Filling time on arrival night - what would you do? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
I'm getting so excited - we're having a surprise trip to WDW in just less than two weeks from now. The kids don't know we're going!
We're arriving on Thursday the 14th on a 4:30pm flight (arrival time). I hope to be at the Polynesian around 6pm - is that realistic? We've got Quicksilver picking us up and we might have a grocery stop.
And then our PS for 'Ohana isn't until 7:50pm. So, what would you do for those two hours? Swim? resort-hop? chill out in the room? tour the resort? ride the monorail?
We're not going into the parks until the next day, so that's out.
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
The night we arrive, we plan on going to MK . . . however, the night YOU arrive, MK will already be closed (it's a MNSSHP night -- we'll be there!!! )
For you guys though, if you aren't going to the parks until the first full day, then riding the monorail might be fun AND taking a little walk around the resort as well . . . that way, you aren't too far away and having to RUSH back for your PS at Ohana!!!
(On our past and future trips, here's what we did . . . At Christmas, we played a round of mini-golf at the Winter Summerland course on our arrival night . . . on our next trip in March, we plan on doing some shopping at DTD the night we arrive!!!)
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
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Swim? resort-hop? chill out in the room? tour the resort? ride the monorail?
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All of the above.
If everything goes according to plan, sure, you will have 2 hours to fill. But suppose your flight is delayed, or your luggage is delayed, or you lose a bag, or it's raining hard and the traffice leaving the airport is very heavy? You'd get there later and have less than two hours. So I'd say, don't plan anything hard and fast, just plan on playing it by ear when you arrive at Poly. All of the things you mentioned can be done on the spur of the moment with no prep time (except a few minutes in the room to change if you go swimming), so you have a nice, flexible plan that can change if there is an unexpected delay.
And if there is no delay, and everything goes well, then you have enough stuff to fill those 2 hours comfortably.
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
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So, what would you do for those two hours? Swim? resort-hop? chill out in the room? tour the resort? ride the monorail?
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Like WillCad said, all of the above.
We, normally (what is normal anyway?) don't plan anything on our arrival night. But then, we drive down (6.5 hour drive for us) and don't know when we're really going to get to leave until the day before we go.
In the past we've chilled at the resort, gone to DTD, gone to City Walk at Universal Studios, or taken in one of the light shows at a park.
It's all depending on when we get there and how wired we are...
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
I would probably get settled in the room, go swimming for a little while, get dressed for dinner(not that you dess up), and ride the monorail before dinner. I'm not sure if you really have time to also tour other resorts. Have a great time!
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
If you get there on time, get settled in the room, explore the resort, take a monorail ride, hop off where the kids want (except of course, MK ) then back for dinner!
We'll be there on the 15th, so leave a Mickey bar or 2!
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
I would probably explore the resort, the Polynesian has beautiful grounds. You can even walk to the Grand Floridian & explore there. A monorail ride is always a great idea too.
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
For my family the answer is simple: Swim. I have a water baby for a daughter, and she's always begging to swim. And 2 hours is just a warm up for her in a pool!
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
To what everyone said before.
We got in around 2:00 and hung around the pool. We were exhausted as we had an 8:00 flight from BWI, but got up at 4:30 am to be ready to go out the door at 5:30 am and be at BWI by 6:00 am. So by the evening, the stress of the day got to all of us. I over planned and got us tickets to MNSSHP, which we were to tired to really enjoy. Next time, we are planning on NOTHING our first night except to have a look see at the area and swim and eat and relax.
And hey - DH works in Elkridge now - I see you live there! It's a Small World
Re: Filling time on arrival night - what would you do?
I would say just relax and enjoy the resort. We flew at 4:30 also for our trip. We used Quicksilver as well (they are wonderful!!!!) and made a grocery stop. By the time we got the grocery stop and then checked in at the resort and found our room it was 6:45. We just barely had time to settle in before our 7:30 ps at Boma's. Then because we had flown from the west coast and had been up for a very long time we just crashed after dinner.
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To what everyone said before.
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