Your First Day at the “Most Magical Place on Earth”

What time of day you arrive at Walt Disney World is quite arguably the single most deciding factors concerning what you could experience during your first day. Accordingly we have divided our thoughts on what you might consider for your first day at Walt Disney World into two categories, which we will call, “Early Arrivals” and “Late Arrivals”.

In this first of two articles we will discuss Early Arrivals. Our hope is that by reading this article you will discover a couple of simple suggestions that will work for you and your family and that by the end of your first day at Walt Disney World you will truly feel like you are in the “Most Magical Place on Earth”.

Early Arrivals
By early arrival we are referring to those that have made the journey and find themselves standing in their hotel lobby by 1:00pm. This arbitrary deadline could be extended if the theme parks will be opened until at least 9:00pm or shortened if the parks will be closing earlier than 6:00pm.

Theme Parks
If you have theme park admissions for your first day then by all means go to the theme parks. I have seen it written that you should never go to the Magic Kingdom first, because this can leave you with an anticlimactic feeling when you visit the other theme parks. If you have kids or are just a big kid at heart then may I suggest that you should ignore that advise. I have been to Walt Disney World more times than I can count and I still experience a child like curiosity and excitement when the Castle first comes into view. Consequently you can’t drag me to another theme park first.

After suggesting that you go to the theme parks I feel I must add a word of caution. A late arrival to a theme park, especially the Magic Kingdom, will guarantee that you will encounter crowds. However, you can still make it a special day with a little planning and some special dining reservations.

Walt Disney World Railroad
Jump on the Walt Disney World Railroad and go for a roundtrip ride that will take you past Frontierland, Mickey’s Toontown, Tomorrowland and bring you back to Main Street. This simple pleasure is a sure bet to remind you that you aren’t back home anymore.

Main Street U.S.A.
Head down this 1900 turn-of-the-century reproduction of a Middle American small town and take a little time to appreciate the attention to detail found in the very real buildings, which along with their furnishings are accurate for of the period.

FastPass
Go and get a FastPass for your favorite FastPass attraction. Note the return time and enjoy your favorite ride or attraction later on with no wait.

Head to The Hundred Acre Woods or Go Back in Time to Dine
A character meal is a great way to start your vacation. It might seem a little pricey, but you are going to have to eat somewhere so why not with Mickey or Winnie the Pooh. Character dining is without a doubt the most relaxing and enjoyable way to meet characters and will afford you plenty of opportunity to schmooze and grab some hugs and pictures without waiting in a long line.

If your watching the vacation budget then go for a late lunch at The Crystal Palace around 2:00pm or 2:30pm. Your choices for a character dining experience at dinner will include The Crystal Palace or a good old fashion meal at The Liberty Tree Tavern, which is themed as an early American style restaurant. Make sure to make a priority seating before you leave home.

Nobody does parades like Disney
Parades at the Magic Kingdom are truly spectacular. During these daily extravaganzas guests are treated to a combination of floats, dancers and Disney characters all marching to the beat of the latest Disney imagination. The special affects are first rate and the entertainment value is second to none. Typically there are two parades held daily at the Magic Kingdom. One is commonly referred to as the afternoon parade and is held at 3:00pm. If you are not having a late lunch with Pooh then consider catching the afternoon parade.

Which way to Space Mountain?
If parades aren’t your thing then you may want to take advantage of the fact that during parade times many guests are drawn away from the attractions and the headline attractions may see the shortest waits of the day.

More Characters Please
Head to Mickey’s Toontown Fair and enjoy a walking tour walk through this creative and colorful “land”. In addition, this one is the proverbial mother load of character greetings and here unlike other character greeting locations in the Magic Kingdom the availability of characters for hugs, autographs and photos is continuous.

Early Arrival but Not Heading to the Theme Parks
One great and simple option is to explore and enjoy your hotel. Walt Disney World hotels are wonderfully themed and offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities. If you plan on spending a little time poolside you may want to consider packing a day bag. Often times when you check in you may discover that your room is not quite ready and while bell services will store your luggage you will want to be able to easily retrieve a bag that has your swimsuits and some water footwear.

Later on when your room is ready you can take the opportunity to freshen up and head out for a little dinner and a little Disney. One consideration is to schedule a character dining experience at either Chef Mickey’s or 1900 Park Fare. Both of these restaurants are located at a Walt Disney World monorail hotels and will not require theme park admission. As an added bonus either before or after dinner you can go for a ride on the monorail for a round trip to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot or both.

In our next and final installment on First Day at Walt Disney World we will take at look at some great ideas for those that have Late Arrivals planned.