Hi Christy and welcome to planDisney!
The
Disney Resort hotels are one of the main reasons we continue to vacation at Walt Disney World year after year. We love the amenities they offer as well as the perks for staying on property. My kids have been water babies since they were born, so having a cool hotel pool to swim in during our vacation is always a must.
When you are a Guest of a Disney Resort hotel, you have full access to the Resort from the day you check-in to the day you check-out and that means it starts the moment you arrive. Having a Resort day on your arrival day is a great idea to relax, unwind and enjoy some time splashing around before you hit the parks. I suggest packing a day bag with pool essentials in your carry-on so it's easily accessible and you can hit the water as soon as you arrive if your room isn't ready yet. Have
Bell Services take care of the rest of your luggage, grab a drink and take a dip.
You can take advantage of your Disney Resort hotel pool on your departure day too! If you have a later flight or don't have to drive off early, enjoy a morning or afternoon at the pool after you check-out. We always want to make the most of our vacation by soaking up as much magic as we can before we have to head back to the "real world". We sure do enjoy our Disney bubble!
Another suggestion for your arrival day is to head to
Disney Springs for a bit of fun and entertainment. Disney Springs is a great place to spend a non-park day. My kids love getting a delicious ice cream from
Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop and doing a little shopping in the
World of Disney and
The LEGO Store. There are so many fantastic restaurants to choose from, so we often grab dinner while we are there. My current favorite place to eat is at
Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' for their delicious fried chicken and hummingbird cake. I'm usually too stuffed to eat the cake, but it makes for a nice breakfast the next day. Calories don't count at Walt Disney World, right?
Please
stop back by and visit if you have any additional vacation planning questions.
Have a magical day!
Leslie