Visiting Walt Disney World: What to Do on Your First Day

When anticipating a Disney World vacation, the hardest day to really plan is Day One. Arrivals can be any time during the day and a later arrival combined with travel fatigue can often rule out using a "day" on the park tickets for a visit to the parks. While this planning dilemma can be resolved by arriving as possible, what if you find yourself checking into your resort during the daylight hours, ready to tackle the world? There are lots of ways to acclimate to being on vacation at the most Magical Place on Earth.

If your room isn't ready, begin by checking your carryons with Bell Services and then settle down in the lobby to take a good long look at your check in information folder. Read through the brochures detailing the parks, check out the dining plan information and pay special attention to the Times Guides. You can really use this information to plan the rest of your park days. Read the resort newsletter and map and familiarize yourself with the resort. If your room is ready, head there and unpack, and then spend the time with the checkin folder. Once you are finished, this is a great opportunity to explore the resort to begin feeling "at home" and knowing where to find the restaurants, pool, laundry facilities, refillable mug stations and more. Stop by the gift shop and check out any merchandise you may be interested in. If you plan to purchase a refillable mug or your dining plan includes a mug, pick them up now to maximize the usage time.

If you have ordered any groceries for your stay, check with the front desk to arrange delivery. If you haven't ordered groceries and have a rental car, getting the shopping out of the way is a great thing to do on Day One. Head to Publix, SuperTarget or SuperWalmart for the best deals on groceries and make sure you get plenty of bottle water. If your room is still not ready, the front desk personnel will keep your groceries for you and have facilities for refrigeration.

A few activities to enjoy that do not involve park tickets would be swimming at the resort's pool, exploring Downtown Disney or hitting one of the minigolf courses to enjoy some Disney inspired golf. Several of the resorts also have marinas where you can rent small jet boats or pontoons by the hour to explore some of Disney's waterways. The Boardwalk Inn and Villas Resort is also a great place to explore and as the evening falls, there is family entertainment up and down the boardwalk. If you're feeling athletic, you can rent a surrey bike for two or four and take a spin. Make reservations for a great dinner on this first night. You can pick a character meal to introduce your kids to the Disney characters, indulge in a long signature meal on a night you won't be anxious to get back to the park, or simply relax at a great restaurant at your resort or a resort you're interested in visiting.

And one more way to begin your Disney stay? Save a vacation day by spending the day at work and taking a late flight. Arrive at Disney after dark and once you check in, unpack and check out the folder you can hit the sheets. And when you wake up, you have the entire day to begin the magic.

Happy vacationing!