Hi Khadijah,
I am so glad that you are finding the Disney Parks Moms Panel helpful. My family also tends to arrive mid-morning when we go to Walt Disney World. It's like a bonus day - travel plus a day of vacation all in one!
I'm not sure if you want to go to a park on your arrival day, but that is certainly a possibility. You are arriving early enough that you would still have a lot of time at a park. As you get closer to your vacation, I would suggest consulting the
schedule of park hours for the day you arrive. Check which park is open latest that day, or if you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, which park has Extra Magic Hours in the evening. By going to the park that you can stay at the latest, you'll maximize your hours that day.
Sometimes, we chose to spend our first day day exploring our resort. The Walt Disney World Resorts have so much to offer - amazing pools and play areas for the kids, great restaurants, lobbies to explore...the list goes on and on! When you check in, you should receive a list of activities at your resort. Depending on the resort, these can include pool parties, craft making, and so on. Consult this to see if any activities sound good to you on check in day.
Finally, you could explore one of the areas at Walt Disney World that do not require admission. You could check out the shopping, food, and entertainment at
Downtown Disney. Or, head to one of my favorite locations at Walt Disney World,
Disney's BoardWalk, where you can stroll along the Boardwalk, grab a bite to eat, and even rent a surrey bike!
I hope that these options give you some good ideas for your arrival day, Khadijah. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions!