When can we start eating?

[seasidespences]

My family really wants to start their first day (check-in day) at Disney with a breakfast at Boma. We will be on the dining plan and will arrive around 8am or so and plan to do online check in...but, do we have to "physically" check in at our resort and get all of our "stuff/papers/cards" before we can eat a meal on our dining plan?? How does this work? Assuming we arrive between 8-8:30am...what time do you think is reasonable to
make the ADR?

 

[lovedworld]

Even if you check in on-line you still need to go to your resort so you can get your cards. All of your dining credits will be attached to those cards. So if you want to use your dining plan you need to have the cards. These cards will also be your room key and you passes to get into the parks.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

My family really wants to start their first day (check-in day) at Disney with a breakfast at Boma. We will be on the dining plan and will arrive around 8am or so and plan to do online check in...but, do we have to "physically" check in at our resort and get all of our "stuff/papers/cards" before we can eat a meal on our dining plan?? How does this work? Assuming we arrive between 8-8:30am...what time do you think is reasonable to
make the ADR?

Many questions: Are you arriving at MCO or at the resort between 8-8:30? Will you have your own car or using Disney transportation? Are you staying at AKL?

In order to access your dining credits, you'll need your KTTW card which you can only get when you physically check in to your resort. I've had check-ins go quickly - in and done in like 15 minutes - and I've been stuck waiting seemingly forever - finally done in about 45 minutes - so give yourself time for that. If you're using Disney transportation, give yourself at least an hour to go from resort to resort.

 

[Ro Z]

Wow arriving at 8ám! Are you driving? We arrived at 9:30 once (flying) and needed a nap. Luckily our room was ready. Hope you are staying at AKL that will make things easier!

 

[Ro Z]

Many questions: Are you arriving at MCO or at the resort between 8-8:30? Will you have your own car or using Disney transportation? Are you staying at AKL?

In order to access your dining credits, you'll need your KTTW card which you can only get when you physically check in to your resort. I've had check-ins go quickly - in and done in like 15 minutes - and I've been stuck waiting seemingly forever - finally done in about 45 minutes - so give yourself time for that. If you're using Disney transportation, give yourself at least an hour to go from resort to resort.

Remember you can't go resort to resort directly. Depending on where you are staying you will have to go to a park. In this case AK, for Boma, or DTD to get to another resort.

 

[WizardLarz]

If you're staying at AKL then Checking In and getting your cards before your breakfast should be no problem and at 7:30ish in the morning should not take to long. If you are staying at a different Resort and want to use the DDP for the Boma meal then you might want to see about moving back your ressie to 8:30-9o'clock. Of course your other option is to just do the meal Out of Pocket.

 

[seasidespences]

Ok...looks like I forgot to include some important info...
We are driving in, staying at CSR...we will actually arrive in Orlando the night before and are staying at a hotel in downtown Orlando the night before our checkin day. We are early risers so we plan to be at CSR by 8:30am. We will most likely use our own transportation for much of our vacation...seems that it will be a more efficient use of our time rather than allotting at least one hour for the Disney bus/transport system.
Hopefully this helps provide more info...thanks in advance to everyone willing to give their very helpful advice!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Ok...looks like I forgot to include some important info...
We are driving in, staying at CSR...we will actually arrive in Orlando the night before and are staying at a hotel in downtown Orlando the night before our checkin day. We are early risers so we plan to be at CSR by 8:30am. We will most likely use our own transportation for much of our vacation...seems that it will be a more efficient use of our time rather than allotting at least one hour for the Disney bus/transport system.
Hopefully this helps provide more info...thanks in advance to everyone willing to give their very helpful advice!

You should be able to do it just fine, but I would go with a "brunch" time, like 10 or so. That way, if check in takes a long time, you can still get there on time. Use an online map to figure out drive time, and add on some time for unseen problems. Happy Planning!

 

[seasidespences]

You should be able to do it just fine, but I would go with a "brunch" time, like 10 or so. That way, if check in takes a long time, you can still get there on time. Use an online map to figure out drive time, and add on some time for unseen problems. Happy Planning!

Found a 9:45a ADR...hopefully we'll be able to make it happen that day....if not, my backup plan might be that we eat there the morning of our checkout day....we should be able to still use our credits that day right???

 

[redmomof4]

Remember you can't go resort to resort directly. Depending on where you are staying you will have to go to a park. In this case AK, for Boma, or DTD to get to another resort.

Is this new? We went last in 2011 and were able to park at hotels if we had ADRs at their restaurants.

Thanks in advance

 

[MariDisney]

Is this new? We went last in 2011 and were able to park at hotels if we had ADRs at their restaurants.

Thanks in advance

The PP was referring to using WDW transportation. You can't go from resort to resort on the bus without transferring at a park (unless, of course you're going between resorts that share a bus). You can park at a resort to dine their for up to 3 hours.

 

[seasidespences]

The PP was referring to using WDW transportation. You can't go from resort to resort on the bus without transferring at a park (unless, of course you're going between resorts that share a bus). You can park at a resort to dine their for up to 3 hours.

We would probably plan to drive to most places like this...even though we are early risers I'd rather still save a little time and drive ourselves to most ADRs instead of allotting an hour for Disney transport. Are there any resorts or other areas (ex. DTD or Boardwalk) that have limited parking or are hard to get to?

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Ok...looks like I forgot to include some important info...
We are driving in, staying at CSR...we will actually arrive in Orlando the night before and are staying at a hotel in downtown Orlando the night before our checkin day. We are early risers so we plan to be at CSR by 8:30am. We will most likely use our own transportation for much of our vacation...seems that it will be a more efficient use of our time rather than allotting at least one hour for the Disney bus/transport system.
Hopefully this helps provide more info...thanks in advance to everyone willing to give their very helpful advice!

Found a 9:45a ADR...hopefully we'll be able to make it happen that day....if not, my backup plan might be that we eat there the morning of our checkout day....we should be able to still use our credits that day right???

Ah, with this info then, yes, you should be fine with a 9:45 breakfast at Boma. Do try to get to CSR a little closer to 8:00 just in case - it sucks to have to rush because something took just a little longer than anticipated. Leave your bags with bell services so they're out of your car and no temptation for someone to break into your car. As long as you can leave CSR for AKL no later than 9:15, you should be fine with a 9:45 at Boma. Enjoy!!

 

[sharonabe]

Found a 9:45a ADR...hopefully we'll be able to make it happen that day....if not, my backup plan might be that we eat there the morning of our checkout day....we should be able to still use our credits that day right???

Your credits are good from the time you check in until midnight of the day you check out, so as long as you have credits left, you could use them on checkout day instead.