Late night meal in route from MCO to Disney?

[10_Kyle_10]

For our upcoming September trip we are arriving at 9:30pm at MCO and Im curious where people suggest we eat in route to Disney. Some things to consider:

- We are renting a car so we are free to go anywhere at our own pace.
- We aren't looking for anything fancy, but fast food is out of the question.
- We are on the Dinning Plan but by the time we make it to our resort I believe all Disney restaurants are closed?

Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thanks in advance!

 

[Traveliz]

For our upcoming September trip we are arriving at 9:30pm at MCO and Im curious where people suggest we eat in route to Disney. Some things to consider:

- We are renting a car so we are free to go anywhere at our own pace.
- We aren't looking for anything fancy, but fast food is out of the question.
- We are on the Dinning Plan but by the time we make it to our resort I believe all Disney restaurants are closed?

Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thanks in advance!

Well Downtown Disney will still be open and seating - some of the restaurants anyway - for sure Planet Hollywood, Paradiso 37, and Raglan Road. Also if you come in along 535 there are all the restaurants out there -- too many to list -- mostly chains but included are Bahama Breeze, Buffalo Wild Wings, Miller's Ale House, there are several pizza places, Olive Garden etc and etc and most of those are open late...might have to check specifically but you should be ok.

I would not plan on using the Disney Dining Plan that late.

Liz

 

[Rpsemont]

Actually ESPN at the Boardwalk is open and I think serves until at least 11PM and maybe midnight, so if you wanted to use the dining plan, that might be an option.

Other than that, there are a ton of restaurants at the crossroads area, right outside DTD... Pizzaria Unos, Hooters, TGI Fridays, ORLANDO ALE HOUSE. I know we have eaten there late at night before, not sure how late, but as long as you weren't delayed, you should be fine. If you want to eat before driving to WDW property, the first exit off of the "north" airport exit road, where the MCO Marriot and Holiday in are, also has many of your favorite chain family restaurants.

I wouldn't be surprised if a number of the DTD restaurants were open late - Hhow late probably depends on the season you're going.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually, if you can wait until you get onsite, I think some of the Downtown Disney restaurants are open later. Raglan Road takes reservations up until 11.
Funky Monkey Wine Company @ The Pointe in the International Drive area takes reservations up until at least midnight.
Morton's in Orlando - 11
Paradiso 37 at Downtown Disney - 11

These are examples, from OpenTable dot com (free reservation booking service).

In the main airport terminal, there's a Chili's and a Macaroni Grill, along with two restaurants in the Hyatt that should both be open to the public - and open well into the evening.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm pretty sure that almost all of the restaurants at MCO close by 11 pm, and IME, quite a few close by 9:30 pm.

Honestly, what I would if do I were anticipating landing hungry is to plug a number into your cell phone and order pizza when your plane lands, so that you can pick it up en route to the hotel, because by the time you go to your resort, check in and get your KTTW so that you can use the dining plan, it's likely to be 11 pm. (Any form of takeout would work if it serves late, as long as you can find a place to pick it up en route.) You could also try to have something delivered, but timing that would be awkward. Of course, depending on which hotel you are in, there might be room service available.

I don't know how long your flight is, but my preference when we fly late is to order box dinners that we pick up at a local deli and take with us on the flight: supper taken care of, and no need to hunt down food when you are tired after a long flight. They are cold when we pick them up and we toss a couple of empty ziplocs into the little lunch cooler that we carry them in, so that we can get some ice airside at our departure airport to help keep them cool until we eat on board. Eating also helps to break up the monotony of the flight.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

Thanks everyone!

Im leaving towards off site. We have Buffalo Wild Wings planned for later in the week so maybe we will try Miller Ale House!?!? It seems to get good reviews from what Ive read.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you like tapas, Cafe Tu Tu Tango, 8626 International Drive (north exit out of the airport, 528 west, I-Drive north) is open until 11 weeknights, midnight Friday/Saturday.

Flippers Pizzeria at Crossroads is open until at least midnight. Not vouching for the food, but it's convenient to WDW - just the other end of Hotel Plaza Boulevard from Downtown Disney.

 

[shoes99]

We like the Waffle House for a quick stop late night. There is one right near the Crossroads shopping center near DTD.

 

[iloveokw]

There is a Miller's Ale House north of the airport on Semoran Blvd, as well as a TGIFridays, Chili's, Cracker Barrel....and many more. Flipper's pizza is good at the Crossroads.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

Thanks for everyone's responses! At this point we are leaning towards a pizza option for a couple reasons. First, location. Flippers is right at Downtown Disney and Giordano's is also very close to our resort. Second pizza is very quick and we can order it on the way.

In terms of convenience which location is going to be the quickest and easiest way to stop, pick it up, head straight for All Star Music?

Flippers at DTD? Or Giordano's on S. APOPKA VINELAND RD ?

 

[NotUrsula]

Can't tell you about that Flippers, but I know that we once stopped pretty late at Giordano's without calling ahead, and it was a disaster. After 10 pm a good part of the staff goes home, so they are short-staffed late. Also, their pizza, while very good, is completely made to order -- we waited nearly 2 hours for ours to be served.

I say that if you want to do Giordano's, look up the menu and the phone number before you leave, and call them right after the plane lands; that way it should be ready when you show up.

As to location, it's about a 1/2 mile north of Hotel Plaza Blvd., the road that leads into DD. Flippers is nearby also. From there, I'd hop onto I-4W to get to your hotel as quickly as possible; you don't want to deal with the DD traffic right at closing time for the stores. I'm not sure if it is one exit or two from that point, but the one that you are looking for is the one that is marked for DAK.

 

[dioxide45]

I would go with House of Blues and pick up a $25 off restaurant.com gift certificate for only a couple of dollars.

 

[DanenRox]

We always go to CiCi's pizza on Apopka-Vineland (I think). It's cheap with lots of pizza options, dessert too! All you can eat for the hungrier folks, casual, never a wait. It's a pizza/salad buffet so you enter, pay and start eating which is great after a long travel day. I think it's $5.99 a person or something ridiculous like that. You'll be spending a ton of money in Disney, it's nice to start of with a bargain! Happy travels!
p.s. CiCi's is minutes from the DTD entrance to WDW! If you've never been to a CiCi's, check it out...really!