The First Day

[RicJ]

What do you do?

I mean, you just got there. You are probably a little tired from travelling, specially if you came in by plane... you just got into your room, but you still have half a day and the whole night ahead.

So, what do you do? What you guys and gals like to do when you drop in the Disney-verse?

 

[Karbase8]

I generally head right to the park, my last trip our flight was delayed so we headed to HDDR, in the future I may take a later flight and have a relaxing night at the resort to unpack and unwind before our first day at the parks

 

[BeckyEsq]

We went to Epcot. DD wanted to meet Mickey right away and we waited less than five minutes at the Character Connection. Rode Nemo as it was a nice tame ride to get her warmed up and then Journey into Imagination. Met Duffy and had lunch at Via Napoli and rode the Mexico boat ride and Spaceship Earth. Then we just swam and ate at the food court at POR and got to bed early since we got up at 3 that morning.

 

[jj1403]

I've done two different things. It sounds like you could still have a lot of park time left for that first day. I would head over to Magic Kingdom. There really is something special about heading there first. When you get that first glimpse of the castle as you start walking down Main street. It really is magical. And maybe a little emotional for some of us...

If you are staying for 5 days or more then I might relax, head to Downtown Disney and start my first official day the next day.

It really all depends who you are traveling with.

 

[jkramer]

Epcot always.

 

[dfherrera]

We like to get all settled, find a place to have a nice quiet drink and then dinner followed by a fireworks show.

We always drive down so I like to take that first day a bit easy after 16 hours in the car...

Downtown Disney is always a nice place for a casual walk or the countries at EPCOT.

Regardless, it's Disney so it's all good.

 

[disneyjunebug]

We check in, get settled, then head to Downtown Disney for the evening. Dinner and walking after being in the car or plane feels good. And I hate to waste a park ticket on a short day!

 

[summermac]

We usually go to MK but this trip my kids want to go to HS first.

 

[Yahweh]

We've done downtown Disney in the past; we have hung out around the boardwalk area when were were staying at the Beach Club, and we have gone to Magic Kingdom and rode a few of the no wait rides, like Haunted Mansion, People Mover, and Small World.

Adding the extra day's ticket if you are stay a week or more really isn't very much more, and I personally prefer to have an easy first day in a park. DW of course disagrees with me on this point, as she would much rather stay around the resort, and go for a swim in the pool.

Either way I got to do the Airport Monorail and Disney magical Express that day, so I'm pretty content no matter what we do

 

[patty57]

We usually stay at the Epcot resorts, so we would walk over to either Epcot or DHS...usually Epcot.

 

[hedberg1661]

I've done two different things. It sounds like you could still have a lot of park time for that first day. I would head over to Magic Kingdom. There really is something special about heading there first. When you get a glimpse of the castle when you start heading down Main street. It really is magical. And maybe a little emotional for some of us...

If you still have a few days ahead then I might relax, head to downtown Disney and start my first official day the next day.

It really all depends who you are traveling with.

I totally agree.

I don't always visit a park the first day...but when I do I choose MK.

Sorry temptation got the best of me on that last line.

 

[disney*mom*82]

We drive 16+ hours to get to WDW, nonstop. So, our first day we get there we get checked in, shower and relax a little (we get there early, around 9am) and then early evening we head to DTD, eat dinner (first night is always at Planet Hollywood) and walk around and shop. We have done this every trip.

I dont want to waste a park ticket if I am not going to have a full day there to enjoy it.

 

[W.E.D.]

We do resort activities. Go for a swim. Maybe grab a nap. Have dinner at the restaurant or food court. We like to let the fairy dust slowly settle over us. The anticipation for the first park day builds and makes that next day all the more special.

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

Our arrival day tradition is dinner in the World Showcase then Illuminations.

 

[MyMagicalTrip]

We *always* hit MK. Last year, it was soooooo crowded the day we arrived (around 2p.m., I think?) and we ended up riding rides that we have never taken the time to before. It was really fun!

 

[ErinTwinmom]

Our plan this year is to get there noonish after lunching and shopping off property. We will check in an do play ground and pool until 4ish and then we will head to downtown Disney for dinner. We are doing the medium dining plan and there are several counter service there to chose from. Legos for the kids and take in some entertainment. If after all that people are still going we might go to another resort to see the electric water pageant and then off to bed for AK in the morning.

 

[pixiemama91]

We usually take an early morning flight the day we arrive so that we are at the hotel to check in around noon and then head to a park. We always arrive on a saturday and leave on a saturday.

Next year when we go I have been thinking about coming in on a friday and spending the afternoon swimming at the hotel and then heading down to DTD for dinner and a little shopping. Get to bed early this night and be ready to hit the ground running the next day. This way we are not to tired from our travel day( not really a long flight, but always seems longer) and won't feel rushed.

 

[epsmith921]

This last trip, our flight landed a little before 3 I think so we were at BWI at around 4 and checked in. We got ourselves a little situated, and then headed out to the boardwalk.

We went over to BC to get our photopass card so we didn't have to mess with it the next day and then rode the boat loop over to HS and to S/D. No park, just enjoyed the boat ride. Then we got out and walked back to BWI to let the munchkin let off a little steam.

We ate dinner in our room I think and it was nice and relaxing after our first flight with a toddler (2.5).

I unpacked and we got the kiddo to bed at a decent hour since it took a while for her to fall asleep in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Made it to rope drop at MK the next 3 mornings! It was great!

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

we always explore our resort and go swimming. After that we always head to DTD and enjoy the night

 

[Lisa0806]

This year we planned to get in around noon and we were going to go to Epcot and even had dinner reservations. HOwever,a canceled flight, and multiple delays later, we arrived 16 hours later then we planned. Therefore, in the future, I think I'd rather just hang out in downtown disney and grab dinner there or at resort go to bed early and get an early start the next day.