Early Arrival and Dining Plans

[Mom22beans]

We arrive at MCO at approximately 10am. Given that there is travel time to get to POP Century, and that we are travelling with 2 little people 3 and 5 who will be up BEFORE the crack of silly (our flight leaves Toronto at 7am- which means a 5am airport arrival time), on their first flight AND going to the 'magic land' should I keep or cancel dining reservations- Akerhaus at 8pm or Coral Reef at 7pm.

They will both likely NEED a nap and our room likely will not be ready upon arrival. Am I just asking for trouble by asking them to sit down for a meal with all the excitement and stimulation of the first day? We are on the Disney Dining plan so can eat table or quick service.

PLEASE HELP!

 

[pigletgirl]

Yeah, I've come to the conclusion to not have any ADR's for arrival day. There are too many unknowns and if you need to cancel past the 24 hour mark you will be charged $10/person.

For our upcoming trip we're eating at either EoS or WPE. Both are yummy and easy. Then we'll have an early bedtime so we can get up and enjoy our first full day!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I think those ADR times are way too late for the arrival night. Even with a mid-day rest, after such an early morning, I would aim for bedtime by 9:00 at the latest. You want to be able to get a good night's sleep and be up for rope-drop the next morning. You get so much more done in the first couple of hours after the parks open.

As far as the room being ready, if you do online check-in, you can estimate your arrival time and ask for an available room over any of your other requests. I'd probably opt for that so you can hopefully get into your room right off and be able to rest. After that, you can explore Pop and AOA, and eat at either food court, maybe hit the pool.

 

[caracarn]

I think with the ages you are talking about those reservations might be a problem. Unless they are unique 3 or 5 year olds the atmosphere in either place will not really engage then. Certainly the fish in Coral Reef are better than the setting in Akershus, but you might want to change to a late lunch of some sort and just do counter service for dinner or just wing it the first day and save the table service choice for later in the trip.

 

[monorailsilver]

I always do an ADR for arrival day but I don't go to a park that day since we are tired from traveling.

I have been doing a 5pm at chef Mickeys. And it works well for us and they get to see the characters. We stay at the Poly so it's an easy to get to place for us.

We usually spend the afternoon at the pool on arrival day until it's time to leave for dinner.

 

[flutterby3744]

On our last trip we did a dinner ADR at Boatwrights (we were staying at POR). Other than the resort restaurant (or maybe DD), I would skip it. Our first day is always a resort/DD day and I wouldn't want to waste a park ticket for just dinner on that day. You will all likely be tired and/or cranky so take it easy. If it were me, I'd just explore the resort, have some pool time, catch a QS dinner, and call it an early night. That will leave you refreshed for your first full day!

 

[Mom22beans]

Thanks for your suggestions. I had kind of figured on NOT getting out anywhere other than our resort that day but with all the reading I have been doing (can you say obsessed?) I figured when the 180 day hit I'd better book something!!! So I did. I have Akerhaus booked later in the week as it is a princess one for our 5 yo dd but is the atmosphere that unexciting?!

Sooooo stressed about making it 'right that I am forgetting that they are little people who will be soooo overloaded!

Thanks for screwing my head back on!

Julie