• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

5 Things to do on Your Disney Arrival Day

September 28, 2020 | Disney

Congrats! You made it to Walt Disney World! After months of saving and planning, your vacation is finally here! It’s Disney arrival day! Now it’s time to bask in all of its glory, let out a big sigh, and relax! But what should you do? I highly recommend NOT paying for park tickets on your arrival day because, number one, you will probably be exhausted, and number two, you probably will only have a fraction of the time to enjoy the park depending on what time you arrive. It’s much better to relax and get a full night’s sleep before hitting the parks, so what is there to do? I’m glad you asked? There is plenty, my friend!

5 Things to do on Your Disney Arrival Day

Swim:

If you are staying on Disney property, then your hotel has a pool. If you are staying at a moderate, deluxe, or deluxe, villa, your pool also has a water slide! Make sure you pack swimwear, sunscreen, goggles, and extra clothes in your carry on (no towels needed, get them at the pool!) and head there after you check in. Even if your room isn’t ready, no problem! There are bathrooms in the lobby and at the pool where you can change. Get a cocktail at the pool bar, throw on your sunglasses and enjoy. You worked hard for this trip!

Visit Disney Springs:

Had enough of the pool? Another great option is to visit Disney Springs. It’s free to get into, and there are Disney buses that will take you there. It is a dining, shopping, and entertainment mecca, and also where the amazing Disney Store is located. You can easily spend a whole afternoon/evening here! You can even catch a movie or go bowling. So much to do! Make sure you make some dining reservations in advance as some places will fill up quickly. (See this post for some of my favorites, 2 on this list are in Disney Springs!)

Explore your resort:

Disney resorts are an adventure in and of themselves. Shops, restaurants, pools, and more to discover. Some resorts also have marinas, playgrounds, campfires, movie nights, and even cane pole fishing. Go on a nice walk and get some great photos and just enjoy the beauty.

5 Things to do on Your Disney Arrival Day

Eat at your resort:

It is true that you cannot eat at a Disney park without a ticket, but nothing is stopping you from dining at your resort! Book a nice relaxing dinner for your arrival day so that you don’t have to get on a bus or in a car (probably tired of travel, right?) and just walk to your meal, ask your server how long they have been their, and what their favorite thing about the resort is. Some of them have been there a long time and have amazing fun stories and facts to share!

5 Things to do on Your Disney Arrival Day

Resort Hop:

There are so many beautifully themed resorts on Disney property, it’s a fun idea to hop on a bus, boat, monorail or the skyliner and go on a resort tour! Walk around the shops and the lobby, take photos and just enjoy the beauty. You may find a resort that you know you want to stay at on your next trip! Each resort also has unique dining options and treats, so go grab dessert at a different place from where you are staying on your Disney arrival day, and soak it all in, you are on vacation!

5 Things to do on Your Disney Arrival Day

Like this:

Like Loading…

Sign up for my newsletter

Primary Sidebar

I am Heather Montgomery, a southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 11-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Free Travel Planning with Best Day Ever Vacations (Yes, It’s Completely FREE!)
  • Mom Must-Haves for a Basketball Tournament: The Ultimate Survival Guide
  • Why Spring Is the Sweet Spot for Family Vacation on Alabama’s Beaches
  • You’ll Get It When You Get Here: A Spring Break on Alabama’s Beaches That Actually Feels Like a Break
  • A Word for 2026

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
There should be a support group for millennials wh There should be a support group for millennials who still think we’re the “young adults” in the room… until a casual conversation reminds us otherwise. 😭

Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s been personally victimized by the passage of time and a perky Gen Z girlie. 😂

Drop your most humbling “wait… I’m HOW old?” moment below.

#millennialmom #millennialparenting #millennialmemes #millennialwomen #millennialwomen
#ad #BraunPartner Less time shaving. More time liv #ad #BraunPartner Less time shaving. More time living thanks to @BraunBeautyUS Smart IPL. ✨ 

I didn’t realize how much mental space hair removal was taking up until it just… wasn’t anymore. Between games, trips, and everything in between, having something I can do at home in minutes has been a total game changer. The app-guided treatments keep me consistent without having to think about it, and I’m already noticing smoother skin that actually lasts. And yes — the full-body, 10-minute-at-home situation still feels a little unreal. 

