Is an Ohana 8:35pm ADR too late

[goofygal531]

To answer your questions, I've been able to pull a stroller up to the table in Ohanas on many occassions. I've had dinner there once at 9pm and will NEVER go that late again. The meal is far too heavy for that time of night for me. When my family dines at Ohana, we plan a late breakfast buffet then skip lunch (snack throughout the day) then a 5pm Ohana ADR. I need to be able to work off dinner running around the parks in the evening!


As for the kids, mine are exhausted on the first day! We take the 6:30 am flight out, which they NEVER sleep! This trip I planned lunch in MK at a table service restaurant and to have dinner at a Counter Service somewhere, either in MK or our resort. There's a good chance we'll be in MK for only a few hours then back at the resort pool before an early bed time.

Last June I did the reverse. I planned the afternoon at the pool (which the kids loved!) then had a 5pm ADR at CRT. Well, my 5 yo was falling asleep at the table!

Now I know to take it easy on our first day. The excitement and travel really takes a toll on them.

Live and learn!

 

[MightyDuck001]

On the trips I've been on to Disney, we usually have a strategy of not going to the parks on the first day, mostly because our reasoning was we're paying for a full day, we want a full day. Perhaps you could watch the fireworks from the Polynesian's beach and go to sleep early, that way everyone is well rested to start the new day.

I would definitely agree with taking the 5:05 reservation and then going after, though. This seems the wisest choice. Plus, I've noticed sometimes that things have thinned out around 7/8 because people leave for a late dinner so the lines might be shorter.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Being at the Poly is so relaxing. You want to be able to enjoy it. It sounds like you have a lot planned for your family.

We never do parks on the day we arrive. It is a pool day, relax and enjoy the atmosphere day. The kids love that.

I would do the pool and then go to Ohana early enjoy the resort and get a good nights sleep so that you can get up and go the next day fresh.

Good luck!

I am still trying to get an Ohana ressie. Good for you!

 

[honeydiane1953]

for little ones- I have a 4.5 yr old and a 1.5 yr old-

the 4 yr old has been up till 10:30pm a few times so I am not as worried about him....

If the 1.5 yr old is sleeping, can she stay in her stroller?

Are there other kids around the restaurant this late?

Are there activities still going on for them?

I am assuming that most kids stay up later being in Disney and all.

I will continue to try for an earlier ADR, but if I can't get one, would you recommend keeping the late ADR or canceling?

With kids your age cancelling for sure.

 

[tami82]

I would think so, plus that is kind of late too eat a heavy dinner and i would have trouble sleeping if i ate that late. Not worth risking to have an enjoyable next day.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

After talking to hubby we decided to......

keep the 5:05pm reservation- we will arrive at POR around 12pm, relax at the resort for a while, head to Poly and explore (we would LOVE to save enough money to stay at Poly next time after hearing how amazing it is), eat at Ohana and then either go to MK for a few hours or back to resort- no pressure-

thanks for mellowing me out lol. This being our first trip to Disney (and our family's first major trip) I was trying to cram stuff in- and now I have more of a go with the flow attitude

 

[princessmorgan]

I have been able to take in a stroller before. It was even a double stroller, because that's the one my baby happened to fall asleep in. They were very accomodating at Ohanas. They even changed our table so the baby would be by the window and out of everyone's way, so no one would wake her.

Just play it by ear how your kids are if you want to hit the parks. We are always way too excited and have to see the Magic Kingdom on our first day. They we try to get to bed early to make Rope Drop the next morning!

 

[Hopefully]

I think your decision is a wise one. We always plan for a relaxing day on our arrival day. Traveling is very tiring. If you arrive at MCO around 10:30 after a 2 hour flight, I am thinking that your flight is at 8:30. We always plan to arrive at our departure airport about 2 hours in advance. That makes it 6:30 AM. I don't know how long it takes you to get to your departure airport, but regardless it looks like a very early monring for you.
If you land at 10:30, are you taking DME to your hotel? Plan on at least 90 minutes to arrive at your hotel and about another 30 to check in. You are getting to afternoon. Your room will most likely not be ready for you, so if you decide to do the pool be sure you have everything necessary in your carryons.
We like to get to our room, unpack and explore and then settle in.
I personnally would not plan to go to the MK after dinner. I think everyone will be tired. We always feel an early night arrival night makes the entire week better for us.
Good Luck and have a great trip.

 

[redlawyer]

Ohana for the first nights dinner is our family tradition. The first time we went, we arrived around noon. We ate lunch and explored the Poly before nap time. Then we went swimming and had dinner at Ohana. The girl's could see the castle and were so excited throughout the meal. Afterward we wen to MK and rode SM, the carousel, POC all the no line rides. It was a perfect first day, that we try to replicate with varying degrees of success for each trip.

 

[TiggerFamily]

our first family trip my youngest DS was 4. I has so many plans but he couldn't keep up with it all, he crashed and we had to for go all the planning I had done and move at a 4 yo pace not mine. You may have everything planned out but traveling with kids that little it doesn't always work out. My DS's were happy to sit at the pool in the afternoon, I wanted to be at the parks go go go but you need to do thinks at the kids pace or no one will be happy. What I'm saying is don't over do or over plan your trip. Early dinner is better.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would get to your resort, relax and then head over to Ohanna's a little early for the 5:05 time. Enjoy your dinner and see how the kids are doing. A quick trip over to Mk might be just fine, but if they are fadding, just cut the losses and start fresh the next am!!!!