What's your plan for arrival & departure day?

[TheBigErn]

We fly in and have done many things on arrival and departure days but never go into any park. This time we're doing Hoope-De-Doo followed by shopping at DS on arrival. On departure, we're doing a character breakfast before leaving for the airport. Visiting resorts, minigolf, Boardwalk activities are all good.

 

[michael85]

pro tip: never book the last flight on the day from orlando to wherever, the whole world wants to take advantage of the last day and take a night flight, they are always booked and never have carry on space. book a mid afternoon flight instead

 

[Octoberbaby]

We usually drive, but in Oct we will fly. On our arrival we should be checked in by 2:00. Then we will go to MNSSHP. On our departure day, we will be having breakfast at POFQ and possibly hang out at DS.

 

[loves to dive]

We drive down and usually arrive around 2 or 3. If our room is ready we get our bags into the room and go potty and then head to the bus stop if it's not ready we park the car and head to the bus stop. We don't book FPs just hop on the first bus to arrive. I might book FPs while on the bus or we just wander around what ever park we end up at and do stand by lines. We always eat at whatever park we are at, if it's AK we tend to grab something at Nomad's Lounge, if Epcot we just do something in WS, HS we do HBD outside, MK we do Pecos Bills. Since we drive we can leave whenever we want,we try to leave by around noon since it's about a 7 half hour drive. We go to whatever park we feel like we need one more ride on, normally ToT or we do any last minute shopping we missed before. We don't really plan anything but we are not planners anyway. You didn't say what your family make up was so what you do would really depend on many factors. Is it a long flight with little ones who might need to run off some energy after being cooped up? Is it a shorter flight with older kids or adults? Maybe then a check in and head to something to eat or the pool.

 

[GreatLakes]

We don't do parks on either arrival or departure day. Our normal MO is to have an ADR on arrival day at one of the AKL restaurants, usually Boma and to hit Disney Springs on departure day.

 

[littlbugmom]

Arrival day is always:
flight---rental car---groceries---check into condo---swim and explore resort

Departure day is always:
sleep in---load car at 11:00am---TRex lunch and Disney Springs shopping until late flight

 

[DisneyFive]

For arrival day we've historically gone to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios because they were open later than Animal Kingdom. Now that AK has later hours, that is an option too. We make sure to get there in time for our first dining reservation at whatever favorite TS location we choose.

In any case, we do any park EXCEPT Magic Kingdom. We save MK for the first full day so that we get the full experience and effect. We love getting there for the opening show and the feel of the park in the morning and stay all day. It would feel wierd to get there in the middle of the day.

Departure day varies. Pack up and swim at resort pool, or hit a park for a little bit, or take the boat from POR to Disney Springs. However, our last FULL day has almost always been MK.

Day

 

[mindeola]

We drive and always arrive around four pm. We enjoy our resort a bit and then go activate our military tickets at TTC. We hop on the monorail and have a dinner at one of the great restaurants. WE catch the Electrical Water Pageant and sometimes fireworks. We always depart early, so we will usually have a breakfast ADR first.

Last month was the first time I have not done it that way. We arrived around 1030 and headed straight to HS. On our departure day we had Boma for bfast and headed back to HS for just a couple of hours.

In November I am flying for a girls trip and should arrive at the WL by 1000. We are going to do Sanaa for lunch and head to AK. On departure day, everyone is leaving super early but me. I think I am going to wander MK streets or possible do Keys to the kingdom tour.

 

[Gophers]

So our arrival day we get in at 11:45am. Should be at resort by 1:15pm or so. We will spend time at DS and have ADR for Home Comin. We have to try out the chicken Last day is always MK.

 

[mustinjourney]

So this year, I decided that it would be nice to really enjoy the Ohana breakfast on a morning we aren't leaving and instead added a 10th day to our tickets (only about $10 each) and we will do a very quick zip into MK (we are staying at CR) and spend 2 hours there riding our favourites before heading to the airport. I'm hoping that will make for a happier end to our vacation.

Or you might end up with a much more dramatic exit out of the park. Hopefully the former and not the latter.

 

[GillianP1301]

Or you might end up with a much more dramatic exit out of the park. Hopefully the former and not the latter.

