First Night Dining: On Or Off Property?

[Raineman]

In February, we will be making the long drive down to WDW, and, as we will be arriving and checking in to AoA sometime mid-late afternoon, we will not be planning on hitting any of the parks that day. Should we use one of our Dining Plan quick service credits to eat at Landscape Of Flavors for dinner that night, or should we hop back in our car and hit up one of the restaurants on 192? We will probably be pretty tired, and, after having spent the majority of the last 24 hours in our car, might not want to hop right back in it. Our previous trip to WDW with my parents, we rented a car at the airport, and went to Ponderosa on 192 for dinner our first night. Any suggestions?

 

[officialtom]

We usually use a QS credit on Day 1 and save that TS credit to double-up for a super fancy meal later in the week.

 

[SteamBoat6092]

We used to drive down when I was a kid for years and after you get out of that car you do not wanna get back into it for a while, haha! One of our favorite things was to order a pizza and have pizza by the pool. My cousin and I were at the All Star Music for new years this year and 3 of us split a pizza there, we were surprised by the size of it. I'd say see how you're feeling after the drive.
I know i'm always itching for Disney food after that drive.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Personally, I would take a bus to Epcot or the Magic Kingdom and then ride the monorail to one of the nearby resort hotels, and eat there.

I want to start enjoying the WDW resort as soon as I arrive, and this is a way to do something without actually visiting a theme park.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I like to stay at my resort on check in day and relax. We also drive, and it's such a long way. With my kids now, I want them to just have some time to unwind after all that. Pool, movie under the stars, quick service....that's my plan.

 

[rob0519]

I would say QS, whether at your hotel or somewhere else on property. Is there a deluxe resort you've never eaten at before? I would suggest Captain Cook's at the Polynesian or Gasparilla's Grill a the Grand Floridian.

 

[Jae99]

If you really don't want to leave the resort after your long drive I would suggest just using a QS credit at the hotel. You can also get on a bus and go to Disney Springs and go to any of the restaurants there.

 

[DfromATX]

We always plan our flights to arrive in the afternoon, then after we check in we hit Downtown Disney and eat dinner there.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

We always eat and relax at our resort on our arrival day, no matter what time we arrive. It helps us get the trio off to a happy, calm start without rushing or checking the clock. That's just us.

 

[zurgandfriend]

After a long drive I would either eat at the resort or someplace close. Getting back into the car to go find a restaurant sounds horrible.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Definitely somewhere on property if you're on the dining plan... how stupid would you feel if you schlepped back into the car to pay for a meal out-of-pocket and then had credits left over at the end of your trip?

 

[Mukta]

People say Landscape of Flavors is really good, so I think you should hang at your hotel and eat there.

 

[JIMINYCR]

No matter what time we check in, we arrange always eat that first Disney meal at someplace special on property to celebrate our arrival and the beginning of a fabulous trip. It gives us a chance to really relax, celebrate and get the Disney realization that weve made it back.

 

[French Quarter]

I agree with everyone else. Plan to visit the food court. You have the credits for that so you might as well use them. And you will want to settle in and not look at the car for a long while.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Stop at I Drive 360 on your way in. Lots of great food choices. Shake Shack, Yard House, Tin Roof, Tapa Toro (Latin Tapas), Naru (Japanese), Sugar Factory, Carraba's, Outback, and more.

Free parking, easy I-4 access.

http://i-drive360.com

 

[azox]

We always like to hit a few places off property. A couple that we like in FL that we don't have at home are Millers Ale house (big menu good prices) and giordanos deep dish pizza (Very good deep dish pizza). Both are on 192.

https://giordanos.com/our-locations/chicago/
http://www.millersalehouse.com/index

 

[French Quarter]

You are all so much more patient than I am. I couldn't be that close to Disney and not want to go check in right away!

 

[Weather_Lady]

My family is always exhausted after a long drive, and the last thing we want to do is hop in the car again. I'd suggest a CS dinner right there at the resort. Afterwards, you can relax by the pool, unpack and settle in, and get to bed early so you're refreshed and ready to tackle a park in the morning.

 

[French Quarter]

One thing we do, though, is head to an off-property restaurant for lunch on the day we depart. I'm a big fan of Sweet Tomatoes.

 

[MickeyMomV]

We stay on property for all meals. Once in the bubble we stay in the bubble!!