Dinner on day of arrival?

[Fionasmommy]

I can't decide how to do dinner on our first night.

We arrive at MCO around 1 pm, so I'm guessing that it will be atleast 3pm before we get checked in. We many or may not get a room at that time, so that could push it back further. I don't mind that - looking forward to spending some time relaxing at the resort, getting settled and swimming with DD.

I have an 8:50 ADR for LTT, having thought that it might be nice to go to MK that night so DD can see the castle, some characters, etc. Just to get us excited for the coming week! But, now I'm wondering if that would be a real hassle, and if MK is more impressive in daylight - it's our first visit so I want DD's first impression to be as magical as possible!!

Would we be better off doing a resort dinner or even a CS at the food court and saving MK for the next day?

Any suggestions?

 

[GreatBarrier86]

Save Magic Kingdom for the next day. I've always had an aversion to doing any major park stuff on my arrival day. Also, the Pepper Market is a great place anyway! My vote is the Bourbon Chicken at CS's PM.

Jason

 

[NJBlackBerry]

We normally head over to DTD and eat at House of Blues or Rainforest Cafe on the first night. Then a little pin buying and trading and we're good and ready to hit a park the next morning.

 

[Anewman]

After our 2500 mile flight we are STARVING(and we arrive a bit later), so the skillet from WCC hits the spot.

 

[GreatBarrier86]

so the skillet from WCC hits the spot.

I prefer Big River Grille...don't know why

 

[loralie]

I would also wait and do MK the next day. Why not try a character meal at one of the resorts? I would try Chef Mickeys for dinner if DD is a big Mickey and gang fan or 1900 park fare if she is a cinderella fan. I have done both for breakfast and loved them. I hear the food is better for dinner at 1900 park fare but if DD really wants to see Mickey then you might want to do that one first.

Have fun,

Loralie

 

[GreatBarrier86]

Why not try a character meal at one of the resorts?

I was thinking that if you might care to linger around the Seven Seas Lagoon, go over to O'hanas. When i went in 2004, they had a ton of stuff for kids to do. Plus, they got free gummy worms at the end.

All

 

[MickiMouth]

On our first night we have an ADR for Chef Mickey's. I think it's a great way to start our vacation. DD6 will love meeting the characters our first day and I'll love getting a few out of the way. Less lines later.

 

[liquid]

Well, here is what we did on our first day (I kept a sort of journal so I wouldn't forget!) -

10:40 AM - Left JFK
12:45 PM - Arrived MCO
1:15 PM - On ME
1:45 PM - At CBR Custom House - checked in
2:45 PM - At the pool for a quick swim (I had our suits in our carry-on bags)
3:30 PM - In our room (only a 5m walk from the pool).
4:15 PM - At the bus stop
5:00 PM - THE MAGIC KINGDOM!!!! We walked up Main Street, rode Big Thunder Mountain twice, Pirates of the Caribbean twice, walked up to the Castle and looked around.
6:25 PM - Checked in at CRT. Our ADRs were for 6:45 but we were too excited to wait any longer. It paid off, as we met Cinderella in the lobby!
7:05 PM - Seated by a window. Watched Wishes during our meal!
9:00 PM - Walked down Main Street at night. Took bus back to CBR, investigated the food court and gift shop.
10:30 PM - In our room for the night

It was a magical day and totally worth a ticket for only 4 or so hours. However, if the MK had been crowded it would not have been so nice!

 

[vascubaguy]

MK is great whether day or night. However, if you would prefer to wait until the next day to go in, I'd try to get a late ADR at 'Ohanas and watch the fireworks during dinner. That would be a good teaser for "things to come!"

For our upcoming trip, I wanted to try and do our first night at CRT, but of course it was completely booked (I waited WAY too long to make my ADRs). However, I knew we'd go to MK the first day so I decided to get an ADR somewhere "different" so we are going to take the boat from MK over to the Wilderness Lodge and have dinner at Whispering Canyon. Not sure if we will get the skillet or not (mmm sounds good though), but I thought it would be a fun way to start the trip... then head back over to MK for the parade, fireworks, and a few more rides.

