Disney Park for our First Day

[paulap]

We arrive in Florida early evening so plan on going straight out for some food and then bed.

The kids want to do a Disney park on our first day and I wonder which one people would recommend.

My first thought was AK as it appears to be a day (not evening) park but I may be wrong as I've never been there. MK is tempting but I know I will not be able to tear them away as they will want to stay for the parade and fireworks and I think this will be too much on the first day.

Any thoughts?

[BevS97]

we always go to Magic Kingdom - I need to see the castle and walk down main street. I would plan to leave before the parade, and come back and do those another day.

AK is a great park, but it's not the main attraction, the one they have been waiting months to visit.

[*Princess Jade*]

We always go AK on the first day. It closes at 5pm i think so it'll ease you into Floridian time and your holiday...
Most things to do here are easy going like the kilamanjaro safari. (Although theres still everest fo the kids!)

MK is obviously one of the favs but we prefer to wait for the 2nd/3rd day to do it as wishes and spectromagic make it a very long and tiring 1st day...everyone is different though as ive seen on here before that many like to visit the castle (understanderably) straight away :D

Good luck choosing! :spin:

[kelphil]

We always go AK on the first day. It closes at 5pm i think so it'll ease you into Floridian time and your holiday...
Most things to do here are easy going like the kilamanjaro safari. (Although theres still everest fo the kids!)

MK is obviously one of the favs but we prefer to wait for the 2nd/3rd day to do it as wishes and spectromagic make it a very long and tiring 1st day...everyone is different though as ive seen on here before that many like to visit the castle (understanderably) straight away :D

Good luck choosing! :spin:


We do exactley the same :thumbs-up

[BevS97]

you don't have to do everything on your first visit though - we do MK but we don't stay for Wishes or Spectro. We will be back to MK many times over the 2 weeks, so we don't need to see it all on our first trip.

[disney dave]

we ALWAYS go to MK first day, if tired come out early evening, can always go back. our kids, who are now 19 and 20 always go to MK first day when they go on their own. MK always seems to set the standard of happy things to come.............

david and lesley :grin:

[slicer]

We always do AK on our 1st day. The animals are more active during the early hours and as you will still be on UK time arriving at rope drop will not be a problem. You can do most things by 3:30pm and can head back home as you will be tiring by then. If you feel ok after a shower/rest you can always visit a park for a stroll and the fireworks.
I suspect that you will be worn out though.

[BrerVixen]

Magic Kingdom, it's the original, and best! Definatly the 1st park one should go to

[mallaeus]

i would totally agree with ak then your not tempted to saty late , as you will be up at daft o clock in the morning . Its a nice easy park not too much queueing and you will be able to have a earlyish night to reserve energy till u get used to the time difference.
we did AK first park last time without the kids and we're planning to do AK first park when we go back in 2009 with the kids.
Lee

[MrB]

We did AK on the first day - our children were 6 years - it was a Sunday and the park was quietish. We allowed a couple of days to get over the journey , get use to the Florida environment befor going to MK.

[leicesterbob]

I also think that some of the other parks could come as a bit of an anti-climax to younger kids if you do MK first. I would build up to it and do it mid-holiday but there are so many different views on this.

It also depends what day you arrive as you need to avoid EMH unless you are staying onsite.

[disneydaft70]

we always go to Magic Kingdom - I need to see the castle and walk down main street

And the smell of Main Street Bakery up your nose *sighs*

MK a definite first park :thumb:

[pinkypominnie]

We go to MK on the first day - to me its what going to disney is all about :) We normally get there for opening and stay until 3/4ish, then come back another day mid-afternoon and stay until closing for the fireworks and evening parade xx

[vendeefan]

AK for our 1st Day on our 1st trip this year. Would definitely recommend to get a feel for how parks work!

MK for the 2nd day though!

[hiddenmickey94]

don't go to a park on the day you arrive!!!!!!!!!!!
you'll be jetlaged and you won't find the energy to go on anything!!!!!! go to Downtown Disney for some food and taken a rest, then after a nice sleep wake up the next day and then go to a park. my familly went to Magic Kingdom.......if the day is saturday don't go to Mk go to a different park because it gets packed with the americans on the weekend

[ethanjosh]

AK is the sensible choice, it's more layed back and an easier 1st day. MK is possible the more exciting choice, you really feel like your in Disney when you walk down main st looking at the castle, it's an un-forgettable experience :thumbs-up

[BevS97]

I also think that some of the other parks could come as a bit of an anti-climax to younger kids if you do MK first. I would build up to it and do it mid-holiday but there are so many different views on this.

I guess that depends on how often you are planning on visiting each park - if you are only going to do MK once then I might wait, but as I know we will be back many times then we don't find it a problem, and all the other parks have plenty to offer to the kids as well.

[Kirky123]

Although i am always desperate to see MK we find this too much walking for the first day as it is so big and we want to go on everything if we go there.

We always do AK or seaworld on the first day because both parks have lots of shows to sit and watch when we are hot and tired.

:wavey: