What do you do on arrival day?

[VaGal]

After checking into the resort and unpacking, I'd have to say if you feel up to it Hit the Parks!! Too tired then Downtown Disney would be a good suggestion!!

 

[ColoradoDis]

We've had APs the last few visits - so we head straight to a park - can't put off the excitement any longer!!!

 

[aliwolly]

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions so far!!

We'll have length of stay passes, so I think we'll try and get into a park that day. It is Labor Day that we're arriving, so they probably will be more crowded than a usual Monday in September, but I think we can tough it out

I think that I'll want to go see the castle right away... so maybe we'll go hang out in the MK and I'll try and get a PS for us at a restaurant there...

... but then I do just love the World Showcase... so maybe we'll do Epcot and dine in one of the countries...

But I think we'll definitely try and get to a park because, if we've got length of stay passes (and we're paying a lot for them!) then we might as well use 'em!

Ali

 

[Mickey76]

If my room is ready I like to go there first and check it out. I then like to go to Magic Kingdom. To me, my vacation to WDW isn't official until I'm looking down Main Street, USA at Cinderella's Castle.


Mickey76

 

[Mermaid02]

We got to the hotel around 3:00 or so and by the time we got all settled and the kids had a quick swim (this is according to my 7 year old, I don't remember them swimming) had dinner at AsMu and then we headed to Epcot. We rode Spaceship Earth first thing and then explored the park. We went to Mexico and had a margarita and then watched Illuminations (my dh fell asleep on the bench beside the Viking Ship in Norway) My kids were thrilled with all the little lizards they spotted.... the next day we went to The Magic Kingdom.

I can't wait to go again. There are lots of things I would do differently now that we kind of "know" the layout of the parks and how the transportation works etc.

 

[iloveeeyore]

"On your arrival day, Downtown Disney is a great place to hang out if you want to see what's going on. It's a GREAT place for trading and buying pins, if you're a pin guy like me. We especially love the fountain near International Drive if it's really hot, but don't get caught by it. Make sure you don't end up with a wet backside. And that's all I want to say, really." Quote from Emma, my DD10.

 

[trracers]

Shhhhh, don't tell anyone....

I was IN the MK on Labor Day last year and I think EVERYONE must have thought that it would be packed because there were NOT very many people there at all

 

[arizonacolbys]

When we have AP's we love to head straight to the MK! This Sept our flight lands at 11:24 am, we will then check in at POP & hop aboard the bus to the MK! We have a PS for dinner at the Crystal Palace to start of our trip right. We will probably end up strolling around the countries of Epcot in the evening after dinner at the MK. We probably won't be overly concerned with doing a lot of rides that day, but will just be thrilled to be at WDW.

When we didn't used to get AP's we would go for an afternoon swim at the resort, shower up & head out to Downtown Disney. It used to be our tradition to check out the shops at DTD & then eat at the Rainforest Cafe.

Have Fun!

 

[kdibattista]

Our plan is always the same:

* Arrive at MCO around 8:30
* supermarket run
* check into the hotel by 10:00
* unwind til about 1:00
* head to EPCOT
* dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse
* back to EPCOT for Illuminations

We really only do a 1/2 day at EPCOT (sometimes will go back one evening to WS) so it works out great for us!!!

 

[The Sweetness]

There's no question about it. After an early AM drive (about 4 hours) we drop our stuff at the hotel desk and haul our cookies to a park ASAP. We are so anxious to get there, we dont even eat lunch first. I might suggest EPCOT, as this could easily take 1 1/2 days to see it all, esp if youre interested in all of the shops at world showcase

 

[TerryU.]

The last time we went to WDW we hit up DTD and then took the monorail over to the MK for fireworks on arrival day. This year, since we are going in Oct, we are going to hit up the Food and Wine Festival for lunch (our arrival time is in the morning). We should be at the resort by 11:30AM and then later head over to MK for fireworks.