Arrival dinner vs departure breakfast

[MickeyWaffles]

Been to WDW many times, this is the first time using the DDP. Trying to decide between an arrival day dinner and departure day breakfast.

We were planning to do a departure day breakfast at Trattoria al forno because we love Bon Voyage. I’m worried that we will be rushed packing up the villa, checking luggage with bell services and getting from BLT to BW. We don’t fly out until after 9pm and would spend the rest of the day at a park.

Since we’re staying at BLT, I’m thinking of doing 1900 PF for an arrival day meal instead (we love this one too) since we can easily get there from BLT and it would be a fun way to kick off the trip.

We will land at MCO around 11:30, and I have an early dinner ADR at 1900PF.

I love the idea of an arrival day TS meal and having more park time on our departure day. I’m just concerned our flight will get delayed or something and then we’d have to try to find another TS for 9 people during the trip.

I know I could keep the Trattoria and cancel it once we arrive and know we’ll make it to 1900PF, but I do not like holding on to ADRs that I’m not sure I will use.

So ... what would you do?

 

[lauraleh]

In this scenario, I would do the arrival day dinner. Your departure day breakfast just seems like a lot of work. Going from resort to resort can be a hassle if you don't have a car.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Why not do a later in-park lunch on your last day? That way you aren’t risking delays on arrival day or logistical issues on departure day.

 

[Calee]

I would do arrival day dinner.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Why not do a later in-park lunch on your last day? That way you aren’t risking delays on arrival day or logistical issues on departure day.

I do love this idea and we totally would, but this arrival or departure meal is our only chance at a princess meal. If we were going to be in Epcot that day a lunch at Akershus would be great, but we are spending it at HS.

 

[Nancyg56]

We like departure breakfasts when we have time. We always check out early, leave our bags with the Airline folks at the resort and then we are off to breakfast.

Personally, I would try to find find a way to do both. We use the snacks on the DDP as a means to stretch our meals so if you had a TS meal scheduled that was not a buffet or AYCTE, you could have a filling snack sometime after lunch and then instead of using a credit at dinner, pay OOP but order light. You still have your meal, but it is less expensive, and you have the two meals that you want that are fixed cost.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I always do a resort breakfast on checkout day. Usually have our bags packed the night before and just deal with the carryons in the morning. We drop our luggage before breakfast, then dont have to worry about running late, as we can always just asked for the check early just in case. This past trip was our first time having to leave the resort prior to noon for our flight. We had a noon flight and needed to leave by 9:30 to drop rental car too. Our breakfast at Ohana was a 8:15 and it was a quick walk back to our room to grab our carryons and leave. Normally we have an extra hour or 2 and even that would feel stressful if we werent eating at our own resort.

 

[FtW Mike]

We do arrival day Dinner and Departure day breakfast as well. After Setting up our site ( We stay in our Mobile DVC Studio in Ft Wilderness ) and running around to see friends we head off to Trails End for a good meal. Departure day we hop on a bus head for Trails End and an early breakfast before hitting the road for our journey home

 

[nkereina]

How are the 9 people in the morning? I was the tour guide for a group of 9 last summer, my in-laws' first trip. I was adamant with them prior to leaving that it was important for them to be on time because it can take a while to get anywhere on property, and because Disney has monetary penalties if you don't show up. To my surprise, they all did really well with times and we had no issues with anyone rushing or running late. So I think setting that expectation early on could help, if you'd rather do the departure day breakfast.

We actually did the Bon Voyage breakfast on our departure day. It was for 10:15am, so we took the DHS bus from POR around 8:45am and then hopped on the Friendship Boat to BWI from there. We arrived with time to spare, so it worked out fine. Most of us packed everything except for the essentials the night before, and allowed time to check bags at the Resort Airline Check-in desk before leaving. We had time to visit a park after breakfast, so we opted to boat back to DHS and spend the rest of the day there. It was a good way to end the trip.

I like to leave our arrival day open when I can to allow for potential flight delays and also just to relax. If you're arriving at 11:30, I assume your flight is early so there could be people in the group that are tired, especially if there are kids.

 

[PracticallyPerfectLOL]

With it being your only chance for a princess meal, I would choose arrival day dinner. That way if people are tired on last day, it will be enjoyed by all.

I either do a departure day breakfast in hotel OR on monorail loop as that is where I stay. If I am club level, I tend to just do light breakfast in club, swim until 1 hour before check out time and then shower/check out.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I always do a resort breakfast on checkout day. Usually have our bags packed the night before and just deal with the carryons in the morning. We drop our luggage before breakfast, then dont have to worry about running late, as we can always just asked for the check early just in case. This past trip was our first time having to leave the resort prior to noon for our flight. We had a noon flight and needed to leave by 9:30 to drop rental car too. Our breakfast at Ohana was a 8:15 and it was a quick walk back to our room to grab our carryons and leave. Normally we have an extra hour or 2 and even that would feel stressful if we werent eating at our own resort.

This is what we do. We stuff ourselves with a big breakfast. Since planes don't feed you any more, who knows when we'll get to eat again, so we make sure we leave with a full stomach. And airplanes are so often late that we never make reservations for an arrival dinner. We just pick up dinner at our hotel when we get there, usually QS. That way we don't have the added pressure of making a dining reservation on time if/when the plane's delayed.

 

[Farro]

Arrival day dinner most certainly! Starts the vacation off right and gets us excited.

Departure day breakfast is too, too depressing. We wake up and get the heck out of dodge!

 

[angelmav]

It also depends on your flights. Were flying overnight, and while I had a fantastic time for a dinner at Cali Grill (8pm), I know we are going to be on fumes that day. So I begrudgingly canceled it and we'll eat at Mangino's so we don't have to leave the resort and can get an early night. That was a tough one to give up. But I would rather be fresh for our park day the next day and everyone rested. I keep tempting myself to add something, but, I know it would be a mistake. Departure day though were going to hit the Homecomin brunch, which, like everyone said, to get a hearty meal before the flight that should hold us over longer. 31 days until I get to put this theory to the test, lol!