Second guessing my first day plans oh no....

[bsmartin2000]

Well i knew this was going to happen, thought I had all my plans done and now I am second guessing our arrival day plans. Had planned on arriving at 2 then heading to DTD and T-rex for dinner but now I wonder if that will be to tame for my Grandson age 5. Do you think we ought to head to a park for awhile on arrival day or not?? We will have a very early morning, up around 4:00Am to make a 6 AM flight, arrive at MCO at 11 then off to Pop for early check in if we can. What would you do??

 

[Spikerdink]

Depends on a few variables.... how many days will you be at Disney? If it is just a few, I would say go to a park and get some early magic - doesn't have to be MK - you could go over to AK and do the safari and maybe a few other things....then go to dinner...maybe even Rainforest Cafe or Tusker House (characters!!) then go back to hotel and get to sleep early.... but you know your grandson the best. How do you think he will do? will he be so excited he will be begging to go to a park?

 

[littleroo]

How long is your trip? Seven or more days, I say chill and enjoy t-rex. Less? Hit a park! Have a wonderful time!!

 

[Pooh Lover]

Can you play it by ear? If the young ones are up for a park, go for it. Otherwise, going for a more calm first day is totally understandable.

 

[bigorangeandy]

As one who was a kid long long ago, I would let him hit the resort pool. It seems all kids enjoy the pool, I know mine always did. After some time in the pool, then head down to T-Rex, and Downtown Disney.

 

[foreverbelle]

For us, we are playing our arrival day by ear. We even canceled a dinner. The first time we came in we had an early flight, and our son who was two at the time did not want anything to do with things by the time we got there. Because of this we try to keep it open, 4 is early and you have no idea what its going to be like, delays etc. Play it by ear see how things go. If things are looking good, then by all means head into a park and enjoy an afternoon there, if not enjoy the pool, DTD or explore the resorts. Hit the parks full force the next day.

Thats what I would do.

 

[luv]

I'd take it easy. But I would never get up at 4:00, so don't listen to me, lol!

Whatever you do, get that kid to bed early if you're going to make a rope drop!

 

[teddybearprek]

Having a 6 year old son myself, your original plans sound perfect! There are several cool activities for a little guy at Downtown Disney such as digging for Dino bones at T-Rex, build a Dino also at T-Rex, and going to town with building at the Lego store!

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

I would stick to them... maybe you could try out the new bowling lanes at Splitsville or Disney Quest with your grandson.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I believe of the total immersion theory of Disney, you're in Disney World, go to the Magic Kingdom for a while. When it's time to leave explain that you are going to go and eat with dinosaurs and take the monorail to TTC.

 

[Figgy1]

Depends on a few variables.... how many days will you be at Disney? If it is just a few, I would say go to a park and get some early magic - doesn't have to be MK - you could go over to AK and do the safari and maybe a few other things....then go to dinner...maybe even Rainforest Cafe or Tusker House (characters!!) then go back to hotel and get to sleep early.... but you know your grandson the best. How do you think he will do? will he be so excited he will be begging to go to a park?

How long is your trip? Seven or more days, I say chill and enjoy t-rex. Less? Hit a park! Have a wonderful time!!

What they said!

 

[bethymouse]

Grab a quick service meal at the "food court" at your resort. Explore the resort. Enjoy the pool! You can be rested and refreshed for the parks the next day IMHO.

 

[englanddg]

First, I do not think T-Rex will seem tame to a 5 year old in any way. My kid has always loved it, and we went the first time when she was 5.

We fly in on a very similar schedule (though, not 4a flight!), but by the time we get to MCO, ride the Magical Express, and get to the hotel, it's generally early to mid afternoon. 1 - 2p or so.

I go pick up my check in packet and I've lucked out and normally there's been a room available already...though if not, we'd check the bags with Bell Services (we do this on our last day)...

So, you asked "what do you do on your first day?"

Well, we arrive, check in, drop bags off in the room, and head to Magic Kingdom (preferably via EPCOT and the Monorail, time allowing). We have an early dinner / late lunch at Cindy's Royal Table, and putter around the park until the parade / fireworks.

This more or less how we've started every vacation at WDW since 2010...

 

[JIMINYCR]

A 5 year old, I'm betting it would be wiser to go with your plan to go over to DTD. Let him relax after that early morning flight then start out fresh and rested the next day. Lego shop in DTD would be a great start for a kid his age. Why chance a grumpy start to your Disney trip?

 

[englanddg]

A 5 year old, I'm betting it would be wiser to go with your plan to go over to DTD. Let him relax after that early morning flight then start out fresh and rested the next day. Lego shop in DTD would be a great start for a kid his age. Why chance a grumpy start to your Disney trip?

Every kid is different. My 5 year old had no trouble with respect to energy once she realized where we were going (which I saved for when we landed...she figured it out when she saw the ME busses. Unfortunantly, I didn't have the camera rolling, expecting the "big reveal" to be when she saw the Castle, though she was thrilled about that too!



To save you from watching the whole video (it's rather long, 10 mins), skip to 2 mins in to see our flight / her first day reactions. That was after me flying from Atlanta to meet her in DC pick her up, fly with her to MCO, take the ME, check in at CBR, go to EPCOT to snag a monorail to MK and then riding the Ferry in.

Far from a tired kid. 5 year olds can pull out amazing reserves of energy when excited.

She had no issues with being exhausted (until the bus ride home that night), and that day (my first day back to MK in over a decade and her first trip) is still one of my favorite trip memories ever.

 

[LizC]

Great

Every kid is different. My 5 year old had no trouble with respect to energy once she realized where we were going (which I saved for when we landed...she figured it out when she saw the ME busses. Unfortunantly, I didn't have the camera rolling, expecting the "big reveal" to be when she saw the Castle, though she was thrilled about that too!



To save you from watching the whole video (it's rather long, 10 mins), skip to 2 mins in to see our flight / her first day reactions. That was after me flying from Atlanta to meet her in DC pick her up, fly with her to MCO, take the ME, check in at CBR, go to EPCOT to snag a monorail to MK and then riding the Ferry in.

Far from a tired kid. 5 year olds can pull out amazing reserves of energy when excited.

She had no issues with being exhausted (until the bus ride home that night), and that day (my first day back to MK in over a decade and her first trip) is still one of my favorite trip memories ever.

Great video!