What to do with unexpected extra day?

[sharona]

Just changed our flights and now we're arriving at 12pm instead of 8:30pm

It will be Saturday, 5/7. We're staying at POP. I think we'll be renting a car so we should be checked in and have park tix in hand by 2ish. What's a good plan for our first afternoon and night? I want our vacation to get off to a great start!

I had pretty much planned out our whole week already and now we have this unexpected extra day. We'll be hitting Epcot for RD the following morning and have a full day planned at MK the day after that. Don't want to go to DHS late (after TSM FPs are gone) and too late to go to AK. Should we go to MK and just explore and go on some walk ons, soak it all in etc... Or we could go to DTD? Or the Boardwalk area - is that worth a look see? Epcot for WS? Re-do my whole plan? Help!!! who knew an extra day would be this stressful?

 

[kstrong001]

I'd go straight to Magic Kingdom, it really makes me feel like I'm at Disney World!

 

[rn4val]

There is a blog up recently on what to do on arrival day that gave good suggestions I had always gone straight to the parks but this time I will follow some of the advice

 

[bwinther]

First - I would LOVE to have an unexpected day! You are sooo lucky. But really, since adding a day to a Magic Your Way Ticket package isn't really that much, pick your favorite park and just do a little exploring. Think of it as a chance to knock one or two things off of your touring plan for your official day at that park Or, if you have 8 - 18 year old kids you could check out Disney Quest. I've heard great things for that age group.

 

[SplashMo]

I would hit epcot and do WS and maybe get FP for Soarin and or Test Track

OR

DS

Parade
ToT
Rock n Rollert Coaster

Eat at 50's diner

Watch Fantasmic if it is showing (May be too late for a travel day...)

 

[disneylovin24]

I am not a big fan of going to a park on the first day or if I only have a half day there. I feel like you are always a bit tired about traveling and you do not get enough time at the park.


Disney has so many other things to do that I think are better for half days! You could go to DTD (even though I like saving this for the last day of a trip) and maybe do Disney Quest. You could go mini golfing (one of my favorite disney things!). Just hang out at your resort around the pool, or maybe even resort hop (another one of my favs)!

 

[AJKMOM]

Before you hit the MK, you might want to check the hours. Not sure if that's a grad night?

 

[nooneshome]

In the past we usually just settle in and head to Downtown Disney to get some shopping done and eat at the Earl. A couple times DD and I have headed to MK to get a few silly things done like ride Astro Orbiter or the Indy cars. Things we normally don't do anymore. We may find a good spot and watch the parade and Wishes.

 

[belle&beast]

We always head to MK on our first day. We relax and hit some of our favorites and see Spectromagic and Wishes. It has become a tradition for us to grab something quick to eat at the hotel and head off to MK right away.

 

[alexedan]

We always go to Downtown Disney and do Disneyquest (also either House-of-Blues or Earl of Sandwich). My 9 and 12 yo boys love this more than their parents so it's great for a half day. Plus I think it would be a let down after the parks. We do go check in first in case I don't like the room assignment and need to request to be moved. Afterwards go have a cocktail at the Polynesian and watch Wishes from the Beach! (You can take bus to TTC and it's just a short walk).

 

[drinkme]

I would hit epcot and do WS and maybe get FP for Soarin and or Test Track

That's what I would do! We've even gone to Epcot on our first night at 7pm.

 

[sharona]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Our group is myself, my dd8 and my mom for a girls vacation - using Mother's Day as our excuse to get away! Disney Quest is not really our cup of tea. We have F! dinner package later in the week so DHS is out. AJKMOM, you are right - that is grad night and MK closes early and no Wishes or parade. I had not really paid attention to that since we were originally arriving so late.

We do want a easy/fairly early night since we want to be at Epcot for RD on Sunday and I love the idea of going to MK first but I wonder what it will be like on a night that it's closing early. Will it be packed with people there for grad night or empty because it's closing early? I'd be ok with going from 3-6ish then heading back to POP to settle in and have a swim and late dinner....

Just checked both my subscriptions and touringplans has it as a park to avoid because of the special event and TGM has it as a recommended park (am and pm) because of the special event I guess it comes down to which site I put more trust in.