What do you like to do on your first day???

[Mari]

I love to tour the hotel and then visit Magic Kingdom...

Nothing compares to looking at the castle for the first time :yes:

[Isafari]

We don't arrive until the evening so we just stock up at Publix, sometimes have a swim and unpack.

[foreverducky]

I tend to do Downtown Disney that first day, as I usually don't arrive till later in the day. :D

[Skywatcher]

From the Uk the arrival day is a wipeout - we usually arrive at the hotel about 6pm and we have so far that day been on a plane for 10 hours waiting in an airport for 3 and up at the crack of Dawn before then - so usually the only thing we can do is sleep.

The first day proper is always MK for us - its the rule!! have to say hello to the mouse :D

[Slowhand]

Like most Brits, it`s late afternoon before we arrive at our villa.
It`s then a case of unpacking and a quick visit to a local Publix to stock up on some essential items.
We have also made a ritual of having dinner at Key W Kools on US192 on the first night as it is near to the villa and the food there is very good.
By 10.00pm we are ready to crash out, safely in the knowledge that we will be guaranteed to wake up at some unearthly hour the following morning!

[Taja]

We usually arrive very late afternoon to early evening, depending on flight schedules, so we don't do a lot unless one of the parks has a very late EMH.

And we rarely get much sleep the night before, unless Leu flies into Phoenix and we stay at an airport hotel that night. If we're home, we're usually up all night trying to be sure everything is done before we leave! She likes to be sure Grandpa Sweetie's laundry is done, food is in the refrigerator and freezer with a preparation list for him and various other things. I'm usually trying to finish packing, tying up loose ends for work and being sure everything is turned on or off, properly set and locked, etc. :rolleyes:

Even the first day usually is spent recovering from the preparation! :lol: We don't get moving until about 10:00 a.m. (7:00 a.m. our time)--and have been known to sleep in until noon on occasion! :lol:

[Watchinherskip]

First day for us is pretty much the same each time. We usually vacation with my brother and his family. We fly from Virginia so we get there pretty early in the day, usually too early to check in, so we pack our bathing suits in our over night bags, take them out, check the bags in to be delivered and wait by the pool for the rest of our party. Then we either go downtown or go to AK as there isn't as much must do's there.

[meeshybee]

I can't really say what we "usually" do since I haven't been in 10 yrs and never with my kids, but I can say what I plan to do.

Arrival Day: Kiss the ground when we finally get out of the car after the 10/12 hour car ride with a 4 and almost 3 yo. Check in, get kids settled, then make a supply run to the nearest real store. Hopefully have kids in bed by 7/8pm. Dh and I probably won't be far behind.

1st True Day: Go as early as possible to either MK or AK and just let the kids explore. Maybe come back for nap. Very few things will be specifically planned.

[ukwdwnut]

the very first day we get there we always go food shopping. the first park we always go to is sea world, nice and easy day to just have an amble round :)

[uscwest]

It generally depends on what time we arrive. If we have the grandkids then it is normally mid to late morning and we normally hit DTD and then do Hoop de Doo.

[Tink]

Well, we have a little tradition. :yes: If we are staying at OKW, we check in, and before going to the villa head directly for Gurgling Suitcase where we have a Bud with a lime. :yes: It got started years and years ago (well, in 1996 to be exact! LOL) with a bartender there who was wonderful. Robbie has gone on now, we never did find where he transferred to, but the tradition still holds. That's how we kick off our vacation.

If we are staying at another resort, we stroll the resort and have a look at the menus of the different places to eat, poke around the hotel shop, and find the swimming pool and nautilus room (if there is one).

Before we had APs we'd then head to DTD for the first day (if there was time). Now we simply head to EPCOT. :D

[Watchinherskip]

Tink not to get too off topic, but how did you like Olivia's in OKW?

[lisaw]

Another one who arrives early evening, last time as we hadn't stayed at POR before we had a good explore got something to eat in the foodcourt and then I unpacked while the rest of them hit the pool, I then got a drink at joined them at the (side of :lol:) the pool - bliss :D

First proper day Magic Kingdom with a first thing ADR for CP :mental:

This year will be exactly the same except swapping POR for Kidani :mental:

[MoeMoe]

Well..... this year we are going to fort Wilderness the first day, but of course MAGIC KINGDOM!!

[Tink]

Sorry, 'Skip just saw your question. Olivia's is ok! :yes: It's a very serviceable restaurant with sturdy fare. :yes: I had their pasta dish (you can tell that was a couple of years ago now) and it was done very nicely. Not overcooked (high praise from me, who is beyond fussy about the way pasta is cooked :spring: ) and with a nice proportion of ingredients to the pasta.

Herself had the fish, I believe and found it quite nice. Grouper maybe?

We'd not go out of our way to dine there, but as it's onsite we would certainly have a meal or two there if it worked with our plans for the day.

They used to have a Tigger and Friends character breakfast. :sigh: Took that away. :(

[Mari]

Ehats Kidani Lisa?

[lisaw]

Ehats Kidani Lisa?

It's the new Disney Vacation Club section at AKL, opens on May 1st, we are staying there in August and I can't wait :mental::lol:

[Mari]

ohhh

That sounds exciting! Especially if theyre themed like AKL :)