Which park 1st day?

[frannn]

Please help with the best plan. Flight lands about 10pm, so no parks till next day. We have to go to Guest Services 1st in AM to activate AP, prioritize tickets, and buy TIW. Better to do HS, which opens at 7 with SD FP, or MK in AM with late lunch at Sanaa & FOP FP? Want to be prepared when booking FP next month for Aug. We already have 2:30 lunch at Sanaa (can change) & Narcoosee's dinner 8:30. Will have rental car.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I would start with MK and late FoP if you are wanting to park hop that day. Mostly because you might want to sleep a little more instead of waking up really early to hit TSL after traveling the previous evening.

The only reason why I would not do the above suggestion would be...

I know people like to tour the parks differently, but having two Table Service restaurants on the same day is devoting A LOT of time to just sitting and eating. Close to 4-5 hours of your day will be spent on Disney transportation to the different resorts, as well as, eating at these specific restaurants. I usually try to only have one Table Service meal per day if there is a restaurant I want to eat at.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Please help with the best plan. Flight lands about 10pm, so no parks till next day. We have to go to Guest Services 1st in AM to activate AP, prioritize tickets, and buy TIW. Better to do HS, which opens at 7 with SD FP, or MK in AM with late lunch at Sanaa & FOP FP? Want to be prepared when booking FP next month for Aug. We already have 2:30 lunch at Sanaa (can change) & Narcoosee's dinner 8:30. Will have rental car.

Who is in your party? If you land at 10pm - you might not get into your room until midnight - if you have to wait for luggage - wait for the MDE. I think getting our kids up and at HS that early with a late flight - might be tough but again it depends on your group. I would probably do MK early and make FPs for AK. I don't know how crowded HS will be at 7am. I am hearing people having issues making HS FPs so there might be a lot of people there early. Plus we love starting and ending our Disney trip at MK. We are going in August too and still trying to figure out what we are doing with our FPs. Enjoy!

 

[Klayfish]

No right or wrong answer here, just a matter of where you want to start.

For us, there is no other answer than MK. It's the "heart" of WDW, IMO, and we would never start anywhere else. Walking under the train station bridge and coming out onto Main St gives me chills...every...single...time.

 

[CAQDaddy]

I would lean toward starting at MK. I think you would not get enough rest if you start at HS at 7:00.

 

[Delirium]

I'm hesitant to provide advice without having more information.

• How many park days do you have?
• What day/night of the week are you arriving?
• Is this a summer visit, where afternoon heat would be a problem?
• Have you ever been to Disney before?
• Are there young children in your party?

We're not ones that absolutely have to start or end a trip at MK. We go to MK on the days we think the crowds will be best, whether that is our first day or our 4th. If you have an extended visit (5 or more days), I would not schedule any 'hard' activities like a FP or ADR that first morning. With your flight getting in so late, there's at least a decent possibility you may want to sleep a little later. Schedule your FPs for early in the afternoon. If you do get a late start that first morning, and your stay is long enough, you should have ample time to make up for losing 3-4 hours of touring time that first morning.