Chef Mickey's for dinner on arrival day?

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Ok, here's the plan as of now. We arrive at MCO at about 2:45pm. I'm figuring with ME we will get to our resort (POFQ) at about 4:30ish?? Right now we have ADRs at Chef Mickey's for 6:35pm. Afterwards if we're not tired, we'll go to MK for Wishes.

Now I'm thinking - do we really want to rush to the Contemporary on our first day or do we want to just take it easy i.e. relax at the pool and then head to MK for Wishes?

 

[gigi1313]

you might want to consider a few other less stressful options... how 'bout the boat to downtown disney and dinner there? (we did this one night at POFQ and it was great... and we ate CS @ earl of sandwich, so no worry about ADRs)... another option would be to explore your resort and its sister resort POR and have dinner at boatwrights (which was one of our family's faves)... both could be followed by a dip in the pool for the kids and daddy while mommy unpacks! (that's how it works in our family)

 

[daisyduck123]

I voted for relaxing at the resort.
That's what we always do...but we always arrive at our resort around 4pm after driving straight thru for 14 hours. We're usually pretty tired! I never make an ADR for our arrival day.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

you might want to consider a few other less stressful options... how 'bout the boat to downtown disney and dinner there? (we did this one night at POFQ and it was great... and we ate CS @ earl of sandwich, so no worry about ADRs)... another option would be to explore your resort and its sister resort POR and have dinner at boatwrights (which was one of our family's faves)... both could be followed by a dip in the pool for the kids and daddy while mommy unpacks! (that's how it works in our family)

Yeah, the boat to DTD is a great idea as well. I dunno, I just don't want to feel like we're wasting a day by not going to the parks.

I voted for relaxing at the resort.
That's what we always do...but we always arrive at our resort around 4pm after driving straight thru for 14 hours. We're usually pretty tired! I never make an ADR for our arrival day.

Yeah, I HATE ADRs but since we are on the DDP they are essential. The best solution of course would've been to get an earlier flight but it was much more expensive for the early morning flight - not to mention my dh works till 11:30pm and would be very tired getting up in the morning.

 

[mickeybrat]

We always do Chef Mickey's on the first day. That way we get all the "important autographs" and don't have to wait in line our entire vacation.

 

[gigi1313]

and yet another option... how 'but adding the cost of a taxi to your budget to take you to/from CMs so you don't have to go thru all the transportation hassle... it might make it more relaxing and yet still give you that great disney atmosphere to kick off the trip

 

[michellelovesthemous]

We always do the transport hassle as we don't have a car how much do you all think a taxi mighr cost from POP to the contemp???

 

[Terk-1]

If your park passes start the day you arrive, then I would check in to the hotel, then head to the Magic Kingdom for dinner at the Crystal Palace (great food) and then watches Spectro (if shown) and Wishes. I would try to grab a seat at the end of Main Street (the 2nd floor of the train station is my favorite place, although you have to get there early for a chair & a decent view) as close to the train station as possible. That way, once Wishes is done, you are already at the exit and can leave.

If you want to save a day on your passes, then I would check into the hotel, head for DTD (via shuttle boat) for dinner & shopping, then go back to the resort, relax & swim, then head to bed.

 

[Hootch]

is what we did last summer. Almost the same arrival time at POFQ as you too. Plenty to see and a wide variety of resturants and shops to choose from.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

On day of arrival, we are always on the first flight out of Chicago . we arrive MCO 10 or 11ish. ME, etc we are at the resort 1p ish., then we swim and relax a bit.

I usually book a 7p ADR at CM. We take Disney transport to Contempory, go to the gift shop at CR to buy the autograph books. Then we go to dinner at CM. Then back to the gift shop for SHOPPING. (I just love that store).

After we all have our new things, we head to the 4th floor observation deck, take it all in, hop a monorail to the MK for Wishes....BUT we don't go in. We just watch from the outside. We only do 2 parks days for our six days there - MK is always one of them.

We head back to resort (usually by cab because its a long day) sleep and do a resort day the next day too.

This up coming trip, I didn't do CM for day of arrival because we are staying in EPCOT area, so I thought we'd just hang around the Boardwalk. DD was looking at the itinerary and became furious. She repeated our day of arrival routine verbatim, so I called and changed up some ADRs. Its funny that you don't think you are making memories but your really are.

 

[mefordis]

Ok, here's the plan as of now. We arrive at MCO at about 2:45pm. I'm figuring with ME we will get to our resort (POFQ) at about 4:30ish?? Right now we have ADRs at Chef Mickey's for 6:35pm. Afterwards if we're not tired, we'll go to MK for Wishes.

Now I'm thinking - do we really want to rush to the Contemporary on our first day or do we want to just take it easy i.e. relax at the pool and then head to MK for Wishes?

Let me know if you have any luck getting the Chef Mickey's adr. That's what we wanted to do our first day but no luck getting an adr So we opted for Rose & Crown and Illuminations instead!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Let me know if you have any luck getting the Chef Mickey's adr. That's what we wanted to do our first day but no luck getting an adr So we opted for Rose & Crown and Illuminations instead!

Oh I got the ADR months ago. When are you going? You may want to keep calling and checking for cancellations.

 

[MotherOf2Princesses]

I voted rest at resort on day of arrival since you have young kids. Traveling and the "wow we're at Disney" is a lot for a kid. Enjoy your resort and get rested up for the next day.

 

[mefordis]

Oh I got the ADR months ago. When are you going? You may want to keep calling and checking for cancellations.

I have been calling. No go so far. We are going May 2-10! When in May will you be going?

 

[moopdog]

quick question - we have Chef Mickeys for our arrival day (it'll be our first time at CM) and realized that our ressies are for 5:40 PM and am now wondering if we'll be pushing it too close to get back & see Spectro? The date in question is 9/11.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

I voted for no park on arrival day but I do agree with your idea to go to Chef Mickey's for dinner. That's actually our arrival day tradition - relax at the resort and then do CM's for dinner. It's a great way to start the trip. Then we are all relaxed, rested, and ready to hit the parks the first full day.

 

[dspads]

I voted no park. Unless your kids are natural late nighters, its just not worth it after traveling. On our first day we arrived early & I forgot to pack swin suits so we rode the boat to DTD and stayed for about an hour. Then back to resort for a quick rest/unpacking. Then dinner at CM at 5:35. It was just enough excitment.

We took the bus to MK then the monorail to the Contemporary. I think we walked from the hotel back to MK.

Have fun!

 

[IckyMickey]

In October 2006 a cab from Pop to the Hoop Dee Doo Review was $20. The Contemporary is closer though, but adjust that with inflation so probably around the same. I would try and take the bus, it's exciting to enjoy the ride and see the sites!

We always do Chef Mickey's on our first day. We too love to get the important autographs out of the way the first day.

(edited to add) I forgot to say, I wouldn't do MK though. I'd rather the family be rested and ready for the next day.

 

[jcemom]

I'd do Chef M's but no MK. Enjoy dinner, meet Mickey, take a loop on the monorail and then head back to your room to rest up so you can get an early start the next morning.