny04]

Well, we drive from TN, so we split the drive into two days usually. We leave on day and drive until late, then get up the next morning and we're in WDW by noon! So, I count our first day as the day we get there and check in. We usually check in and then go to whatever our first ADR is. We usually plan one for around 3pm that first day so we're not rushed. On our upcoming trip, our first day will be MGM and we'll do H&V dinner package, because we're meeting up with my family that will already be there. One of the least climactic first days - We usually start with MK or Epcot which are much more fun for getting me excited, but it's still WDW!

 

[WDWMom]

After 16 trips we have the first day plans down pat.

We usually take an early flight out of Detroit - 7:00 am this year. DH and I don't sleep much and we get up around 4:00 am or so. Land at MCO, change into shorts and take the first ride of the trip - the airport monorail. We meet our towncar driver and get the luggage. Off to Publix for groceries and then to check in at OKW. If our room is ready, we unpack and get settled. If not, we change into swim wear and hit the main pool and have lunch at Goods. Swim until the room is ready and unpack. After room is ready, we take the boat to DTD and look around and grab a bite to eat somewhere Then we'll get to the MK and listen to the music and watch the lights from the gates (usually dark by now). Take monorail to EPCOT and see the lights there. We have been known to stop at the CR and go to the roof to watch the fireworks. Then to bed as it has been a long day.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Our excitement (at least for the kids) starts the day before. We usually drive to the Philadelphia Hilton Airport Hotel around 4:00. We have dinner there and then go back to the room to watch a pay per view movie and get to sleep early (hopefully). We always take an early flight and usually land in MCO about 9:30. Once I get on the little monorail/tram airport thing I know we're back!

Usually we hit MK right away since we've always stayed at a monorail resort but this year we're staying at POR and meeting up with my in-laws so I think we're going to go over to DTD, eat lunch and do some shopping, then come back to POR and swim wait for the room to be ready and meet up with them. We have an ADR for Coral Reef the first night because the kids wanted to eat where they ate on "Full House" and I know my FIL loved EPCOT when he was there last (20 years ago!). The next thing bright and early we'll be at MK for AM EMH. Can't wait.

 

[rlovew]

It has been great reading about everyone's first days at WDW. When we drive up for a day trip (about 1 every 2 months) we get up at 5 am and head out the door, we pack our bag the night before and get to a park at opening. Usually we spend the morning at one park and then hop over to another for the evening show before getting back in the car and driving 2 hours home to sleep in our own beds.

Now when we take trips that last for a few days (about 3-4 times a year), We get up at a more liesurely pace but everything is still packed. Head to our hotel and check in (usuually by 10) and hit one of the parks, it all depends on our plans and reason for the trip for a CS lunch. By 4pm we head back to the hotel for a break and dinner at the hotel CS before heading out to a park with a later night and enjoying the evening there.

 

[kaabost]

I am absolutly jeqluos of you guys who get to trqvel to WDW several times a year. However, I am impressed that you continue to have the enthusiasm and thrill that we all have when we can only visit once a year or once every 2 years. (or in my recent case, once every three years.) Oh geez, wdw is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[remmy_7]

Our last arrival was not the way I had planned. I actually arrived with the flu (I'd been throwing up on the plane for 2 hours . But, as soon as we arrived at our hotel (pop century) I felt 100% better. I took a nice hot bath and took a long nap, afterward watching the top ten disney attractions channel. By the next day, I was ready to hit the parks
That first day is always great though, when you get to the lobby and check in, breathing in that disney air. And when you see all those people checking out, you know that will eventually be you, but you just count the magical days that you're there and enjoy them

 

[mamaprincess]

We leave this morning! We are all packed and loaded. The kids have no clue, they think we are dropping dad off to the airport for a business trip . They are going to be absolutely besides themselves!

We will have a little breakfast at the airport because our flight is early. We packed a portable DVD player and some disney movies for our flight. Once we get to Saratoga we will leave our luggage if there are no available rooms yet and either swim or go to DTD. We have ADR's at 1900 parkfare for an early dinner. We will probably turn in early.

Yay!

 

[pearljim]

Great thread - we love the first day, too! We always leave in the morning on SWAir. The excitement rises on the airport tram from the gate, through baggage claim and on to the Emerald Isle for our wheels. Unless its Sunday, a quick lunch at Chick-Fil-A is a requirement (don't have 'em here in CT). Since we're DVCers the next stop is the grocery and adult beverage shops and then on to the world! We usually head for MK if it's just my DW and I. If its grandkids along, its off to the pools.

Of course, the last day pack and trip to the airport blahs are inversely proportionate to the excitement of Day 1 - I guess that's what makes the World go round!

 

[padisneylover]

DH and I start our magical journey two days before actual arrival. This year we leave on the 28th of April for Philadelphia and are planning on an early morning departure from home. A stop on the way at Longwood Gardens for the day so DH can practice using the ECV they have then on to the Hampton Inn at the airport. The next morning we will leave via taxi to the Amtrak Station (30th street) and board the 11 am train to Orlando. On the 30th we arrive around 10:30 a.m. where we will be met by our town car driver and wisked off to AKLC for 9 nights. Our usaul pattern is to just hang out at the lodge since we are usually tired from our journey and do enjoy the beauty of the lodge. This year though the plan is to drop the suitcases, board the bus for the MK and stand in line for the last day of POC. Yes we will be one of the hoards arriving late to stand in that long line but it sure will be worth it since it is one of our favorite rides and will close that day for the rest of our trip.
As far as sleeping goes I am right along with the rest of you. Actually probably worse. I don't sleep well for about a week before we go since I am so excieted to finally be going that I can't rest. I drive everybody at work crazy with my count down and talk about our trip that I am sure they are glad to get rid of me when the day finally comes. On the other hand DH sleeps well and really dosen't show any excitement about going but then again he hasn't been bitten by the magic bug

 

[birdiesunshine]

We always try to get the first flight out in the a.m. The limo comes to get us and it's still dark and cold outside. By the time we get to the airport the sky has lightened. We usually get to the airport about 45 mins before departure time so DD, 3 doesn't have so long to wait. We let her run around the terminal until we get on the plane. We get her in her carseat get her dvd player ready and anxiously await the planes takeoff. I hate flying but I know it's the quickest way to get me to WDW. Get in around 10am and go to check-in. If our room isn't ready which it usually isn't because we get in so early we grab our suits from our carryon and hit the pool. Eat lunch and then check on our room at about 2pm, if it's ready DD gets a nap and DH and I fight over which park to hit that night We always go to a park usually the one with extra magic hours wins!!

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

We are on are way a week today, this is a very exciting time for all, we start watching the promo videos weeks before to increase the hype. Next Sunday we have a 4 hour drive to drop our dogs off at MIL's, then a further 4 hours to the airport at Manchester. Then a hotel overnight for an early morning, 9 hour direct flight to Orlando. Pick up the car and leave the world behind at the Welcome archway. Arrive at the resort, do shopping at Walmart, then straight to MK and you can't but help smile when you enter.