First Night Dinner reservation help

[charm73]

Can someone please help me??? This is our first time to WDW and we will be arriving late afternoon/early evening. While I don't want to use a days park pass when we will all be tired, I would like to book an ADR at one of the hotels where we can see the castle, and maybe the fireworks, or at least get a good bit of "Disney magic" Maybe a character dinner. There are 6 of us. Me, DH, Mom and Dad, and my 2DS's, ages 11 and 3.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. We will be arriving Apr 30th so the ADR window is opening soon.

 

[vanillarum]

My 2 choices would be either the California Grill (very $$),but great views and great food. You can see fireworks from the restaurant or the outside walkway. The other would be at the Polynesian. A bit less expensive. In fact, at either place you could monorail/walk to the beach at the Poly , see the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom,and watch the Electric Water Parade in the lagoon off the Poly beach. Oh, 1 more. You could also do the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge, take the boat to the Poly, and go from there. Good luck !!

 

[IggyLans]

How about Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary? It's a character buffet, it's sure to get you some "Disney Magic"

 

[LISAVWL]

A few years ago we started having dinner at Chef Mickey the night we arrive a and my kids LOVE IT! They get to see Mickey & gang right away and after dinner we take a monorail ride around the parks. If we're feeling up to it we'll watch the MK fireworks from the beach at the POLY or head back to the VWL to watch the Electrical Water parade. Makes for a truly magical first night! In fact, we'll be doing exactly this in 2 days --

 

[ShuisFan584]

I think Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary would be a good choice. The Contemporary is pretty much right next to the Magic Kingdom. Your kids will love Chef Mickey's and it's a great way to start the trip since you can see the Magic Kingdom right next to the Contemporary, the monorail runs right through the lobby next to Chef Mickey's which is always fun, it's a character dinner which will get everyone more excited about the trip, and it's a buffet! I'm sure by the time you fly in and check into your resort, you'll all be starving and ready to pig out! And the best way to do that is a buffet! I can't really say anything about the food at dinner time since I've only been to Chef Mickey's for breakfast, but I definitely think you'll all have a good time!

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, Chef Mickey's gets my vote also. Great way to start a WDW vacation.This place is NOISY but LOTS of FUN!! Joan

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

Chef Mickey's is fun. I think the little ones would really like it

 

[Fies4]

Back in '06 we checked in at Pop Century around 5pm on a Sunday, took all of our luggage to the room and had dinner reservations at the Concourse Steakhouse which is at the Contemporary Resort. It's right beside Chef Mickey's (we had ADR's Chef Mickey's the next morning). My son especially loved it because he was able to watch the monorail go through the resort the whole time we were eating dinner. DH and I thought the food and service was excellent. Not sure if that has changed since early '06 but I hope that helps you a little. Oh - and everyone else is saying Chef Mickey's -- that would be a good idea as well, character interaction is great, but I can't speak for the food at dinnertime. The breakfast is wonderful but I hear mixed opinions about dinner. I'm trying to plan our ADR's right now as well for an upcoming January trip and am also stumped as to where we will eat our first night. I want to try new places this time around.
Good Luck!!

 

[SGMCO]

I think it depends on how tired you are after a day of traveling.
We have a 3 1/2 hour nonstop flight but in order to get to our resort by
3:00 in the afternoon we have to leave very early in the morning
and everyone in our group wants to get to look around our resort
and we usually eat at our resort then we relax at our resort, maybe
swim. We have learned that we need to pace ourselves no matter
how excited we are about being at WDW.

 

[charm73]

Thanks for all the ideas.

Since we are taking a red-eye from the west coast with a few transfers, we will arrive around 1:30, explore the resort, nap, and I will book ADR for Chef Mickey's. A red-eye with a 3yr old does not sound fun!

Transportation wise, we are staying at POP, could we take the Disney bus to Magic kingdom and then hop on the monorail? Is that the easiest and quickest way? How long would it take?

 

[charm73]

Also, could we watch the fireworks from the monorail platform at MK and then run to the bus stop before it gets really busy?

 

[SGMCO]

Thanks for all the ideas.

Since we are taking a red-eye from the west coast with a few transfers, we will arrive around 1:30, explore the resort, nap, and I will book ADR for Chef Mickey's. A red-eye with a 3yr old does not sound fun!

Transportation wise, we are staying at POP, could we take the Disney bus to Magic kingdom and then hop on the monorail? Is that the easiest and quickest way? How long would it take?

Yes, That's what we do.
It's very easy to hop on the resort bus to MK and then on monorail to CR.
CR is the 1st stop. I've never stayed at POP and I'm not sure how long of
a ride it will be to MK but I would give yourself plenty of time to get there so that you won't feel rushed because you will already be tired from traveling. I would give myself at least 45 min. before ADRs for travel time.
If you arrive early for your ADRs for CM there is a waiting area with
a TV and Mickey Cartoons for the Kids to watch, it's a very nice waiting area.
CR Gift shop is really fun to visit also. Have a Fun Trip!

 

[USA41018]

"Ohana at the Polynesian gets my vote. After dinner you can walk out to the beach see the castle, the monorail, watch the Electrical Pageant on the lake , see the fireworks. We did it last year and it was great. During dinner, they get all the kids together and have a parade through the restaurant polynesian style, so it is fun for the kids too'