What are your first day traditions?

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I know a lot of people have aarrival day customs that they do every trip. I don't really have one and am thinking about adopting something to become my ritual to look forward to. What are your arrival or first day traditions? I'm especially interested in things in the parks but I'm interested in hearing everyone's.

 

[4under4]

Our arrival days are almost always spent at the resort, just hanging out and getting settled. On our first full day we go to a park, but which one depends on crowd calendars, etc. so it changes. However, on our first MK day, we always get a pre-park open ADR for CP.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Our arrival days are almost always spent at the resort, just hanging out and getting settled. On our first full day we go to a park, but which one depends on crowd calendars, etc. so it changes. However, on our first MK day, we always get a pre-park open ADR for CP.

I've always wanted to do this.

 

[runmickeyrun]

We go to MK as soon as we arrive. Walking down Main Street and seeing the Castle tell us we're home.

 

[nooneshome]

We usually do one of two things. We normally get to our resort around 4 or 5 PM after a 10.5 hour drive. Sometimes we head to Downtown Disney and get a sandwich at the Earl and then do some shopping. Lately we go to MK and ride a couple rides and watch Wishes. FP+ made it easier because we walked in with 3 FPs in our pocket - one being 7DMT.

 

[kmoore7]

Our arrival days are resort days also. Usually get there late in the day so no point in wasting a park day. Check out the restaurant and pool and layout of resort in general. First park day is always MK regardless of crowds and EMH. Usually do big breakfast at resort and then stay at MK till closing. Always spend more than one day at MK so we plan the EMH for then.

 

[Suzanne74]

We get a mid-morning flight (2hr flight)
head to the resort pool if room isn't ready (bathing suits in carry-ons)
get lunch and Mickey ice-cream bar at the pool snack/bar.
Finish swim and check the resort out (if a new place)
Showers, dressed, unpack
Chef Mickey reservations (we like knocking out all fab 5 autographs/pictures the first night!)
Take the monorail to TTC and hope on Epcot monorail to drive around during Illuminations
Go directly back and get back on resort side.
Take it to GF or Poly (depending on time) and watch the Water Electric Parade
Take bus home from MK stop (if staying away from MK area)

First day is alway MK and we watch the pre-show

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We usually drive from Atlanta and get there around 3 or 4. We like to relax a little in the room, change clothes and freshen up, and head out to a nice restaurant we haven't tried before. This time we are going to Ohana for dinner then watch the fireworks from the beach.

 

[Nicnic]

Depending on where we stay it differs.
POFQ we would get boat to DTD, Earl of sandwich and Ghiradelli. Get the autograph books and pens ready for the next day then off to bed around 9pm (2am to us really).
BC we would get a meal on the boardwalk and have a walk around, take in the sights get the autograph books and pens and maybe see a bit of illuminations before bed around 9pm again!
We do have a holiday tradition, when we go to the CR for breakfast at CM, after we will take a walk down to grounds next to the pool and we will take a picture of our 2 girls sitting in the mickey ears, its nice to see how they've grown.
Tried to load a picture but its too large!

 

[Cee]

We usually arrive at the resort around 5-6:00 p.m. We get settled, head to the lounge for cocktails and apps, then pick up sundries from the resort shop and head back to the room. After a good night's sleep, we head to Epcot for our first full park day. However, if we arrive on Saturday, we take Sunday off and just relax at the pool, resort hop, or visit DTD. I can't wait to go back.

 

[MstrPTato]

Since our Honeymoon in May, 2011, we always ride Spaceship Earth First as Epcot was our first park, really the first ride once there, and it is a slow dark and kinda quiet ride. Have been doing this for our annual trip since then. (My first post!!) Going back May 3rd!

 

[loves to dive]

Depends on where I'm staying, I drive down from Athens, GA and usually get there somewhere around 2 or 3, I have an AP now but used to get Park Hoppers for length of stay. Since I drive down it doesn't matter if my room is ready, if I'm staying at an Epcot resort, I head over there. If not (which has only been twice) I usually head over to MK since it tends to stay open the latest. If at Epcot, I just walk around WS and grab something to eat, if at MK I grab a few rides. I'm doing something different this time, I'm going solo and doing a split stay, 2 nights at AK and 3 at BWV so I decided to book the tour that is only for AK guests that goes out on the savannah then dinner at one of the AK restaurants (can't remember which one) that also has wine pairings with it. Since that starts at 4:00 and I have to be at the podium by 3:45 I'll get up earlier than usual and get on the road earlier to guarantee I'll be there in time. The tour and dinner lasts 3 hours so I will most likely just hang around the lodge the rest of the evening and explore. MK is open until 11 the night I arrive so if I'm not too tired I may head over there, just playing it by ear.

 

[PeculiarMadmoiselle]

Our first day at the park is always MK. It is the one place that feels the most hey I'm at Disney! I always have to take a picture in front of the castle

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

We fly from the Northeast, always on the earliest flight possible--which is usually 6:30 or 7:00 am. That gives us enough time to catch the ME, check in at the resort, leave our carry-ons with luggage service, and head to MK. The plan is always for lunch at Magic Kingdom! We love the fact that we left home that morning and are now eating at Be Our Guest or Columbia Harbor House. We'll then hit some favorites in MK, with an early dinner at one of the park TS places or nearby resorts. Then usually back to the resort right after dinner to settle in and get to bed early! It's a very early morning around here to make that 6:30 am flight so by dinner time, we're exhausted!

 

[anniemae]

We never go to a park on the first day. We usually get in mid-late morning. We always check in and settle in at the resort. We do a light lunch at the resort then head to downtown disney. We shop and walk around then we ALWAYS do dinner at Wolfgang puck express. After, it's Ghiradellies! Always puts us in a great mood. I love our first day traditions!

 

[darkwing818]

We drive from Tennessee & usually arrive between 4 & 5 o'clock. Once we get settled, we almost always have dinner at Olivia's whether we are staying at OKW or a different resort.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

We usually fly from Buffalo (after driving from southern Ontario) in the morning. After arriving at resort (around 1ish), we let the girls swim at the pool and relax. Around 4:00pm we bus to the Boardwalk and have supper at ESPN, then walk around the Boardwalk shopping, having caricatures drawn/hair wraps and mini golf at Fantasia mini golf. After a game of mini golf we get ice cream at Beaches and Cream (to go window) and then enjoy the Boardwalk entertainment (jugglers, magicians). We can see the fireworks from the bridge outside of Epcot. Then we cab back to our resort to get a good night's sleep before our first full day (always MK first park).

 

[SimplyGoofy]

Our last two trips have been kicked off by visiting Epcot, experiencing a few attractions, and then having dinner at Via Napoli. Last time our reservation was early enough that we also watched Illuminations.

We're changing it up a bit on our next trip as we'll have one night at Disney before a few days at Universal, but our first park will still be Epcot and will include dinner at Via Napoli!

 

[SheriBerry]

We continue DH's tradition from when he was little of eating at Rainforest Cafe in DTD on our arrival day.

 

[silverhaze269]

Since our Honeymoon in May, 2011, we always ride Spaceship Earth First as Epcot was our first park, really the first ride once there, and it is a slow dark and kinda quiet ride. Have been doing this for our annual trip since then. (My first post!!) Going back May 3rd!

to the DIS!!!

We don't really have any arrival-day rituals because our flight times vary. Usually it's a pretty relaxed day, and if we can get to a park we'll go to the MK and do a few rides and just soak up the atmosphere. Taking the ME is something we always do though, so I guess that's our arrival-day ritual - taking the ME to our resort, relaxing and grabbing bite to eat, and then hitting the MK if there's time.