5 Fun Arrival Day Ideas!

You’re finally here–Walt Disney World!  After months (or weeks!) of planning, you have arrived at the Most Magical Place on Earth, brimming with excitement but also a bit tired from your day of travel.  One of the questions I get asked quite frequently is, “What should we do when we get there?”  Arrival day plans are different for every family and really depend on several factors.  A family with three young kids who traveled on a 4-hour flight and got up at 5 a.m. is going to have a different plan than a couple in their 20s or a family of teens who arrived on a late afternoon flight and doesn’t have to worry about an early bedtime.

As a way to answer that question, I’ve created five different arrival-day plans so that families can choose the one that is the best match for their unique situation.

Arrival Day Plan 1 — Chill Out at your Disney Resort

This plan is best for families with younger children and families who arrive in Disney World late in the day or in the evening.  An afternoon and evening at your Disney resort hotel is a great opportunity to ease into your vacation.  Each of the Disney resorts features all kinds of amenities, recreation, and entertainment from dining to pools to bike rentals and fishing.  Arrival day is a perfect time to explore you resort and all of the fun it has to offer.  After checking in and getting settled into your room, head down to your resort’s quick-service restaurant for lunch or a snack and then spend some time lounging by the pool with a cold drink.  There are always tons of fun kids’ activities at the pool lead by Disney’s talented cast members, so parents can take this opportunity to relax a bit after the hustle and bustle of packing and traveling.  Later, you can eat dinner, go for a stroll, or watch an outdoor movie under the stars (each resort shows a different Disney classic film each night) and then get everyone to bed for a good night’s sleep so you’re all ready to hit the parks the next morning for your first full day!

Arrival Day Plan 2 — Dinner & Shopping in Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney is a great way to spend your arrival evening as it can immerse you in the Disney magic but doesn’t require you to use a day of park admission.  After you are settled at your resort, take a bus to Downtown Disney’s Marketplace (guests at Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs can take a boat down the Sassagalouga River from their resorts).  At the Marketplace, take your time checking out some of the unique shops including the absolutely ENORMOUS World of Disney store.  Kids can take a ride on the miniature train or carousel, check out the incredible sculptures at the Lego Store, or make their own Mickey head Rice Krispie treat at Goofy’s Candy Company.  There are many different restaurants to choose from for dinner from the prehistoric fun of T-Rex’s dinosaurs to dining aboard a river boat at Fulton’s Crab House.  There are numerous quick-service eateries as well including two perennial favorites, Wolfgang Puck’s Express and Earl of Sandwich.  End the evening with a sweet treat at Ghiradelli Soda Fountain!

Arrival Day Plan 3 — Ride the Monorail

One of our favorite arrival day activities is a loop around on the Magic Kingdom resort monorail, stopping at one of the resorts for dinner.  After getting checked-in at your resort, hop on the bus to the Magic Kingdom.  If you are staying in a Magic Kingdom area resort, you may already be on the monorail line.  From Fort Wilderness and the Wilderness Lodge, the Magic Kingdom is a short boat-ride away.  Hop aboard the resort monorail and explore the resorts along the loop–the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian.  Each of these resorts offers fabulous dining opportunities as well.  Dinner at ‘Ohana at the Poly followed by watching Wishes from the beach is a truly magical arrival night tradition.  How about dining with the Fab Five–Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto–at the Contemporary Resort’s Chef Mickey’s?  A gorgeous sunset cocktail followed by a signature meal and a fabulous view of the fireworks from the Contemporary’s California Grill is an extra-spectacular option.  Or meet one of Disney’s most-loved princesses and her wicked step-family at 1900 Park Fare’s Happily Ever After dinner at the Grand Floridian.  All of these are great ways to kick-off your Disney World vacation in magical style!

Arrival Day Plan 4 — A Stroll Around Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon

When you purchase a 4 or more day Magic Your Way ticket for your vacation, Disney makes it very affordable to add on additional days.  For that reason, if you are visiting Disney World for 4 or more days, adding an extra day of park admission to use at Epcot on your arrival evening is a great option.  When we arrive at Disney World by early-afternoon we love to head over to Epcot’s World Showcase for dinner and a bit of touring.  Stop by the Mexico pavilion for a ride on the Three Caballeros boat ride followed by dinner under a volcano at the San Angel Inn.  Or check out Sergio the juggler in Italy before dining on wood fired pizzas at Via Napoli.  A beer and a basket of fish and chips from the UK pavilion’s Yorkshire County Fish Shop is a great quick-service choice and you can eat outdoors while listening the the great music of the British Invasion.  Watch Miyuki make her candy creations in Japan, check out China’s Dragon Legend Acrobats, or pop in to see the beautiful film Impressions of France in a blissfully air-conditioned theater.  And if you’re not planning on an early park morning the next day, stay for Epcot’s Illuminations fireworks for a truly spectacular end to your first day in Disney World.

Arrival Day Plan 5 — A Dinner Show or a Fireworks Cruise

Another fantastic arrival day idea is to take in a show.  Our all-time favorite is the Hoop Dee Doo Revue at the Fort Wilderness Resort.  Head to the Magic Kingdom from your resort and then hop on the boat to Fort Wilderness.  When you arrive at the Settlement boat dock it is just a short stroll to Pioneer Hall which is the home to three performances of the Hoop Dee Doo Revue every evening.  Dinner is a family style, all-you-care-to-eat affair that includes beer and sangria.  The Fort is also home to Mickey’s Backyard Barbecue offered seasonally on Thursday and Saturday nights.  Another option would be the Spirit of Aloha Luau at the Polynesian Resort which is easily accessed by boat or monorail from the Magic Kingdom.  Finally, several evenings each week, the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage departs from the Contemporary Resort’s boat dock.  The Contemporary is also easily reached by monorail or via a short walk from the Magic Kingdom.  An early dinner at one of the Contemporary’s great restaurants followed by a special night of Disney characters and an incredible view of Wishes from your pirate boat on the Seven Seas Lagoon is an incredible way to start a magical Disney vacation.

I hope that every family is able to find an arrival night plan that sounds like the perfect way to kick-off a trip to Disney World.  Do you have a special arrival night tradition?  Please share it with us here!