HELP! I've waited too long to plan!

[Familyof6]

I know, I know...slap me with a wet noodle. I've waited too long to plan this trip. We arrive on Sunday and I haven't booked anything yet.
Here are my thoughts for the first night...
We'll arrive at CSR in the afternoon and get settled in. Then we head off to ride the monorail...a traditional start to our WDW trips. This is the first time we are not staying in a monorail hotel and I think we'd miss it if we didn't do it.
Since MK has EMH that evening, we could go to the MK after dinner...but that's the problem. How do we find a GREAT kick off dinner this late? Any suggestions?
There are 6 of us, hence the sn, Familyof6 We have 2 teens, a pre-teen and a 7 (soon to be 8) yr old. We'll have to keep all of them happy.
Any suggestions?

TIA
Familyof6

 

[marivaid]

You might be able to get Kona but I think your choices are gonna be pretty limited. Can't hurt to try though!!!

 

[Jletendre]

Just call the ADR line and say you want to know what's available on your date and time frame .. might be lucky with something late.

 

[Familyof6]

I just called and asked for assistance in finding someplace for dinner and lo and behold, they had a 5:30 at Maya Grill. Since that's right at our hotel, I figured I'd take it and THEN go ride the monorail and visit the MK.
Does anyone have any recommendations of what's good at the Maya Grill? I'll check back for previous posts too.

Now to work on the rest of the week.

Familyof6

 

[Amy&Dan]

Too funny, I never see much on Maya Grill, and tonight I have answered three questions regarding it! Must be a Maya Grill kinda night...

We had a wonderful dinner there last August. Dh and I shared between us: the fried plantains and crabmeat chalupa for appetizers. Then dh had the ribeye and I had lamb. For dessert I am pretty sure I had flan. It was all wonderful. I was really surprised at how much we enjoyed this, it was a late booking kind of thing (sound familiar) and basically just for convenience since we were staying at CSR before our DCL. We ended up loving it (our family of six members, four adults two kids). We all got different things, my cousin had the duck and said it was very good and my son got the salmon, I had a bite and it was delicious.

You will love CSR, I know its not on the monorail, but the lovely, spread out grounds are so nice to enjoy, it has a wonderful pool and numerous quiet pools and the full and counter service dining options are really good.

Also, being a convention resort its generally not crowded as far as pools and buses, even when it is sold out. Have a great trip!

 

[Familyof6]

Amy,
Thanks! My dh is attending a conference there so we are tagging along. This trip was sort of unplanned so I didn't do all that usual research. It's been 4 yrs since we've been to WDW and I've forgotten a lot of things. (and I was researching specifics for that trip which was very different)
I always have a set but flexible plan before we leave home and this time I just don't. For me it's unsettling. Dh keeps saying, we'll play it all by ear. That's easier for him to say. He attends his meetings, and joins us for dinner. I have 4 kids to entertain and feed...and be sure we get the most out of this trip.
For dh, food is just something you put in your stomach to take the pain away. I, on the otherhand, enjoy the entire element of meals. (The atmosphere, the tastes and textures, etc. )
I'm sure we'll enjoy the trip no matter what. IT'S DISNEY!!!

Familyof6