Your First Day at WDW, What Are We to Do?
Well you finally made it. You're in "the World". It's 2:30 p.m. when you make it to WDW and you're at a loss what to do. Do we burn a day on our passes and go into the Magic Kingdom or do we find some other activity and get a fresh start in the morning? That is a decision for you, the visitor, but, should you decide on the second option, here are some suggestions to ease you into your Disney trip without burning a day on your passes.
Exploring your own hotel. Many guests come to WDW, stay in a lovely hotel for $300+ a night and never see anything but the room, the food court and the bus stop. You will receive a map of the hotel when you check-in. Go and smell the roses. Walk around a bit. Exploring other hotels. Visiting another hotel can be an excellent adventure a) to get the family acclimatized to the Disney transport system and b) to see different themes and different classes of hotel. Be prepared to fend off comments such as "Dad, we have got to stay here next time" after the oohs and aahs have subsided when you walk into the Grand Floridian, the Wilderness Lodge and the Animal Kingdom Lodge among others. This can also be an excellent "rainy day" option when it is raining enough that it makes a day in the parks fruitless. You have a full day and a free bus service to take you from hotel to hotel. The hotel front desk will provide you with a hotel grounds map on request. Exploring the Disney transportation system can be a blast. Traveling around on buses, monorails, launches and ferries just to see where they go is a great way to get your bearings. The only transport mode that is at all supposedly restricted is the launch service from Downtown Disney to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter and to the two DVC properties at Old Key West (OKW) and Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (SSR). You are supposed to be residing at one of those properties to use the launch but, to this day, we have never seen the question asked or the rule enforced. Walking around Downtown Disney is another good way to get the "walking muscles" working. Dining in your hotel. This is sometimes a good ice-breaker for your trip. A time to take one last look at your family the way you know it before they all scatter to the four ends of the parks only to re-unite at the end of your trip. If you have a car you can head out to a local market to stock up on supplies for your stay or can even make your way to one of the outlet malls to browse around. You can also head onto International Drive to find some nice dining options.
Last Updated:
May 9, 2009
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