That thought has crossed my mind, but I'm hoping being busy and rushing to a few rides will leave less time to think about it, unlike waiting around to be seated for breakfast. I have 7DMT as our final FP and that is my DS' favourite ride, so I'm trying anything I can think of. Truth be told, I'll likely be in tears leaving Main St. It's pretty hard to leave WDW without some sadness, I guess.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Flight in lands at 8:30. Check into hotel then Food and Wine Festival. Dinner at Flying Fish that evening, so hang out on the Boardwalk. Didn't plan too much as I imagine we will be tired from the travel. Departure day is breakfast at O'hana. Figure that's about all we will have time for as our flight leaves at 3:00. 104 days and counting ...

 

[SimonSez]

Arrive at CBR, check in and get settled in our pirate room, then probably make our way to Centertown Buffet for supper. We have about a 10 hour drive so no parks on arrival day. Our first park will be the day after arrival (AK). Departure day we sometimes head to DTD, of course now DS (haven't been to WDW since 2014). Then we leave to go home dreading the "See ya real soon" sign on the way out In 2012 we had a different type of arrival day--we decided not to stay on property the first night, you know just stay somewhere fairly inexpensive and save a couple bucks. We came in on a Saturday night and apparently there was some high school sporting event or some such thing and we couldn't get a room, not in Orlando or even outside the city. We didn't plan very well I guess we never thought we'd have so much trouble finding a room. Anyhoo, we got turned away from every motel we tried. Well we ended up club level at the Peabody! It was pretty much all that was left in town and we loved it. It wasn't as expensive as the Poly where we would stay that trip, and the concierge room was incredible. We started out just looking for a Hampton Inn or something similar and ended up watching the ducks at the Peabody It was pure chance we ended up there and we'll never forget it. Seemed like Disney pixie dust reached beyond WDW that year and found us...maybe we'll get there again one day...I still remember the tv embedded in the bathroom mirror...

 

[SaintsManiac]

We'll be driving over from Universal at 6am to get to resort then MK in time for morning EMH. Not sure about departure day. This is our first time driving, so we may hit the park for a couple of hours, or have a character breakfast before hitting the road.

 

[Farro]

So far....scheduled to arrive in MCO at 10:30, get to Poly by 12:30 hopefully. Head to Disney Springs, bop around, and then either back to Poly to see room if we haven't already, or straight to MK for 6:00 dinner reservations at Skipper Canteen!

Departure day - get up and go home!

 

[Dsny4fun]

First day is always Disney Spring....last day is one final walk down main Street...with tears in my eyes as i say goodbye!

 

[michael85]

First day is always Disney Spring....last day is one final walk down main Street...with tears in my eyes as i say goodbye!

A park ticket just to walk down main street?

 

[joyjoy]

I love hearing everyone's traditions, but I get anxiety reading about last day plans. We're not even leaving for our trip until Sept 3rd (coming back on the 10th) and I haaaaate thinking about that last day.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

We always go to the MK on our first day no matter how late we get in. I'm no good until I see the castle. Last time we went to Disney Springs at night and it was a such a nice time we're doing it again in December. The only bummer is that our first day is a party night at the MK so we'll only have maybe four hours there, but it's what we want to do. Last day is always at the MK until it's time to leave to get the bus.

 

[mamamelody2]

We've only been twice so far. Both times we arrived mid-afternoon, settled in to our room at POR, then spent some time at the pool. Dinner in the food court, then bed at a decent time. First trip was w/ a group of 10--our family of 5 plus our friends' family of 5. Second trip was our family of 5, in-laws, bro and sis in law w/ their 2 kids, bro in law with his daughter, so 13 people. Groups that size just don't move fast, so didn't even try for a park that first day.

Upcoming trip this November is just DH and I. We're arriving 12:30 PM. I can't decide if we will start with a couple hours at MK then hop to Epcot, or just do Epcot.
Last day our flight is at 12:20 PM, so we will just have breakfast at the food court before getting DME to the airport. I was hoping to get a later flight out so we could get a few hours park time before leaving for the aiport, but the next flight after hours leaves at 3:30 PM and arrives 12:15 AM. We have to work the next day, so NO THANKS!