Which park first day

[Giddy Kipper]

We are going in October with our two girls 6 and 8, which park would you go to on the first day ..... taking into account we will be tired and the girls will have been awake since 5.am. There is no way we would get away with having a rest day on the first day, the kids wouldnt let us get away with it. any ideas
Thanks in advance
sarah

 

[Aceman88888]

Usually, due to jetlag, they will be up and ready for it before dawn on the day after arrival. We usually go to AK due to the earlier start time and as it is a fairly leisurely park, get away from there mid afternoon.

According to folklore, some parks are best avoided at weekends, but I saw very little evidence of crowds when visiting out of the usual school holiday season but it may be worth avoiding the two disney waterparks if your first day in Orlando falls on a weekend day.

 

[gilld]

I think it depends on how many days you have on your ticket! If you only have 5 or 7 days, I wouldn't waste a day as you will probably tire very early and not make the best use of it - try Seaworld.

If however, you have 14 days, I'd say go to the MK - it's the REAL Disney!!!

 

[tim june and sam]

We do Disney-MGM due to the mix of rides and shows, with many shows being either inside or in air-conditioned theatres (e.g. Beauty & the Beat, Little Mermaid, Muppets 3D, Great Movie Ride)

We are also visting in October and this park should close at c.7.00/7.30 at this time of the year, so that will allow you a relatively relaxed evening and early-to-bed so that your body can adjust.

 

[Giddy Kipper]

Thanks for the advice guys, are first day is on a Sat, so we may do MGM and then AK on Sun or vice versa .... Whichever I cant wait
Roll on October

 

[uktigger]

hi
on our first day we had a 8.10 ps for crystal palace breakfast,wandered around MK for the morning taking in the atmosphere then haeded back to our hotel(all star movies)fo we could relax by the pool while the kids swam for a while

eve

 

[Miffy2003]

Probably best avoided on a Saturday to be honest! But our first park always has to be Magic Kingdom.

If you only have a limited amount of days on your ticket though it may be best not to "waste" a day at MK on a Saturday - especially as you may all be tired. My girls (similar ages to yours) are always raring to go the first day - it tends to hit them the next day when the adrenalin runs out a little

 

[florry]

Magic Kingdom every time.

It's why you go there isn't it?

Go see Mickey and get into the spirit straight away - just do a half day and then go - that way you will want to come back for more later in the holiday.

 

[xox_Violet_xox]

Ditto! lol
Always MK we go for first

 

[UKDEB]

If you are staying offsite, you will want to avoid AK on Saturday as it has 'Extra Magic Hour' early entry for WDW resort guests that day and will be busier. Also, sadly, it no longer seems to open earlier than the other parks - at one time a great reason to visit it on the first day for us jet-lagged Brits. You will all be awake at the crack of dawn and raring to go, so make the most of your first day and just call it a day when you've had enough.

Although MK is normally best avoided on a Saturday, if you get there before park opening (which will be easy on your first day), you will be able to get through loads before it starts to get busy. With your girls being the ages they are, head straight to Fantasyland and do everything there first - it will be a doddle (and hell later in the day).

Remember that you need to head to MK a little earlier than the other parks (because you park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and get the monorail or ferry from there). If park opening is at 9am, aim to arrive at the TTC by 8am to be first through the turnstiles. This really won't be a problem on your first day so, as I've already said, make the most of it.

 

[paulh]

like aceman888 says you will be up early and we are so we usaly do bush gardens we are there before the gate opens most times
Paulh

 

[steve_rob]

I couldn't do MK justice on my first day. I'd get round about half the park before starting to flag, meaning I'd have to come back another day and do the rest (thus wasting a day on my ticket).

Much rather do AK, leave by 3pm having done everything and have a nice relaxing evening in the hotel pool. By the next morning, I'll be "on Florida time" and raring to go!

But then I can do that as we typically arrive mid-week and miss the AK early entry day.

 

[rosiejo]

I think it depends on how many days you have on your ticket! If you only have 5 or 7 days, I wouldn't waste a day as you will probably tire very early and not make the best use of it - try Seaworld.

You know - we always used to do this first day - as it gets you into the walking miles bt it's not a full on theme park and you can leave mid afternoon... I don't think so anymore! We went last trip and the opening hours were shorter due to the time of year - and we didn't get to see everything! I think it's gron so much...

If you have enough days not to worry about losing a whole day's pass then try Epcot or animal kingdom... if you do MK too soon they may be looking for that certain kind of Disney magic in all parks and be dissapointed...

 

[arieliwish]

I agree with an earlier post on MGM. We did this park on the first day of our first visit last sept and found it to be a great mix of rides/shows/characters and disney magic - I couldn't believe how good it was and didn't think the other parks could live up to it - well it was my first time, we live and learn!!

I think we'll visit MGM on our first full day this time too, as its listed as a quiet day on the guides.

 

[angel659]

On the actual first day ( day you land ), we usually settle in to the disney spirit with a look round the shops at downtown disney and then have a nice meal at the rainforest cafe..

As for first full day, Magic Kingdom... no matter how busy it gets

 

[carolfoy]

ITA Angel 659 and Gilld, has to be Mk for the first full day, just arriving in time to see the train with the characters arrive is the real Disney wake up for me.

 

[Soprano]

Animal Kingdom would be the first park for me. I find it the least attractive and quite small. The 50's style section is quite dull. Its nice and should be seen, but I find there is more to do at other parks. I have no doubt your children will love the Kilimanjaro safari

A lot of people say MGM is only half a day, but I find there is a lot to do there. It's my favourite park.

I think MK would be too busy for a Saturday and EPCOT is just too big. You will need a full days energy for them. We normally avoid theme parks on the weekends.

 

[wicket2005]

It depends on what you class your first day as. We are heading to Sea World after we have checked into the hotel because it is only 5 minutes away. I thought going on Kraken may just wake us up.

I am presuming your first day is actually the day after you land. What I would do is consult askdaisy.net, under park updates and look and see which parks have quiet days on your actual day 1, then pick your choice out of them.

 

[Disney owl]

Quietist !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


or with little ones - Magic Kingdom

 

[marv]

We arrived late afternoon in Kissimee on the thurs, we spent the evening settleing in and went out for a bite too eat on the 192 (cant remember where).
On the Friday we went shopping at Orlando premium outlets and got a supply of clothes as we didn't take any thing.
That evening we headed to MK to see spectro and wishes fireworks, what a start to the holiday that was!
Saturday, are first full day was spent at Animal kingdom as this was less crowded day. We woke late, and it was panick stations as we had a table reserved for breakfast we got there late but they were still taking photos outside. In the rush we had forgot are tickets for free breakfast but it was worth every penny. Jet lag cought up with us that day as the fri we were up at 5.am no problem.
I would say Mk was a nice start too the holiday.

Marv