My flight arrives at MCO at 4:17pm. We have an ADR at Boatwright's at the Port Orleans - Riverside Resort at 6:15. Will we make it in time? Are we going to have to check in first to be able to use our Dining plan? Should I cancel the ADR and try to get something different? Do you think I could get an ADR this late? We leave May 3. Not sure what to do, or what I was thinking...

Where are you staying? You DO have to check in to use the dining plan (it's on your "Key to the World" card, that you get when you check in).

Even if you're staying at POR/POFQ, you might be a little late (or more than a little, if your flight is late). But what would be your option? Personally, at this point, unless you're staying elsewhere, I would just keep it and if you're too late, you're too late. And if you're too late, then just eat at the food court.

Drince,

What should I do with that Table service credit if we don't make the dinner? Should I try to make another one, or do a walk up?

I'm not sure if you can find out beforehand, but the time it takes you to get to your resort depends on the route the bus takes. our bus went to 4 resorts, if I remember correctly. we happen to be the last resort on the route, and it was a good 1/2 hour (probably 45 minutes) after the first resort drop-off.

our total time from landing to resort lobby was over 2 hours. it included quite a bit of waiting in the bus for others to board before it leaves the airport. maybe if you get there right before the bus leaves, you may get to your resort faster.

Hmmmm. Let's see.

-Land at MCO - 4:17 - taxi to gate - 4:22, maybe 4:27.
-Deboard, head straight to DME check-in counter (skipping baggage claim I presume due to using DME) - arrive at counter around 4:45.
-Get in line for your resort, get onto bus, sit on bus a few moments - actually drive off around 5:05.
-Arrive at resort around 5:50
-Check-in takes 5, maybe 10 minutes.
-Head to the restaurant at 6pm

Of course that is a very rough estimate based on assumed times (how fast you guys walk, how long the wait is for your DME bus/hotel check-in, whether or not your resort is the bus's first stop, etc.). Plus like Cathy said, where are you staying? By the above (very) rough estimate, I'd say you stand a fighting chance if your resort is the POR. And maybe if it's the POFQ. Any other? I'd say no, unless you wanted to spring for a taxi.

Flights land late more often than they land early. It might be worth trying for another ressie, maybe for around 7ish so you don't have to rush.

FYI - Restaurants will hold your ressie for 15 minutes before giving it up, so 'technically' you'd have till 6:30 to get to Boatwright's. But I still wouldn't bother. Are you going to the parks that night? If not, maybe consider making a reservation at a "fun" place for your first night, like Chef Mickey's or Whispering Canyon Cafe. Is it an adults only trip? Consider the Kona Cafe or Ohana's. It's always nice visiting the Poly!

Yes it may be tough attaining a reservation this late in the game, but it's worth a shot. :D

Okay, let's say we don't make it. Are there any penalties?

BTW - Just to answer some questions. Yes, we are staying at Port Orleans Riverside. It is DH, myself, and DD who is 5. I think the traveling is going to have us pretty beat and I'd rather get to bed early for early start the next day than try to make it to the parks or another resort that night. That's why I booked Boatwright's, not because I have a burning desire to eat there.

Okay, let's say we don't make it. Are there any penalties?

Nope! Only for restaurants that require a credit card to reserve (CA Grill, CRT, etc) which obviously doesn't apply here.


BTW - Just to answer some questions. Yes, we are staying at Port Orleans Riverside. It is DH, myself, and DD who is 5. I think the traveling is going to have us pretty beat and I'd rather get to bed early for early start the next day than try to make it to the parks or another resort that night. That's why I booked Boatwright's, not because I have a burning desire to eat there.

I see. In that case, I'd say keep it. If everything goes relatively smoothly you could very well make it, with a few minutes to spare even. And remember, they will hold your ressie till 6:30. And like Cathy said, worse comes to worst you could always eat at the food court (Riverside Mill). I've eaten there before, and it's pretty good. Check out the menu (http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/men-ccld.htm). If you are totally against the idea of eating there, however, then my advice would be to try to at least move your ADR to 6:45, just to be safe. I don't believe Boatwright's is an "E-ticket" restaurant, therefore moving your ADR back a bit might be no problem at all.

Boatwrights is actually a pretty decent restaurant, so at least that works for you. And there's no penalty for no show at any place that doesn't take a deposit/prepay.

I assume you have a TS booked for every evening? What about adding in a character breakfast? Or trying walk up at a less popular place on an evening when you already have a TS breakfast scheduled?

Ah, just figured it out. Boatwrights doesn't generally book up, but it can get busy with walk ups. If you don't get to eat your first night there, book a breakfast later in the week (they have really nummy banana stuffed french toast, almost exactly like Tonga Toast at the Kona), particularly if you're giving yourself a late morning - OR - book a dinner there when you have a TS breakfast or early lunch scheduled. You can make those ADRs either from the room phone, or at the Concierge desk across the lobby area from the check in desks (same room).

Since if you don't make it, you'll be using a CS credit for dinner that you hadn't planned, just decide what planed CS meal you had that you could swap out for a TS. And if not Boatwrights, another TS where ever you may be.

Also if you are running late you can call 407-WDW-DINE and ask them to let the restaurant know you will be late and give an estimate ETA. DH & I did this with a ressie at Portabellos and they had no problem seating us even though were almost an hour late.

I was going to say the same thing. One morning we cut it too close for our character breakfast at AK. I called the dining line to tell them we were on a bus, but would be late. They called the restaurant and they held our ressie for us--even though they were incredibly busy.

For what it's worth I've eaten at both Boatwrights and the food court at POR and if you end up in the food court because you're too late for your ADR you're not going to starve. I thought it was much better that the POFQ food court where we actually stayed. Having said that, I thought that Boatwrights was better than the reviews suggested and the service we got here was fantastic. DS ordered a steak off the adult menu but then didn't like it because it was highly peppered. I re-ordered another meal for him, expecting to pay for both, but we weren't charged for his first meal - that was over and above as far as I'm concerned. My other thought is; my children would not be happy to sit and behave in a restaurant after a long journey, they would just want to get in their room and chill out. You could use that TS credit for a room service pizza delivery instead.

Scooby,

Good suggestion! I think if we miss the ressie, we'll do pizza.