Your First Day When you Arrive at your Resort!

real mad hatter

real mad hatter

Well-Known Member
So Iam curious to what you do when you finally book into your resort the first day or night,depending when you arrive.We arrive around 4.00pm,all going to plan flight wise.So it's off to MK for Haunted Mansion and then something to eat at CHH then just spend that first night strolling around and take in "Wishes". Do you have a plan of strategy that first day/night? Also is there something you always do as a family tradition that first day/night.:)
 
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eddiemcgarrigle

eddiemcgarrigle

Well-Known Member
First full day is always an 8.05 am breakfast at Crystal Palace followed by a jaunt around the Magic Kingdom.

As to the first day (and like you, my fellow Scotsman) we don't usually arrive until around 5pm so we usually take a wander around the resort. Depending on how tired our son is, we will then just go back to our room or go get something to eat. Usually we head for Downtown (due to it's close proximity to POFQ) but next time we are heading for the Beach Club so we'll likely head for Beaches & Cream before letting my son loose on the beach, possibly settling down and taking in a movie if one is on.
 
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real mad hatter

real mad hatter

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Plowboy said:
Since we fly in from California, we usually arrive late afternoon/early evening. We usually head over to the Boardwalk area, eat dinner, and just call it a day. A very long day!
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Hold the phone! Your flight from California to Florida I would guess would be around 4 hrs 30 mins.That's half my flying time,you can't be that pooped,unless you've got little ones.Anyway,thanks for your answer.:)
 
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LowesChevy

LowesChevy

Well-Known Member
Its only about a two hour flight from CLE, but you are up early in the morning. We usually arrive around 1-2 PM at the resort and have lunch. By that time usually the room is ready and we move right in. Typically we do not go to the park till the next day so we go to Publix and get goodies like snacks and beer. Later on I like to make an adr forCitricos or California Grill that first night. Its to bed early to rest up for rope drop at the MK the next morning. :cool:

This trip will be a bit different as we are staying at Universal for a couple of nights before heading to BLT. I think we will head over mid afteroon and check in and purchase our tickets.
 
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real mad hatter

real mad hatter

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
LowesChevy said:
Its only about a two hour flight from CLE, but you are up early in the morning. We usually arrive around 1-2 PM at the resort and have lunch. By that time usually the room is ready and we move right in. Typically we do not go to the park till the next day so we go to Publix and get goodies like snacks and beer. Later on I like to make an adr forCitricos or California Grill that first night. Its to bed early to rest up for rope drop at the MK the next morning. :cool:

This trip will be a bit different as we are staying at Universal for a couple of nights before heading to BLT. I think we will head over mid afteroon and check in and purchase our tickets.
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I take it you've already made that ADR for those restaurants quoted for your first night.:)
 
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MagicMike

MagicMike

Well-Known Member
Driving usually puts us arriving very late. After getting out of car and kissing the pavement we drop off the luggage at our room. Our tradition is to head to the resort food court, get an ice cream nightcap, and wonder through the gift shops. Being surrounded by all that wonderful Disney consumerism is good for the soul and really signifies our trip has officially started.
 
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Mr_Incredible

Mr_Incredible

Well-Known Member
This year will be different, we will be driving, after work, till we hopefully arrive at POR around 11:30pm. If we hustle, we may be able to get to the river roost for a drink, if not, we will be bringing champagne and drinks to celebrate......

Saturday, we will be going to Cpn cooks at the poly for tonga toast....then DTD during the day, capping off the amazing begining to our vacation at Cape May Clam Bake...then drinks/strolling around the board walk (which in my 20+ trips to the world as a kid and adult, i've never been to the boardwalk) VERY EXCITED!!!
 
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wsmith1978

wsmith1978

Well-Known Member
real mad hatter said:
So Iam curious to what you do when you finally book into your resort the first day or night,depending when you arrive.We arrive around 4.00pm,all going to plan flight wise.So it's off to MK for Haunted Mansion and then something to eat at CHH then just spend that first night strolling around and take in "Wishes". Do you have a plan of strategy that first day/night? Also is there something you always do as a family tradition that first day/night.:)
Click to expand...

Our first day is remarkably similar to yours, even down to eating at CHH. The only difference is that we always ride IASW first.
 
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foreverbelle

foreverbelle

Well-Known Member
If it is me and the hubs only trip, we arrive as early as we can, check in to the resort change into anything-I usually am freezing on the planes.-and once we do that we hit up Earl of Sandwich for lunch before we hit the parks. If its with the little one, then we usually try to get him to take a nap-yeah right-before hitting somewhere..

This year we are driving down, and we aren't exactly sure when we will be arriving. After a long drive from Northern VA, we totally plan on playing it by ear before hitting our dinner ressies at Kona....
 
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MouseDreaming

MouseDreaming

Well-Known Member
We typically have very little luck with our flights being on time. Because of that, we usually find ourselves actually on property around 10PM (once as "early" as 1:30 AM.) Because of this, I never make a ressie. If we do more than eat whatever we can wherever we can, that is pretty amazing. Interestingly enough, the next morning is usually the only time the whole trip that I can rouse the family before 9. That day is usually Sunday-- an all out MK day, with dinner at Tony's, and EMH at night. Somewhere in there, we also work in the first Pineapple float.
 
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71dsp

71dsp

Well-Known Member
We tried the red-eye flight, go to the parks all day, etc. this past trip. Didn't like it one bit. I'm happy to pay for the extra night to arrive on a Friday night instead of a Saturday morning. Our flight time is not bad, but the airport is 45 minutes away and getting up before 4 to make a 6:15 flight was no fun! :)

We did try the late night check in as well. Didn't like that either. Made it to the resort at 9:30, but our bags didn't make it until nearly midnight.

This time around we're hoping to take a 2 o'clock flight and get to the resort around 6. Just enough time to go somewhere for dinner and maybe take a stroll around MK. We did a late afternoon flight once and got to the resort a little after dinner time. That worked out pretty good, so I'm hoping the 2 o'clock flight is just about right. :)
 
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plaz10

plaz10

Well-Known Member
Our plan differs depending on what hour we get in. Usually it's been off to EPCOT to ride SSE (my fav) and then eat somewhere counter service

This year I believe we're heading to AK (to get it out of the way - not worth a park morning) to grab some Flame Tree and hit up the majors before heading to EPCOT for dinner.
 
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Pooh Lover

Pooh Lover

Well-Known Member
Usually we fly in (after a 2 hour flight) anywhere between 10 and 2 pm, catch our limo, stop at a grocery store on way to resort and hit the ground running to any park for lunch. Coming in a little late this year (1:30 pm) so will probably skip lunch and do as much of a park as we can until time to head for 'Ohana for dinner.
 
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