HELP...T/S dinner on arrival

[raniroo]

I need some help and guidance...

I am going to be doing the DxDP in October. I am busy planning my ADR's...it's going to be finely tuned list however I am concerned about the night I arrive.

I am arriving into MCO at 5.30pm, so by the time I get the transfer to POP Century and check in I am not sure of what time it would be?

Where is a good T/S meal I could book into later...but not a MUST DO....as if something goes wrong and I arrive late I won't be disappointed if I miss it....

Any suggestions?

 

[laughinplace199]

You should get to your resort around 7:00.

Do you want to eat at a resort or a park or does it not matter?

 

[raniroo]

You should get to your resort around 7:00.

Do you want to eat at a resort or a park or does it not matter?

Thanks for the eta! Probably resort or downtown disney

 

[Dizneydaz]

I would book Kona, Raglan Road, or WPC. When we have the reg. DDP those are 3 places we go at least once, sometimes twice, one time 3 times.

Happy Dining!

 

[Huff]

I'd opt for the monorail resorts as Magic Kingdom is usually open late so easy to get to/from POP. DTD buses are a pain.

So I'd say Kona, or The Wave are good bets. Ohana's and Cape May are great choices but they require credit card holds, and if you don't make it you'll be charged a penalty. This is also true for Narcossi's and Citrico's and other signature restaurants.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I've never taken the Magical Express to the resort, but don't forget to add in the time it will take to get to the restaurant you want to go to. Also, I suggest not booking a restaurant that requires a credit card guarantee in case your flight is delayed.

 

[BriarRosie]

Sadly, I wouldn't plan on a table service restaurant until 9pm on a 5:30pm flight arrival. You never know if there's any flight delay, and the Disney's Magical Express buses are not on a schedule. And when you're dropped off, you might be the third stop, like I am when I stay at Beach Club Villas.

You might catch good bus karma, but planning a dinner on arrival night when you're at a Value resort might be difficult when you're not using a rental car. I give myself an hour between resort to resort transport if I have to rely on Disney buses.

 

[laughinplace199]

We've had some really good meals at GF Cafe and Captains Grille. I don't know of either of these require a credit card to hold the reservation.

Also, I'd take a cab from your resort to get to dinner that night. It will take too long to go to another resort using WDW buses.

 

[Hopefully]

Sadly, I wouldn't plan on a table service restaurant until 9pm on a 5:30pm flight arrival. You never know if there's any flight delay, and the Disney's Magical Express buses are not on a schedule. And when you're dropped off, you might be the third stop, like I am when I stay at Beach Club Villas.

You might catch good bus karma, but planning a dinner on arrival night when you're at a Value resort might be difficult when you're not using a rental car. I give myself an hour between resort to resort transport if I have to rely on Disney buses.

I agree with all of this. I would plan to be at your hotel much before 9 PM either. If you are, all the better. If you do decide to plan a TS dinner, I also aagree you need to plan on a taxi cab. Resort to resort travel can easily take 60 - 90 minutes.
I would probably eat at the Food Court that night and just settle in and get some rest for your great vacation.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'd go with Downtown Disney unless you want to take a taxi to a resort. Almost all the TS restaurants there take the dining plan now, and none have credit card holds, so you could pretty much pick any one. I'd take Raglan Road, personally.

I know the food court might not cut it if you are planning to maximize those deluxe dining credits.

 

[dixonsontour]

Remember to factor in the unpredicabilty of immigration lines at MCO if you are flying in from overseas.

October is peak time for plane loads of Brits arriving due to our school holidays. 1 hour plus in immigration isn't unheard of.

 

[vicb]

We have had some bad experiences with DTD restaurants in terms of the wait times and crowds. We waited FOREVER one time at RFC because we had talked it up with kids and they really wanted to go. They were fried by the time we got a table and it wasn't much an exprience at that point. Another time we had issues at Wolfgang Puck restaurant after La Nouba, much of it our fault because it was just too late to try that with our kids.

I agree that you should just do something at Pop, maybe a late night swim and get an early start the next day.

If you really want to do a sit down I would suggest picking a resort restaurant (I too like Kona) and taking a cab there to save time. If you go to the Poly you can do a monorail ride to look at MK then hop a bus to Pop from the TTC.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I wouldn't plan a TS either on that day. resort to resort is a pain in a good day let alone of a travel day unless you plan for a taxi. Then if that's the case Iwould plan a very late dinner around 9pm. At AS movie, it took us over an hour to check in last August as the line was long. If you can do online check in to make things move faster.

What bout eating at the wave?

 

[raniroo]

many thanks to all the replies....helpful but ....now I am more confused than ever

I may make a late night ressie at Kona and make another ADR for Kona later in the trip (just in case I don't make it the first night)...I will see how I feel...

I am flying in from San Juan via Miami so hopefully can breeze through those lines at the airport....