Time frame first day

[Ndusmama]

Nonstop flight arrives at 6:20 pm. Staying at wilderness lodge. How long to get to wilderness lodge using DME? And would an 8:30 Hoop Dee Doo dinner be too tight a time crunch? Or I have chef Mickey for 8:55 (although none of the people going like buffets). Or just eat at wilderness lodge without reservation? Also thought of going to Kona cafe. Or possibly fireworks show at Epcot at 9. If Epcot we are going on military tickets so if we don't go to any park that night we would loose the day anyway.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[OKW Lover]

Arriving at MCO at 6:20 means that you can't count on getting to WL until an hour later, perhaps more. An 8:30 HDD is do-able, as is CM at 8:55pm. However, I'd go with option C, just eating at WL without reservations. That way if you decide you're too tired/harried/frazzled from the flight, DME and getting to your room you won't be on the hook for the cancelation fee.

 

[Hopefully]

I think it is too tight for HDDR. Folks on the Transportation Forum state the average time to arrive at your hotel via DME is 70 - 90 minutes after landing. We have averaged the 90 minutes which would make it 7:50. Then you have to check in, and would need transportation to Fort Wilderness, which can take a while. Travel day is tiring and full of uncontrollable delays. If you were to miss your HDDR ADR you would pay the full price per person as a no show fee. I would be way too stressed out for that scenario. And I would skip CM's if most don't like a buffet.
I personally would stay at my resort, settle in and enjoy exploring. Then get to bed early to be ready for a great vacation.

 

[EPCOTgrl1]

I always leave myself 2 hours to get to the hotel and then to get to where I want to go. Depending on what time of year that you are going you might get into your hotels sit down restaurant. I think Kona would be nice or just going down the the quick service at WL.

 

[Donna M]

Giving yourself the flexibility to just eat when you get there and not have to be somewhere at a certain time would make for a better and less stressful start to your vacation. If you're starving you could even eat at the airport before getting on ME and you won't have to worry about cancelling reservations.

 

[AshleeH]

I would never do an ADR on Arrival day if I was flying. You can't control what time you will actually land, so if you're cutting it that close, it would only take the slightest flight delay to mess with your timeline and then you're stuck paying the penalty for a no-show ADR.

 

[MinMou]

The later in the day you fly, the more chances that your flight will get in late. Plus there is no way to know how long MDE will take - it depends on how many resorts it will stop at before it gets to Wilderness Lodge. I would go with plan C since by the time you get in, you will probably not be up for a very busy dinner like Chef Mickey's or be up to rushing anywhere. I am thinking that your best bet would be for a reservation at Whispering Canyon Cafe. The place has good reviews, they are open late, and you don't have far to go either to or from the restaurant.

Also, wherever you make a reservation, I would call the restaurant when you land, and let them know what you think your arrival time will be. That way they can tell you if they need to move you to a later reservation time, or tell you that they will hold your space for you.

 

[Jannephotog]

Another vote for non ADR here, too. Don't want to start out your vacay being super stressed on a time crunch.

 

[purple figment]

Only make a dining reservation for arrival day IF you are willing to pay the no show penalty just in case there are flight or other travel delays that cause you to miss the reservation. In the case of Hoop De Doo this is especially critical since the penalty is the full cost of the meal for everyone on the reservation and not the usual $10 per person for most other restaurants.

As far as a timeline, typically allow 60 - 90 minutes from landing to arriving at your resort when you take DME. The average is about 70 minutes, but it could be more or less depending on how long it takes to deplane, wait on the DME bus at MCO, traffic on the drive to DW and how many stops the bus makes before arriving at your resort. Even if everything went perfectly and you are at your resort by 7:30, you will have to check in, drop off carry ons in your room, freshen up, then head over to Fort Wilderness you will be rushing to get there in time.

Rather than book an expensive dinner show or a buffet that no one will enjoy what we have done is checked while on the DME bus or after arriving at the resort to see what is available and make a reservation at that time. You could also do quick service that night if you do not get a reservation.

