Your First Day When you Arrive at your Resort!

[real mad hatter]

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.

 

[onesandzeros]

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.

I too fly from California (San Francisco). I take a red-eye flight and from my front door (5pm pacific) to MCO (8:30am eastern (5:30am pacific)) takes around 12 hours. There’s an hour and a half drive to the airport, one/two hours at the airport, an hour layover in Atlanta. While I wait for my room to be ready I always take the monorail resort loop, stopping at each resort for a quick look around, and then a boat ride over to Fort Wilderness. Dinner is always at the Earl of Sandwich and then a gooood nights sleep!!!

 

[NemoRocks78]

I like to drop everything off and get right over to EPCOT, of course!

 

[spacemt354]

We drive down every trip! We go down with a lot of people too, so I'm the one that gets thrown in the 3rd row seat with all the luggage haha! It's okay though because I know in about 18 hours, I'm going to be in the best place in the world. We usually stop around 3 am and pull into a rest area in South Carolina for some "rest." Athough my family can sleep, I can't sleep when I know Disney World is so close. So I usually end up listening to my ipod till the sun comes up and then we are off!

Then once we arrive and check into the hotel, the first thing we do is actually turn on the television, and turn to Channel 19 which is the WDW today station. Once we hear that channel's background music and see the park hours go across the screen, we know we are in disney. Then depending on where we are staying, our first park is either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. And although by this point I've stayed up 24+ hours ...it doesn't matter. Once I ride the monorail, or hear the train, or see the iconic structures of the disney parks, there is no need for sleep. I'm in Disney World!

 

[Patricia Melton]

This is how I have always traveled, as it works best for me:

1. Fly in on the first flight in the morning. I like waking up early, having a cab take us to the airport (cheaper than driving and paying for parking while we are gone...and I hate bothering friends for a ride), having a little breakfast at the airport, then napping on the plane.

2. Arrive in Orlando and take the Magical Express. I like staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge and that's where we've stayed the last 5 years now. Before that, we stayed at the Contemporary.

3. Arrive at the hotel and immediately unpack the bags and then I like to take a shower and wash off that airplane/traveling feeling (because I feel gross having been in the plane and flying over the country like that)

4. Change into something comfy and head down to lunch.

5. Change into swimsuit after lunch and relax by the pool for the rest of the day.

6. In the evening, do a nice stroll around the resort grounds.

7. People watch outside somewhere for little while before dinner.

8. Treat myself to a very nice dinner somewhere that is usually the most expensive meal I have on vacation (for some reason, I really like doing this the first night I am there. It just makes the trip feel so special to start it off by splurging. I don't like to eat heavy on days I am in the parks, so that arrival day is the day when I just relax and have a big meal).

9. Go to sleep at a decent hour, though I love watching local news in Florida. Don't know why, but I am so tempted to stay up late just watching the local news in Orlando because almost every story is so alien to what we have back in Ohio.

10. Wake up early the next day ready and rested for the parks!

*************

I have an end of vacation tradition too.

We always fly out on the last flight available in the evening when we return home. The morning we are leaving we have our bags stored and we hit the parks one last time. I love to cram in one last trip on Haunted Mansion. Then we pop over to Epcot for lunch somewhere my husband likes. Then we go over to Hollywood Studios for one last piece of grapefruit cake at Brown Derby. Then we go to Animal Kingdom for an hour or two just to walk around (not trying to get on any rides). I like to get some Flametree BBQ as the last thing we eat before we think about getting to the airport. Then it's just back over to the Lodge, get the bags, and get on Magic Express back to the airport....and then fly home.

The only day we use a park hopper is that last day. It is a family tradition of ours to have an "Amazing Race" kind of adventure on the last day, visiting all four parks before we have to go to the airport. We've always had more than enough time to do this, too. But we might spend less than an hour in MK that last morning. Sometimes we have breakfast at Cinderella's Table that last morning in Orlando so we can see all the princesses one last time (if my nice and nephew are with us).

 

[real mad hatter]

Okay. Here's how a typical day goes when flying from Sacramento, CA. (Assuming a 6-7:00 a.m. flight)

Get up at 3:00 a.m. pst. Leave home about 3:30-3:45 a.m. and drive the 65 +/- miles to the airport arriving about 4:45 a.m. Depart SMF about 6-7:00 a.m. and fly 2 hrs to DEN arriving 9-9:30 mst. Layover of approx 1-1.5 hrs, then fly 3.5-4 hrs to MCO. Arrive MCO around 5:00 p.m est +/-. Gather bags and go over to DME for the ride to the world. Arrive WDW around 6-7:00 p.m., check in, then hop a bus to DHS, and stretch the legs with a walk over to the Boardwalk area. Have a beer or three (and a cheeseburger) at Big River Grille. By now it's about 9:00 p.m. est (6:00 p.m. pst) and we've only been at it for 15-16 hrs. We still wander the boardwalk/Beach & Yacht clubs, have to hop a bus to Downtown Disney and transfer to our hotel. By now it's 11:00 p.m. est and we've been at it for about 17-18 hrs. I'm tired just thinking about it!

Wow,That is a long day,but ive got you beat. We leave our house on Saturday morning and drive 2 hrs 30 mins to Glasgow,go to the movies,then have dinner,then head to the airport hotel for a few drinks and early nights sleep,get up at 6.00 am for breakfast,leave hotel and board plane at 9.30 am and 9 hrs plus arrive at Sanford.Approx 33 hrs since we left our house.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

We always fly into MCO very early, like 6-7am. The flight only takes 2 hours to get to Orlando, so we arrive at the resort fairly early and check-in. If the room isn't ready, we have lunch then head out to a park, Epcot or MK traditionally. Wait for the text that our room is ready and go back to unpack, unwind and rest a little and head back out for the evening at that same park.

