Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question about your arrival date. Michelle I can certainly help with a recommendation from right here in New Jersey.
That wonderful feeling of landing in an airport or finally arriving after a drive down the east coast for a vacation at
Walt Disney World has to be ranked top 5 feelings for me. This summer vacation of yours sounds like it is going to be starting the right way! If you are staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel then the answer might be a special offer for all guests on check-in day. In 2025 all guests staying inside the magic can visit a water park for free on check-in day. Yup that's right FREE! Now again this offer only applies on your check-in day.
If you are not staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel and cannot take advantage of the free water park on check-in day it might not be too late to book a room. But if you are staying at one of the many other accommodations in the Orlando area your theme park tickets with
Park Hopper will be a great option. My recommendation for an easy-going first day is always to go see Mickey Mouse, take stroll down Main Street U.S.A., and lastly get that picture in front of
Cinderella Castle. That is a great way to start especially if you want a short park day because of traveling during the early part of the day. You would then head back to your room to get a nice early start to your next day of vacation.
Now if you are not traveling with children and are anything like me, your decision to push the envelope would change my answer. I would check the park hours once we are closer to your arrival and base my decision on which park closes the earliest. That is where I would start, this is typically
Animal Kingdom even during the summer months. I would then plan to hop to the park that stays open the latest to get every last bit of magic out of my day. You might be tired afterwards, but will head to sleep with a full heart.
Hoping these recommendations help you plan the first day of your visit. If you have any other questions you can reach out to
planDisney anytime and someone will be ready to help.
Have a magical day,
Jeremy A.