Flying down...ADR the first night?

[Emiems20]

HI all, going to the world in dec. we will be flying down and should arrive around 1230. I am debating on making an ADR for the first night or not. I hve not done an ADR the last two times we flew b/c we did not arrive until 5, and 930pm. Since we are arriving so early I am wondering if we should. The earliest I would make the ADR for would be 6pm. Hubby and I are on the Dxddp, rest of the family is paying OOP b/c they are getting a confrence rate and discounted txts through the confrence. We will all be on the same flight, 7 of us total.

 

[Steph2527]

We usually book an ADR the first afternoon/night. (we normally arrive at WDW around 10am...we take a 6am flight out of NY!). As long as you plan it later in the day as you said...i don't see a reason why you shouldn't! It starts the magic from the beginning!! I just wouldn't book an ADR that would require a credit card to hold it...you never know with airlines..delays and what not. Have a great trip...we are going in Dec too!!

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

First of all, you could make the ADR and cancel if the circumstances of your arrival day change and the time or location won't work out.

Beyond that, I think it depends on how much travel you have to do and what plans you have for that afternoon/evening.

When we drive, we arrive at 2 PM after 15 hours of driving, and we are wwwaaayyy to antsy for a TS meal.

On the other hand, when we fly, it's only about 2.5 hours (plus getting to/from the airports), we reach the resort about 11 AM, and we arrive in a completely different frame of mind. In this situation we usually grab a snack and our park gear, head out for some park time, and a TS meal around 6-7 PM would be just about right for us.

 

[Cat0727]

Personally, we usually don't make an ADR the first night because we like having the freedom on our first day in WDW of doing whatever we want without worrying about what time it is and if we'd make our ADR I remember one year my sister and I had a reservation for H&V and we ended up canceling it because we were just so exhausted by the end of the day- from traveling & the heat.

 

[msnwithers]

Since you are on the Dxddp, maybe you could make ADR at California Grill. You could make your ADR for around 7:30 and watch the fireworks at the MK. (Make sure that you check MK's schedule to see if fireworks show that night.) What a magical way to spend your first night! (FYI - CG takes 2 TS credits.) Enjoy!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I'm in the no ADR camp...but we don't arrive before noon and don't do the DxDDP. We like to get to the resort and get settled in the room. Often we are a little tired from the flight and all involved in just getting there so we like to relax and watch a little TV....usually the Disney Top 10 It's nice to not have to be on any schedule.

Having said that....if I was on the DxDDP I most likely would book something but I would have to know that I would be in my room long before dinner time.

 

[bleeps]

We fly in and always arrive around noon. We have a CS lunch and then make an ADR for dinner in the park where we plan to be that first day for 6:30 or so. The reason I would NOT recommend making a Cal. Grill ADR is that you are charged if you make but don't use the reservation. Why give yourself that added stress if for any reason your flights are delayed, etc.?

The one time we made ADRs for Spirit of Aloha on our arrival day we realized it was a mistake, only because our son was devastated at having to rush in and out of MK that day. He would have been much happier eating at the park and saving the SOA for another day during the trip.

 

[scard192]

We arrived at 12:30PM last September. Took ME to the resort, settled in, used the pool, and headed over to GF for our 6:50PM ADR at 1900PF. It worked out perfectly and was a wonderful start to my 3 year old grand daughters first trip to WDW. We were up early for our flight so we went back to the resort after dinner.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

We start every vacation with a Cali Grill dinner! As long as your flight is scheduled for early (like the OP's), it will be a wonderful start to your trip. The only thing to think about is what time you have to be up in the morning to get to the airport. If it's super early, just make sure you make an earlier ADR, as you will probably be tired earlier than usual on a travel day.

We love the DxDP!

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

We usually arrive around noon, also. The past few trips, we do make 6pm adr's for the first night, but at somewhere close to our resort. Since we usually stay at the BC, we make our first night adr's for Captain's Grille at the YC. Last year, we got lucky, and were settled and in our room by 1:20pm. After confirming that CptG was open until 2pm, we headed over there for lunch. The place was 90% empty, and we enjoyed a leisurely, tasty meal as we settled into a vacation mindset. Upon leaving, we cancelled our evening adr's, so that someone else could benefit from our good fortune.

 

[cel_disney]

The past few years we have landed at 10:30 and arrived at Disney around noon. We always make an ADR for our first night - usually around 6pm - after a long day of flying and airport food, the last thing I wanted was more counter service!

We have been on the deluxe plan as well so it was a no brainer for us.

Last year and this year, our ressie is at Garden Grill. Good homecooked food and convenient to the front entrance of the park since we'd be busing/monorailing in.

 

[AndreaDM]

We are arriving around 2pm on Sat., June 26. We won't do a park that day, but plan to lounge at the hotel pool (CR) then take a leisurely boat ride over to FW at 6:30 and eat at Trail's End. Nothing too crazy or fancy, but I think we'll be ready for some yummy food in an air conditioned restaurant.

 

[bluejasmine]

I would make an ADR to whatever resort your staying at if it has a TS or DTD. If your getting in a bit late I honestly would just do your resorts CS..

We always arrive day before we check into WDW and do a DTD restaurant which for the last couple of trips has been TREx, our first night at our resort is normally at whatever park we are at or our resort, this yr it will be Kona at the Poly, was hoping for Ohana but there wasnt any openings until late so I took Kona and booked Ohana for later in the week

 

[MrsLS]

We always book an ADR for the first night. The past 2 times were in MK but this time we will be in the Epcot resort area, so we have an ADR in Epcot. We get in and to the hotel by 11am.

 

[Cafeen]

If you want to eat somewhere in particular, go ahead and book an ADR in the 6:30-7 range (or later). I would stay away from any CC-held reservation though (CG notably) as if something happens and you can't make it, you'll be charged a no-show fee. With a non-CC held ADR, if something happens and you don't make it, no harm no foul.

 

[Kimberly Hill]

We usually book clients (and ourselves) under 3 schools of thought:

1. the table service at the resort where they're staying, if applicable, because it's so easy.
2. something to kick off their vacation in style or fun: 'Ohana, Chef Mickey, California Grill, etc.
3. forget the ADR and go to Downtown Disney for Earl of Sandwich and a little shopping.


For ourselves because we go so often, it's usually the Earl/DTD or our resort table service. For clients who don't get to WDW much, it's something fun or their resort table service. Some clients have a tradition, like Chef Mickey's on the first night.

 

[Simba22]

We always have an ADR for our arrival night! So nice to sit down to a good meal after traveling all day!

 

[mkarizona]

Program Disney Dining in your cell phone so you can rebook on the fly if necessary. Last trip we misjudged transportation times twice and had to rebook last minute. In the process we discovered two new faves (Kona and GF Cafe) and someone undoubtedly reported that they "just walked up and got in without adr's" at the two we cancelled.