What's your plan for arrival & departure day?

[mamamelody2]

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.

Our last day's not until November 20, but I get anxiety thinking about it already, too!

 

[Shanti]

Hello!

I'm trying to decide what we should do on our first/last day at WDW. Haven't booked our flights yet, but I think we'll be arriving early afternoon on arrival day / on departure day, will probably have at least until early afternoon til we need to wait for the Magical Express to MCO. What's your favorite thing(s) to do on your first/last day at WDW? Thanks

Swimming at those awesome WDW pools! We pack our swimsuits in our carryons (Magical Express can take a while to get your bags to the resort). On the way back, we change our clothes in the pool-area bathroom after swimming, and put them in a plastic trash bag that we brought along for the purpose, then put those swimsuits in our carryons for the return flight. Most WDW pools have towel service, so no need to worry about towels.

 

[JuniorSkipper]

We have always done MK on both arrival and departure day. I think it is the best place to start and end a magical vacation

 

[McFlea]

Up until now, we haven't done a park on arrival day - we just get settled at POR, maybe swim, eat, etc. This trip is shorter than usual, so we will be heading to a park. Arrival at MCO is at 2:30, planning to eat early dinner at POR and be at MK by 6:00. We always start and end our trips at MK - however, I'm considering AK for our first night instead. I've never experienced it after dark and that's one thing I'm looking forward to. If I can get FoP FP for that first night, I may do it. Though one of my DD's is pretty insistent that MK MUST be first! She probably won't have too difficult a time convincing me.
We leave early enough on departure day that there really isn't time for a park. Our last full day, we always close MK, wipe away the tears, and start thinking about when we can return.

 

[REEREEG]

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.

What about buying treats to eat as you leave & something special to play with on the way home?

 

[maryj11]

We usually arrive at our resort around 1:00 pm get our groceries from Garden Grocer then head to HS because to us that is a half day park. This year we are going to HS then to MK for HEA dessert party. Our departure day is wake up and get on ME We had a later flight but they changed the time o us.

 

[Statefan17]

We always drive and depending on weather and traffic it takes us 10 to 12 hours. If we stay at Poly we eat there then ride the resort monorail just to see MK at night then watch the fireworks from the Poly beach. If we stay somewhere else on Disney property, we just relax and enjoy the resort. Our last day is just heading home - another 10 to 12 hour drive

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Arrival: Last time we went to Disney Springs. This time we are either doing the sing-a-long at Fort Wilderness or hanging out at Pop or doing a monorail resort tour.

Departure: Breakfast at 'Ohana.

 

[stink]

Arrival Day - SAT
Touchdown at MCO at 10:40, ME to BCV, 1PM ADR at Beaches and Cream. DHS afterwards. Not sure what time to make my first fast pass ??? Would like to head back to BCV between 6-7pm to unpack, sort out Garden Grocer Order and take a swim in StormAlongBay, however I also want to see Fantasmic can't do both. I know I will be ready for bed around 10 PM, as it will be a long travel day.
Departure Day
Flight does not leave until 7:30PM. Debating either a morning/early afternoon at Animal Kingdom,EPCOT,or DHS. We have hoppers so may go to two parks. Any suggestions ? It is a Sat during Food & Wine.

 

[Parker Clan]

We drive from CT so our plans are probably different than those flying / on a schedule.
Arrival Day- we always stay at Universal for three days before Disney. On our Dis check in day we always eat breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe, it's so fun w/ the antics and the food is great! We then check in and either head to the pool/ explore the resort, eat an early dinner and go to Disney Springs for the night! We love shopping and getting ice cream at Ghiradelli's and then shopping some more
Departure day- sometimes we have breakfast at Trails End buffet or sometimes at the resort and then we take off, planning our next trip as we leave lol

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Our plans change every year depending on when we are arriving and leaving.

For example, this year, we will arrive sometime between lunch and dinner (we are driving 15 hours with an overnight stop, so it depends on where we decided to stop the previous day and how early we get up). Our plan it so go to DHS in the afternoon. We have FastPasses for Star Tours and then we are going to wander around the Star Wars Launch Bay and watch the new projection show and the Star Wars fireworks.

Our departure day this year starts with breakfast at Akershus, followed by TestTrack FastPasses (since we didn't get them earlier), then we leave around lunchtime.

 

[BigredNole]

If we are not arriving to be able to rope drop on arrival day, we plan to relax at the resort and make our grocery run. We will FP rides for the night time of arrival day somewhere. If we drive, the last day is simply throw everyone in the car when I am up and ready to go. There is no arguing that since I am the driver for the next 10 hours. It may be 2AM and it may be 6AM. If we fly, we try to get flights out after 5PM. This way we can rope drop the last park until lunch time, get back to the resort for any last minute things, and get ready for DME.

 

[Denise K W]

We did this last year and worked out perfectly so doing it again this year
So the day we arrive we like to arrive in Orlando about 530-6pm last year we got to our hotel about 715pm or so. We took our stuff to our rooms and went to Disney Springs for dinner which was very nice. Our last day we like to have our flight leave around 530pm or 6pm. We usually just play that by ear but last year we didnt get to ride 2 rides at DS rockin roller coaster and Tower of Terror the first day we were in the park so we decided to get fast passes for our last 1/2 day. So we went back to the park got our fast passes and went on them and then walked around till about 2pm to get to the bus so be at hotel by 230pm so they can take us to the hotel.
Worked out perfectly for us last year hopefully that works again this year

 

[labdogs42]

Arrival day is always an Epcot day for us. Spaceship Earth is our first attraction. Depending on the time of day, we might have a dinner reservation or some fastpasses, but usually our first day is spent at Epcot after we check in.

 

[Minnesota!]

This upcoming trip, we land at noon. Plan is to check into AKL, do the Culinary Tour at Jiko/Boma, and then head SOMEWHERE for dinner. Then, close out the day with swimming. We have an early Boma the next morning...

Departure day, DME will be there around 830, so it will be a quick trip to Mara and then hop on the bus. BOOOOOO. I wish we lived within driving distance.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

My husband refuses to do parks on arrival day. We will explore the resort and have some pool time, then we have a dinner ADR at Raglan Road.

On departure day we will just get up and have breakfast and hang around until the ME comes to pick us up. Our flight home is at 12:40.