Hi David,
Welcome to planDisney! Your Walt Disney World vacation is just around the corner, so I'm glad you stopped by for suggestions on how to kick off your visit in the best possible way.
When my family arrives at Walt Disney World in the late afternoon or early evening, we almost always head straight for
Epcot, especially if there's a festival happening there. You're arriving a few days after the
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicks off its 30th season. I can't wait to see all the
new menu items, plus the 30 favorite items from over the years that are being featured.
My perfect Epcot evening includes a circuit or two of the World Showcase, sampling all the sips and bites offered at the
Global Marketplaces. The 9 pm production of
Luminous: The Symphony of Us is a great way to cap your first day.
Epcot is one of the easiest parks to navigate with a scooter, especially if you are concentrating on the World Showcase.
A second option that day would be a visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Again, managing a scooter there is relatively easy. There's plenty of evening entertainment, and the park is open until 9:30 pm.
I find
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge especially immersive in the evening, and it's always fun to visit Toy Story Land when the lights of Andy's room are aglow. Check out the new
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (so cute!) and
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After.
You could cap your evening with two projection shows:
The Wonderful World of Animation and
Disney Movie Magic. Plus, the classic
Fantasmic! performance and fireworks extravaganza takes place twice that evening. (As always, please note that schedules are subject to change based on weather and other factors).
Animal Kingdom closes at 7 pm on the day of your arrival, so that likely won't work for you. Magic Kingdom closes at 6 pm with
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicking off at 7 pm. That's a specially ticketed event that lasts until midnight. If tickets are still available (it tends to sell out), the party also could be a magical way to spend your first evening. The parade and fireworks during that party are among my very favorites.
Because the party attendance is limited, you'll usually find shorter lines for the rides and attractions, which may be appealing because of your wife's mobility issues.
I hope that's helpful, David. Whichever option you choose, I'm sure it will be a fun-filled beginning to your vacation. Please let us know if you have any other last-questions as the big day approaches.
Enjoy,
Wilma