First day - what to do between ADRs?

[portmaster1000]

My wife and I will be arriving at the Orlando airport on Oct 22nd at 9:20 AM and I have our first ADR (Le Cellier!) scheduled at 12:20 PM. Then our dinner ADR (Cally Grill) is at 5:30 PM. I know that day crowd level is predicted to be high so I'm not sure if we want to stay around Epcot or MK until dinner.

We're staying at Port Orleans Riverside so I thought about spending a couple hours in Downtown Disney.

Any suggestions?
Mark

 

[Sydnerella]

I think I would find a way to work up an appetite for dinner at Cali only 4 hours after you finish lunch at LeCellier!! WALK WALK WALK - Epcot is good for that!

Sydnerella's Mama

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I would do Downtown Disney or just getting settled at the resort.

 

[AJKMOM]

That isn't a long time between big meals, so if I were you, I would also use that time to walk around Epcot. Then, you can jump on the monorail and get to the CG pretty quickly.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I'd head to MK, puts around there trying to work off lunch, so I can be hungry for an early dinner!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I would consider cancelling Le Cellier and trying to book it another day. Its pretty close to your arrival time anyway....What if your plane is delayed by 1 or 2 hours? You wont make it on time. this happened to me both going to disney and going home (on our last trip). I was so ticked. Anyway, dont forget that Cali Grill isnt exactly cheap. You wanna get your moneys worth. I would want to go there hungry. Not full. If you keep your LC adr and go to Cali Grill and you find yourself not really hungry, you can always go anyway and order something small.

 

[portmaster1000]

Cancelling isn't an option - it took me a long time to find this reservation . If our flight is delayed or we can't make it - well I don't want to worry about something that might not happen.

I would have liked to have gotten CG a little later but considering my other ADR was at 9:40 PM, I was happy to get this one and be able to return to watch Wishes from there.

We'll probably walk around Epcot or MK checking on line waits/fastpasses and seeing what's reasonable to ride. With my appetite I know I'll be hungry by then.

Thanx for the input!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

I would go back to your resort and swim! That's about the only way I would be hungry enough in only a few hours! Plus it'll give you a chance to unpack and settle in before you have to change for the signature dinner!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We'll probably walk around Epcot or MK checking on line waits/fastpasses and seeing what's reasonable to ride. With my appetite I know I'll be hungry by then. Thanx for the input!

and you know there's something about being on vacation, who says you have to be starved to eat! You can always split entree or appetizers, or not, enjoy!

 

[portmaster1000]

and you know there's something about being on vacation, who says you have to be starved to eat! You can always split entree or appetizers, or not, enjoy!

Very true!

Being on the dxddp that week, I don't expect to ever be starving...

 

[leslie826]

If you'll be rushing to get from the airport to your ressie at Le Cellier, I don't think I'd be so quick to leave Epcot. Stay and enjoy! You've already done enough travelling that day .

 

[krb2g]

I'd definitely plan on walking around EPCOT. If it seems too crowded for that, call an audible and leave through the IG and walk around the Boardwalk/Beach Club/Yacht Club for a while or take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. You could also check out the Polynesian/Grand Floridian.

 

[portmaster1000]

I like the idea of doing some walking especially since the weather is supposed to be nice that day. It might be nice to just walk around Epcot/MK just to look and not with any kind of "tour" agenda.

thanx
Mark

 

[shannonstar]

I would consider cancelling Le Cellier and trying to book it another day. Its pretty close to your arrival time anyway....What if your plane is delayed by 1 or 2 hours? You wont make it on time. this happened to me both going to disney and going home (on our last trip). I was so ticked. Anyway, dont forget that Cali Grill isnt exactly cheap. You wanna get your moneys worth. I would want to go there hungry. Not full. If you keep your LC adr and go to Cali Grill and you find yourself not really hungry, you can always go anyway and order something small.

I second this. It's too much food. And that's coming from a family of foodies.

 

[nkereina]

We just did the DxDP at the end of September and we could never finish our meals. We did mostly TS breakfasts and late TS dinners, but on the days we had TS lunches and TS dinners (lunch around 11, dinner around 8), we canceled all of our TS dinners except two because we weren't hungry. With the app, entree and dessert, its so much food. Order and eat sparingly at Le Cellier or it will be a wasted trip to Cali Grill. Trust.

Are you taking ME or will you be driving/using other transportation from the airport? If ME, just watch your time. Took us about two hours from plane to hotel, another half hour to check in, and then it always took us about 20-30 mins to get anywhere from POR. And Le Cellier is a good walk from the Epcot gate.

