what time to make an ADR after a red eye flight?

[AquaDame]

We are getting in at 6:18am (supposedly) and I made a 9am reservation for Kona Cafe but now Im having doubts... I've heard you should give ME two hours to get you to your hotel, but would that be enough time to check in? I am guessing we will be STARVING so I also didn't want to make it for too late. What time would you guys suggest?

 

[dancin Disney style]

I would give it 3 hours from the time you are scheduled to land until the time you have an ADR.

Yes, you should plan between 1.5-2 hours from DME. However, it usually doesn't take that long. I think most will say that it's usually, at most, 1.5 hours. You then need time to get checked in to your resort, drop any carry ons at luggage services and then get on a bus to MK and then boat or monorail to the POLY. Your travel time to the POLY will be approx 45-60 minutes. So all that said you probably should change your ADR to something closer to 9:30am.

In general, Kona is pretty good about getting people seated so if you were to arrive early there is a good chance of getting a table at that time.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I just realized you didn't say what resort you were staying at. If you are staying at the POLY you should be fine with a 9am ADR.

 

[AquaDame]

Ah, no! We are going to be at Coronado Springs!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Ah, no! We are going to be at Coronado Springs!

Being at CSR you are about as far from the POLY as you can get so I would either stick to the 3 hours or else keep your 9am ressie but plan to take a cab to the POLY. Personally, I would change my ADR and save the cab fare.

 

[nicole0992]

I always take the red eye out of LAX that arrives at that time. 2 of the last 5 trips we have been delayed and arrived late. This past trip we arrived at 8:30 instead of 6:18! However, when things go according to schedule, Magical Express is empty at that time and so is check in. We have gotten to the resort, checked in and taken the bus to EPCOT and been in line at rope drop at 8:30.

I usually make my first ADR at 11:30 just in case. We grab something small at the hotel food court when we arrive to tide us over until lunch.

 

[AquaDame]

Wow two hours! I hope that doesn't happen to us but i have been there before... I had hoped the airport would be far quieter at that time so the chance of a delay wasn't much on my mind.

 

[kmedina]

Our last red eye flight arrived a few minutes early. We got on the magical express bus pretty quickly, and there was no line at check in. From landing to eating, it was way less than two hours. We did eat at our hotel though. Assuming everything is on time, I think you can keep your 9am reservation. If you run behind schedule, you can always call to see if they can seat you late or have quick service. Most restaurants will not allow you to be seated more than 20 minutes prior to your reservation time, so you could wait a long time if everything runs on time. That is not good when you are hungry from an all night flight without food service.

We were more than 30 minutes late to an ADR once for a different reason. Luckily, we were still able to eat there without too much wait.