What to do on our 1st day?

[Santa]

We will be arriving at MCO about 9:30am on a saturday. I am hoping to get to CSR by 11am. In the past we have always gotten to our resort on a friday night so we didn't have many choices. We would like to take advantage of the Ultimate Park Hopper that comes with the FTP & I am not sure what to do our first day.

What do you do on your first day?

 

[Magic2000]

We usually drive to Disney, & don't arrive til about 3:00 PM; so we usually settle in at the hotel, maybe take in a swim, then spend the evening at the Boardwalk.

However, when we fly in, our flight usually arrives around 9:30 AM also, and after checking in at the hotel, we usually go to Magic Kingdom. MK is usually always our first park!

But, since you are arriving on a Saturday, and by the time you would get to a park it would be almost Noon, I would suggest any other park but Magic Kingdom. It can get a little busy on Saturdays. Maybe you could head over to Epcot and have lunch. Then, if your traveling with kids, let them get started on their masks.

Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[kilee]

If you have the UPH, then the "World" is yours without worrying about wasting a day on a ticket. I really am a big fan of starting every trip off w/ MK. It kind of sets the mood.

I think I agree though that the crowds may be a little rough by the time you'd get there on a Saturday. So I'd possibly consider doing 1/2 of Epcot. By the time you get there a lot of people may be moved onto World Showcase.

 

[Rikku]

We'll be driving into Orlando and should make it there by around seven or eight in the evening on a Saturday...our reservations at POR do not begin until the next day so we'll find a motel to crash in for the night and maybe cruise over to DTD for dinner and just to get into the "mood" of things.

We'll arrive for check at POR around seven in the morning...get settled into our room...then depending on the temperment of our little ones (DD, 3, and new baby on the way!) we'll either crash for a while and hit the pool or head for MK.

From there on in it's ten days of magic...plenty of time for the six of us (myself, DW, DD 2, DD 12, and the new one) to have a relaxing trip!

 

[Harambe]

I hope everyone realizes that check in is 3 or 4pm, depending on your resort! Your rooms may be ready, but if not, you will be able to check your bags and head out to the parks.

If you won't be going out til afternoon - go to MGM! Everyone else will be at MK or heading to Epcot for their fireworks shows - and you can see Fantasmic! It is a wonderful start to a WDW vacation!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

DW and I have been having this discussion. We hope to land at MCO late the night before reservation at ASMo. Our tentative plan includes stopping to pick up some things at a grocery store, hopefully a little thrifty souvenir shopping at a Character Outlet store, maybe DTD. We'd like to check in early and use the pool until our room is ready. We'll make what will undoubtedly be a futile effort to rest in our room before heading over to MNSSHP!

 

[Rikku]

Yeah I completely forgot about not being able to actually get into our room until three. I guess we'll neeed to alter our plan of attack...and we better hurry because we only have...A MILLION DAYS LEFT!!!

Man October 2004 can't arrive soon enough!

 

[Santa]

MK is way too crowded on a saturday so there is no way I am going there. I usually save MK for during the week since it's less crowded. We do have the UPH for this trip but it works out to less than $200 for the 2 of us for the entire seven days.

I am leaning toward 1/2 Epcot or just hanging out at the CSR & familiarizing ourselves with the resort.

 

[billybaruch1]

Here is a good collection of what others think: http://www.wdwig.com/fnight.htm

You may find some good ideas there.

 

[MzCohen]

I would suggest going to MGM first. Doing the tours, shows etc...since you have a Hopper pass you can always go back another day and get there early to get fast passes for RRC and TT.
We were there last week and our plane didn't get in until 4 p.m. and we got to MGM around 5:30. We waited in line for RRC and then did some of the other things. Skipped TT my DS 10 didn't want to go on it. But MGM had 2 Fantasmic shows and we stayed for the 10:30 show. It was very good.
Hope this helps!

Dianne

 

[ListenToCKY]

Magic Kingdom. Every trip.