Can we make it to CM for dinner on arrival day?

[frannn]

Just booked airfare to WDW a day earlier than we were originally going to go, as a little surprise for DD6. Wanted to send her to at least a half day of school that Thurs, so our flight is not landing till 5:53 pm. We're thinking of Chef Mickey's for dinner, but trying to figure the safest time to make the ADR. If there's extra evening hours at MK, I'd love to go after dinner (although DH would be content to relax in the room). In past years, we've taken the first flight of the day that Fri, and had lunch at WDW, but this year it wouldn't arrive till almost 11 AM....and we still would've been exhausted from being up most of the night & getting up early. So, arriving at 6, will we still have some time to eat & play at the park?

 

[Steve's Girl]

I wouldn't try it. IF your flight arrives on time (and that is a big IF!), it usually takes at least an hour and a half to get to your resort on the ME. We prefer to have a nice casual meal and swim when we arrive, get to bed early and ready to be at a park at opening the next day. We learned the hard way that trying to do too much the first day or two just results in overtired kids, crabby daddy and that combo just isn't good.

 

[annnewjerz]

Agreed! I don't think I would try it for that night. When you show up, you could always decide to go out to MK EMH if they are having them and no one is too tired, but reservations on your first night are always tough because it leaves little to no room for delays on the plane, on the ME, etc.

Good luck!

 

[TDC Nala]

If it's a very important meal for you or your daughter (sounds like it may be a favorite) don't plan it for arrival day when you're flying in and arriving relatively late. Any flight delays and you'd miss it. Planning to eat some counter service at the park or your resort might be a more secure choice.

 

[Colleen27]

Like TDC_Nala, I would recommend not planning any meal you'd be very upset to miss for arrival night, particularly with such a late flight in. Even a relatively minor flight delay would mean missing it! I don't book anything with a cancellation penalty or anything we'd be terribly disappointed to miss for our arrival days, even though we usually fly in around lunch time, just in case.

 

[ktlm]

When we flew to WDW in December 2008 (the second week so while it was not that crowded), we got there around 6:00 p.m. and it took us 2 full hours to get from the airport to the resort, and that is not counting checking in and going up to the room, etc. I wouldn't risk booking a special dinner when your plane gets in that late.

 

[geenerbell]

There's enough stress related to getting there without the added stress of missing an ADR. I would do it on another day. We check-in, grab a quick bite and head to MK as soon as we arrive. We usually aren't very hungry after our flight anyway. Our's is usually only 2 hours.

 

[crisi]

When we flew to WDW in December 2008 (the second week so while it was not that crowded), we got there around 6:00 p.m. and it took us 2 full hours to get from the airport to the resort, and that is not counting checking in and going up to the room, etc. I wouldn't risk booking a special dinner when your plane gets in that late.

We had a similar experience in October - our flight landed at 1:00 - we didn't get to the resort until after three. Check in was unusually quick - we were in the pool around 3:30 having dropped off our day bags and quick changed into suits. We had 6:00 dinner reservations at that resort.

In addition to two hour ME trips, I've also had the dreaded 40 minute check in experience with Disney. And if you aren't staying at the Contemporary, there is the risk of the dreaded thirty minute wait for the bus.

Also, for me, it doesn't really make any difference if I get up at 4:00 am to catch the early flight, or don't catch a flight until 11:00 - air travel wears me out!

 

[frannn]

Guess I should've mentioned that earlier. I am concerned about booking DH's favorite meal on arrival day, as if our flight is delayed we will most likely not find another open ADR during our trip. If necessary, we could head straight from the airport to CM, but I wouldn't want to. We are discussing having CM booked for a second dinner during our trip. If we make the arrival day ADR, we could choose to either do CM a second time (I'm sure DD6 wouldn't mind!), or cancel and take whatever else is available that evening. Or, we could choose a wildcard place for arrival night, so no one is disappointed.

 

[TDC Nala]

If it's a favorite meal, don't book it on arrival night even if you have rented a car. You're arriving so late that any flight delay at all would probably mean missing this meal.