What to do on first day, not in parks?

[PadmeNaberie]

We are going in December and will not be arriving till about midday and plan to go to the Spirit of Aloha show at 8:15.

What are your favorite things to do when you aren't in the parks? We don't want to stray too far away from the Polynesian (we are staying at Fort Wilderness so not too far away)

Just trying to come up with some new ideas on what to do in that downtime

-Emily

 

[MightyGitis]

We are going in December and will not be arriving till about midday and plan to go to the Spirit of Aloha show at 8:15. What are your favorite things to do when you aren't in the parks? We don't want to stray too far away from the Polynesian (we are staying at Fort Wilderness so not too far away) Just trying to come up with some new ideas on what to do in that downtime -Emily

It requires wandering a bit far away but we traditionally go to Downtown Disney on our arrival day if we aren't going into the parks (we have APs this trip so for the first time I'm going to a park arrival day).

We like going to DTD because we sometimes buy things to use during the trip. Shirts. Bags. Lanyards. When I was growing up it was a stuffed animal. We would pick our "friend" for the trip.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We usually go to a park but if not either the resort pool/movie by the pool in the evening or DTD.

 

[Kristina4109]

If it's warm enough, hit the pool at Fort Wilderness. See if they're showing a movie there. I don't know what time they'll have Chip and Dale's campfire, but that could be fun!

 

[Kelly014]

We will be enjoying the resort pool, doing the movie under the stars thingy and mini golfing (free vouchers came with our luggage tags).

 

[RealBlast3]

On my arrival day, I don't usually go to the parks because I like my first day to be in Magic Kingdom at rope drop, so what I do instead is have an incredible several hours long dinner at Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian. To me, that's starting off my vacation with a bang and the ultimate in pampering. I do the many courses they offer with the wine pairing, and it's sensational.

 

[PadmeNaberie]

We will be enjoying the resort pool, doing the movie under the stars thingy and mini golfing (free vouchers came with our luggage tags).

Is the mini-golf at FW?

Also, is the pool heated? Since we will be there in December I don't remember it being heated but that was a few years ago!

 

[Snoozan]

Take the resort monorail around the MK resorts to check out the Christmas decorations - the GF has the huge gingerbread house in the lobby, as well as all the other decorations at all the resorts. Rent the water sprites from the Poly around the lake in front of the MK. Take the monorail from MK over to Epcot and get an overhead view of that park. Head over to Wilderness Lodge and check out that resort. Hang out at the Poly beach in a hammock.