WDW: Arrival Day Ideas

Walt Disney World: Arrival Day Ideas

Today's post is about a common question that I often hear...

"What should we do on arrival day?"

Most people don't want to just sit at the hotel on that first night because they are all wired up from that magic that sets in when they arrive. This being said, they also don't want to waste a park day on a few hours and a couple of rides.

Here are my top five suggestions for that first night in Disney:

5. Resort Hidden Mickeys

When you check into the resort, ask the front desk if they have a Hidden Mickey list. If you are new to Hidden Mickeys, you can always ask the cast member to explain how it works. We love to explore the grounds and learn our way around while looking for those rascally Mickeys!



4. Resort Hopping

One of our favorite things to do on that first day is to utilize the Disney transportation and just hop around. We don't plan on going anywhere specific, but we usually start out by getting to the TTC. From there we take the first monorail, resort boat or bus we see. Each resort has activities that are free for anyone visiting. Just ask the front desk for an activities calendar. We have also found some yummy snacks on our hopping trips...like the tie-dye cheesecake at POP or Dole Whip at the Poly! Also, check out Yehaa Bob if at Port Orleans! He's great!!


3. Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney is a must for us every trip. We love some of the dining options there and we also love the shopping. If you have never been, it can be overwhelming so some planning is in order. Contact your travel professional (*clears throat*) or do some research on your own to see what might interest you. We usually try to visit Disney's Days of Christmas, D Street, Goofy's Candy Co. and of course World of Disney (which is the world largest Disney Character store). Our favorite dining options include Wolfgang Puck Express, Raglan Road and Earl of Sandwich.


2. Dinner Shows

I have been to both Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness and the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney's Polynesian Resort...and I loved them both!!! What a great way to celebrate your first night in Disney. Both offer great food, great entertainment and unlimited beer and wine included in the cost of the show! Utilize those Disney buses to get home safely :)


1. Hard Ticket Events

By far the best thing that we have done on an arrival night is to visit Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. The party doesn't start until 7:00 pm, however they will allow you entry to the park as early as 4:00 pm. That is quite a good value for the cost of the ticket, if you use your time wisely! Use those first couple of hours to grab a bite to eat and possibly get a couple of rides out of the way before the festivities ensue. Same goes for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! What a magical way to start your vacation!!!