Do you do a park on you first full day or not ?

[Jimmy]

This is a dilemma we have this year, compared to other years.
We arrive on a Thurs and dont expect to be in the villa till early evening, but will do some shopping at Publix to stock up on the essentials etc..
We wouldnt normally do a park on our first full day as contrary to popular belief we dont seen to wake up early due to the time difference but seem just as tired, as the trip the day before makes it into a long day as we are up at 4am to get down to Gatwick (we are not staying overnight this year).

Now the dilemma is we would like to do a park on the Friday (first full day) ie Seaworld or Epcot just because of the fact the parks are always stated as being more busy over the weekend. If we were to take it easy on the Friday we would goto DTD and shop and have a meal at PH, but that means we would have to hit a park on the Saturday which seems like a bad idea?

Sunday also seems to a very busy day for the parks.

So its either

Fri - Seaworld/Epcot
Sat - free
Sun - AK

OR

Fri - free
Sat - MGM/Epcot
Sun - Seaworld


Any ideas, or what would you do ??

[Boomdocker]

We always do MK on our first full day for that instant disney fix, I dont want to waste a moment so we are straight out there.

[paulac]

Either Animal Kingdom or Seaworld on our first full day.


Paula

[traceyt]

we always do mk on our first full day, it's tradition. we always seem to wake up at about 5am the 1st day, so we're at the park before it opens!

[Sue]

I'd go for your first option, we could not be there and just laze/shop first day. Get into it, chill the Saturday for us!

[Boomdocker]

traceyt, SNAP! your a girl after my own heart. Its the only way to do it.

[Villainlover]

How about doing Animal Kingdom? This park closes early so you could just head home and have a meal in the villa .. pizza or chinese or something and have an early night :D

I wouldn't necessarily do Epcot or Sea World as these parks are good at taking larger crowds so we usually go here on a weekend or universal Studios..

We are flying on a Thursday too this year on a Scheduled via Chicago so will not arrive at Orlando until 7.30 pm but I havent started looking at busy days quiet days etc as I thought I would wait and see what kind of impact the EMH s have on levels.

But like I say from experience Epcot and Sea World are fine for a weekend... unless it is Food and Wine Festival as this can get busy at the weekends with locals (but this will not affect you)

[loadsapixiedust]

We have done Animal Kingdom starting with Breakfastosaurus on the first day before, but this time it will be shopping as we intend to travel light and get a lot of stuff over there. If by any chance we finish the shopping early, then we may go to a park for a couple of hours, but this is very unlikely. :wink

[batleyboy26]

No, we don't do anything, we are just too tired, although saying that, I am already thinking forward to next year and wondering whether or not to do AK on ouir first full day. Probably not, we like to chill by the pool and have a bit of a nap in the middle of the afternoon.

[essexmick]

most times we do SW on the first full day, as its more of a relaxing park imo

[Heffalump]

We always go straight to the parks.

This year, we'll be at the hotel by about 5pm and will go straight to MK and stay until closing. Then up the next day for breakfast at the Crystal Palace and off to Disney Studios for the rest of the day until closing. Can't miss a single minute! :D

T. xx :jump:

[Jimmy]

Originally posted by Heffalump

This year, we'll be at the hotel by about 5pm and will go straight to MK and stay until closing. Can't miss a single minute! :D

T. xx :jump:


crikey :omg:
dont u just wanna relax a little i could never go straight to a park on the same evening we arrive.

[Sue]

We ALWAYS do Epcot fireworks first night, lucky to stay on site and use their transport so no driving etc. It's become our tradition and we both feel once we are there watching Illuminations, that we have arrived at WDW and the holiday has really started. We do it the last night too!!!!!!

[big_dog_ush]

Since our very first trip we always go to Universal Studios on our first full day to take advantage of the early wake up that's inevitable on the first morning.

[BCKloon]

We had plans to do animal kingdom on the first day last year but went to wet and wild instead because the weather was nice and hot

[Darth Tater]

We did AK on our first full day last year. It worked well.

[Jools99]

We are also straight to MK on our first full day. It's a must for my family:D :D :D :D


Jools

[traceyt]

isn't it funny how we all have our little family traditions! my kids would kill me if i tried to do it any other way.

[BevS97]

we do a park everyday - well we might miss a day later in the holiday but certainly not right at the beginning.

We don't normally go to the park on travelling day, but last year had a superb flight time, landed at noon, in the hotel by 3, had a swim and were in MK by 6pm. We didn't do much but it was fantastic to just BE there.

[Mike]

Originally posted by BevS97


We don't normally go to the park on travelling day, but last year had a superb flight time, landed at noon, in the hotel by 3, had a swim and were in MK by 6pm. We didn't do much but it was fantastic to just BE there.

...I did the same at Epcot on my short trip last year, and I totally agree Bev, it's enough just being there!:jump:

I would do a park first (full) day everytime - what else you gonna do?:D

Mike

[lesley1960]

Yes we always do , the problem is deciding what park to do though

[DAN]

We don't usually visit a park on our first day and were definatly not this year because our flight into sanford arrives at midnight (Our Time) and we wouldn't be getting into the townhouse till gone 2am (Our Time). This leaves everyone very kraxy on the day after so we just stay in the townhouse and relax.

[trekkie]

For our first trip last year we just relaxed by the pool for the 1st day, but for our trip this year i'm thinking about going to the AK for the 1st day.

Tracy

[edie_w]

Crikey we're all up and raring to go before 8 (some of us, who will remain nameless, were up at 4am :angry:).

I couldn't possibly not go to a parK on our first day!

[peter+lynne]

we allways go to seaworld on the first day as it eases us in,and is probably oneof my most favorite parks.

[Sam_Smith]

We did EPCOT on our first full day.

