What are your first day traditions?

[nkereina]

We try to fly in mid-day usually, so we will check into our room and get settled/unpacked once we arrive. We then will take a bus to DTD have dinner at WPE followed by a sundae at Ghiradelli. Spending our first night at DTD is relaxing and eases us into the trip, so we're ready for our first park the next day. We also get a chance to browse all the new merchandise, so we don't have to do that later while in the parks.

 

[MainMom]

Arrival day we go to Epcot.

First full day we go to MK no matter what the crowd calendars say. When it is just my family traveling we head to Fantasyland and ride Dumbo first. This summer we are traveling in a group of 11 so will be doing Tomorrowland first on an EMH day.

 

[wolf29]

MK is always first. The 3 of us ride together for our first ride (getting a little tight as the boys grow) and we always have the photo as the first in our album. Heading to the Park, we each pick two colors for the first monorail sighting, with the winner picking the second ride. Nothing like the excitement of driving under the WDW sign on the highway and of spotting the Castle on the monorail ride to MK.

 

[bdcp]

Usually arrive around noon since we normally take the Auto Train. We check in at SOG, leave our car there and take WDW transportation somewhere for lunch. This last trip in 2013, it was to Wilderness Lodge to check it out and grab lunch in the counter service place. We then have always have dinner at Ohana before heading back to SOG to rest up before we start our first day in the parks. First full day, we vary which park based on EMH, crowds, etc.

 

[Turk February]

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

This is how we are. I won't do anything at WDW until we go to MK. That's always the first stop.

 

[AndiB83]

We're staying at Boardwalk and we probably won't get to our resort until around 7 or 8 pm. Any suggestions? Good places to watch epcot fireworks near the boardwalk? Play some boardwalk games and have a margarita? Anyone with experience in flying with a 6 yo? Do you think he'll be amped up and ready to run around or burned out from the anticipation and traveling?

 

[lustergirl]

We used to spend our first day relaxing or going to DTD. Next trip I am arriving early so my first day will be at MK.

 

[Floridaglen]

It's too late when we arrive from the UK to do much other than pick up the rental car, do a quick shop in Publix (just enough for tea that evening and breakfast the next morning), head for the villa and then bed!! However, we do have a ritual for our first full day. After a leisurely morning at the villa we drive to The Grand Floridian Hotel where we have lunch at The Grand Floridian Cafe. I always have the chicken noodle soup followed by another appetiser (either crab cakes or scallops), then one of their tiny desserts. After lunch we walk to the ticket and transportation centre via The Polynesian Hotel and hop on the monorail for a ride to Epcot and back. We like this monorail ride as it takes you into the park before it reaches the station. After the ride back to the ticket and transportation centre we board the ferry boat to Magic Kingdom and then the small boat from MK back to The Grand Floridian. If it's a nice day we lie on the beach for a while before heading back to the villa via Publix, where this time we do a large shop. Then it's back for tea and an early night (9pm) as we are still jet lagged. We have had this ritual for so many years now it would seem strange to do anything different!

 

[cynditech]

The last three trips we always flew in early from Michigan, literally dropped whatever necessary at the hotel (rooms have never been ready that early) and we head to MK. Usually eat at Casey's or CHH and hit HM and Splash. This year we're not doing a park on the first day, so I have no idea what to do? We'll have a group of 13 and will be landing at MCO around 11am. I'm thinking hang at the pool and then maybe Ohana for dinner and watch fireworks on the beach? Or maybe DTD? Decisions, decisions! I love reading everyone's traditions

 

[bsb]

We always check in and head straight to Magic Kingdom. We always take pictures in front of the castle and head to our first ride, "its a small world". We get a turkey leg and watch the parade and then end the night with wishes.

 

[jmkjr72]

Well until the trip in may the tradition had been going to dtd having dinner at the rainforest cafe


but this trip in may will be diffrent as its the Dgf first trip and she wanted to do the most disney thing she could do
she wanted to go to the mk and see the castle so I decided to book crt for arrival night

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

We used to always go to the Magic Kingdom first. We no longer do that. Now we check in, unpack whatever we brought with us if our room is ready and then we head to whichever park we plan to spend the day at for lunch! What we always do is eat lunch at the same place the first day.

Magic Kingdom - Tortuga if it is open or Cosmic Ray's
EPCOT - Sunshine Seasons
Disney Studios - Toy Story Pizza Planet
(we never go to Animal Kingdom on the first day)

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

We used to always go to the Magic Kingdom first. We no longer do that. Now we check in, unpack whatever we brought with us if our room is ready and then we head to whichever park we plan to spend the day at for lunch! What we always do is eat lunch at the same place the first day.

Magic Kingdom - Tortuga if it is open or Cosmic Ray's
EPCOT - Sunshine Seasons
Disney Studios - Toy Story Pizza Planet
(we never go to Animal Kingdom on the first day)

Why Tortuga? Just curious because it's never open when we go so never had eaten there. I have never heard anyone make it any type of priority.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

If we have less than 10 hours to spend in the MK (or no spare entry ticket), will take transportation to MK, then monorail to Polynesian to head to the beach and watch the fireworks and electric water pageant (w/ a Dole Whip in hand, of course). That's if the family will put up with me...otherwise, will just load up on Disney pamphlets and rest at the pool before getting a good night's sleep to hit MK early the next morning.

 

[experiment625]

We're international travellers whose flights tend to arrive in the early-mid evening. When we travel with larger groups, this tends to mean that we spend the first night at the resort, which definitely does have its benefits. This year, though, it's just DP and I and she's spoiling me-we have FP+ for Wishes and 7DMF for our first night, so I don't have to wait impatiently through the first night to see my beloved MK.

 

[mindeola]

We arrive in the afternoon and always hot up a character meal at a resort. We prefer Chef Mickey's. That really gets us excited!

 

[GATORinaZ28]

Our first day tradition is always dinner at Rose & Crown.

 

[texasroni75]

Our tradition has been

- check in
- leave bags in room or with bell services
- head to designated park (the one with longest hours that day)
- eat, drink and be merry until park closing
- go to room to sleep

I have to say though that we decided for our next trip we would do resort day on first and last days of the trip. We will still do our usual 7 days in the parks, but we added 2 extra days to the reservation for resort time. We'll see how that goes.

 

[twinboyz98]

Always check-in.. 99% of the time our room is ready and we get there around 11am. Head to DTD to grab a bite to eat and get out TIW card. Head back to the resort for some pool time and relax the rest of the day. The next day is always a park! Gotta rest up! lol

 

[Chuckers]

I always end up arriving before my room is ready, usually around 9am. So, I drop off my bags at the bell stand and head over to Animal Kingdom. It's a park I can do everything I want by 1 pm, at which time my room is usually ready. I check in and then nap for about an hour. I then head over to Epcot and play around in there until dinner time.. and my first dinner at the World is always at Via Napoli. After dinner, I leave Epcot and monorail over to MK and spend the rest of the evening in there.