If time is getting tight and you want to go to Epcot for IllumiNations you can take a taxi. Valet or bell services out in front of the Wilderness Lodge can call for one although there are usually taxis waiting. If you take the taxi to the Beach Club you can enter through the International Gateway.

 

[Ndusmama]

Thank you all for your replies. We did decide to not make any reservations. If we feel like a sit down when we get there we thought we would see if any restaurants have noshows or availability. Because we are staying at a villa we also thought we could just make something in the room and maybe just explore the room and hotel itself. If time allows and we feel like it we will head to Epcot but I think a no stress time is the best choice. Again thank you all for your thoughts and advice.

 

[AshleeH]

Thank you all for your replies. We did decide to not make any reservations. If we feel like a sit down when we get there we thought we would see if any restaurants have noshows or availability. Because we are staying at a villa we also thought we could just make something in the room and maybe just explore the room and hotel itself. If time allows and we feel like it we will head to Epcot but I think a no stress time is the best choice. Again thank you all for your thoughts and advice.

There's always plenty of counter service options as well. Wilderness Lodge has the Roaring Fork, which we found to be very good when we stayed there.

 

[DisMommyTX]

If you are not going to see the EPCOT show another night, I would plan on that. They have great counter service options, so no ADR needed. If you don't have any delays and feel like it when you arrive, then you can have a great hour or two in the park, especially if you book a FP for Test Track or Soarin'!

We are night owls, so this is what we would do, but probably not recommended for those planning to rope drop the next morning!

 

[Ndusmama]

There's always plenty of counter service options as well. Wilderness Lodge has the Roaring Fork, which we found to be very good when we stayed there.

That's option 1 actually.

If you are not going to see the EPCOT show another night, I would plan on that. They have great counter service options, so no ADR needed. If you don't have any delays and feel like it when you arrive, then you can have a great hour or two in the park, especially if you book a FP for Test Track or Soarin'!

We are night owls, so this is what we would do, but probably not recommended for those planning to rope drop the next morning!

This is option 2. No we are not getting up early the next day. With two little ones and being west coast time early for us would be 9-10 am there. But 9 at night is only 6 here so kids will most likely still be wide awake. Not having a general idea of how long it takes to get from MCO to the hotel drives me nuts. I know you can't predict traffic or late plane, but a general it will take about this long once you leave MCO would be nice. So depending on time and crankiness of kids we may try for Epcot but only if time and kids cooperate.

 

[ck2d]

The best first night we ever had, we got to the resort, grabbed dinner from quick-service, and had a picnic on the lawn watching the movie they were showing. Everyone got what they wanted to eat, there was no time pressure, we all got to relax after a long day of travel, our luggage was waiting for us in our room when the movie was over, it was fantastic. We stumbled on that plan because we were tired and hungry, but it was awesome, and now I'll plan it for every trip.

If you insist on having an ADR meal, plan on catching a cab from your resort. It's a bit more expensive, but will take a third the time, so you might actually make your reservation.

 

[Ndusmama]

The best first night we ever had, we got to the resort, grabbed dinner from quick-service, and had a picnic on the lawn watching the movie they were showing. Everyone got what they wanted to eat, there was no time pressure, we all got to relax after a long day of travel, our luggage was waiting for us in our room when the movie was over, it was fantastic. We stumbled on that plan because we were tired and hungry, but it was awesome, and now I'll plan it for every trip.

If you insist on having an ADR meal, plan on catching a cab from your resort. It's a bit more expensive, but will take a third the time, so you might actually make your reservation.

Movie actually sounds good. I wanted to do it one night while there. But first night might be a thought. Depends on how big the room it's in will be. I'm staying at wilderness lodge and with it being under construction the movies are going to be in villas. I'm hoping construction means less people. I e only ever stayed at POR so hopefully I will still like the hotel with remodeling