 

[kcashner]

Well....it depends. Personally, I don't think it is worth using a "day" on a park ticket if you are arriving there at 4 pm. However, realize that we usually are vacationing in the winter or early spring when the parks close earlier.

We usually get checked in at the hotel then hit the pool. Then I do a character dinner at one of the resorts--Chef Mickey's is the favorite. This way, the kids get the character experience and the Disney feel along with plenty of food and "make your own sundaes." Since it is usually an early morning with flying, we go back to our resort and go to bed a little earlier than normal. THen...the next day we are really ready for the parks.

 

[Lorelai]

I'd definitely wait until morning opening for your little one to see MK for the first time.

But Liberty Tree is a great idea - save it for a nice dinner on a day when you are already in MK.

You didn't mention where you are staying. I would perhaps have a character/or entertainment included dinner in your resort. That is, if you are in a resort that has a character/entertainment dinner. Like Chef Mickey in the Contemporary. Or Ohana in the Polynesian. It is a more relaxing way to kick off the trip.

 

[KimR]

We arrive around the same time you do and always go to Downtown Disney the first night because it is a good way to experience Disney without wasting a day's park admission. We so some shopping at World of Disney, have dinner at Portobello Yacht Club, then get a sundae for dessert from Ghiradelli. Sometimes they have a DJ and dancing for the kids next to the lake. Our DDs LOVE that and we have such a good time watching them.

 

[Wendy31]

Last year, on our 1st night (arrival day), we also had an ADR for LTT, and I was a little worried that it would be "too much". However, it turned out to be wonderful - perfect, even! This year, DH had 3 requests when it came to our meals: eating at LTT again for our 1st night, eating at CP for lunch at some point during our stay, and trying San Angel Inn.

Following is what we did last May for our 1st evening -

Checked into cabin at FW & freshened up (between 3:00 & 4:00 pm)
Rode the resort boat from FW to MK - so magical!!
Walked down Main Street & took our 1st pics in front of the castle
Arrived at LTT for a 5:40 pm ADR - an absolutely PERFECT 1st meal!
After dinner, rode "Haunted Mansion" (my fav ride), "Dumbo" (DS's fav ride), & "It's a Small World" (DD's fav ride)
Found places on Main Street for Spectro & Wishes
Shared a couple of Mickey Bars
Watched Spectro & Wishes
Returned to Cabin

This June, we plan to do the same thing but will actually probably be in WDW in time for lunch, so we'll eat counter service for lunch. My kids get totally cranky if they have a later dinner, so, like last year, our ADR at LTT is for 5:30 pm.

We had so much fun our first evening last year! And watching Wishes on our first night was just... magical! Of course, we drove into WDW from St. Augustine, so my kids weren't tired from a long travel day.

This is kind of silly, but I really enjoy LTT for a "first" meal. After you've checked in at the restaurant & your table is ready, the CM will call out your name like - "The Smiths from Montana!" - which is a perfect little "intro" to WDW... cheesy, I know, but it's the little things that amuse me!

I never did finish my dining review from last year, but I did write a review for LTT --

Besides breakfast at CRT, this was probably my favorite character meal! Our PS time was for 5:40 pm. We checked in early and were seated early. While we were waiting, I remembered that we hadn't yet bought autograph books for the kids, & I panicked! (I had planned to have welcome baskets w/ autograph books delivered to our cabins, but I never did . . .) I asked the hostess where the nearest place was where I could purchase some books, and she very kindly told me that our server could provided us w/ some. Whew!

We were seated at a quiet table by a window in the corner. Our server was wonderful. She quickly brought us some autograph books & a pen. She was very nice to our 2 children. When she brought our food, she placed the bowl of green beans at our daughter's place & said, "This is just for you, Princess!" The look on my daughter's face was priceless! (She hates green beans!)

