What to do arrival day?

[CharissaOKC]

Hi everyone! We are first-timers (myself, DH and DS 2.5 yrs old) going in early May! We are staying at WL. Our current plan is as follows...

Sun- driving- arrive approx 1 or 2pm
Mon- MK
Tue- HS-am, resort time-pm
Wed- Epcot
Thurs-MK
Fri- AK-am. Hitting the road after to head home.

I have all of our ADRs made so I can't shuffle things too much but what would you do on our arrival day?

1. Dinner at a resort and pool time?
2. Spend the evening on MK?
3. Do HS to give us a open day on Tuesday?
4. Spend the evening in Epcot?

*Since our trip is not that long we have pretty much ruled out Disney Springs.

Thank you!

 

[pitpat]

what is your park ticket situation?

 

[CharissaOKC]

C

what is your park ticket situation?

Currently have 5 day tickets (no hopper) but thinking of adding a day.

 

[Pembo]

We always go to Disney Springs on arrival day. Then spend time at the resort.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

For me, it would depend on how long the drive is and how much energy you think you will have after driving. I think going to DHS is definitely something to consider to open up Tuesday as a full resort day. Certainly, taking the boat over to MK could be fun as well. If you would rather have some resort time, consider taking a boat over to Ft. W and perhaps having dinner at Trail's End, visit the horses at the stable and playing on the playground.

 

[PixieCarye]

We have dinner reservations at Ohana at 6:30 on arrival day. I thought we would take bus to MK from Pop (b/c buses do not go resort to resort, right?) and then use the Monorail. Any tips on trying to see the fireworks from Poly? Also, what time should we plan to leave for dinner? I was think 400 to give us plenty of time. Or should I uber to Contemporary?

 

[CharissaOKC]

For me, it would depend on how long the drive is and how much energy you think you will have after driving. I think going to DHS is definitely something to consider to open up Tuesday as a full resort day. Certainly, taking the boat over to MK could be fun as well. If you would rather have some resort time, consider taking a boat over to Ft. W and perhaps having dinner at Trail's End, visit the horses at the stable and playing on the playground.

It's about an 19 hour drive but we are stopping overnight. We will only have about 5-6 hrs on Sunday. The HS idea is intriguing to me. I feel like we would probably be ready to stretch our legs after the long drive. I currently have a reservation for Boma our first night so we could go check out AKL. There is so many options I don't know what to do

 

[Alesia]

We always go to a park, even after driving 15 hours straight through.

 

[eastendlights]

Another benefit to spending the night at DHS is that you will get to see either Fantasmic or the Star Wars fireworks, both which are only at night and are really spectacular. I would recommend Fantasmic if this is your first time.

 

[akayek31]

I always go to Epcot on arrival day. I have an AP so I go each day when I can.

 

[Caseheidi]

I know when we traveled with our little one as a toddler, she just needed to get out and move around. Especially after a long drive. I would suggest enjoying your resort that afternoon, swimming and playing at the playground. It can be exhausting for little ones to travel, and you won't know until you get there how they deal with that days travel (because each day is a different experiencenat that age). So you might play it by ear, and if he seems up for something els, try Disney Springs or the Summer/winter land mini golf course (great for a toddler to explore).

 

[caliope]

With a little one that age, I'd keep it simple after a long drive. I'd focus on resort time at the pool, then maybe boat to MK just to catch the monorail to ride around all the resorts (at 2.5, my DS thought the monorail was the highlight of the trip!). Then back to WL to get ready for and drive to your dinner ADR at Boma.

 

[bwbuddy5]

C


Currently have 5 day tickets (no hopper) but thinking of adding a day.

Keep in mind that adding a 6th day is much less cost than adding a 2nd or 3rd day. Our first day, we shoot for a dinner at Be our Guest, and try to get a few attractions "out of the way" at MK. That makes our full MK day a little less hectic.

 

[melanielll]

On our first day, we generally try to get fast passes for EPCOT. There isn't much that we care to do ride-wise there, so we get Frozen (the girls) and Soarin' (the guy) out of the way. We also get one for the characters - Fab 4 and decent lighting on the pics. If anyone wants to ride Test Track they do it single rider. That means my husband because we girls hate the remake and don't ride it anymore. After hanging out there for a while, we buy a bunch of caramel in Germany and head back to our room to watch the MK fireworks. We stay in The Contemporary facing the park. This makes for a lowish level of park stuff after the travel day. Kind of a taste of the parks, but not trying to do lots.

We then concentrate mornings on the MK - rope drop and fast passes. We head back over to EPCOT some afternoon(s).

 

[Klayfish]

Keep in mind that adding a 6th day is much less cost than adding a 2nd or 3rd day. Our first day, we shoot for a dinner at Be our Guest, and try to get a few attractions "out of the way" at MK. That makes our full MK day a little less hectic.

As food for thought, I'd agree with this. The cost to add a 6th day is rather small, if you can swing it, you might want to. But the answer as to what to do on arrival day is purely subjective. How long is your drive? How tired will 2.5 year old be? For us, our trips always start in MK, it's just tradition. We feel MK is the "heart" of WDW and we want to start there. But there's nothing wrong with starting in another park, or the resort for relaxing, or Disney Springs. From your comments about it being your first trip, and a relatively short one, my own personal opinion would be to add the 6th day, then move your entire schedule up one day. So you'll start in MK and then figure out what other park you want to do for the added 6th day. If it was my first ever trip, and only 6 total days, I'd want to maximize my time at the parks and would spend as little time at the hotel as possible. Not saying you should do park open to close every day, that's not realistic. But I would do the parks as much as I could. That's just my own $.02 and doesn't make it right or wrong.

 

[Harambe]

With a little one that age, I'd keep it simple after a long drive. I'd focus on resort time at the pool, then maybe boat to MK just to catch the monorail to ride around all the resorts (at 2.5, my DS thought the monorail was the highlight of the trip!). Then back to WL to get ready for and drive to your dinner ADR at Boma.

I'd agree with this. You will want a well rested group to start your park vacation on Monday morning at MK. I am so excited for you and your little one!!!

 

[rwdavis2]

Take the boat from WL to the Magic Kingdom. There's no reason not to go to a park.

 

[Pmlocke]

Here is some advice for those who have never made the trip or it has been a while since your last trip.. My wife and I go down to WDW every year and we are still experiancing and seeing new things every visit. We always stay for eight days, have a park hopper and yet there never seems to be enough time to do it all. Enjoy your experience. Slow down and just have fun. Don't worry about doing it all. You can't. Our first day is always spent at the Magic Kingdom. For us, that is the true Disney Experience. Seeing the Castle brings tears to the both of us. We don't do rides on the first day, just walk around and savor the fact that once again we are back. I should state that we are in our 60's and go without our children or grandchildren any longer.

 

[carlymcqueen]

We usually go to a resort dinner (Ohana, Garden Grove, Chef Mickey's, etc) and either spend the night at Disney Springs or the Boardwalk when we get there. It's not too intense of a night and we try to get to bed early so we can get up in time for the park opening

 

[biondagirl]

We drive, too. On our last trip, we arrived around 11 am,and, thankfully, our room was ready. We unpacked and were at Magic Kingdom by 1:00. It was awesome.

Since your trip is short, I'd probably do a park. Just to see everything you want to see. If you don't want to add the day, a pool day and trip to DS would be nice, too.