TS or CS at MK on arrival day?

[mom2randj]

Our flight gets in around 1:30ish on a Sunday and I imagine it will be a couple of hours after that til we get settled in at our room at the Poly. Since this is our first trip to WDW, we thought it would be best to hit MK first (probably late afternoon by the time we get there) and I am sure we will be very hungry from flying all day.

I have heard TS options at MK aren't the best, so would you suggest 1) eating TS somewhere else on the monrail line before heading to MK or 2) heading to MK first and grabbing CS somewhere and if so, suggestions?

 

[tkillini99]

We enjoy starting out our trip with a fun table service meal--I would recommend 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian or Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. Both have great character interaction! The food at 1900 Park Fare is better, IMO, and Lady Tremaine and her daughters are so much fun! But you can't go wrong with the characters at Chef Mickey's either.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I try not to schedule a TS on arrival day. You never know if you will be delayed and who wants to feel rushed when you are arriving?

Many do and it is just fine

what ever you are comfortable with (and will you be sayingi wish i was doing something the whole time you are at TS??)

 

[mom2randj]

I try not to schedule a TS on arrival day. You never know if you will be delayed and who wants to feel rushed when you are arriving?

Many do and it is just fine

what ever you are comfortable with (and will you be sayingi wish i was doing something the whole time you are at TS??)

I see your point. Any suggestions then where to grab a bite then for CS at MK???

 

[VAN]

We've always enjoyed Columbia Harbor House (near Haunted Mansion/Peter Pan) as they have different offerings than hamburgers. They also have an upstairs so it can be a little less hectic.

Having said that, it really depends on the time of year (some places are open seasonally), what attractions you might want to go on first (maybe swing by for a fastpass on your way to eat), what you and your family like to eat, etc.

My DD and self are going for a 5 day trip this spring and we are using older park tickets so will be using non-expiring per day tickets. We plan to start our vacation with the Hoop-de-Do Dinner Show at Fort Wilderness. It is fun and so classically Disney!! To get there from the Poly, you would take the monorail to either the MK or Contemporary and then the ferry to Ft. Wilderness. So much fun and a great way to start the vacation without actually going into the parks the first day when you might be exhausted from traveling.

You'll have fun regardless of what you do!

 

[Reese2]

Our fav restaurant in all of Disney is Ohana which is at the Poly! The kids love it. We also usually eat at Columbia Harbour House for a quick service at MK and the Crystal Palace (table service) is a must do for us at MK. The food is decent but the kids love the Pooh characters. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Pig Pen]

The Poly has a great food court. I would grab something there, then head to the park. If this is your first trip you don't want to be wandering around MK looking for a place to eat....enjoy the magic instead!

I also agree with the previous poster about NOT scheduling a table service reservation for the first day as you never know about flights...

 

[pooh2001]

I would eat at the Poly.

See if your room is ready. If not store your bags, have some MK fun, then come back to the Poly.

After traveling & MK you will be a bit tired and excited.
So check into your room, freshen up and then select Ohana's or Kona for dinner. Check out the menu's on the main DIS site and see what you would like to eat.

Then get a good nights sleep and have a great WDW magica vacation in the days ahead.

 

[JJsmama]

I am having the exact same problem. I have 14 ADRs scheduled over 7 days but I absolutely cannot decide what to do the first night. My oldest (wise) son says we will want to do MK. We will also be jet lagged. I have booked CP for the middle of the afternoon, but it just seems if we are actually not dragging at that time, we would rather not take that time out of our first afternoon in the park. I pretty much have decided to just do Contempo when we feel like it or another CS. Trying to plan for arrival, check in, delays, etc make this the hardest to plan for our family.

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

We always eat at a TS when we arrive. We normally get there around the same time you are and we make ressies for 7:00 at Tony's Town Square restaurant. We really like it there. The time of day is nice at the MK.

 

[mainegal]

You will not be getting to the Magic Kingdom until after 3:00, making it a short day. I would not trade park time for the time at a sit down dinner.

Poly has a great counter service place.
If you go to the MK, I suggest Pecos Bill or Columbia Harbor House.