Getting To Know Your Resort!

[real mad hatter]

Good Morning Folks. So you arrive at your resort on your first day.How important is it to explore it and find out where everything there is like the food court,restaurant ( if one is available ) shops,pools,etc.Of course if you've been to that resort before then it's just like coming home.I think every resort has its own beauty and individual charm,and I was surprised recently when I friend of mine who spent 14 days at PORS and during a thunderstorm,they decided to sit put at the food court because they never knew,until the last day,there was a gaming arcade.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Fr us, it's a tradition to eat at our resorts QS upon arrival so we definitely explore hat if we haven't in past years, and we do check out our shops a bit, then head to Magic Kingdom!!

 

[s&k'smom]

Good morning hatter, I love that first day, which building we'll be in, getting to eat our lunch by the pool, as many times as we've been at GF I always seem to find something new. Could just be a small corner with a beautiful topiary or the new tiles in the grand lobby.

 

[disneysince71]

YES... get to know your resort! You are paying for all those extras! Use them! Enjoy them.... and relax you are on vacation!

 

[s&k'smom]

Now that's a Valentine picture, thank you!!!

 

[zurgandfriend]

We usally head right to Magic Kingdom after we arrive and get settled, later in the evening my son and I will usually check out the resort while my dear wife unpacks her stuff. My son and I just throw everything in a draw and call it "unpacked."

 

[BigRedDad]

We usually arrive in the morning and head straight to the parks. We also usually stay at Pop Century. This time we are arriving in the evening and staying at POR. There won't be much exploring unless my daughter naps on the plane. We will check-in, she will watch shows on the in the lobby area, and we will probably head straight to the room to get her down to sleep. We are still not sure of the weather this far out. If it is nice, the plan is to go to TL the first day which means she can sleep in, stay there until closing, go back and explore the resort that night, and early evening to be ready to go to a park the next morning.

 

[RickP330]

You can even start before you leave! Some resorts have unoffical website pages. You can study them and print out maps before you even leave!!

 

[93boomer]

We always drive down so we checkin and go to the room first. Since we always stay at resorts we've stayed at before, we just freshen up and head to the parks for dinner. We already know the lay of the land!

 

[littleroo]

We def walk around and see everything even though we always stay at the same resort. I like to see the little changes. Love going in the gift shop to see what is new. Oh it is just such a great feeling!!

 

[RedDad]

We're still trying to stay at each resort at least once, so it's always a new experience for us (so far). We always drive down, so we usually don't bother with parks on our travel day. Almost always spend a bit of time exploring the resort, then head to DD or a resort for dinner.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We have started adding in a day or 2 just to enjoy our resort, so that affords us plenty of time to explore.

 

[pixiesteno]

We like to spend time exploring our resort. Now, since we are staying at FWC it is more a matter of getting camp set up before exploring anything. We like to rent a golf cart and go on "loop tours" where we check out any decorations and different types of rigs. This trip we will have to head on over to the quiet pool over by the cabins to see the changes made during the big refurb. The last time we were there they were doing a major facelift. I tried to see around the fence but all I saw were very large piles of red dirt.
We also like to resort hop and check out the different resorts. This trip I have a mission to spend time at AoA and I want to check out PORS, maybe see YeeHaw Bob one evening. To DH and I spending time at the various resorts is part and parcle of the whole WDW experience.

 

[Mrsdonaldduck]

Good morning hatter, I love that first day, which building we'll be in, getting to eat our lunch by the pool, as many times as we've been at GF I always seem to find something new. Could just be a small corner with a beautiful topiary or the new tiles in the grand lobby.

Love that you have your lunch at the pool! brilliant! We love the gf too and I am now looking forward to lunching poolside our first day! I love that first stroll to the room after checking in! Hearing the Walt Disney world railroad in the distance..... Ughhhhhh can't wait!!!!

 

[Mrsdonaldduck]

We have started adding in a day or 2 just to enjoy our resort, so that affords us plenty of time to explore.

Brilliant! We are going to do this on our next trip!

 

[Poofiesdream]

We always check out our resort the first day even if we stayed there before. Want to check any changes out or new things.

 

[Jessica Meier]

We have stayed at POP on our previous two trips so it was always fun to check stuff out. This trip we are staying at Contemporary so I am definitely going to do lots of exploring. Can't wait!

 

[Stellajack]

POR is our favorite and the CM's don't have to give us directions to our room, but it is always a good idea to check out the main area locations. In 2006 we spent a day in the easy chairs in the lounge area, reading, while Tropical Storm Alberto blew through. We were much more comfortable than being in the room.

 

[WDW 3]

We don't usually explore until day 2 or later. First day we are too excited. We also usually arrive early and have to check our luggage. We grab our park tickets and go and since we had to get up really early to catch our flight (5:00 am is our favorite) we just sleep the first night. It's not until later on day 2 during a break or even that evening that we take the time to wander.

 

[ShookieJones]

Another good question Hatter.

I definitely go through the place with a fine tooth comb...HOWEVER most of that is done online before I get there...as @RickP330 mentioned.

Then over the course of our stay we will do some exploring...BUT to answer your specific question:
On our first day?
Nope...I can't do that when there is a Magic Kingdom waiting for me to come kick it's a$$.....
MK first - resort exploring later. Even if it's a resort we've never stayed at.

God..I just had one of those "Disney Sick" moments...I know you know what I'm talking about..
My kids get it too...they'll just randomly turn to me and say..."My God I miss Disney sooo much right now"

I bet every business in the world wishes they couldn't bottle up whatever that is and sprinkle it on their product....
Although now that I think about it I think crack dealers might have a handle on that formula..

How I got from Hatter's question about resorts to crack dealers I'm not quite sure....I better get back to work...