What do you do the day you arrive to WDW?

[Parker Clan]

On arrival this year we have a breakfast ADR at WCC, then we plan to hang by the pool all day, do our grocery shopping (we always drive down), then an ADR at 1900 Park Fare and Disney Springs! No parks for us, it's our break day in between Universal and Disney

 

[kadrachb]

We head to Disney Springs! Normally we go for a late lunch, and then head back to the resort to explore and such before getting ready for the next day, sometimes we swim (we just see how we feel). This year I arrived a lot earlier than my boyfriend did (we had to travel separately), so I hung out at the resort and then we went to Disney Springs for dinner.

I also like looking at World of Disney the first night so it gives me an idea of what I might like to buy over the week - and make small notes on my phone where I found something! That way if I didn't see it at WoD and it was our only day at AK or DHS, I knew I should buy it then!

 

[rg35]

We like to arrive in the morning to have a full day of settling in before touring the parks.

Generally, we unpack and head to the pool and have a QS lunch at the pool restaurant.

Since we are DVC members with a kitchen in the room, I next go to the grocery store and pick up what we need for breakfasts and snacks for the week. Last year we drove down, so we brought our non-perishables from home. This year I'm trying garden grocer for the first time so I don't have to deal with running to the supermarket.

After the pool, we then have a TS dinner at the resort or Disney Springs with some window shopping (we encourage the kids to not pick any souvenirs so early in case they see something later they want more). This year we're trying the Boathouse for dinner on arrival day.

 

[NeuroCindy]

I pick up my rental car, go to the store to pick up drinks and some snacks (and anything I realize I've forgotten at home), then go check in, explore the resort, and then go to an ADR, then just relax in the room so I get a good night's sleep.

 

[courtneybeth]

Coming from California--- it can be hit or miss as to when we arrive. Our flight usually lands us around 5pm and we now stay off property due to cost. So we can get to our resort (Marriott Grande Vista) around 6pm with traffic and check in. Then we head to the Publix down the street for groceries, have dinner, and relax for the evening. We usually unpack and relax - trying to get shifted to East Coast time and get ready for an early morning.

We never schedule ADRs on arrival day since you're never guaranteed with airplanes what time you'll get in. Without fail we have some delay every trip due to either the airline, rental car company, or something else.

 

[princessnikitaa]

We head to Disney Springs! Normally we go for a late lunch, and then head back to the resort to explore and such before getting ready for the next day, sometimes we swim (we just see how we feel). This year I arrived a lot earlier than my boyfriend did (we had to travel separately), so I hung out at the resort and then we went to Disney Springs for dinner.

I also like looking at World of Disney the first night so it gives me an idea of what I might like to buy over the week - and make small notes on my phone where I found something! That way if I didn't see it at WoD and it was our only day at AK or DHS, I knew I should buy it then!

I like the whole taking notes on what you'd buy. Never thought about that!

 

[MommaBerd]

We usually stay at an off-site condo (although our upcoming trip we're starting at Beach Club! ) and like @rg35, we usually get settled in and go buy groceries. Then we go to Disney Springs for our traditional meal at Earl of Sandwich! YUM!!!

 

[aebeauregard]

We usually just get checked in and situated at our resort. Eat a sit down meal somewhere (DS or our resort or a close by resort with simple transportation..this year Whispering Canyon from Fort Wilderness) and get to bed early so we can be ready for the parks in the morning. I never plan much the day we get there just incase we have travel issues. I don't want to be stressed about missing things I had planned on.

 

[theone74733]

We are from California so pretty much we don't arrive until 5:00 pm at the earliest due to flying across the country. After eating dinner, taking Disney Magical Express, and checking in, there isn't much to do as it is already early evening. We will hang at the resort, and get to bed early for RD at the parks most of the times.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

We check into our resort, eat lunch (we always take a really early flight), hang out at the resort, and spend time in Disney Springs, and eat dinner at T-Rex. We never do a park on arrival day, we're too tired for it.

 

[Starclassic]

We usually go to MK, but this year we're just going to relax. Maybe get dinner at Disney Springs.

 

[lustergirl]

Always an early flight to enjoy a full day at Disney. Start at MK then hop the monorail over to the poly to get a nice drink at the tambu lounge.

 

[tndisneyfan]

For us it depends. We used to arrive early and get to the parks for Rope Drop. Now I am getting so I can't drive all night and stay in the parks all day. Anymore we arrive around noonish. We check to see if our room is ready. If it is we will find our room and drop off our luggage, but not unpack. If not, when we just head to the park and stay for a while. We try not to stay too late so we can come back to the room and unpack.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

MK... We tried a different park once (I'm still hearing about it 6 years later). We had a late afternoon arrival and we said we were going to relax at the hotel...that lasted about 45 minutes and we ended up adding a day to our tickets. In laws have done Disney Springs on arrival day (the enjoyed it), we parted ways and met up with them the next morning.

 

[Aliceacc]

Our flight gets in at around noon.

Starting at 4:15, we have FPs for Buzz, Big Thunder and 7DMT, and an ADR for Chef MIckey's.

 

[nandm92574]

Ohana and fireworks by the pool at the poly!

 

[keepswimming76]

It depends on where we stay. If we are off property then we grocery shop and swim.

The times we have stayed on property our flight usually arrives by noon. We end up going to the MK for the afternoon and early evening. It gives us a nice chance to take in the park before hitting it hard core the next morning.

 

[LaceC]

Previously we've just hung around the resort, exploring and enjoying the pool. This year though we booked spa appointments and plan to head to DS after!

 

[ebradley23]

We have always been on a fight that landed around 9 am, so we checked in before going to a park (usually Epcot). This year we're doing it a little differently. We're coming in on a flight that arrives around 7 pm. We're going to check in, have a QS dinner then get some rest before our first park day.

 

[Pmlocke]

I'm from Michigan and my wife and I travel every February. You can imagine the weather I am leaving behind. We always take an early flight and usually arrive at the resort around noon. Fortunately our rooms are always available so we get into our bathing suits and head into the pool. After several hours of lounging in the beautiful Florida sunshine, something I haven't seen for months, we get dressed and go to the Magic Kingdom. We always have dinner at the Crystal Palace on our first night and the first thing I do when I get into the park is to stand in the middle of Main Street and soak in the image of the Castle. Being that we are in our 60's, the memories of our childhood, past trips to Disney, the realization that we are once again back causes the tears to well up in our eyes. Oh yes, we also get a Mickey Ice Cream Bar from the vendor in the front. The Castle, a Mickey Bar and Main Street. It doesn't get any better than that. Following dinner and the fireworks we head back to the hotel for a good rest.