Arrival night dining

[kristie73]

We never do a park on arrival day. We always go to Disney Springs and have dinner at T-Rex!

Our last visit to Disney World, we went to "Downtown Disney" and then T-Rex for dinner. We are planning the same this year. My boys still love dinosaurs so TRex it is.

 

[jlee003]

we arrive at the resort around 2pm on arrival day. We have an ADR for morimoto in DS.

 

[nilla]

What are your arrival night dining plans? Do you have a tradition?

I have a reservation at Chef Mickeys, but I might cancel. I'm trying to decide if we just eat at our resort, CB, and rest up for the next day.

Literally in the same boat. arguing with myself if I should keep my chef Mickey reservation or to eat at shutters.

We were really tired by the end of our arrival day this year, and were happy we decided to eat at the resort on that day.

Also, Shutters is fantastic!

 

[JanJan324]

We're doing T-Rex this year

 

[Stephanie Isaacson]

We are doing an 11:00 lunch at T rex for mostly appetizers and dessert, then a 3:30 Ohana. Then we will hit up the Chip N Dale campfire smore sing along! Then to bed at the cabins. I can't think of any better trip beginner!

 

[Emmasmommy1011]

We have T-Rex scheduled in Disney Springs, i didn't want to use a whole park day as we wouldn't be getting in till afternoon.

 

[basicprincess24]

We're staying at POFQ, so we'll take the boat over to Disney Springs and do dinner at the Boathouse!

 

[cheerupem0kidx0x]

My trip is still a good ways out, plan on cancelling one well before the time comes so someone else will have plenty of time to get it...not to mention last I checked there were still plenty of times available.

And while you have 2 ADR's some other family may not be able to get any. Please decide and cancel what you will not use.

OP Travel Day is very tiring. We usually hang close to our resort, explore, eat there and make it an early night.
Good Luck

 

[rosiebean]

We stay close to our resort the first day, as the extended family is usually flying in from all over and arriving at different times; as I often travel alone (kids don't come to every trip), I might hit a park if I arrive early, but dinner is planned close to the resort. This year, we're staying at BC and, depending on arrival times, either eating at Hurricane Hanna's at SAB or walking over to Kimonos or other at Swolphin area. Last year, we were staying at POR and took the boat to Disney Springs for a latish dinner at Raglan Road. Year before, QS at Capt. Cook's at Poly as people made it in at all hours. Year before that, 9 pm dinner at Coral Reef when we were spread out between YC and Swolphin and all arrived late in the afternoon.

 

[gorkt]

I am very very bad at taking the advice to keep arrival day uncommitted. I just get over excited and since I only go to WDW every 3-4 years, I want to hit the ground running.

My typical arrival day plans and my impressions:
1) A few hours at MK followed by a boat ride to FW to do Hoop de doo Revue - This was great, but a little over stimulating and tiring for arrival day. My kids were very young at the time and we were too tired to really enjoy it.
2) A few hours in MK, Tony's town square dinner followed by Wishes dessert party - MUCH better in terms of pacing, kids were older and had a great time, and FP+ allowed us to ride headliners in the afternoon without waits. However, Tony's was not very good, just bland.
3) My most low key - MK, dinner at the Plaza, followed by just riding some rides and watching parades and fireworks. This was fine too, and I didn't have to worry about missing a hard ticket event.

This year I am arriving very early. We are flying from Boston and will hit the Polynesian at around noon if all goes well. Since we will have 4 hours until check in, we will either grab a bite at Kona, or just hit MK for a few hours and grab lunch at a QS. Once we get the text that our room is ready, we will go back, rest for a few hours, then go to the GF for 1900PF at 7pm. After that we should be rested and ready to go to MK for some late night fun! Can't wait!

 

[Lauren4382]

We always do a character meal (I have 3 girls - 9, 7, 2)...we are doing 1900 Park Fare this visit.

 

[OThopeful35]

Our arrival night dining consists of a late lunch and shopping at Disney Springs.

 

[Robertfam08]

We never make reservations on the first day, because I worry that something will go wrong in transit. We usually arrive in the late afternoon, and I just don't want the added stress of making it on time, haha. We always do quick service at a resort, sometimes ours, but we LOVE POFQ. Yummy food, and our kids have to get beignets.

 

[disneypaws]

We fly from Scotland with a connection - so arrive at BC usually after 15 hours of travelling and body clock approaching ten pm - but we always head over to the boardwalk pizza window for pizza and beer! It keeps us up until a respectable hour and makes us feel we've arrived in the states. And it's not too far to drag a flagging, jet lagged kid. We always think we might go to Epcot or go swimming in Stormalong Bay, but never manage!

 

[EeyoreME]

We are going to Trail's End.... We aren't going to a park until the next morning

 

[TwoLittlePrincesses]

We arrive around 3pm so we're planning on a bit of pool time, then dinner at the resort or Wolfgang Puck Express at Disney Springs

 

[Churchladychurchlady]

For those who dine at Disney Springs, do you do ADRs or just "wing it" and wait?

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I know a lot of people like Chef Mickey's on arrival night. If you could swing a Hoop Dee Doo that's also another popular choice.

 

[BobaScott]

I typically don't like having any commitments for any vacation on arrival day... however, I was lucky enough to score The Royal Table for the night of our arrival.

I haven't been to WDW in 18 years, and this October will be my first time back, and with my wife and daughter for their first time. CRT should be one heck of a way to kick off Disney for them, I'm just hoping for smooth sailing in getting there on schedule

 

[mkarizona]

Earl of Sandwich both at WDW and DL.