What time for an ADR - Flight lands 5:25

[Jen72386]

Obviously there are a lot of moving pieces to this, but I'm trying to get a rough idea as to what time I should plan for an ADR when we arrive. Our flight lands at MCO at 5:25 and we will be taking Magical express bus to Art of Animation. After check in, getting settled, etc. we would like to head out to dinner, preferably at Disney Springs. What time frame should I be shooting for?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I would not book an ADR for your arrival day. Landing at 5:25 and taking the DME, I wouldn't plan on being at your resort any earlier than 7:00. Taking time to settle in and then get a bus to DS, you could easily be looking at a dinner time of 8:00 or later. If you have any flight delays, you would likely miss any ADR you made. Skip the ADR and either eat a quick service meal or try to make an ADR once you are at AoA.

 

[CarolynFH]

If all goes well you should be at AoA by 7:00. Allowing time to find your room then catch bus to DS, you would likely be on time for 8:30 or 9:00 ADR. However, I wouldn't make an ADR at all, given the possibility of delayed flights, etc. You might consider making a reservation via Open Table (no cancellation penalty if you miss it) or waiting until you're on the DME bus before making an ADR on your phone. There are also lots of good places at DS that don't need ADRs - Blaze Pizza & D-Luxe Burger come to my mind!

 

[LaBelleVie]

We faced the same dilemma, as we were originally going to drive and booked an ADR at another resort for 6:50. We decided to fly, and our plane will be landing around 6:30, so clearly, our original plan was out. We decided to just not book an ADR for arrival day, and changed it to a departure day breakfast; we'll just grab dinner at the resort QS on arrival night. I think trying to make a reservation that late when you have no control over when you arrive adds unnecessary stress.

 

[jwfla422]

If all goes well you should be at AoA by 7:00. Allowing time to find your room then catch bus to DS, you would likely be on time for 8:30 or 9:00 ADR. However, I wouldn't make an ADR at all, given the possibility of delayed flights, etc. You might consider making a reservation via Open Table (no cancellation penalty if you miss it) or waiting until you're on the DME bus before making an ADR on your phone. There are also lots of good places at DS that don't need ADRs - Blaze Pizza & D-Luxe Burger come to my mind!

DS is probably your best option-at least with Open Table you can book a restaurant and if you see it's getting close to that time and you can't make it or you get to the resort and decide to just do QS instead, it's easy to cancel via online or the opentable app and no penalties! Even a few places at the S/D take opentable ressies (ie. Il Mulino). I always make opentable ressies whenever possible.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

We faced the same dilemma, as we were originally going to drive and booked an ADR at another resort for 6:50. We decided to fly, and our plane will be landing around 6:30, so clearly, our original plan was out. We decided to just not book an ADR for arrival day, and changed it to a departure day breakfast; we'll just grab dinner at the resort QS on arrival night. I think trying to make a reservation that late when you have no control over when you arrive adds unnecessary stress.

I agree that it's not worth the stress. Arrival night is a great time to do QS, and you have the rest of the trip that you can do ADRs.

 

[Jen72386]

Thank you all for the replies! I wasn't aware that you could book ressies through Open Table for DS. Good to know! I think we will just play it by ear as you all have suggested.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thank you all for the replies! I wasn't aware that you could book ressies through Open Table for DS. Good to know! I think we will just play it by ear as you all have suggested.

I think playing it by ear is the best plan, but I do have one more option for you to consider. If you have a Landry's Select card, you can walk in to Rainforest Café or T-Rex and be seated immediately without a reservation at all.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

On my last trip in December that's the time my flight landed.

I stayed at POP the first few days of a split stay.

That's the time everything was slow. Magical Express I was the first person onboard & it took ages to fill up & go & POP was the last drop off too.

Once there, I had to ungrade my ticket & it took a long time too.

My time I walked to my room in the far area of the resort to drop my luggage I knew I'd be pushing it to make my reservation at 9:15 at Epcot.

I ended up being late to Tutto Italia after catching a bus & walking way back there to the restaurant & I never dreamed I wouldn't of had lots of time to spare on that one.

My hubby flew in a couple of days later & made record time arriving at our resort which was then AKL.

He was last on the magical express bus & first to drop off.

I won't ever book a restaurant any closer than 3 & 1/2 to 4 hours after landing because of experiences I've had.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Bag it. Eat at the resort.

 

[Tozzie]

I would not make any ADR's and wing it, 2 years ago I had a flight that was scheduled to land at MCO at 2:30 and made a 7:30 adr. You can probably see where this is going, the weather where I was flying from was great but in Orlando not so much there was a I think tornado warning or something like that and MCO closed briefly and we were held by ATC at my home airport. we eventually we cleared to fly but so was every other plane that was held at various airports so like 10 flights landed in very quick sucession and MCO ran out of gates and we had to wait a bit for a gate I finally got to my resort 10 minutes past my ADR lucky for me the restaurant was at my resort and after I checkin at the front desk I ran over to the restaurant and explained what happened and asked if I could freshen up and they were fine with that. If my ADR was not at my resort I would have missed it and charged the 10.00 no show fee.

 

[Hopefully]

We never make an ADR on travel day closer than 5 hours after scheduled arrival. Travel day is wrought with uncontrollable delays.
Playing it by ear is the best plan.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Always give yourself at least three hours after landing. Either book DSp through Open Table, or enjoy one of the delicious QS places (there are SO MANY good ones!)

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Although it may not be a popular opinion....I would just eat at MCO or bring sub sandwiches to eat on the plane. Our family would be starving with short tempers if we waited to eat. Between possible flight delays, waiting for ME bus, the ride to the resort, etc., it would be a more pleasant arrival with tummies full. Our favorite is to stop by Subway on the way to the airport and bring them onto the plane. It helps pass the time on the plane and then we are all happy and ready to start our vacation when the plane arrives at the gate

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

We always eat at Wofgang Puck Express on the first night. Great table service quality food without a reservation.

 

[CarolynFH]

We always eat at Wofgang Puck Express on the first night. Great table service quality food without a reservation.

I agree! WPE is one of our favorites at DS, although D-Luxe Burger is gaining on it (for my DH, at least).

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

I agree! WPE is one of our favorites at DS, although D-Luxe Burger is gaining on it (for my DH, at least).

$20 for a burger and fries is excessive, even for Disney. Add the Canadian exchange rate and it's even crazier. I'd much rather go to Blaze pizza next door.

 

[rg35]

Late afternoon / early evening arrivals are always rough. A few years ago we were supposed to land at 6:40PM but wound up being delayed a bit, and then it took over 30 minutes to get our rental car because they had like one person working the counter. In any case, we went directly to Disney Springs to see if we could find something, but that didn't really work out and the kids were tired. I took everyone back to the hotel (AKL), went to Publix on 192 and bought some stuff and we ate in the room. It was pretty late by the time everyone ate plus we had an early park day the following day. Since that trip I have subsequently booked early morning flights (and the last two years we drove down) because I'd rather wake up and get to the airport early than deal w/ the hassles of settling in late on day 1. Plus you basically have a full day at the pool when you get in early, so it's really like having an extra day of vacation too.

 

[Dis703]

I wouldn't make an ADR for arrival day at all with a flight landing that late in the day. We flew in once around that time and had all sorts of delays. We didn't arrive at our resort until 8:30 and still had to check in. Having been at the Boardwalk we had planned to walk in to Epcot and grab a meal watch Illuminations, etc. but it was 9:00 before we were in our room.

At the very least I wouldn't book anything through Disney but I'd probably just plan on eating at your resort.