using DME - how much time to allow before dinner reservation?

[klinut]

This is my first visit to WDW and we are using DME. Arriving at airport at 4:49 and my son has made a reservation for dinner at 7pm We are staying at OKW. I think that is cutting it too close -
If so - what time would be safe to make reservation for - we are planning on Teppan Edo.

Thank you so much.

 

[Alesia]

That isn't cutting it close - you flat out won't make it.

You will probably arrive at your resort around 6:15, it will take you about 30 minutes to check in. It will probably take close to 40 minutes to get to Epcot and another 15 to walk to the restaurant.

You might be able to make it by 8:00, but even that might be cutting it close and would be too risky for me. There are just too many things that could go wrong and delay you. I think it would be a pretty stressful way to start a vacation. I really wouldn't book an ADR at all for that first night.

 

[Montana Minnies]

This is my first visit to WDW and we are using DME. Arriving at airport at 4:49 and my son has made a reservation for dinner at 7pm We are staying at OKW. I think that is cutting it too close -
If so - what time would be safe to make reservation for - we are planning on Teppan Edo.

Thank you so much.

If you don't want to feel rushed, maybe consider Olivia's that is at OKW and eat at Teppan Edo the following evening.
We stayed at OKW in 2004. Loved it!
Have a Magical Time

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't schedule an ADR any closer than 3 hours after you are scheduled to touch down. And even that is risky. Too many things can make you late--the airplane could be delayed, you end up in a long line waiting for your Magical Express bus, you wait forever before your bus leaves----the list goes on and on.

The average time to get to your resort using ME is 90 minutes, which is why there is no way you will make the current ADR. You are left with 40 minutes to get checked in, grab a bus, and walk thru Epcot to your reservation. And that is throwing out the window the fact that Disney asks you to be at your ADR 15 minutes before your scheduled time. You just don't have enough time.

 

[goofy4tink]

Let's break it down....if the plane arrives ontime at 4:50.
You get off the plane and head to DME area....about 15 mins, after actually getting off the plane. Then, if you don't have to actually checkin at the counter, it's right to the bus lines. You could be there for as little as 1 min or as long as 20 mins. Then, onto the bus...again, could be 1 min or 20 mins. The reason for these differences is that it all depends on where you fall in the lineup. IF you get to the bus line just as the bus is leaving, you will be first or pretty close to the front of the line....which means a possible 20 min wait for the bus.
Then, once on the bus...if you are first on, you could be sitting there, waiting for up to 20 mins. Or, you could get on last and be able to just leave.
Then, it's at least 30 mins to the first resort. If you are the last of three stops, you can add about 15 mins to that time.
So...
15 mins to level 1, DME checkin
5 mins to checkin
10 mins in bus line
10 mins on the bus, waiting
35 mins to resort

This is about 75 mins....the usual average time. So, that put's your resort arrival time at about 6:15. Checkin will take about 20 mins...now it's 6:35/6:45. It will take at least 30 mins to get to Epcot....wait time for the bus and the actual drive. Then, 15 mins to enter the park and about 20 mins to get back to WS and the restaurant.

As you can see...it's not going to work. You could take a cab to BW or BC and then walk to the restaurant from there, through the back door, International Gateway, but that will only cut off about 30 mins, tops.

I never book an ADR for less than 4 hrs after arrival at the airport. There are just too many variables.