What would you do for arrival day if you were me...

[moopdog]

Our flight arrives at 1PM, and we have Magical Express to POR. We have a 7 day base ticket so I'd hate to waste it by not going to a park that arrival day. I definitely want something low-key, just get 3 FP and quick bite at a CS and then head back to resort to check it out OR just heading to one of the parks with an early nighttime show and get that out of the way. Any advice?? Here's a brief look at where we'll be that week.

Arrival day Thursday March 2: ???
Friday : EMH at MK
Sat : Studios & probably DTD
Sun: Epcot
Mon: EMH at AK
Tues: MK day again
Wed: Epcot day again

 

[CAS239]

It looks like you're not planning on doing HS at night..so no fantasmic or Star Wars show? If you want to go to a park on arrival day I'd go to HS that night and watch one of the night time shows and use 3 FP's there.

 

[NJ Goofy]

I agree with the PP, especially since you are already planning to go to MK and EPCOT twice.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

I second what CAS239 said. You have two different choices to make for nighttime entertainment at HS, it would be a great way to kick off the trip.

Though personally, I don't like to overextend myself on arrival day and really like using that first day to explore my resort(not sure how important that is to you). I would hang out at the resort, check out the grounds, then head to HS later in the evening, grab a CS to eat while waiting for F! or Star Wars fireworks. I personally wouldn't get FP that night, or would limit it to just one or two.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Our flight arrives at 1PM, and we have Magical Express to POR. We have a 7 day base ticket so I'd hate to waste it by not going to a park that arrival day. I definitely want something low-key, just get 3 FP and quick bite at a CS and then head back to resort to check it out OR just heading to one of the parks with an early nighttime show and get that out of the way. Any advice?? Here's a brief look at where we'll be that week.

Arrival day Thursday March 2: ???
Friday : EMH at MK
Sat : Studios & probably DTD
Sun: Epcot
Mon: EMH at AK
Tues: MK day again
Wed: Epcot day again

You probably won't get to POR until 2:30-3:00. Our last trip we got to POR around noon on arrival day, went to the pool for a few hours, then took the boat to Disney Springs and walked around and had dinner there. That might work for you but you lose a park day. I frankly think there's more to do at AK than DHS, so if going to a park I'd probably get FPs for AK beginning around 4:30-5:00, take a cab/Uber over to the park, and try to ride Safari and EE and maybe catch Flights of Wonder or walk a trail. I wouldn't make it a late night, especially after traveling that morning and needing to get up early morning on Friday to make EMH.

 

[PSUGuy]

We're Board Walk people and Epcot is our fav so we hit WS as soon as we check in. The Fantasmic suggestions makes sense also but the 2 parks as so close together you could do both.

Bill From PA

 

[ZoZo]

You probably won't get to POR until 2:30-3:00. Our last trip we got to POR around noon on arrival day, went to the pool for a few hours, then took the boat to Disney Springs and walked around and had dinner there. That might work for you but you lose a park day. I frankly think there's more to do at AK than DHS, so if going to a park I'd probably get FPs for AK beginning around 4:30-5:00, take a cab/Uber over to the park, and try to ride Safari and EE and maybe catch Flights of Wonder or walk a trail. I wouldn't make it a late night, especially after traveling that morning and needing to get up early morning on Friday to make EMH.

I completely agree with this suggestion. I find AK has way more to do than DHS (especially now that there are nighttime activities at AK). Plenty to see and do and still get to bed at a reasonable time. Plus the food options at AK are so much better than at DHS!

 

[beck00]

On our last trip, we started out at MK and knew we'd be back 2 more days out of the 8....so we hopped over to HS for the night. It was the best! That park at night was so fun and we had a blast. Head to HS!

 

[loves to dive]

Play it by ear. Who knows how you will feel once you arrive and get checked in. If you find you have the energy and want go to a park, I agree HS will work. The problem with AK is it is currently showing closing at 7 at the time you arrive. By the time you check in and get settled, you really aren't going to spend much park time unless they extend the hours and I don't see them extending them much later than that. We normally arrive between 2 and 3 (drive down about 7 1/2 hours) and if our room is ready, check out the room, throw our bags in and go to the bus stop. The first bus to arrive is the park we go to, unless that park is Epcot. We do split stays with the majority of our stay at an Epcot resort and I hate having to leave Epcot and get on a bus, I like walking to our resort so we save that for the days we are at the Epcot resorts. We never have any problems riding rides without FPs and later in the day, it's pretty easy to snag some while you are standing in line.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Our flight arrives at 1PM, and we have Magical Express to POR. We have a 7 day base ticket so I'd hate to waste it by not going to a park that arrival day. I definitely want something low-key, just get 3 FP and quick bite at a CS and then head back to resort to check it out OR just heading to one of the parks with an early nighttime show and get that out of the way. Any advice?? Here's a brief look at where we'll be that week.

Arrival day Thursday March 2: ???
Friday : EMH at MK
Sat : Studios & probably DTD
Sun: Epcot
Mon: EMH at AK
Tues: MK day again
Wed: Epcot day again

1pm arrival SHOULD put you in the park by 4:00/4:30

Make your FP+ starting 4:30 - 5:30, 5:30 - 6:30, 6:30 - 7:30, grab some dinner, see some fireworks and call it a night.