What do you do on your first day?

[disneymotts]

Just trying to put together a plan of action for our trip in October and I was wondering if everyone has a traditional way to spend their first day in WDW?

We'll head to Magic Kingdom, but just trying to figure out if we might do an early chef Mickey first as my children will be up super early because of the time difference.

I'd love to hear what everyone else does!

 

[bigskip]

Rope Drop at MK. See the welcome show, then head to the back of the park..

But no kids, so breakfast will be coffee from Starbucks.

 

[disneymotts]

We're hoping to factor in the welcome show. Exciting stuff!

 

[joolz1910]

We had breakfast at Crystal Palace and got some great photos of the castle etc before the crowds. It was a lovely way to start the holiday

 

[pickers1982]

We always head to animal kingdom for the morning before head to walmart in the afternoon. No real idea why but its what we always do!!!

 

[jessibelle]

We always start off with the Virgin Rep meeting for some great freebies and discount vouchers, then head from DTD to Hollywood Studios. I don't think I could handle MK on the first day! I need a day or two in hand before I'm ready to take it on!

 

[disneymotts]

We had breakfast at Crystal Palace and got some great photos of the castle etc before the crowds. It was a lovely way to start the holiday

I've been pondering this option. We did it last time and was lovely to get into the park before opening.

Hmmm, decisions to be made!

 

[disneymotts]

We always head to animal kingdom for the morning before head to walmart in the afternoon. No real idea why but its what we always do!!!

Trip to Walmart sounds like a good idea. We may order garden grocer to come to our room that afternoon. We won't have a car at this point so think ordering in will probably be easier.

 

[disneymotts]

We always start off with the Virgin Rep meeting for some great freebies and discount vouchers, then head from DTD to Hollywood Studios. I don't think I could handle MK on the first day! I need a day or two in hand before I'm ready to take it on!

I don't think our 3 & 6 year olds will let us leave magic kingdom! We'll have to do an adult trip so we can do our own thing a bit more!

 

[Bonesdodisney]

We've booked Crystal Palace for 8.10 so we can see the park and castle without it being to hectic. We went to HS first last time but really think its not a Disney holiday until been to MK and the castle

 

[Happy Tappy]

I've booked Cafe Mickey for 0745. What better way to start the trip then breakfast with the mouse himself?

Then we're heading to MK where we've got a lunch reservation at BOG. We'll probably stay in the parks until 3ish then head back to the hotel for a kip.

We'll head back out at 6ish to go for an offsite meal then back to MK for parades, wishes etc...

I'm excited just thinking about it.

 

[disneymotts]

I've booked Cafe Mickey for 0745. What better way to start the trip then breakfast with the mouse himself? Then we're heading to MK where we've got a lunch reservation at BOG. We'll probably stay in the parks until 3ish then head back to the hotel for a kip. We'll head back out at 6ish to go for an offsite meal then back to MK for parades, wishes etc... I'm excited just thinking about it.

Sounds perfect! I think that chef Mickey will win out for exactly the same reason - what better way to start than the man himself and then MK!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Another family who head for CP before opening and then head for Dumbo - always the first ride since the first trip. don't leave Fantasyland until we've done it all at least once

 

[minimog]

Got a loose plan-all ADR dependant- breakfast at ohana to meet the man himself and our favourite disney character-stitch! We'll take our stitch for some good interaction my dd adores characters and shes already told me who she wants to meet.

The im thinking mk. And BOG for a late lunch

 

[wilma-bride]

We don't have a first day tradition at all. We will do whatever fits with the day of the week, park hours, crowd levels, our travelling party and other factors.

 

[dixonsontour]

We've done chef mickeys at 7am then MK on the first day and would recommend it.

You will be up in time due to the time difference. Chef mickeys at opening isn't busy or noisy and the food is lovely and fresh.

We then do a loop on the monorail and then onto MK.

I booked the same for my friends first visit with their 8 and 5 yr olds and they thought it was a fab first day.

Other option is 8am at crystal palace - if park doesn't open until 9 you also get the benefit of a quiet main street for photos.

 

[thebadger]

We land almost on Columbus Day so we are hitting a water park on our first day, the AK on our second as we feel MK & HWS will be mobbed. Once we are used to the transportation system and settled in etc we are not hitting MK until day 4!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

We land almost on Columbus Day so we are hitting a water park on our first day, the AK on our second as we feel MK & HWS will be mobbed. Once we are used to the transportation system and settled in etc we are not hitting MK until day 4!!!

Nothing wrong with that plan at all! We do similar and only once has MK been our first day because it was the better park for that day crowd wise.

For some the choice of park is a tradition. For us, it's a strategy. Either way, you can't really go that wrong if it's based on what matters to you.

Arrival night is DTD for us so we can get vouchers, Will Call and/or gift cards and Photopass sorted out and have dinner so as not to waste time in the park on our first full day. So far there has been no reason to change that so we are planning the same for this year.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Arrival night is DTD for us so we can get vouchers, Will Call and/or gift cards and Photopass sorted out and have dinner so as not to waste time in the park on our first full day. So far there has been no reason to change that so we are planning the same for this year.

DH and I will be on our own for the first few days of this coming trip so we're going to start some "new" traditions and going to DTD on our arrival night is going to be one of them. We also need to sort out our PhotoPass + and I want to try out WPE as I hear their counter service Fried Chicken and Mash is divine.

As we are staying at the Yacht Club and HS has morning EMH I expect that we'll walk there for our first morning

 

[2Tiggies]

I want to try out WPE as I hear their counter service Fried Chicken and Mash is divine.

You've never eaten there? I think you'll really enjoy it. That is our standard first night dinner now. We always order the grilled salmon on mixed greens with fennel and baby potatoes (with a fruit pot for dessert so we can have that for a quick breakfast the next morning). I'm not a pasta fan but DD said the pasta is really good too.