What do you do the day you check in?

[Disney4Drew]

We will be arriving in the early afternoon, so we will be exploring the resort, rest a little (DS is 3) and go to DTD in the evening. We are going to rest up to hit MK at the opening the next day!

 

[frannn]

We like to arrive early afternoon, check in, drop off the bags, have lunch at the food court (AS Movies) or at MK, and walk through the castle, then see the parade. Depending on the season and the crowds, we've gone to dinner at Baskervilles (at the Grovesner resort), then come back to MGM in time for Fantasmic. Yup, all on the same day, and with kids!
Fast forward to this year- in Sept with free dining- we will drop the luggage at the resort & grab the bus to MK for lunch at Cosmic Rays, rides, parade, then over to MGM for the FDP at H&V. I am second guessing myself about H&V when we could have done another character meal or something a bit tastier....but DH likes the idea of the easy seating at Fantasmic. I don't know how crowded it will be on 9/8, but ok. I'm going to Disney World!

 

[gurleym]

For us depends on when we get to the resort. If it is early we go to magic kingdom for a few hours. If it is late afternoon we usually do to DTD to shop and get a bite to eat at Planet Hollywood. We don't like to waste one of our park hopper days for only a few hours.

 

[Angela&Kayla]

Although this is our first trip to Disney, this is what we 'plan' to do our first day...

Arrive at 4:05 in Orlando
Arrive at hotel /check in by 6 pm
Hop on a bus to Epcot from 7 - 9pm
Check out Illuminations at 9 pm

Right now I have Princess Storybook Dining at Norway reserved for 8:10 pm, but I'm not sure if that is a good move or not. Not only am I a little worried about the menu, but I also don't know if we will really feel like wasting so much park time the first day on a ts.

 

[DreaminDisney]

i go to the room, pull out my wallet, lay all my money out on the bed and say goodby to it.

Are you my husband?? LOL

We arrive early so we go to MK first thing

 

[MomofCKJ]

Our flight gets in at 3pm for our December trip and we plan to have Sunray take us to Pop, check in, then head over to Chef Mickey's for a 6:20 ADR. Then home to bed and up early for rope drop at MK the next morning!

Allyson

 

[kvogel11202]

In the days of the Length of Stay pass those of us who drove to Disney would arrive the night before, therefore we would spend the first day at MK, have lunch at CRT, then meet everyone who flew at the resort. Now the plan is to check into resort on Saturday (offsite Friday night), play a round of mini-golf, then hang out at Stormalong Bay until the rest of the group arrives about 5:30, and then it's off to Dinner at WCC for dinner!

 

[KidAtHeart1]

We usually arrive around mid-afternoon. We check into the resort and check the place out and then get a few groceries and take a swim in the pool. At night we go to Down Town Disney to shop and eat at one of the restaurants.

 

[pezheadmeg]

A morning flight and it's check-in then off to EPCOT for the thrills and dinner, they're the latest open in value season.

If I'm not on a morning flight, I'll be on a flight that won't get in before 7 or 8 pm, it's wandering MCO's lobby, Magical Express, and Dinner at the Resort after buying the mug.

 

[cabanafrau]

We like to arrive early afternoon, check in, drop off the bags, have lunch at the food court (AS Movies) or at MK, and walk through the castle, then see the parade. Depending on the season and the crowds, we've gone to dinner at Baskervilles (at the Grovesner resort), then come back to MGM in time for Fantasmic. Yup, all on the same day, and with kids!
Fast forward to this year- in Sept with free dining- we will drop the luggage at the resort & grab the bus to MK for lunch at Cosmic Rays, rides, parade, then over to MGM for the FDP at H&V. I am second guessing myself about H&V when we could have done another character meal or something a bit tastier....but DH likes the idea of the easy seating at Fantasmic. I don't know how crowded it will be on 9/8, but ok. I'm going to Disney World!

We almost did H&V, then better sense prevailed & we switched to a restaurant we actually wanted to eat at & did the later showing of Fantasmic. If there are 2 shows any nights you will be there, seriously consider doing the second -- no waiting, no problem w/ sitting anywhere you want & while everyone else in the park is in the 1st show, you can take your pick of the other attractions!

 

[Evil Queen]

It varies for us. We drive so depending on what time we arrive, check-in, if room is ready, etc.

We have headed straight to MK before, we have gone to DTD and DQ, we have hung out at resort.

This year we will check in. Regardless if room is ready or not, if weather is on our side, we will play a round or two of mini golf. Get ready for our ADR dinners, eat and sleep. This way we are ready and rested the next day for a park.

 

[vellamint]

This will be the second time that we check into our hotel....drop the bags...and go right back out to DTD and Disneyquest.

Hey the kids love it there and I always feel good that "it is out of the way" and they wont be constantly asking about when we are going.....

Sorry, DQ tends to give me a headache after the 3rd hour!! LOL....

But as long as the kids have fun...that is what it is all about - right - right!!

Oh and then we have a sit-down meal....this year it will be Chef Mickeys.

 

[lustergirl]

Yeah, looks like we will be there for the first couple days of your trip! (9/12-21st for us). I'm not sure of our building yet. I'm starting to get nervous! Haha. But we booked through AAA, so hopefully our stuff will be in soon! Hopefully I'll have our windows all decorated! I'm excited to possibly meet/recognize people from the DIS! I'll look for you sipping your daiquiri and then maybe join in myself!

That sounds like a plan- see you there!!!!!!!!

 

[disneyfan719]

I have a 9:30 am flight out of Philadelphia so I am hoping to be in the Magic Kingdom with my siblings by 1:00. Midafternoon, I'll head back to the resort and meet up with the rest of my family. As soon as they get settled, we'll be going back to the Magic Kingdom with my niece (1yo) and nephew (9yo) for their first time ever! Can't wait!!!

 

[Lila95]

On our last trip we arrived in Orlando close to check in time, so we found our room, hit the pool at POFQ and then took the boat to DTD for a nice dinner and some serious shopping. This year, we are staying 3 nights in Orlando before we check in at WDW. We plan to check out of Caribe Royale, maybe hit Sea World one more time so DD can feed the dolphins again, and then head to POFQ. We will probably go straight to MK and then have dinner reservations at LTT.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

depending on what time of day it is when we get there(its a 12-13 hrs drive) we check out the resort or head to DTD and visit there for a bit.

 

[calgarygary]

This year we will be arriving at AKL mid afternoon. We will start by exploring the resort for an hour or so, have dinner at Boma's and then go to MK to watch Spectromagic and Wishes. That should put as in a great mood for a full day at the park the next day.

 

[resol37]

Living in North Carolina, we always drive down - it's about a 10 hour drive. Since we usually arrive in late afternoon/early evening, we don't do a park the first day. Check in and unpack. Go over the bus schedule, head to DTD for dinner (and discussion of the next day). Get to bed early.

 

[YorkieMom]

Arrive afternoon, set up the RV, unload the golf cart, ride the cart to Crokett's Tavern, sit on the porch on a rocking chair and have an adult beverage !!!!!

 

[siouxi31]

Before the MYW tickets, we would only purchase hoppers for our full days. Arrival day was usually only 1/2 day so we would hop on the monorail and visit the different resorts, having lunch, a drink, shop, and then head back to our resort for a swim.

Now that we have MYW tickets that make it worth it to buy more days, we have the world open to us and we can do whatever it is we feel driven to do. It could be heading into EPCOT or over to MGM or taking a swim in SAB.