Can I Make Dining Reservations on time?

[WVDisneyFan]

Our flight lands at MCO at 3:00 p.m. We are staying at AoA and have a 5:05 dining reservation at O'hanas. We are using Magical Express to get to AofA. If we take a taxi from AoA to the Poly, can we make our 5:05 dining reservation?

 

[Gracie09]

nope

You figure you land at 3
If you are on time by the time you get off the plane and up the jetway its 3:15. Over to ME, 3:30 - 3:40. Check-in and if you were placed right on a bus an drove away its 3:45. About 45 minutes to drive to WDW 4:30. If you were the first stop, get off the bus, stow your luggage 4:45. Get a cab 4:55. Drive to Poly.

This leaves you no room for - going to the bathroom after the flight, delays waiting on ME, traffic, you are the 4th stop of four, airline delays etc etc.

 

[1025cruise]

I think that's a bit tight.

If your flight lands at 3, you won't be at the MDE counter until at least 3:30. Then, depending on how long you need to wait on a bus, plus the drive to the resort, you probably won't be checking in until 4:30 the earliest. Add in dropping off your carry ons and then heading to the Poly, you'll really be pushing it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Figure on 90 mins. Yes, you land at 3. But.....that's wheels down, not getting off the plane. You could get off the plane by 3:10, or it could be 3:20 if no gate is open!
You 'might' make it if you take a cab, and you are leaving AoA by 4:50, latest. Your ADR will be held for a bit, but who knows exactly how long.

 

[maxiesmom]

Nope. You need to have at least 3 hours between landing and your ADR in order to make it with any kind of certainty.

 

[n2mm]

I agree, you won't make it. Plus you haven't even considered that there may be flight delays. It's not worth getting stuck with the no show fee if you don't make it. We no longer make dining reservations on our arrival day since they started charging the no show fee. No since in starting your trip by stressing over making it to your reservation on time.

 

[tjmw2727]

That is to close for comfort for me but I don't book anything with a cancellation fee on arrival day.

I have had delays for weather, mechanical issues and even waits for an available gate after landing. You can also have delays with DME and a line at check in - yes all worst case but it has all happened!

The average time to the resort from DME check in is 90 minutes - it can be a bit quicker but it can also be much longer.

I would rather not stress about firm plans on arrival day!
Good Luck

 

[purple figment]

Our rule of thumb is 3 hours from landing to walking into the park or restaurant and even then we would not plan a dining reservation for less than 4 hours after landing. Typically it takes 60-90 minutes to arrive at the resort. It's never been less than 60 minutes for us and once it was almost 2 hours when the DME driver forgot to stop at a resort and had to double back on his route.

If you arrive at AoA by 4:30 you can drop your carry ons at luggage assistance and skip check in, but if you have the dining plan you will have to check in to activate your dining credits. Take a taxi to the Poly. 'Ohana is on the second floor.

If you have any travel delays and miss your reservation you will be charged the $10 per person no show penalty so you will have to decide if you are willing to pay the penalty if you miss your reservation.

 

[WVDisneyFan]

Thanks everyone. We booked this dining reservation before we knew our flight information. Originally thought we would be at WDW on 10/31. I've tried to get a later reservation or one on another day and I've had no luck. I guess I'll keep trying and decide before my 24 hour cancellation period what to do.

 

[Hopefully]

No I don't believe you can make it. As the others have stated the rule of thumb is 90 minutes to your resort on DME. Then if you have to check in to activate a meal plan that can take time.
We never book a meal less than 4 hours from scheduled landing.
There are so many possible delays that you have absolutely no control over.