What to do first evening/first full day

[The Packards]

Hello!

We are arriving in Orlando around 6pm on Friday, 11/5. I'm wondering what would be a good way to spend our first evening at WDW. We'll be staying at CBR and it's the kids first trip to WDW, so I want to make it special. I was thinking dinner somewhere fun or maybe fireworks or a night show of some kind. Fireworks at MK would be perfect, but I'm not sure if they have them on Friday nights. Any suggestions?

Also, for our first full day, which is a Saturday, I'm trying to figure out if we'd be crazy to visit MK or if anyone could suggest a good park to go to on a Saturday and Sunday for that matter

And finally....any suggestions for a good character breakfast on Saturday? I'd love to start our first full day at WDW with a fun character breakfast.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. My husband and I went to WDW last year for our Honeymoon so this time it's all about the kids DD is 12 and DS is 10.

Thanks,
Stacy

 

[vettechick99]

Did you want to go into the parks on Friday night, or not use up a pass? If not, head over to BW, DTD or PI and see the sights. You could have dinner at RC, but the lines might be bad. Maybe HDDR or Ohanas for the kids. They are old enough to really enjoy Cirque, thats a great way to start a Disney vacation!!

If so, you have lots of options...maybe Rose and Crown with a seat to see Illuminations? Tony's for dinner and then Wishes for fireworks. Or do the Fantasmic dinner package.

Personally, I have to hit MK as my first park. So for Saturday, you could make an early PS for CP/CRT (even Chef Mickeys at the CR) for the character b-fast. Do some rides first thing, then leave when the crowds get bad. Or head over to Epcot and have breakfast at Cape May over at BC. You can park over there and then walk to the parks afterwards.

 

[maxie]

What we did on our first night was go to the GF for a character dinner at 1900 Park Fare than rode the MR around to the other hotels and looked around. We went back to the GF and sat on the beach to watch the Electrical Water Pagent. After we headed back to the hotel (ASMu) for a swim.

If you're not doing a park the day you arrive I would suggest a character dinner with a MR ride or perhaps a movie at AMC or mini-golf. Something to get your kids in the Disney mood.

You may be anxious to get to the parks on your first day so I wouldn't want to be doing a Character Bkft when the kids are chopping at the bit to get to the attractions.

I would avoid MK on the Saturday. Or do Epcot during the day and park hop to MK for fireworks in the evening.

 

[adriannabannana]

Sans kiddos, we had dinner at Puck's, then went to the Adventurer's club, which was a hoot. It was good to have a quiet first night, and we had spent the day at the pool (from when we had arrived), so we were good an relaxed.

I wouldn't do MKD on a Saturday, unless you can stand the crowds, lines, ect. You could split the day between parks, doing MKD in the evening and something a little less packed during the day.

 

[kilee]

I suggest starting your arrival night off w/ a character meal (possibly Chef Mickey's), then maybe shopping at DTD. This is one of my favorite activities to kick off our vacation.

Also, I really like starting my trips off w/ MK. However, if the MK is anticipated to be busy, then I forego that. Crowds are traditionally lighter in Nov. so I would think you may be able to pull MK on Saturday off. With the right planning and good use of FP that is.

 

[aimee11621]

First night visit the Monorail resorts great fun. Have a character dinner at either the poly/gf/cr. Don't forget the priority seating.

We love to ride over and visit the other hotels. You can view the fireworks from the CR (my personal favorite) . We love to resort hop.

Resort hoping is free and you can see all the gift shops and restaurants.

 

[dzneelvr]

We started our trip off with an evening PS at Ohanas in the Polynesian. It is a beautiful resort (look around and explore) and you can combine it with a monorail ride to or from the transportation center to get back to your CBR or over to MK.
If you have annual passes, scoot on over to the MK after Ohanas and get a spot on main street facing the castle (between Caseys and the ice cream shop at the far end is preferred) and enjoy WISHES.
Then leisurely stroll around MK as the crowds leave and decide what you want to do the next day. As the crowds leave you will see the architecture and little things around the park that you may miss in the crowds during the day.
You can't go wrong starting off with MK and one of the deluxe resorts--they are true examples of the Disney magic!

 

[disneylovr1]

We always went to the monorail resorts on our first night. We would ride around and explore the 3 resorts, and end up at the Poly. We would eat there, and then go out to the beach to watch the Water Pagent. I suspect that a lot of people have their own first night traditions.

 

[DizBelle]

If you don't want to burn a park admission, I really like the idea of going to one of the MK resorts for dinner (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, or Contemporary) and watching the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom afterwards. There are some good viewing spots from outside these hotels. I think the kids would find that an awesome start to a magical trip.

 

[newholiday]

first afternoon/night (Fri)
WL pool, Chef Mickey's dinner, fireworks, EWP

first day (Sat)
WL pool, dinner/lunch in VWL, MNSSHP

I know this is alot of downtime at the beginning but we wont be using a park hopper day before the party

 

[SoCalKDG]

Epcot is a great place to visit on the weekends, and your kids may enjoy it more if they aren't first spoiled by the MK. Go for monorail riding that first night, or a illuminations/wishes cruise.

 

[jenny_E]

I think Downtown disney is a great option for that first night for dinner/ see the Lego stuff, the giant Disney store.

We have also done the Christmas themed mini golf and it was fantastic...very disney themed and might get the kids excited about the Disney experience without going to the parks.

I think a lot of people like to go to MK the first day because it is the park you imagine when you think of Disney...the castle, main street, the classic rides. But walking into Epcot for the first time and seeing that giant sphere is awesome too...very Disney. I like the suggestion to go there first and head over to MK later in the day., or split the day between the two.

The first time the kids go into MK they will prob. get very excited and want to stay there even with the lines so going somewhere first might be easiest.

 

[DisLUV]

Wow Packard family, I just want to say enjoy your first Family vacation at disney. I know you will love having your family with you. My DW and I are bringing our liittle DD(2 1/2) this December so we will get to enjoy WDW WITH kids for a change.

Have a great time and what ever you do make it magical

 

[old lost boy]

DW and I will get there Saturdayt for our 30-thingsth trip. The first day of every trip is at MK. DW loves to get misty -eyed when she walks down Main Street. Saturday we will be at Boma for supper. It is out of the way enough that we go on a day when we aren't hitting the parks.

 

[maddy]

Just my 2 cents on this subject. Let the kids drive the activity. By that I mean if they get there and are awe struck by the pool, go for it and let them indulge. If it's something else like a CM, go for that. I have seen so many families at WDW tied to the activity instead of the spirit. I always remind my co-workers who go of that. The kids don't have all the pre-conceived ideas parents do and will find joy in the things that delight them.
This got long--didn't mean to be preachy.
Maddy