 

[disneylemons]

To get to an airport in any direction we have a 3 hour drive - so we usually arrive late at night - so usually get my free resort mug - grab a diet Coke and chill and anticipate the next day.. If I'm too wound up to sleep I like to walk around the resort and soak up the atmosphere.

 

[MrsG]

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.

 

[MrsG]

We arrive about 16:00 and usually just unpack, take in the atmosphere of the grounds with a little walk around them. Usually go for a beer grab somthing to eat and have an early night from the 10 hour flight. Always first full day, Magic Kingdom, when you see the castle, you know you are there

 

[real mad hatter]

We arrive about 16:00 and usually just unpack, take in the atmosphere of the grounds with a little walk around them. Usually go for a beer grab somthing to eat and have an early night from the 10 hour flight. Always first full day, Magic Kingdom, when you see the castle, you know you are there

Whit! 10 hours from the UK? What type of plane is Virgin using ? Indianna Jones can can do it in 8 hours.

 

[disneygirl76]

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.

When we get to WDW and check in, we first unpack, then explore the resort, perhaps hitting the pool. We then get ready to go to Epcot and have dinner at the Rose and Crown for Illuminations! It is our favorite tradition! Then the next day, is MK all day! We try to plan it when MK has EMH in the evening so we get there for rope drop, and we have the path we follow and head back to the resort for a rest after lunch and come back and do EMH at MK. I love it!

 

[fractal]

We take the earliest flight available. Usually land at MCO around 9:30-10:00am. Grap DME to our resort. We check into the resort - leave our carry on bags with bell service and head out to a park. 1st day is a great day!

 

[Ex-Floridian]

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....

We are with you! Airffare is so high right now! We will be driving from the Boston area about 7am, hit my cousins in VA Beach for dinner and then back on the road to South Carolina LATE for some sleep;. Next day will be driving to Orange Park, FL (for a nice Sat afternoon and night with friends) and then Sunday am off to the Beach Club!

Our first day will be at the MK as it is open until 1am! We hit the rides in the back of the park while the fireworks go on...no lines!

 

[foreverbelle]

We are with you! Airffare is so high right now! We will be driving from the Boston area about 7am, hit my cousins in VA Beach for dinner and then back on the road to South Carolina LATE for some sleep;. Next day will be driving to Orange Park, FL (for a nice Sat afternoon and night with friends) and then Sunday am off to the Beach Club!

Our first day will be at the MK as it is open until 1am! We hit the rides in the back of the park while the fireworks go on...no lines!

Sounds a lot like what we are doing, we will be hitting up NC for dinner really quick (my sis lives in Raleigh) before finally getting to SC late on Wed night....since I will have to work on Wednesday, its going to be a long day but will totally be worth it when we arrive...

 

[Ex-Floridian]

Sounds a lot like what we are doing, we will be hitting up NC for dinner really quick (my sis lives in Raleigh) before finally getting to SC late on Wed night....since I will have to work on Wednesday, its going to be a long day but will totally be worth it when we arrive...

That's what we think. When I used to live in FL and drove up here to see my family, it was to save $$$$. Now I will do the reverse!

 

[Plowboy]

Wow,That is a long day,but ive got you beat. We leave our house on Saturday morning and drive 2 hrs 30 mins to Glasgow,go to the movies,then have dinner,then head to the airport hotel for a few drinks and early nights sleep,get up at 6.00 am for breakfast,leave hotel and board plane at 9.30 am and 9 hrs plus arrive at Sanford.Approx 33 hrs since we left our house.

Touche'. 33 hrs??? Wholey Guacamole!!!

 

[DisneyDelirious]

Always an early start to get the first flight at the airport. Hit CBR around 1, do the express check in, and off the the Magic Kingdom. We start and end each trip at MK. Getting off that bus and seeing the train station, Main Street USA, the sights, the smells, it all comes back in an instant. Hit Splash and BTMRR before dinner. First meal is always Crystal Palace. Hit Splash and BTMRR, watch the parade, enjoy Wishes, and get ready for the next fun filled day.

 

[disney magic 06]

We arrive late afternoon, unpack, collect refillable mugs and depending where we are staying, head off out. If w are at the 'bottom' end e go to downtown Disney, wander around, have a few drinks overlooking the lake then go to Earl, we are never very hungry after a long flight.
If we stay at WL we go to MK, have a few rides and eat at Cosmic Rays.
This year was coherent as we had had a few days at Universal first, so e were

 

[koryadams]

I have done many different things...
2012-Check in around 4pm and then checked out resort and settled in, then MK for the evening
2010-2011-Checked into hotel by Downtown Disney, then next day start at DTD then check into resort then go to MK
2007-2009-with school band
2005-2006-Checked into outside hotel near Orlando, then next day check in early and go to DTD, then go back to unpack then MK
2003-basically the same
1995-2002-stayed in grandparents Florida house (then they sold it)
1994-first trip, checked into outside hotel, then checked in next day and went to Epcot?
AND this December, the plan is to check in around 4pm and then go to Epcot for Candle Light processional

 

[olinecoach61]

This year we are scheduled to land around noon. We will hit the poly pool and beach for the afternoon. We then have dinner scheduled at chef mickeys. Should be exciting for my three year old!