How long is from MCO to WDW?

[coronationday]

On NYE? I personally would check with the concierge when we checked in to see if any sit down restaurant was available (doubtful) and if not, just plan on QS. Are you hoping for a park that day?

No park for us. I think I will talk it out with the family, weight the pros and cons and make a decision knowing that maybe it doesn't go the way we planned.

 

[RoseGold]

I’ve never had luggage come out earlier than 40 minutes after landing at MCO. That may just be my bad luck, though. We allow extra time because we always stop at the bathroom with the kids after landing. If you don’t have young children with you, your time will probably be much less than ours.

Me too, which is why I don't check bags to MCO.

 

[kylenne]

No park for us. I think I will talk it out with the family, weight the pros and cons and make a decision knowing that maybe it doesn't go the way we planned.

If you have your heart set on a TS dinner on a Poly arrival day, I would consider Kona or GF Cafe. Both tend to have availability when other resort restaurants don't, both are great and convenient (Kona recently had a refurb). You can also almost always score a walkup waitlist for them too, depending on the size of your party. It might be harder on NYE but keep that option in mind. I absolutely wouldn't book a TS on arrival day anywhere other than my resort or an adjacent one I can walk to, that's playing with fire imo.

re: luggage I always fly JetBlue and check a bag because it's free as a cardholder with them, and I've never had to wait longer than 20 minutes at MCO baggage claim. But I also almost always fly in on the first flight out of JFK, so there's less people to deal with. We also don't have kids.

 

[leebee]

Make a dinner reservation at Disney Springs through Open Table; quite a few of the restaurants are on OT, and I don't think any of them charge a no-show fee. You can take the bus from your resort to DS. If you aren't going to be able to make it to the reservation, it's courtesy to cancel, but you won't be out $40. Having said that, it IS New Year's Eve, so policies might be different.

 

[coronationday]

If you have your heart set on a TS dinner on a Poly arrival day, I would consider Kona or GF Cafe. Both tend to have availability when other resort restaurants don't, both are great and convenient (Kona recently had a refurb). You can also almost always score a walkup waitlist for them too, depending on the size of your party. It might be harder on NYE but keep that option in mind. I absolutely wouldn't book a TS on arrival day anywhere other than my resort or an adjacent one I can walk to, that's playing with fire imo.

re: luggage I always fly JetBlue and check a bag because it's free as a cardholder with them, and I've never had to wait longer than 20 minutes at MCO baggage claim. But I also almost always fly in on the first flight out of JFK, so there's less people to deal with. We also don't have kids.

I wanted to be on the first flight out but departure was 5 am and I was outvoted . Thank you for the recommendations, I have been dying to try GF Cafe so maybe it is one to consider.

 

[coronationday]

Make a dinner reservation at Disney Springs through Open Table; quite a few of the restaurants are on OT, and I don't think any of them charge a no-show fee. You can take the bus from your resort to DS. If you aren't going to be able to make it to the reservation, it's courtesy to cancel, but you won't be out $40. Having said that, it IS New Year's Eve, so policies might be different.

I didn't know some of those restaurants are available through Open Table, that's good to know. I guess I will read their cancellation policies and see if that's an option. Thank you!!

 

[kylenne]

I wanted to be on the first flight out but departure was 5 am and I was outvoted . Thank you for the recommendations, I have been dying to try GF Cafe so maybe it is one to consider.

I have to bribe my partner with extra dole whips to get her out that early, I get it. GF Cafe is great, never had a bad meal there and it's an easy walk from Poly even with the construction.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I didn't know some of those restaurants are available through Open Table, that's good to know. I guess I will read their cancellation policies and see if that's an option. Thank you!!

Just my opinion but I’ve done Poly for NYE for several years now and if this were me I’d want to get to Poly and not leave Poly or perhaps the monorail resort area for the duration of the evening. It’s a fun day at the resort and your timing is great. Personally your timing for a Poly dinner ADR sounds reasonable to me and you know the risks, so you know the downside if something does go wrong with your logistics. I do recommend trying to get an ADR though as it’s a BUSY night at the resort and even simple things like getting a Dole Whip can be challenging.

Don’t forget there’s a fireworks show at 6:30 (in addition to 11:50) so schedule things accordingly if inclined.

Have fun!

 

[coronationday]

Just my opinion but I’ve done Poly for NYE for several years now and if this were me I’d want to get to Poly and not leave Poly or perhaps the monorail resort area for the duration of the evening. It’s a fun day at the resort and your timing is great. Personally your timing for a Poly dinner ADR sounds reasonable to me and you know the risks, so you know the downside if something does go wrong with your logistics. I do recommend trying to get an ADR though as it’s a BUSY night at the resort and even simple things like getting a Dole Whip can be challenging.

Don’t forget there’s a fireworks show at 6:30 (in addition to 11:50) so schedule things accordingly if inclined.

Have fun!

Thank you for the information! I have been trying to find more information about new years eve on the Poly but there's not a lot. Does the viewing area on the beach fill up quickly or could I arrive at 11:00 pm and be fine?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thank you for the information! I have been trying to find more information about new years eve on the Poly but there's not a lot. Does the viewing area on the beach fill up quickly or could I arrive at 11:00 pm and be fine?

Happy to help. On 12/31 historically they fence off the main beach viewing area and tightly control access for just Poly guests so you can be very flexible in your plans, generally speaking. There will be recreation activities all evening - usually a DJ on the beach, characters, etc. The pool and pool bar stays open late and sometimes they have had a beer/wine station set up on the beach. Lots of hats and noise makers (yay??).

