Need some dinner reservation advice

[MinMou]

We fly into John Wayne at 4:50 in the afternoon. What is the earliest reservation time that makes sense?
We have reserved a car service, and plan to go straight to the hotel from the airport. We are staying at the GCH and we were hoping to get into Goofy's Kitchen for dinner.

 

[figment_jii]

I glanced at traffic right now and it says to allow about an hour to get from SNA to DLR. I'd also add time to de-plane and get your luggage, and then add some time to check-in and drop-off your luggage. I would rather err on the side of caution and plan a late dinner that gives me plenty of time to get to the restaurant. So I would look into an ADR that is no less than 3 hours after your scheduled landing time (so somewhere around 8:00 pm). Keep in mind there is a $10 per person no show penalty assessed if you miss your ADR, so it's another reason to err on the side of caution or perhaps consider not making an ADR until you've reached DLR.

 

[ktlm]

Are you arriving on a weekday or weekend? That will make a big difference in terms of traffic at that time of day. On the weekend, you are looking at no rush hour traffic which makes it about a 15 minute drive.

 

[figment_jii]

There is still always the chance of an accident or other issue...

 

[MinMou]

Thanks everyone! We are coming in on a Monday. I was tempted to just play it by ear as far as dinner went, but I also wanted to do something very Disney for dinner, since we wouldn't enter either of the parks until the next day.

 

[nolenbelledavis]

I would be worried about making a reservation that night because we always have flight issues. Last time our flight was delayed 2 hours. We also had flights cancelled, etc. I think I would just call as soon as you land at the airport and ask for whether there is any availability that night because you would be able to judge it much better at that point.

 

[figment_jii]

I would be tempted to just play it by ear and see what has availability either online or just by walking up when you arrive at DLR. October 5th is just after Gay Days and, in theory, before the Columbus Day/CHOC walk crowds should arrive. There is a MHP that night, which means some guests that might have opted to eat in DL will have to find an alternate location to due (either at the hotels, DTD, or DCA). Still, I think there is chance you could score a last minute ADR.

 

[MinMou]

I decided to make a reservation for 8, and see what the weather predictions are during the weekend prior. I can cancel 24 hours before with no penalty, and then there is still a chance that we can get a table if we arrive in time. THanks for all the advice!