What do you do the day you check in?

[FloridaSam]

Hi

After flying in from the UK and getting used to the time difference we usually get settled into our room, grab something to eat from the food court and just explore the resort.

It takes us a few days to get used to the time distance but this time we're coming out for 21 days so we've got plenty of time!!!!

Sam

 

[imatoad]

Check in, grab the tix and GOOOOOO!

 

[Bobb G]

We usually drive from Michigan. ______________________
Tammy

Tammy, we're driving from the Detorit area to WDW for the first time in July...as we typically fly. How long does it take you to drive from MI to WDW? What area are you coming from?

 

[Unofficial627]

Usually, after getting off of the AutoTrain, we check in (if the room is ready) then we go and grab groceries. After getting settled and unpacked, it's a sort of unspoken tradition for us to go to the California Grill for dinner, then sometimes, we go to the MK afterwords, depending on how everyone has "adapted" to all of the traveling. Good times...

 

[slo]

When we check in we first go to our room and just lay down on the beds for a couple minutes to soak it all in "We are finally here - yeah ".

Then we unpack a couple of things and then off we go to Downtown Disney. We love to go shopping on our first night. We are generally there from 4pm to about 11pm. By the time we return to the hotel, we are just exhausted - but in a good way. I absolutly love our first day!!

 

[shatzjsl]

We will probably make it to the resort around noon but since we are taking a 6:40 a.m. flight we will probably get some lunch and take a nap if needed and then head to whichever park is EMH. We took the same flight last year and went straight to a park. With the heat and being tired we were whooped by 6:00 and went back to the resort.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

We're going to do things differently on our next trip since it's the first time being a DVC member. We're taking the earliest flight out, checking into BWV's then walking to Cape May for a late breakfast. Afterwards we'll probably head to the international gateway to activate our AP's. Depending on how everyone feels we'll either take a casual stroll around the world showcase, swim at Luna Park or check out the rest of the Boardwalk. We'll get to bed early and be ready to go early the next day!!

 

[jenelope]

I have an annual pass, so as soon as I get there, I check in, check my bags and hop on the first bus to the Magic Kingdom. In fact, I typically take the earliest flight possible just so I can get as much park time as possible. A previous poster said that their kids are too excited to be there to relax. Yeah, that'd be me. A 34 year old, over-excited, little kid.

This year I'm going with friends and flying down in the evening. I'm having a really hard time wrapping my mind around the concept.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Going to downtown disney, maybe rent a mouse boat, gets us "in the mood"

Great Idea!

 

[jl3614]

We usually arrive early afternoon, check in, unpack, check out the resort, maybe visit the pool, go on a grocery shopping trip, eat dinner, then go to bed early so we are ready for a full day at the park starting in the morning.

We may change that routine this trip. Since 6 day MYW tickets are only about $2 more than the 5 day ticket we normally get - we may buy the 6 day ticket and visit some park the afternoon/evening we arrive.

 

[kathyseb]

We are from Indiana, so we take two days to drive down. When we get there, we check in, unpack, change clothes and head over to EPCOT to catch Off Kilter and then Illuminations.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I usually try and get the first flight out of MN to Orlando and it seems I can be to my hotel by 12:30 check-in, go to my room if it is ready, change if need be, and then go to a park. Usually it was Epcot, but now I go to AK (it is very empty in the afternoon) then head over to MGM for dinner at Brown Derby and Fantasmic!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We usually grab a bite to eat and get settled...otherwise, we always go to MK first...its a tradition.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

We usually go to Downtown Disney on our first day. Explore the resort and ready to start fresh the first thing the next morning.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

always quiet,

Since I don't get to the airport in Orlando until 11 am the day I arrive and will still need to pick up my AP, by the time I get to CBR it will be atleast 1 pm. I figure that I would just check on the resort and use it as a day to decided where to go Sunday. It still gives me 8 full days at the parks (2 days at each).

 

[catsrule]

We go over to epcot, we have ap's. (how's Thumper?)

 

[Leota]

I have an annual pass, so as soon as I get there, I check in, check my bags and hop on the first bus to the Magic Kingdom. In fact, I typically take the earliest flight possible just so I can get as much park time as possible. A previous poster said that their kids are too excited to be there to relax. Yeah, that'd be me. A 34 year old, over-excited, little kid.

That's me too. Last Jan & this April, we're leaving at night after my DS gets out of school. We don't arrive at MCO til 10:00 pm. Even with that, PI beckons.....
The only reason we're taking a night flight is so we don't miss a second of Park time the next day....

 

[tomerin]

since my wife doesnt fly she and DS#1 take the train into orlando and then of course of to the hotel. myself and DS#2 fly and usually get in many hours earlier. so i check us all in and if the room isnt ready then we just go off to the park , usually MGM to do ToT and RnR. we used to get the UPH's so burning a day was not an issue. when others arrive either we meet them back at the hotel or they meet us at the park and we just enjoy WDW

 

[TN Traveler]

Our first family trip to Disney was May/June 2004. Since it's a 14 hr drive from Nashville to Orlando, we decided to leave out at 3 am and drive the full distance and get a "cheap" hotel somewhere in Orlando for the first night and then have our first "real" day in Disney the next day. We did that but were so exhausted from a terrible night's sleep in this "cheap" hotel w/o A/C, we were cranky and moving slow. Didn't get to POR until 10 or so. As expected our room wasn't ready so we went on to MK. Amazing what a burst of energy we all rec'd after pulling into the parking lot and seeing that beautiful resort!! Worked out ok but if I were to do it again, I'd go ahead and check in the day of arrival, find our room, unpack, veg for a min, explore the resort, have a good dinner and try to catch the fireworks. Then we could go to bed for a good night's sleep in a comfortable bed, w/AIR and be up and running the next morning. Live and learn.........Can't wait to go back altho it'll be several years. The company DH works for is slowly closing down and moving the facility to Mexico.
Hoping to go back w/in next 5 yrs before DD13 graduates from high school.
Karen

 

[keagansmom]

If we arrive early enough, my DS is usually ready to burn some energy- so we hit a park. If it's too late to go to the parks, we'll hit the pool. It is usually a 4-5 hour plane ride for us and although my son is a wonderful traveler (sp?), he usually needs to walk or do something active by the time we get to the hotel. I don't blame him, I kinda' feel that way myself. Plus, there's just something to that immediate gratification thing if we hit the park right away!