As you get later in the evening people do start staking out spots in the “prime” viewing area on the beach - people brings towels/blankets, claim their spot, etc. If you’re content to not see the castle directly there will be plenty of space on the beach right up until show time so you can kind of wing it. There’s an island that blocks the castle view from part of the main beach area but not the fireworks and it’s a plenty good show even if you’re in that area - but a lot of people tend to congregate in the window where you can see the castle (some of which will be an additional reserved area for CL guests). They use additional launch points for the 11:50 show, one of which is the island right in the middle of the lagoon. So it makes for a very good show and the viewing is great.

I will caveat that exact setups and procedures tend to change a bit year to year. It’s like each year brings a new manager/new CMs and whoever is in charge comes up with a new plan. This past year’s setup was the the best in years and it felt very controlled. Poly tends to start crawling with guests and non guests as the evening goes on, which makes the usual beach setup a very valuable amenity, IMHO.

I love NYE at Poly but I’d also suggest it calls for a bit of a “roll with it” attitude. Disney tries to staff up for the evening but it’s also an evening many regular CMs have off, so the people working the bars, resort, check in desk, etc can sometimes be new or filling in from other places and may be a little slow. Plus there are just lost of people around so lines for Dole Whips, Trader Sams, Tambu, etc can really ebb and flow. But it’s the best resort for NYE as far as location, in my humble opinion, and I love the vibe.

Sorry for the long ramble, just happens to be something I have a lot of experience with.

 

[npatellye]

Thank you for the information! I have been trying to find more information about new years eve on the Poly but there's not a lot. Does the viewing area on the beach fill up quickly or could I arrive at 11:00 pm and be fine?

We were there for NYE 2021 and it was full. We arrived over 90 minutes early to get seats for each fireworks show. There were plenty of Adirondack chairs out when we arrived each time and we were in the first row both times, which was nice with the kids being able to play in the sand in front of us if they were bored. We all had to have our wristbands on to access the area because it was blocked off and staffed by CMs checking for wristbands. Be sure you pick your wristbands up as soon as possible after you arrive.

 

[coronationday]

Sorry for the long ramble, just happens to be something I have a lot of experience with.

Thank you so much for the rambe, it is exactly what I needed. I picked the poly just for the view of the fireworks on NYE so I loved hearing your experience and what we can look forward to. It sounds like you had a great time and know I can’t wait to experience it for myself. This is all great information to have and it calms my anxiety a bit hearing your experience.

 

[coronationday]

We were there for NYE 2021 and it was full. We arrived over 90 minutes early to get seats for each fireworks show. There were plenty of Adirondack chairs out when we arrived each time and we were in the first row both times, which was nice with the kids being able to play in the sand in front of us if they were bored. We all had to have our wristbands on to access the area because it was blocked off and staffed by CMs checking for wristbands. Be sure you pick your wristbands up as soon as possible after you arrive.

Oh good they have chairs, I can't imagine standing there all night. Did they run out of wristbands?

 

[npatellye]

Oh good they have chairs, I can't imagine standing there all night. Did they run out of wristbands?

I’m not sure, to be honest. We arrived at Poly on 12/28 so we picked ours up on 12/30.

 

[coronationday]

I’m not sure, to be honest. We arrived at Poly on 12/28 so we picked ours up on 12/30.

Oh, okay. Thank you for the information though!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Oh good they have chairs, I can't imagine standing there all night. Did they run out of wristbands?

There are Adirondack chairs on the beach, although not that many of them - like in the 50 range or so. Last year Poly CL had yet to reopen so they were out in the general Poly guest area. For 7/4 Poly CL had reopened and I “think” they put the Adirondack chairs in the CL reserved area. With the same caveat that you just never know what sort of plan they cook up year to year, I suspect this year could be similar to 7/4 and those chairs will only be in the CL area. If you’re not CL I’d plan on grabbing some pool towels or blankets and sitting on the sand.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Oh, okay. Thank you for the information though!

They’ve done some different things over the years. Sometimes they have been left in your room, sometimes you can pick them up at the front desk. They’ve usually also been able to check a list and give them out at the controlled access point to the beach that evening. Although this falls into that category of things that seems to vary year to year. I’d ask at the front desk when you check in and ‘hopefully’ the CM knows.

 

[coronationday]

There are Adirondack chairs on the beach, although not that many of them - like in the 50 range or so. Last year Poly CL had yet to reopen so they were out in the general Poly guest area. For 7/4 Poly CL had reopened and I “think” they put the Adirondack chairs in the CL reserved area. With the same caveat that you just never know what sort of plan they cook up year to year, I suspect this year could be similar to 7/4 and those chairs will only be in the CL area. If you’re not CL I’d plan on grabbing some pool towels or blankets and sitting on the sand.

Not CL (although I wish I was ), I guess I will take a towel with me just to be safe.

 

[coronationday]

They’ve done some different things over the years. Sometimes they have been left in your room, sometimes you can pick them up at the front desk. They’ve usually also been able to check a list and give them out at the controlled access point to the beach that evening. Although this falls into that category of things that seems to vary year to year. I’d ask at the front desk when you check in and ‘hopefully’ the CM knows.

Well here's to hoping they leave them in my room or that they don't run out of wristbands before I get them.