Late dining, 1st trip. Help needed please!

[ean]

Hello! We will be visiting WDW in October (11th to 17th) and staying at POP and we have DDP. Although we have the park hopper option, my in laws don't. They will be with us only the first two days, so our plan is to go first to Epcot (because we will be arriving to the Park around noon) and use the other ticket for MK the next day (so they can spend the whole day with their grandson, my DS5, we thought it was better that way and have more time to see the "Magic")

I need help with the following: we want to see the Illuminations fireworks show, which I know is usually at 9 pm.

The "problem" is that as we are foreigners and our dinning time is usually is not before 9:30pm (we never dine at 8 for example), so I need some strategy to see the fireworks and then dine in some restaurant or buffet. As for the views of the show, I was checking the Hacienda menu and we are not into Mexican food at all, I would go with a buffet because of the variety, and DS and myself are "very, very" picky (e.g. we prefer mild food, not spicy).

To wrap up:

Which is the latest ADR time we can have and which restaurant should I pick?
(We will be driving a rental car the first day, so transportation will not be a problem if we must go outside the park).

I know, we can adapt ourselves to a different dine time, but we rather watch the show and then go to have some table service dinner.

Is this possible? Thank you in advance, the DIS is a "grrrrrrrrreat" tool for planning our first trip, and all the members are very cool and most of them seem to know it ALL about Disney!

Ean

 

[Tigger's ally]

Thinking you may want to eat on the boardwalk that night. Exit through the international gateway and have a late sitting at any of the following as I do believe they stay open later.

Kouzina's
Flying Fish
Yachtsmans
ESPN

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Many of the restaurants open this late are not on the dining plan and many are in the Swan or Dolphin or at Downtown Disney. On the plan at DtD are Cap'n Jack's, Ragland Road, Wolfgang Puck's Cafe and Planet Hollywood. Good luck.
The restaurants at Boardwalk and Yacht Club are nearby, and open to 9:30. The problem is that if you drive, your car will be on the opposite side of Epcot with no way to get to it. If you use Disney transportation, you could take a cab home or go through DtD via buses.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Many of the restaurants open this late are not on the dining plan and many are in the Swan or Dolphin or at Downtown Disney. On the plan at DtD are Cap'n Jack's, Ragland Road, Wolfgang Puck's Cafe and Planet Hollywood. Good luck.
The restaurants at Boardwalk and Yacht Club are nearby, and open to 9:30. The problem is that if you drive, your car will be on the opposite side of Epcot with no way to get to it. If you use Disney transportation, you could take a cab home or go through DtD via buses.

Last time we had a 9:15 for yachtsman and we drove our car to Yacht club at around 7:00 told them we had dinner reservations, got a pass, parked our car, walked to Epcot, watched Illuminations, walked back and ate a great meal. We then walked all the way around the boardwalk including a night time romp by the pool at the Dolphin to see the scenery. It was such a peaceful beautiful night that we never wanted it to end. Finally got back to our car at around midnight, drove to WL and slept late (6:00) the next morning. Latest I have ever slept at Dis, And I drink! Needless to say I am wired while we are there.

 

[Quin]

Actually, the menu board says some of the Boarwalk restaurants are open until at least midnight for dinner. I think you should be able to have an enjoyable park day at Epcot, then hit the Boardwalk for dinner and evening entertainment. How about Big River Grille or ESPN club? Kouzzina and Flying Fish close a bit earlier, at 10 pm, but you could try for the very last reservation of the night. I don't think you would want to chance trying to schedule a reservation before about 9:45, though.

Having a rental car is NOT going to work in your favor. You will need to start with it in the Epcot lot, but at some point in the evening somebody is going to have to go get it and move it to the Boardwalk. If all of you try to go out to the parking lot after Illuminations and drive then to the Boardwalk it will take you much, much longer. You might be better to just use Disney transportation all day and leave the car at the resort. You cannot easily get from the Boardwalk back to the Epcot parking lot after the park closes.

As far as eating in Epcot and watching Illuminations - besides the new Mexican restaurant, the only possibility is the bar at the Rose & Crown. But only a relatively few tables are in the back garden area have a decent view, and sometimes the whole thing is rented out for a private party. I'd say your best bet would be have a late lunch (by US standards; 2:30 - 3 pm) at any Epcot restaurant that appeals to you. Then shortly before Illuminations, get some adult beverages and perhaps a light snack (think of it as an appetizer) at Epcot. Depending on which side of the park you're on Germany, Norway, England, and France all have attractive selections. Enjoy Illuminations; it's always how we spend our first night at WDW. Then exit via the International Gateway and you can take a boat to the Boardwalk for dinner and an extended evening.

 

[littlemermaidariel]

Actually, the menu board says some of the Boarwalk restaurants are open until at least midnight for dinner. I think you should be able to have an enjoyable park day at Epcot, then hit the Boardwalk for dinner and evening entertainment. How about Big River Grille or ESPN club? Kouzzina and Flying Fish close a bit earlier, at 10 pm, but you could try for the very last reservation of the night. I don't think you would want to chance trying to schedule a reservation before about 9:45, though.

Having a rental car is NOT going to work in your favor. You will need to start with it in the Epcot lot, but at some point in the evening somebody is going to have to go get it and move it to the Boardwalk. If all of you try to go out to the parking lot after Illuminations and drive then to the Boardwalk it will take you much, much longer. You might be better to just use Disney transportation all day and leave the car at the resort. You cannot easily get from the Boardwalk back to the Epcot parking lot after the park closes.

As far as eating in Epcot and watching Illuminations - besides the new Mexican restaurant, the only possibility is the bar at the Rose & Crown. But only a relatively few tables are in the back garden area have a decent view, and sometimes the whole thing is rented out for a private party. I'd say your best bet would be have a late lunch (by US standards; 2:30 - 3 pm) at any Epcot restaurant that appeals to you. Then shortly before Illuminations, get some adult beverages and perhaps a light snack (think of it as an appetizer) at Epcot. Depending on which side of the park you're on Germany, Norway, England, and France all have attractive selections. Enjoy Illuminations; it's always how we spend our first night at WDW. Then exit via the International Gateway and you can take a boat to the Boardwalk for dinner and an extended evening.

I totally agree! The Boardwalk is an excellent choice for late dinner, but it will be best if you use Disney transportation tot he park that way on your way out, you don't take much time and can enjoy a relaxed dinner without being rushed to exit and get to your dinner on time.
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[ean]

... I'd say your best bet would be have a late lunch (by US standards; 2:30 - 3 pm) at any Epcot restaurant that appeals to you. Then shortly before Illuminations, get some adult beverages and perhaps a light snack (think of it as an appetizer) at Epcot. ... Then exit via the International Gateway and you can take a boat to the Boardwalk for dinner and an extended evening.

That sounds like an excellent plan to me!