If you’ve been on the fence, Prime Day (June 14–27) is definitely the moment to check it out with $120 off. #BraunSmartIPL
Reasons our family loved Henderson Beach Resort: # Reasons our family loved Henderson Beach Resort: #HendersonPartner

💦 Multiple pools + lazy river

🍽️ Great dining options right on property

🌅 Gorgeous Gulf views and sunsets

🏖️ Beach chair rentals available right on the beach

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly while still feeling like a luxury getaway

✨ The kind of place that makes you immediately start planning your next trip

Current offer:Book a minimum 2-night stay and receive a $100 resort credit for your stay! (check with the resort for current availability and details).

Would you choose the beach or the lazy river?

#DestinFlorida #HendersonBeachResort #DestinFWB #FloridaVacation @thehendersonfl
We didn’t set out looking for a “perfect” trip… we We didn’t set out looking for a “perfect” trip… we just needed a break from the noise.
What we found in Florida was something better than that. #ad

Our first stop in Auburndale was all about slowing down in the best way. We stayed in a cozy tiny home at Camp Margaritaville (you can also stay in an RV!). We enjoyed coffee on the porch, our daughter loved the pool and waterslide (there is even a splash zone for the littles!), and at night we slowed things down with s’mores instead of screens. It felt like nature + comfort + family time all finally in the same place. They have so many other amenities like mini golf, golf cart rentals, pickleball, a playground, cornhole, and more. Nearby, we explored the Florida Children’s Museum and had incredible food and drinks at Smith’s American Tavern and Black & Brew Coffee. 

Then, we headed over to Fort Myers to experience a completely different side of the state. Shelling walks at sunrise, beach volleyball, pool cabanas, and the kind of Gulf sunsets that make everyone go quiet for a minute. Direct beach access at the Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers made it effortless to go from “let’s check it out” to toes in the sand in minutes. There were several restaurants on property, so we never even got in our car. That plus live music, fire pits, the spa, and lawn games made it easy to want to stay put and relax.

What stood out most wasn’t just the scenery… it was how easy it was to actually be together here. No rushing or overplanning. That’s the true Floridays feeling for me. Laid-back, a little unexpected, and exactly what we didn’t know we needed. 🌴☀️

@VISITFLORIDA @visitfortmyers, @visitcentralfl 
#VISITFLORIDA #LoveFL #MyFortMyers #MargaritavilleResorts FamilyTravel FloridaTravel TravelWithKids
When the Smoky Mountain heat gets unbearable, we h When the Smoky Mountain heat gets unbearable, we head to Pigeon Forge Snow. ❄️ #sponsored 

One of our favorite family activities in Pigeon Forge because you can snow tube year-round, rain or shine, without worrying about the weather outside. 

My daughter could do the tubing hill over and over, and the indoor snow play area makes it even more fun. Honestly such a good break from the summer heat. Plus, it’s super close to nearby attractions like Dollywood and several mountain coasters. 

Click the 🔗 in my bio to save on your next visit to the Smokies!

 #pigeonforgesnow @pigeonforgesnow
Here is my favorite in park Disneyland character e Here is my favorite in park Disneyland character experience: The Plaza Inn character breakfast. Here are a few things to know:

✨ Meet Minnie before you even enter the restaurant and get photos with her + a photopass photographer. 
✨ Food is all you can eat. Minnie waffles, bacon, eggs, pastries, fruit, and more!
✨ Multiple characters visit your table throughout the meal.
✨ Reservations are a must and can book up quickly!

This was such a fun way to start a park day and meet several characters without spending part of the day waiting in character lines.

👉🏻When you book your vacation with @bestdayevervacay, they handle all your dining reservations for you so you don’t have to worry about it! It’s such a great perk and one you don’t have to pay extra for! Check out the 🔗 in my bio to learn more. (Affiliate)

#Disneyland70 #DisneylandTips #CharacterBreakfast #bdevambassador #Disneylandandsea
Some days it really is the small things that add u Some days it really is the small things that add up. #mochipartner

Getting in a walk or run when I can. Actually drinking my water. Sticking to a skincare routine instead of overthinking it. Paying attention to my hair and scalp instead of just throwing it up and moving on. Nothing extreme, just consistency in the basics.

I’ve also been using Mochi Health for personalized skincare and hair support, and it’s made it way easier to stay on track without guessing what my skin or hair needs.

If you want to try it, there’s $40 off your first month through the link in my bio. @joinmochi #joinmochi mochihealth

Copyright © 2026 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

Loading Comments...

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d