What to do 1st day/night?

[1sttimedis]

What are some suggestions to do on your first day. I was planning on going to epcot for a few rides and to see illuminations. I'm not sure if we'll be to tired for a this. We are arriving mid afternoon.

 

[2MuchOhana]

After we get settled in, we like to walk around the resort and grab at least a quick bite to eat. A nice way to unwind after traveling.

In July we went to Downtown Disney rather than hitting the parks right away. We had fun looking at the shops and checked out all the places to eat there. We had a good time and it was pretty low key after a long days drive. After shopping we went back to the resort for a swim in the pool. Called it an early night and hit the parks the next morning after breakfast.

 

[prplcrzy]

It all depends on when you arrive. If you're getting Hopper passes and are arriving late, you may not want to waste a whole day for a couple of hours at Epcot.

I agree with pp, we usually get settled in and get something to eat. Depending on our mood, we may do out grocery shopping that night to get it over with.


Nancy

 

[TerriBelle]

Our last few trips we have planned it so that we don't go to any parks the arrival day. We have instead:

1) Eaten at Chef Mickey's. This was a lot of fun. We looked in the shops and rode the monorail around and checked out the other resorts

2) Eaten at Boma's. We did this to check the AKL out.

Other suggestions would be:

1) DTD
2) Hang out at the BW

 

[Jordan's MOM]

This year we are staying at the WL and plan to just soak up some of the sights and sounds there. We will arrive by early afternoon and plan a nice walk around the resort and if weather permits, a swim. We have a PS for dinner at the WCC at the WL for 6:00. After that we will take a monorail ride all around the resorts and epcot and perhaps catch the MK fireworks and the electric water parade from the WL. We will hit the bed early to be ready for the MK EE the next day.


Jordan's mom

 

[crisi]

It depends on a lot of things... How tired you will be. How old your kids are, how hungry you will be, what resort you are at, which tickets you have....

We just got back. We flew out at 7:30 and arrived at MCO at 11:30, by the time we debarked, got our baggage, met our town car, did our grocery stop, checked into the hotel (BWV) and dropped our bags it was 2:00. We'd had nothing since Starbucks scones and granola bars since the morning. The kids had a peanut butter sandwich in the room and we decided to go into Epcot to the Biergarten for lunch, then did a little of Future World, and turned in early. But my kids don't nap (ages 4 and 5) and hadn't discovered the pool (yet) and we had LOS passes - so we weren't burning a day. And the kids wanted to get on rides, so they were pretty hyped to head into a park.

I have decided not to push myself to do any evening events (Illuminations, Specto, Fantasmic) the night we arrive. Always disappointing because we are too tired - we seldom make it that late (with our non-napping kids) even when we didn't get up at 4:30 to catch a plane.

Some thoughts:

Late lunch or dinner at your resort, another resort, or a theme park. A lot of people want Chef Mickey's their first night. I myself wouldn't bother unless we were staying at a MK resort.

An afternoon by the pool.

Checking out your resort. Many of the resort areas have plenty of nooks and crannies to spend an afternoon in.

A nap.

An afternoon at the park. Some people can't wait and can go until midnight. Others only want to nap. You know your party better than we do.

 

[Sanchez]

Based on your message I am not sure where you are staying, what type of passes you have, or when you are leaving. That said, IF YOU CAN, I would try to arrive in Orlando the day before my scheduled check-in. Stay in an off-site hotel and go to Downtown Disney on your arrival date. I realize that most people are fighting time restraints and cannot take an extra day, but I would recommend reducing my Disney length of stay by one day and save money and aggravation.

 

[MiknMinMouse]

I'd vote for a fun character dinner. On our first day, we usually arrive midafternoon. We plan a character dinner for that day since we're not in a park and can really spend time and enjoy it and not have to leave the parks early to get there.

Chef Mickeys is our pick to set the Disney Mood.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We were on about the same schedule as you when we went in Aug, and here is what we did.

We were purchasing park-hoppers there (Armed Forces Salute), so we used the afternoon to eat lunch, go to the TTC to buy our tickets, settle in our room, go to the pool and take a nap (not necessarily in that order). We were staying at the Contemporary, so we had a PS for Chef Mickey's for dinner. After a day of travelling and a short nap, DDs (4.5 and 22 months) were more than ready for bed; so were mom and dad for that matter! So we went to bed early and hit the parks in the am!

Have fun!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We were on about the same schedule as you when we went in Aug, and here is what we did.

We were purchasing park-hoppers there (Armed Forces Salute), so we used the afternoon to eat lunch, go to the TTC to buy our tickets, settle in our room, go to the pool and take a nap (not necessarily in that order). We were staying at the Contemporary, so we had a PS for Chef Mickey's for dinner. After a day of travelling and a short nap, DDs (4.5 and 22 months) were more than ready for bed; so were mom and dad for that matter! So we went to bed early and hit the parks in the am!

Have fun!

 

[InstImpres]

We checked in and than headed to the GF for dinner with Cindi. It was a blast. We than walked out the back of the resort and enjoyed the ELP. It was spectacular!!

 

[frannn]

We went to show DD1 the castle, picked up a Pal Mickey and a birthday pin, and was going to get her ears (line was too long). We walked around a few minutes to give her a "taste", then went back to the room to decide on dinner. We ate at Baskervilles at the Grovnesner-great choice!

 

[tiggerzpalz]

We always go in the summer. We take a very early morning flight and get down there by around 11 am. We go to our hotel, usually Boardwalk, change into suits, get some lunch and hang by the pool for the day. We then head to the MK for dinner and the night. Seeing the castle and walking down Mainstreet is a tradition and it sets our vacations off right.

 

[DemoBri1]

Hmm...Arriving mid-afternoon I would look to just get settled in at the resort, maybe go down for a dip in the pool and plan for a nice dinner.

Another suggestion, depending on where you were staying, you might want to hop on the monorail and just take a nice leisurely ride around the MK and Epcot area. You can stop off and explore the monorail resorts or end up at Epcot for Illuminations that evening.

I wouldn't blow a day on a Hopper for just a few hours in a park. If you have an LOS or AP, then you might want to consider a short stay at a park.

There are so many ways to go. Whatever you decide, have a great time!!

Brian

 

[shelleyz]

Last week was our first trip. We arrived on Saturday the 18th around 1pm or so, had a PS for the ice scream social at the Garden Grill in Epcot for 3:10, we cancelled. Getting up at 4am to head to the airport with a DS4 and DS2 wore us all out. We just checked into our room, got a bite to eat at the food court, relaxed, went swimming, ordered pizza then went to bed early.

 

[southernwingz]

On our arrival day, we're going to get settled in, take our time, visit DTD, have dinner at RFC, and try to get to bed relatively early for an early start the next morning.

I am getting sooooo excited.