 

[portmaster1000]

If we do run late from the airport (using ME) how late is too late to show up at Le Cellier? This ADR took FOREVER to get and I won't let it go without a fight.

Also, does doing the advance checkin on the website not speed up the process once we get to our resort?

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

If we do run late from the airport (using ME) how late is too late to show up at Le Cellier? This ADR took FOREVER to get and I won't let it go without a fight.

Also, does doing the advance checkin on the website not speed up the process once we get to our resort?

Well when you get off the plane.. you'll get to ME. From several trips, we know exactly where ME is, but if this is your first time--then plan a few minutes to stop and look for directions. The ME line has taken anywhere from 10minutes to an hour for us. There are up to 3 resorts to stop at on an ME bus. If you are the last one, expect to add quite a bit of time. You will then check in--sure it helps to do online check in, but there still may be a line, then you have to go to your room... which at POR can be quite the hike away. I'm sure you'll need a few minutes to settle. Then you need to get to your bus stop and wait for an EPCOT bus. Depending on your bus stop, there may be 3 others to stop at and pick up others. Get thru bag check at Epcot and go allllllll the way to the back which is another hike.

LeCellier is booked at capacity at lunch because it is only 1 credit and people can get a filet. They may not be able to honor a late showing for lunch. We tried it twice and disliked not only the food, but the service both times (only tried it again because we were hoping it was a fluke--we do the DxDDP). There is no comparison to the California Grill which is an amazing experience and meal. You will be rushing and although you said canceling wasn't an option--it really is the best option. POR has a nice food court you can pick up something light--or take the boat to Downtown Disney so you can really enjoy your California Grill experience.

I wouldn't want to start my vacation off on a rat race--and neither do the people who travel with me.

 

[madalex]

My wife and I will be arriving at the Orlando airport on Oct 22nd at 9:20 AM and I have our first ADR (Le Cellier!) scheduled at 12:20 PM.

You are going to be at Epcot in the middle of the Food and Wine Festival (with fabulous food and drink from all over the world) and you are going to go to Le Cellier for lunch?!? That's crazy. For that reason alone, you should cancel the reservation and instead sample the foods from the various booths.

 

[portmaster1000]

Well when you get off the plane.. you'll get to ME. From several trips, we know exactly where ME is, but if this is your first time--then plan a few minutes to stop and look for directions. The ME line has taken anywhere from 10minutes to an hour for us. There are up to 3 resorts to stop at on an ME bus. If you are the last one, expect to add quite a bit of time. You will then check in--sure it helps to do online check in, but there still may be a line, then you have to go to your room... which at POR can be quite the hike away. I'm sure you'll need a few minutes to settle. Then you need to get to your bus stop and wait for an EPCOT bus. Depending on your bus stop, there may be 3 others to stop at and pick up others. Get thru bag check at Epcot and go allllllll the way to the back which is another hike.

LeCellier is booked at capacity at lunch because it is only 1 credit and people can get a filet. They may not be able to honor a late showing for lunch. We tried it twice and disliked not only the food, but the service both times (only tried it again because we were hoping it was a fluke--we do the DxDDP). There is no comparison to the California Grill which is an amazing experience and meal. You will be rushing and although you said canceling wasn't an option--it really is the best option. POR has a nice food court you can pick up something light--or take the boat to Downtown Disney so you can really enjoy your California Grill experience.

I wouldn't want to start my vacation off on a rat race--and neither do the people who travel with me.

We weren't planning on going to the room when we arrived. We'll only have a small carry on bag and the rest will be checked. Is there a compelling reason to go to the room after arrival?

If we don't go to the room and catch the bus from the main terminal at POR we really only have a walk from the enterance of Epcot to Canada, right?

Worse Case - everything takes the maximum time and we totally miss the reservation. Then we'll pay for something at the resort and use the extra credit to reschedule a regular dinner to a signature restaurant later in the week.

Medium Case - standard drive from airport, drop offs and wait times. In this case, I see us getting to Le Cellier right on time without racing.

Best Case - Good luck on every front. Get to Epcot with time to stop by Soarin' and grab a fast pass before Le Cellier.

 

[AnnetteF]

I have to agree with the others who said to cancel Le Cellier. It does sound like a rat race and a big waste of 2 meals, and it also does not sound like a very enjoyable day. That is only my opinion, of course, but we learned a long time ago that in spite of the necessity of ADR's and the desire to eat in certain restaurants, DO NOT LET THE MEALS DRIVE YOUR VACATION!