The food (except for the Stouffer's mac & cheese) was very good - the Declaration Salad w/ the strawberry salad dressing was superb! The rolls & apple cobbler were also quite good. The other offerings (roast beef, ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans) were also tasty.

Characters were great! Our daughter fell in love w/ Minnie Mouse at this meal. Pluto kept stealing the bread off of our table. Goofy seemed a little hurried, but Chip & Dale were hilarious!

Atmosphere - Excellent
Characters - Excellent (a wonderful first meal!)
Food - Excellent (mac & cheese notwithstanding)
Service - Excellent

 

[anty30]

Well, here is what we did on our first day (I kept a sort of journal so I wouldn't forget!) -

10:40 AM - Left JFK
12:45 PM - Arrived MCO
1:15 PM - On ME
1:45 PM - At CBR Custom House - checked in
2:45 PM - At the pool for a quick swim (I had our suits in our carry-on bags)
3:30 PM - In our room (only a 5m walk from the pool).
4:15 PM - At the bus stop
5:00 PM - THE MAGIC KINGDOM!!!! We walked up Main Street, rode Big Thunder Mountain twice, Pirates of the Caribbean twice, walked up to the Castle and looked around.
6:25 PM - Checked in at CRT. Our ADRs were for 6:45 but we were too excited to wait any longer. It paid off, as we met Cinderella in the lobby!
7:05 PM - Seated by a window. Watched Wishes during our meal!
9:00 PM - Walked down Main Street at night. Took bus back to CBR, investigated the food court and gift shop.
10:30 PM - In our room for the night

It was a magical day and totally worth a ticket for only 4 or so hours. However, if the MK had been crowded it would not have been so nice!

We do the exact same thing. We always have dinner the first night in the MK and it is soooo exciting. We are always eager to start the rides and fun.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Thanks so much for all the replies and great advice!!

Now I'm torn, lol. We currently have ADR's for both CRT (lunch) and Chef Mickey's (dinner) on Fiona's birthday that week. Now I'm thinking maybe I'll cancel Chef Mickey's and book it for our first night (instead of LTT).

That way she'll get her Mickey fill, and if we feel up to it we can hop on the monorail after dinner and check out the Magic Kingdom. If not, well, it was only a few dollars more to get 9 day hoppers instead of 8, so it's no big deal.

And then maybe I'll book 1900 Park Fare for DD's birthday dinner - and hope it's the same Cinderella that we had at lunch! I really want to order her that infamous Mickey head shaped cake!!

 

[PlutosFriend]

I can't decide how to do dinner on our first night.

We arrive at MCO around 1 pm, so I'm guessing that it will be atleast 3pm before we get checked in. We many or may not get a room at that time, so that could push it back further. I don't mind that - looking forward to spending some time relaxing at the resort, getting settled and swimming with DD.

I have an 8:50 ADR for LTT, having thought that it might be nice to go to MK that night so DD can see the castle, some characters, etc. Just to get us excited for the coming week! But, now I'm wondering if that would be a real hassle, and if MK is more impressive in daylight - it's our first visit so I want DD's first impression to be as magical as possible!!

Would we be better off doing a resort dinner or even a CS at the food court and saving MK for the next day?

Any suggestions?

Just a different thought here You could possibly still get to the MK in the daylight. It should't get dark til what, 8pmish or later? Seeing that castle at night is awesome too! The lights are so pretty

 

[ready4mouse]

ohh.... I like that idea of LTT on the 1st night...
I was just trying to figure out what we were going to do (I had Hoop-de-doo ressies but I think I'm going to cancel). I really wanted to see Wishes that night to "kick-off" the vacation. We're not doing MK until our 3rd day there so I think LTT would be a great way to get in there! We had LTT ADR's for our MK day but maybe we'll switch it and go with your idea...

Thanks for the good suggestion and good luck with whatever you decide! I'm sure the first day will be great just for being there!

 

[PlutosFriend]

All this great talk of LTT and I don't have it reserved for our May trip. Hmmm Is there anything that makes it stand out from say, Chef Mickeys? Is there only that one dessert? Cobbler?