Evening of arrival?

[abeautybutafunnygirl]

Hi everyone!
I'm very excited to be participating in the Disney International Program this summer! My roommates and I are flying in the day before our housing check-in, and we'll be arriving at MCO at 5:45 and taking the Magical Express to either All-Star Sports or Pop Century. We don't have to be up super early to check in, so we're looking for something fun to do the night we get in!
I've been to WDW 3 times, but most of my roomies have either never been before or haven't been since they were kids. We're down for anything. I was thinking maybe trying to get a really late reservation at a resort restaurant or Disney Springs... what time would you make it for if you were me, to make sure we would be able to make it? Or would it make more sense to do a quick dinner at the resort and then try to catch Wishes from somewhere outside the park? (Poly beach? TTC? Any recommendations?)
Thanks for any advice!

 

[Robo]

1. would it make more sense to do a quick dinner at the resort and then try to catch Wishes from somewhere outside the park?
2. (Poly beach? TTC? Any recommendations?)

1. Yup.
2. Either of those. The TTC has far better AUDIO of the show piped in.

 

[leebee]

I wouldn't make an ADR for arrival day. What if your flights are late or you're all just too tired to do a sit down meal? You'll end up paying a $10 per person no-show fee! I would suggest playing it by ear. IF you decide you want a sit-down meal AFTER you check into your hotel, pull up the website and see what's available. As long as you aren't focused on being at a specific restaurant, you should be able to find something. The Wave often has last-minute availability, and the food is good. If you are hoping to catch Wishes from a monorail resort, check and see what time the Electrical Water Pageant is running and see if you can watch that, too. (If you eat at the Wave and the timing is right, you could do all three- dinner, EWP, and Wishes- right from the Contemporary!)