Coral Reef ADR and Illuminations Cruise

[geomacey]

I posted this in the Illuminations cruise thread but think it is in the wrong place....

We have 6:10 reservations at the Coral Reef on the 30th. I've already spoken to Debbi and have everything in place for the special surprises there. Then I was lucky enough to get an Illuminiations cruise from the Yacht/Beach Club. Have to be there at 8:00 ....
Somebody said to allow at least 2 hours for a sit-down dinner and if that is the case --
WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME????????
I don't want to give up either of these fantastic memory-makers!
Thanks

 

[ntsammy5]

July 30th? It's unlikely, but it could take that long. I've had one dinner at Chefs de that lasted almost 3 hours from checking in to paying, but only that once..... if you'll worry about it though, it might not be worth it. Try to move up your ADRs to 5:30........

 

[bradk]

i wouldn't inherently worry about it (in my experience, the boats didn't take off until 8:20 or so anyway). the only thing that would irk me is that walk.

 

[geomacey]

I'm sorry .... WHAT walk??
This is our first time at WDW .... We are going 9/28 - 10/6. I'm sorry, I skipped that part.....
Will the dates change the answer? And I'll ask again.... what walk?

 

[bradk]

have you seen an epcot map? coral reef and the international gateway couldn't really be further apart. it's at least a 25 minute walk i'd say. after eating too and that'd be as far as the epcot boat. another 10 minutes or so to walk to the yacht club marina.

 

[ntsammy5]

have you seen an epcot map? coral reef and the international gateway couldn't really be further apart. it's at least a 25 minute walk i'd say. after eating too.

Not 25 minutes.... maybe 20 if you walk slow. Well OK maybe 25 if you're stuffed...... and had too many beers....

 

[bradk]

well i'm reserving those 5 minutes.. to walk literally from the exit of coral reef to the international gateway turnstiles. either way.

 

[KristineN]

Personally, I think it will be close. 6:10 is your ADR time...but in my experience, I have never gotten seated on time at CR. Especially in the diner rush.....AND since you are doing a diver you will be seated at the tank. If no tables at the tank are open, you will be waiting until one does.

 

[disneydoula]

I posted this in the Illuminations cruise thread but think it is in the wrong place....

We have 6:10 reservations at the Coral Reef on the 30th. I've already spoken to Debbi and have everything in place for the special surprises there. Then I was lucky enough to get an Illuminiations cruise from the Yacht/Beach Club. Have to be there at 8:00 ....
Somebody said to allow at least 2 hours for a sit-down dinner and if that is the case --
WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME????????
I don't want to give up either of these fantastic memory-makers!
Thanks

I wouldn't try to pull that off, but that's just my opinion...

 

[geomacey]

Another question ...
Would it help if instead of walking, we drove to whereever? We are staying off-site and will have our car there anyway. I don't know where parking is or anything, but it's just a thought ---
And before I get asked IF I have any idea about things, the answer is obviously NO, because if I had any idea about distances and times and anything then I wouldn't need to ask the "obvious"...
It's our first time and I'm just trying to make our anniversary a little more special .... definately needed after fighting demons since November eventhough we may have better news now ....
Anyway, I'm sorry if what I am asking is simple ......
I'll keep trying to move our reservation up some ... we'll be coming from AK and it closes at 5:00 anyway ....

 

[KristineN]

I don't think transportation is your big issue here...I think it's getting in & out of Coral Reef in a fairly timely matter...that's something you don't have a lot of control over.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I have seen people getting picked up and dropped off at the friendship dock at the International Gateway. That may be an option for you.

If not, when you get to Coral Reef, tell them you are doing an Illuminations Cruise and need to leave by xx time. If you are paying for your meal, bring cash in different denominations so you can pay and not wait for them to return the charge slip, that can save you some time.

Worse case scenario, you can always cancel dinner if you get there and they do not seat you timely. If that happens, head over to B&C, not romantic, but it is fun!

Good luck and I hope it all works out

 

[geomacey]

Well, I've managed to buy 20 minutes .... I just got a new ADR for 5:50 instead of 6:10 ....
What would my latest IDEAL time be??? I will keep trying if I have to .....
Thanks for your help!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

5:50 is better! The thing is, you will have to walk from Coral Reef over to the International Gateway (the back entrance to Epcot). There are boats there, but they aren't fast boats, and if there isn't one at the dock you could be waiting for 20 minutes for another one. If you don't want to wait for a boat to take you to the marina for the cruise you can walk (we walked when we had our IllumiNations cruise) but it wasn't as close as I was hoping it would be! The other issue is that Coral Reef isn't known for getting guests seated at their ADR times. I think we were maybe 20 minutes past our seating time in December. You might call Recreation and ask if there is a direct number for the marina. That way if you are running late you can phone and tell them you are on your way and not to give your boat to anyone else!

 

[tjay]

is the illuminations cruise?