Arrival day..what should we do?
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We are arriving to WDW in 9 days at about 2:30pm (there are 8 of us). I want something to do on arrival day and not sure if we should do Disney Quest (we do not have the water park and more option) or add another park day and do EP or HS. OR there is always DTD and swimming. I just have too many options and not sure which way we should go. Can we add an extra day when we arrive if we choose to do that? What are your expert opinions?
I'm sure you can add a day when you arrive but sometimes after the travel day it's nice to swim and shop a little and you could grab dinner at DTD after hitting a few stores
I think I'd prefer to spend time at the pool and resort and then go to a resort restaurant for dinner and then have an early evening in so you can go bright and early the next day.
'Ohana is always a fun choice for a first night meal. We've also do 1900 Park Faire and Chef Mickey's before. And if it's too hard to get a reservation at those, try some more 'obscure' places like Maya Grille at CSR or Olivia's at OKW.
We like the resort restaurants over DTD on the first night just because it seems more relaxing to roam a resort than a busy shopping area.
I'm not sure if your flight is landing at 2:30 or you are planning on getting to the hotel at 2:30, but even if you are getting into the hotel at 2:30, I would take your time and unpack and get settled into your hotel room. Maybe take some time and explore the resort or spend some time at the pool. Have a nice dinner somewhere, and either go to a park to catch the night time fireworks/parade/show (if you decide to add an extra day), or just go to Downtown Disney and do some shopping. Any of these options will allow you to relax and get to bed early so that you can get going bright and early the next day! If you do decide to add an extra day, you should be able to do that at check it, and it shouldn't be too much assuming you are staying for approx. a week, since the longer you stay the less it costs per day. Have a great trip!!!
You can add an extra day on your tickets at any time during your stay, it doesn't have to be on the first day. Any customer service Kiosk in front of the parks can do it.
I think from Texas it's about a 4 hr flight? We freq. transfer in Houston, with Continental.
But with the size and ages of your family, I would think about just settling in, unpacking, explore your resort, swim, grab a dinner at your resort food court or restaurant, (can't remember where you are staying) and have an early night, so everyone's ready to go the next morning bright and early for rope drop.
Again, depending on your resort, some have varying evening activities, or outside movies too. They will all be listed on your activity sheet in your Welcome Packet on arrival.
Sue M- I'm glad you mentioned the resort activities. I forgot that many of them now have movies set up by the pool area at night, so eating at the resort after an afternoon at the pool and then a movie before bedtime is a great way to start the day.
I would take my time to settle in my room, explore the resort, maybe go for a nice relaxing swim. Maybe head to DTD for dinner and a little shopping. Make it an early night, so you'll be fully rested and can hit the parks in the morning!!
I agree with making use of your resort.. we like to take it "easy" on the first day .. swimming , a DTD or resort dinner and then an early turn in to be charged up for the next day. It is vacation, be sure to relax a little.
....normally we get to the resort by 11am...so we just like to settle in...unpack...grab lunch at the food court.....swim a little...and then head off to DtD for dinner and the required shopping in the evening. It makes for a pretty low key first day.......
Assuming you are arriving at the airport at 2:30 pm. Single people and couples can easily just hop into the parks but not a large group of people. Arrange for dinner at a resort or DTD. Settle into your room and explore. There is organizing and unpacking to do. Finding things you need like forgotten toothpaste. Sit down to discuss plans that might have changed such as the resort now offers a program you want to try.
I would allow two hours for getting to the resort and make sure kids are sitting in front of the screens not way far away from them on the bus. After your exploration you can do dinner then rest up for the nest day. I would not add another day to the parkhopper unless you all agree to stay up late at a park. You would get maybe 5 hours at night during the peak time of the day. I did Epcot on my first day but I have an AP and a scooter and nobody with me, I would not be able to do that with kids in tow.
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We always do arrival day as a swim/resort day and then a nice dinner that evening. Someone mentioned O'Hana the first night I think that is a great idea because if you plan it right and get a good table you can watch the fireworks from O'Hana.
We are a park kind of family. As soon as we get there, we head out to a park. Last time we got to Epcot around 4 or 4:30 and were able to hit all the attractions that were on our list & eat dinner there, quick service. I say go to a park!
Funny, I just asked a similar question. after many responses I decided on settling into our resort than heading to DTD later for dinner and Disney Quest. I think for my family this will be the best solution seeing our traveling day we have to wake at 4:00 am to get to the airport and by the afternoon I think we will all be exhausted. I think your plan of possibly Disney Quest is a good one
Thank you for all of your replies. As @renbugs said we will be awakening early in the morning and traveling most of the day. I think we will just get settled in our rooms, explore the resort and DTD with a possibility of DQ. I am thinking of eating at DTD but from what I have searched it is impossible to get ADR's for 8 at this point so we may just end up having to wait in standby (I shudder at this thought). Any suggestions?
About This Page: This is a discussion on Arrival day..what should we do? within the Touring the 'World': The Parks at Walt Disney World, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; We are arriving to WDW in 9 days at about 2:30pm (there are 8 of us). I want something to ...
Funny, I just asked a similar question. after many responses I decided on settling into our resort than heading to DTD later for dinner and Disney Quest. I think for my family this will be the best solution seeing our traveling day we have to wake at 4:00 am to get to the airport and by the afternoon I think we will all be exhausted. 
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