How unlikely is this scenario?

[StrollPatrolMom]

I have an ADR at Teppanyaki at 5:10 pm the "day" we fly in. I REALLY want to eat at this restaurant, so I need to know now if I should get a back up ADR. At the very least the other party we're traveling with will get to the current ADR since they arrive much earlier than us. We get into MCO at 2pm...we're planning on taking the Magical Express to POP, and Disney transportation to Epcot...is there any shot in heck I'm gonna make this ADR (with 2 little kids who have been up since 4 am )???? I could always leave the kids with my mom and just try to get there with DH is they're cranky and tired

 

[JohnathanS]

It's certainly possible. We've found that it has taken an average of about an hour and 15 minutes after getting off the plane to get to our resort. Assume check-in is another 1/2 hour, you could be on a bus by 4 if you get lucky and have no delays or long lines at check-in or the ME counter. But, I have to say, it sounds like a stressful way to begin your trip! And if you are really looking forward to this restaurant, you might appreciate it more on a day you are fully rested and not pushing yourself and your family to make the ressie. You might consider trying another, less crucial, dining spot for the first night, one you wouldn't mind missing much if you run into delays.

Good Luck and have fun!!

 

[SB in KY]

Personally while I think it is possible you might make the ressie, I would probably just bag it at least for the kids...but then again checking in, getting to the room and leaving 2 tired kids with Grandma might not be a swell idea either.

IF your plane lands right on time, and IF no one needs to make a potty stop and IF there isn;t much line to check in at the DME and IF you do not have to wait long for a bus and IF Pop is the first stop you should be at your hotel by 3:15. The IF there isn't much of a wait to check in and IF your room is ready and close by, you should have time to drop off your stuff and catch a bus to EPCOT...but remember that Teppanyaki is QUITE a hike from the bus stop at Epcot. (and that is a whole lot of IF's!!)

An alternative suggestion might be to just not check in and go straight to Epcot, that way you could get off the DME at the first stop, no matter which hotel that is and get the bus for Epcot...that would save you 30+ minutes probably...however if you need your room keys to dine or get into the park that would not work.

Could you just reschedule the Teppanyaki dinner? It might be nice not to have to begin your vacation in a frenzy to make an ADR.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I figured it was a stretch, BUT...we have ressies pretty much EVERY night of our trip...re-scheduling might prove to be VERY difficult, and I'd probably end up having to can another reservation in its place. I'm trying all of these places for the 1st time...so I wouldn't know which to even *try* to switch, and as I said our friends will be able to make it, and they're not going to want to go there twice...we're a party of 10 too, so its not easy to get ADR's during free dining! Thanks for the input, we'll keep it and play it by ear!

 

[Amyrlin]

Is it possible to move it to just a little bit later, to give you a more relaxed time getting there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Another option would be to take a taxi from Pop to the Beach Club right after you check in, then walk to the International Gateway entrance at Epcot and bear right onto the World Showcase Promenade, to Japan.

 

[gigi1313]

i was going to suggest what a pp suggested... try to push the ADR back a bit... or have your friends get there on time and ask the CM if they could wait for you/yours... the worse that can happen is they are told no and they dine w/out you... but i'd bet that you'd be accommodated...

some other things to take into consideration... will you have your own strollers or need to rent them? will your kids nap in the stroller? would g'ma be happily willing to be left behind w/a kid or two, or will she feel like she's just along to babysit? (you don't want to start the trip w/hard feelings!)

 

[Magic2000]

One other suggestion you may want to consider is, instead of using Magical Express, why not use a town car service. Although you'd have to pay to use a towncar, it is direct service to the hotel. That would eliminate some time you may have to wait for the bus and if the bus would be making any other stops at other hotels.

Or, maybe once you get to the hotel, you (or DH) can get on a bus and head for Epcot with the kids. Only one of you needs to check in. Then you can head over to Epcot. If you are running a few minutes behind, it is easier to "hurry" by yourself than rushing the kids along.

Or, if everything goes right with Magical Express (or the towncar), and you still feel you are a little pressed for time, you could take a taxi from Pop to Epcot. That way, you wouldn't have to wait for a bus - in case you "just missed the bus".

Good luck! We'll be trying Teppanyaki for the first time in November!!! Have a great trip!!

 

[SauceBoss]

Arriving at 2pm to make a 5:10 reservation? Never gonna happen.

See if you can back it up to 7pm or so. Assuming you arrive on time, you'll be lucky to leave the airport by 3:30. Then 45 minutes to 1 hour to WDW, then check in. Then and additional transportation to Epcot. Past ticket gates, lines, etc to get inside then walk to Japan which is the furthest point from the entrance will take almost 30 minutes just to walk there.

Best of luck.

 

[Snow_White]

Arriving at 2pm to make a 5:10 reservation? Never gonna happen.

Well, I just wanted to say that it certainly CAN happen. This is basically what we do every year and we'll be doing it again this fall (3 hour window between arrival and ressie).

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

i was going to suggest what a pp suggested... try to push the ADR back a bit... or have your friends get there on time and ask the CM if they could wait for you/yours... the worse that can happen is they are told no and they dine w/out you... but i'd bet that you'd be accommodated...

some other things to take into consideration... will you have your own strollers or need to rent them? will your kids nap in the stroller? would g'ma be happily willing to be left behind w/a kid or two, or will she feel like she's just along to babysit? (you don't want to start the trip w/hard feelings!)

We will have our own stroller. I'm 99% certain my mom is going to be EXHAUSTED. I swear she has OCD and her and my dad are getting back from a vacation 2 days before she leaves to come with us on this one, so she's gonna be running a million miles a minute until we finally arrive..she'll have to get up even earlier than us to meet us at the airport....I don't think she'd care AT ALL not coming along for this one, we have plenty more! The cab suggestion is a good idea....we'll just have to play by ear how the kids do. Thanks again for your help!