The First Day

[ScrampShopper]

We usually get to MCO around 10:30 and to the resort by noon. We get checked in, freshen up a bit and head out to the parks (whichever is considered best for the day, and then hop to the park that is open late). We go to bed exhausted, but we have no intention of skipping the parks on the first day.

 

[pixieMandy]

We drive and always arrive mid morning/early afternoon. We always get settled into the room and go to Downtown Disney. We browse and eat at T-Rex. The next day is always an early day at Magic Kingdom, so after a long drive we go to bed early so we can get up early to enjoy the day!

 

[agavegirl1]

With the flights from where I live, we usually arrive around 2 or 3 PM. We explore the resort then head to DTD for dinner and shopping and redeem or PhotoPass voucher. After a travel day, I prefer to keep it low key. An early night and up for RD at the most recommended park.

 

[butterfly71076]

We always unpack and relax for a bit, then head to Chef Mickey for our traditional arrival night dinner. After that, it's straight to MK, hit some rides, watch Wishes and back to resort for bed!

 

[honeydiane1953]

We visited resort Hotels we wanted to see then went to Downtown Disney! Could stay in the WWD store for hours. Eat go to bed!!

 

[seenellie81]

We always have had the early flights in and are in MK by noonish where we have lunch at Crystal Palace. Next trip the kids are saying they dont want to go to CP, i am thinking they have out grown it. Not my favorite food but its a tradition that i would love to keep.

 

[fbarker]

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.

Also from IL we take a day and half to drive down get into WDW around 12pm check into hotel and then over to MK just to walk around and immerse ourselves into Disney. Then a nice dinner at California Grill

 

[aggordon2]

We usually drive down from NYC, get into Orlando around 6pm and check into a hotel off property. The next morning we wake up early, check into CSR and we are off to MK.

Its a tradition!!

 

[ekendall2]

We drive from Indiana. Usually leave around 11 pm and get to Orlando around 3pm or 4. Always stay offsite that night. Relax at pool and have dinner someplace. Go to bed early and get up early the next day so that we can check in at hotel (usually cbr). Then it's off to whichever park is preferred.

 

[Minniekins]

My DD, now 23, and myself, used to always stay at CBR and get there on a Thu, maybe a Fri, and in the evening sometime. We'd go shop at the main gift shop there(forgot the name), and would eat burgers at the food court(they used to be really good, lol!). I liked getting settled and starting our vacay a little low key, ready to start the next day. Never RD, though, always went over in the afternoon.

But now, we like to take a very early flight on a Sat, we stay a week and leave late on Sunday. Though we are not early morning people at all, we like to leave like 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. so we can have another whole park day - we can have 8 whole days instead of 7 that way! We get into MCO about 11 - noon, usually can get in our room early, so go for a short time(or we'd collapse and never get out, lol!) then get out to our lunch ressie and park, where we hang out at the park till close! We usually start at either MK or Dhs, depending on where we want to go on Sunday night(party or not), and the hours of those parks, even though MK is my fav park.

 

[jester161]

Our flight always gets in mid-afternoon, so we get to the hotel around 5 (POFQ this year - new one for us!!)

So we check in and then go straight to MK - we have already had an 8 hour flight so we cant be more tired!! We have a hotdog at caseys, and theN ride the 'no wait' rides, just to soak up the atmosphere and the magic!! We always stay until the end of the night...even if it is EMH.

We use the next day as a relaxer...get up late, explore the resort, maybe hit a waterpark in the afternoon, and a chill out evening at DTD. Then back to the parks next morning!!

 

[Sacha_L]

Depending on what time we arrive (flying from the west coast) we always go to MK the day we arrive. We have tried to rest and relax at the resort but that never happens

 

[MisWal]

Our flight gets in around 1:30, so we ride ME, check in and get our room settled. Relax a bit and then head to DTD for supper and a little shopping.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

After unpacking, I head to a park.

 

[Retro Magic]

Depends on how long our stay is, but usually we like to just spend the first day taking in the resort and relaxing. Maybe a walk through DTD in the evening.

 

[Spunky946]

Depends on what time our flight lands. Sometimes we do the mid day flight, so we hang out at the hotel, eat a late lunch and settle in with dinner at the hotel too.

Our last trip was a bit shorter and the early morning flight was cheapest, so we were at MCO at 8:15 and at our resort by 9 ish. Our room was ready, so we dropped our stuff off and headed out to MK. We rode a few rides and ate lunch. Then headed back to our room for naps and a off to Epcot that night. We were originally going to do Epcot only, but the kids voted for MK first.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We are usually checked in before 12 pm. Our room has never been ready though. So we leave our luggage with check in and head straight to MK. Then have dinner at Chef Mickey's. It's always a night with Wishes and the parade too. We've been lucky. So after dinner we go back into MK and watch that. Perfect first day.

 

[prudence64]

We opted for Downtown Disney on our last visit.

 

[Darth Pluto]

When we go I always take the day before off. I take DW to work and DS to school and then go home and nap. I pick them up and then we drive until we just can’t take it anymore (usually just south of Atlanta) and finish the drive the next day. We usually get there around 2p, check in and check out the resort since we have not stayed at the same one twice. After that we head to Downtown Disney for dinner and some light shopping. This last time though we went to Downtown Disney for shopping and then dinner at the Kona Care and then to the beach to watch the fireworks. It was probably the best first night we’ve had.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I always head right to the MK. I'm no good until I see the Castle.