What to do the first night?

[3princesses+aprince]

We will be checking into All Star Music around 1 or 2pm. This will be our first trip to the Disney world Resort So I figured we'd check out the hotel, and most likely go swimming, my kids will be begging for the pool the minute they lay eyes on it. We are not going to the parks on this day and I set aside 1 day for no parks and to swim and go to DTD, so what else should we do that first night? Any suggestions! Thanks, i'm just so excited that we are staying in Disney

 

[xraydave]

You'll be surprised how fast the time goes once you get to the resort. Don't overschedule this day. Just plan on checking out the resort and, like your kids want, swimming. You might even talk them into a somewhat early bedtime. You'll need it since chances are you won't get to bed early the rest of your stay.

I always "plan" on making the fireworks at one of the parks on our first night but we have yet to make one. Have fun. I'm waaay jealous.

 

[Livin'4Disney]

We're doing the Hoop Dee Doo Review on our first night and catching the free movie afterwards in Fort Wilderness campgrounds.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh the movie at the campground sounds nice, i'll have to look into that.

 

[Makdyn]

We will be checking into All Star Music around 1 or 2pm. This will be our first trip to the Disney world Resort So I figured we'd check out the hotel, and most likely go swimming, my kids will be begging for the pool the minute they lay eyes on it. We are not going to the parks on this day and I set aside 1 day for no parks and to swim and go to DTD, so what else should we do that first night? Any suggestions! Thanks, i'm just so excited that we are staying in Disney

You can unpack Makenzie, Jordyn and me from your suitcase on the first night. That would be nice!!!! Wish we can come with you. One time we will all go together

 

[LISAVWL]

We had dinner at Chef Mickey our first night and rode the monorail around the parks. It was great to see Mickey and the castle! The kids had so much fun at dinner and then on the monorail ride. You can board upstairs at the Contemporary and ride around the full circle to see Magic Kingdom, Poly, GF, and then on over to Epcot! A great way to get excited for our vacation.

 

[golden1]

We are also planning on the HDDR the first night.

 

[mom*to*2*princesses]

We expect to arrive at the hotel around 2:30 p.m. and will spend a bit of time checking that out before an early ADR at Chef Mickey's. If we aren't too tired, we'll do the monorail loop.

 

[ndgqmiller]

Our last trip we check in at around 2:30. Our last trip was also our first trip! Anyway we got settled in our room at POP, then we to a look around,swam took pictures ,ate an early dinner. I don't know if your driving or flying but we drove and held out on lunch so it wouldn't take us longer to get to Disney. Also I brought stuff for the kids to make their own autograph books, they worked on those for 2 HOURS! Then around nine we headed to bed. It was a very long day bc we left our house at 4:30am. But worth every waking minute! Have fun

 

[Katieplus4]

We always go to downtown Disney . . . they get to play around and use up some energy and there is a lot to do and see. We also go there the last day to do our final shopping.

We leave the 2nd of Dec. CAN"T WAIT!!!!

 

[Karalynn]

We arrived a bit earlier, around 12 I think, and my kids were just as you described yours! Once they saw the pool, that was it! I will add that it was the last week of January and the the temp was low 70's and a cloudy day!!! But hearty NewEngladers that we are, we went in! (I must confess that I won't go swimming at home unless it is in the high 80's & up)

Then we went to the HDDR for the 5ish show. It was a long day, we kindof felt that we wished we didn't plan that for the first night, but were obligated to go because we had made a reservation. The show was great and we had a blast, but we were all pooped out! So, next time, I think we will just wing it!

 

[MomofCKJ]

Our flight gets in at 3pm (4 weeks from TODAY!) and we plan to go to Pop, check in, and then we have a 6:20 ADR at Chef Mickey. We'll ride the monorail and head back to go to bed. I think it will be a nice start to our vacation!

Allyson

 

[fan_of_small_world]

OK, here's what NOT to do, LOL! After getting up at 3:30 am for a 7:00 am flight, getting to Disney, checking in, and getting lunch at Pop, we went straight to MK. In 95 degree heat. With everyone exhausted. DD4 fell asleep in her stroller about 15 minutes after we got there. Umm, don't do this!!!

We did make it to our 5:00 pm reservations at Chef Mickey's, where the kids had a ball. If I had it to do all over again, we would have taken it easy, maybe gone for a short swim, and then headed over to Chef Mickey's. I do have to say Chef Mickey's is a great way to kick off a vacation with little ones, since they get to meet all of the "main" characters for autographs and pics and then the Monorail is there for a ride around.

 

[tchrrx]

Another vote for Chef Mickey's! That's the best way to know that you've finally arrived at the World!

 

[nikkistevej]

Another vote for Chef Mickey's, on our first night on our last trip we went there for dinner, it really got everyone ready for WDW, my DD was so excited-we plan to make it a tradition!!!

 

[louise']

We always go to Chef Mickey the first night. It's a great way to start the vacation and the kid's love it.

 

[Madsofa]

We are making our first trip to WDW in March. We arrive at 10:40am, so we will settle in and look around the hotel, maybe grab a quick nap. Our flight leaves fairly early that morning so I'm thinking a nap would be good, but we will see how excited DD's are. We have ADR's for Hoop De Doo at 5pm.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

go to Hoop dee doo early, walk down to playground beach area and let kids play in sand or on playground a bit, u adults can take turns checking out the cute small frontier store! Unusual camping stuff its all close by

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Last year - our first trip - we arrived on Christmas day. We checked in at POFQ, grabbed lunch there, unpacked, and headed to the Grand Floridian to check out the Christmas decorations and stroll the grounds. Then went to Chef Mickey's for dinner, and to MGM for Fantasmic and Osborne Lights. It was the best day ever according to my kids

In January we plan on taking our time unpacking, and then I made reservations at Crystal Palace for dinner, which should be done just in time to snag a good viewing spot for Wishes.

And in June we will eat dinner at 1900 Park Fare and then catch Wishes from the Polynesian beach since we're not doing a park on the first day that trip.

I guess I like the idea of a character meal the first night! To me, that just cements the fact that YOU ARE AT DISNEY WORLD!!!

 

[Madsofa]

go to Hoop dee doo early, walk down to playground beach area and let kids play in sand or on playground a bit, u adults can take turns checking out the cute small frontier store! Unusual camping stuff its all close by

Hi MouseMaddi!
Thanks for the tip! That sounds like fun. We are there early enough that is a good option. My girls love to go to playgrounds!