What do you do on arrival day??

[jann1033]

we've always done dtd on the first night, no matter what age our kids were. we drive so it's nice to unwind. we have a nice meal first. probably if i had little ones now i would go to CM..we'll probably go to wcc since we only have 1 little one ( 2) and i want to see if she freaks with the characters in the park first before possibly destroying fellow diners eardrums

 

[Camping Griswalds]

We usually relax if we have the time, swim, explore the resort. Not sure how old your kids are but POP has an arcade. Anyway, we always do Chef Mickeys the first night. You get to see the "big one" aka Mickey and it just starts the magic off right. Then we take a loop on the monorail. Ask to sit up front. Get to bed early and get a good night s sleep too!!

 

[Rigel Kent]

Cast: Myself, DH, 7 yr old DD, and 4 yr old DS. We are flying into MCO at 3:05 Monday afternoon, taking DME to Pop-Century.

DW, DD10, DD7 and I arrived at about that same time, and took
DME to All Star Movies. Then we simply goofed around at All Star Movies!
Swam in the Fantasia Pool, walked around and looked at Pongo etc.,
ate at the food court,......

It worked for us!

 

[shann106]

I always try to arrive early on the first day and leave late when we check out that way we get a full day in the parks on arrival day and departure day.
I think you should always do a very magical dinner the first night.
This year our first night will be at Hoop Dee Do Revue- you can't get any better than that !

 

[Ploni]

Character meal. Chef Mickey's. Whatever meal we arrive in time for. Then we get on the monorail, go to MK, and take a picture in front of the castle. Every damn time. Wouldn't do it any other way. (Sometimes we do an early-evening flight, don't get to where we're staying until 10-11 pm, then do breakfast -- that works well for us, and we get an extra day of work/school in.)

Yes, you'll be tired, but you'll also be excited. MY kids, at least, aren't about to take a nap first thing. (My youngest is 7, people with younger kids might have different experiences.) Yes, Chef Mickey's is a zoo, but we love it (me included!) -- it's really a party atmosphere, not just a meal where characters come around.

We're going next week, and leaving the house at 4:30 am, so we'll see how my theory works on that schedule!

 

[HDJA]

Thank you all for the many suggestions! Depending on the kids' energy levels that afternoon, we may swim and eat at the food court at POP, try for AR's at O'Hana's, or go to DTD for a meal at Cap'n Jacks. Regardless, it'll be lights out around their regular bedtime! We'll be at MK the next morning before it opens-can't wait! Thanks again, everyone!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

We have annual passes and stay on the Epcot side, we drop our luggage at our resort, head out and walk right into World Showcase through the International Gateway....that is how we start our trip.

 

[ValDisney]

we are arriving Tues late am
if rooms are ready.. unpack first
then DTD and chef Mickey's at 5.
they love chef mickeys
then pack to the room and get agood nights sleep bc.. we hit the parks the next day

 

[hockey mom]

We are arriving early so we plan on hitting DTD for some pin trading, check into resort, then resort hopping to check out all the decorations. Stopping for dinner at ESPN.

 

[faindrops27]

We arrive at 9:45am. off for the dash to get the minivan, and then off to WCC for lunch. Then we will go shopping, relax, at resort, nap swim whatever, then around 6pm. Heading over to DTD. This is my first time, doing so much in the day we arrive. But, there are so many of us 15 total. Trying to make this family gathering trip as magical, as any before.

 

[allaboutmm]

After checking in we always head to MK. No matter what day. We eat lunch at CP, Pooh and friends are a gentle way to ease into the characters. Can't wait to do it again on 12/7!!!

 

[joanchris]

My DD6 was asking today what we planned on doing on our arrival day (only 10 days!!) We have to get up at 4 am that day to get to the airport for our 8 am flight.........but we arrive early, before noon and want to do something fun that wont' be too much.......plan on checking in, room ready or not we'll go over to epcot, get a fp for Soarin', go on Spaceship Earth, lunch in Mexico, maybe Universe of Energy if there's time, over to Soarin' if we can, and then back to the hotel to get to our room and get ready for our ADR for O'hana at 530, then get to bed early!

 

[BankBunny]

DH and I usually get there mid-afternoon. We go to the room and unpack and rest for a little bit. Then we head to DTD to hang out and then go to the boardwalk to eat a Big River Grille and Brew Works. I have to do the parks in the order they opened and I can't start with part of the day at MK. I like to start my first full day there..usually starting w/breakfast at CP.

 

[AaronandJessica]

I run, walk, take a bus, monrail, or boat as fast As I can to the Magic Kingdom and i run to the pirates and then the haunted mansion. Then I can slow down and look around.

Jessica

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Cast: Myself, DH, 7 yr old DD, and 4 yr old DS. We are flying into MCO at 3:05 Monday afternoon, taking DME to Pop-Century. We'll probably hang out at the pool (weather permitting) and then get ready for dinner OR go to dinner first and then swim. I'd really like to eat somewhere special to kick off the week, but where do we go? We have the dining plan, by the way. My fear is that we'll break our necks trying to do something nice/fun for the kids and they'll be cranky because of all of the travelling. What to do? I want our first night to set the stage and hope it won't backfire! So, with those of you with young kids, what do you do on arrival day?

I think you have the right idea for the first night. Take it easy. I have three DDs (ages 6, 4, & 1) & we are usually very tired the day we arrive at WDW. The past two trips (& planned for our upcomming trip) we went to San Angel Inn in the Mexican pavilion. We ate, walked around Epcot, had a snack on the Boardwalk, and went to sleep early. Find a place the kids might enjoy for dinner and have fun!

 

[princesstommi]

Depending on park hours, we head to MK after checking in. Hang a left, go on Pirates and then go have dinner at Pecos Bill's. 22 more days!!!

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

This is how we spend every arrival day -

Check in at the Poly
Eat lunch at Kona Cafe then browse the shops in the GCH
Relax at the pool (having a few Pina Coladas & Lava Flows)
Dinner at Chef Mickey's
Watch EWP from the Poly dock
Head to bed all excited about the next morning-our first park day @ MK!

Debbie

 

[chilihead]

I'm glad I found this thread. We are getting to the hotel about 3pm and haven't decided exactly what we want to do. I currently have ADRs at WCC at 6:30. I was hoping to get to FW and do the campfire/movie, but I think dinner will take too long and we'll miss it. (I've tried to move the ADR, but they're all booked.)

My DH is thinking we should just go on to MK. In that case we wouldn't eat at WCC. The upside to this idea is that spectro is that night.

Part of me thinks we should check in, DH take the kids to the pool while I unpack. Then we can all explore WL together and do the Hidden Mickey Hunt. Dinner at WCC. Then back to the room for bath and bed.

Or we could do DTD--eat there, shop there, play there.

What do you all think? It's getting so close and I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the choices!

 

[PixiePop]

We always check in and then head to a park.

 

[YepsenCP]

Assuming I am too late to get any real fun out of the parks, I usually go to the TTC and head over near the Fairy Boat landing to see the best outside view of the MK... If it's later I'll stay to watch the Fireworks, awesome view if you've never watched from there.