NEVER AGAIN

Can I suggest a smaller more laid back park - like AK

:wink

[Claire_L]

We always do a park. Last October we did a bit of essential shopping at Publix in the morning then went to EPCOT around midday and stayed til the end to watch Illuminations which was really special as it was DMIL's first time to WDW or the US for that matter. This year its just DH and I so we will be going to MGM for some rides then doing the Illuminations cruise as it is our wedding anniversary the first full day we are there :)
Claire :wink

[Jimmy]

WOW so far 44 votes yes and 15 votes no

Looks like we might be doing Seaworld on the Friday then !!

[Jes]

We will definately be going to one of the parks on our first day (probably MGM as DBF is most looking forward to the Star Tours ride!!!!) When you arrive you are full of energy and excitement so you might as well use it!!!! DM and I went to MK on our first day the last time.

June


:jump: :jump: :jump:

[Isaac]

We are usually up very early on our first morning (must be the body clock thing) so we always go to the Magic Kingdom. Just stroll around soaking up the apmosphere get on any ride that has either no queue or a short wait. Have a lesiurely lunch go back to the resort for a swim, nap, or a laze around the pool. Back to the park around 6pm have a meal if possible in the Liberty Tree Tavern. Then take in the sights at night and wait with growing excitement to see our favourite parade Spectro Magic.
Then back to the resort satisfied and happy to have had our first Disney Fix. And so to bed, sweet dreams about Mickey and his friends. Ah what a day!

Isaac.

[kirstielou]

We uaualy arrive late evening so our 1st day we go out for Breakfast at Denny's then go to Walmart for the groceries. Then back to the villa and unpack groceries then either chill out by the pool or zap out for some retail therapy

[Ails34]

We will be arriving around 4pm on the Thursday so we are going to do MK on our first day. The only draw back is that it is the first day of MNSSHP and closes around 5pm but I reckon by then we will be ready to go and get something to eat then back to the villa.:D :D

[GerryH]

It's strange how people react differently to the travelling on the way out.

I have no problems with a later start any other day but on the first morning I'm always awake by about 5am no matter how late we arrived the night before.

We always do a park on our first day and usually book a breakfast at Boma that morning as we know we'll have no problem being up and out at the crack of dawn.

On the one occassion DW and I visited Orlando without the kids we were in Walmart at about 6am killing time until the hotel restaurant opened for breakfast!!!

[jojj]

on our first full day - youngest work up very early around 5 ish am orlando time so we were raring to go by 7am!!

[BevS97]

we have often been in Walmart at 6am as well. We find we are always WIDE awake by 5am for the first few days.

[amybecca]

Last year we arrived on a Thursday & it was the Saturday before we did a park, but this year with only 2 weeks & so much to do we'll be doing the MK on our first day.

[dcmax]

Yes last time it was sea world and it was christmas day... We were there for about 7.50am and in to watch the flag and await the chain drop to Kraken, 1 hour later we had ridden Kraken several times in the rain with a family from Yorkshire... It was really cold thoug.. BBRRRR

[highlander447]

for us its AK and breakfastsorous as its not such a heavy duty park to do:beer:

[BUSBY182]

Always Always MK first day:jump: :jump: :jump:

[Sarah84]

We plan on doing a park on our first full day have no tiem to waste :D

[mallaeus]

the answer. too bloody right.
we didn't on our first trip in september last year as we were curfewed all of our first full day due to hurricane jeanne.
but this year we went o ak on our first day
i am always tempted to do our fave first which is ioa but the anticipation is much better so we do that 2nd day.
Lee and Tracey

[Lesley_Perschky]

What parks are near to LBV? As we are going to the TCD welcome meeting on our first full day, so would like to get straight to the parks after.

[Claire_L]

The closest park to the LBV area is EPCOT and then MGM.

Disney Map (http://www.mydisneyworld.com/images/maps/disney-world-all-parks-map.jpg)


Claire :wink

[Jimmy]

Well we have decided and its going to be Epcot for our first day on the Friday.
With so much to do and not enough time it seems sensible to do Epcot on a day where it is not a EMH and keep the Saturday free for DTD. Then its off to Seaworld on the Sunday.

[Claire_L]

Originally posted by Jimmy
Well we have decided and its going to be Epcot for our first day on the Friday.
With so much to do and not enough time it seems sensible to do Epcot on a day where it is not a EMH and keep the Saturday free for DTD. Then its off to Seaworld on the Sunday.

Sounds like a great idea to me :D :D

Claire :wink

[Jimmy]

Originally posted by Claire_L
Sounds like a great idea to me :D :D

Claire :wink

Thanks :D
I have my itinerary sorted and will post it over the next few days to make sure i havent missed anything.

[hali]

we are new to all this, arriving sat pm at the end of August wahats best to do 1st and what parks on what days????

[Rowan]

Always do a park on our first full day as the DD's can't wait any longer than that

[hotice56]

also curious about this...we arrive 3p.m on a Thursday....first visit for us...so excited:jump:

[mousse]

It'll be our first time as well in April - we arrive at airport about 3pm - next morning we're not planning to do much - perhaps laze by the pool, and just get our bearings as to where everything is. Perhaps hit a park later in day.

[traceyt]

you'll probably find that you are all awake by 5-5.30am!! this is why we always do magic kingdom on our first day - we're there for opening and beat the crowds. by the 2nd week you start to tire a bit and get there a bit later.

[hotice56]

was thinking of a food shop,pool,eating andthen old town to see the bike meet,just to ease us in gently as this is our first visit.does that sound ok or not ?

[wilkins76]

we always do Sea world as its a quiet day usually

[Madmilomutt]

We always do a park on our first full day. What other way is there to enter into the disney spirit.:D