Comments on first night and ADR's-March 29

[bnh]

Hello WDWMagic folks.... i think i was pointed here from allearsnet.com a few months ago, and have been lurking ever since...but haven't had any real comments/questions to make until now. I will say this site has been my new first choice over RADP, which was my previous lurking haunt for many years.
A) I, and my family, am arriving in the World, March 29th:sohappy:. I have TiffanyTownCar scheduled to pick us up at 5:01pm from MCO and check into WDW Swan. I have ADR ressies for Chef Mickey's at 7:40pm. Do i presume an airline delay and not make this ADR, or prepare for a "fast" taxi trip to Contemporary, or can i take it easy and ride the monorail the first night in the world, to get to an evening with Mickey?

B) I was pleasantly surprised to see that PotC was going to be open on April 1 on this site. ummm, i haven't seen that notice anywhere else, as yet. What expectations should i be setting for my little ones? The movie made this attraction a little more appealling(?) for my 6 yr old, but i don't want to artificially raise their hopes :animwink:. Methinks it will remain closed until the new movie's opening. :veryconfu

C) My 3 1/2 yrold, is -very- small for his age(44 mos)... ~36". However, imo, he could easily handle the Splash Mountain stuff, including the final drop. Since I'm pretty certain he won't make 40" by April, is the height restriction really enforced? for safety (legal) or other reasons? Should i just plan to skip it for him?

D) Comments on ADR's, so far??
3/29- 7:40pm Chef Mickey's
3/30- 6:25pm, Cindy's
3/31- 6:20pm, Coral Reef
4/1- 5pm, Hollywood & Vine + Fantasmic

 

[kodiak5bears]

C) My 3 1/2 yrold, is -very- small for his age(44 mos)... ~36". However, imo, he could easily handle the Splash Mountain stuff, including the final drop. Since I'm pretty certain he won't make 40" by April, is the height restriction really enforced? for safety (legal) or other reasons? Should i just plan to skip it for him?

I'm sorry I can't help with your question, but I see where this is going to go already...

 

[Nansafan]

Height restrictions are for the safety of the rider. If he won't meet the requirement, I wouldn't do it. I've seen CM's with the height measuring stick and it seems as if they are strict about enforcing the height requirement for all attractions.

If you are staying at the Swan, you'll have to take a bus to the MK then a monorail to the Contemporary if you want to ride the monorail to your dinner. Another option would be to take the taxi directly to the resort then after dinner take the monorail for a ride. This way you won't miss your time and still get the fun of the monorail. Ask the CM at the monorail station if you can ride up front. You might be able to ride with the driver.

 

[MR. DISNEY]

If you have the time and the passes, I would walk to EPCOT and take the monorail to the ticket and transportation center and change monorail to the resort one and get off at Contempory Resort.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Hello WDWMagic folks.... i think i was pointed here from allearsnet.com a few months ago, and have been lurking ever since...but haven't had any real comments/questions to make until now. I will say this site has been my new first choice over RADP, which was my previous lurking haunt for many years.
A) I, and my family, am arriving in the World, March 29th:sohappy:. I have TiffanyTownCar scheduled to pick us up at 5:01pm from MCO and check into WDW Swan. I have ADR ressies for Chef Mickey's at 7:40pm. Do i presume an airline delay and not make this ADR, or prepare for a "fast" taxi trip to Contemporary, or can i take it easy and ride the monorail the first night in the world, to get to an evening with Mickey?

B) I was pleasantly surprised to see that PotC was going to be open on April 1 on this site. ummm, i haven't seen that notice anywhere else, as yet. What expectations should i be setting for my little ones? The movie made this attraction a little more appealling(?) for my 6 yr old, but i don't want to artificially raise their hopes :animwink:. Methinks it will remain closed until the new movie's opening. :veryconfu

C) My 3 1/2 yrold, is -very- small for his age(44 mos)... ~36". However, imo, he could easily handle the Splash Mountain stuff, including the final drop. Since I'm pretty certain he won't make 40" by April, is the height restriction really enforced? for safety (legal) or other reasons? Should i just plan to skip it for him?

D) Comments on ADR's, so far??
3/29- 7:40pm Chef Mickey's
3/30- 6:25pm, Cindy's
3/31- 6:20pm, Coral Reef
4/1- 5pm, Hollywood & Vine + Fantasmic

A) Timing is close, but you should be OK. I would suggest that you ask the car to wait, check in and have them take you to Contemporary. Don't forget, you have to take a bus from Swan...or go to Epcot station for monorail
It's not always easy going from hotel to hotel.

B) If PoTC is open, it will be nothing like the movie. It is dark, there is a surprise drop and plenty of skeletons. Some small ones do get bothered.

C) They are consistent about height requirements. Kodiac's reference is to other thread discussions where parents try to "cheat" the requirement.

D) Coral Reef is not my favorite, and is pricy for what you get (IMHO). You are probably thinking about the aquarium view...but I don't know if that makes it worth the extra. If you are looking for Epcot dining, there are a lot of other good choices. If you are looking for seafood, there are other good choices, like Flying Fish, Fultons, Narcoossee's.

If you are staying longer, consider, for family fun: Hoop de do Review, 50's Prime Time, Sci Fi (better for lunch), O'hana

 

[newfanatic]

The Coral Reef is overpriced, but we decided to go there for lunch instead of dinner. The prices were much more reasonable. We had great seats and my kids loved the aquarium. I would do it again, and also do lunch instead of dinner again.

 

[bnh]

sorry for bumping this, but i have to say thanks to all who replied, and give a positive vote for Coral Reef. I agree it was pricey for the food, but we got a front row table, excellent seating timing and wonderful service. My only regret was to allow the kids to choose pizza instead of the fresh catch, but alas, they got a kick out of seeing the sharks in the tank, and that made it worth it. However, i probably won't choose this restaurant again, until i've sampled all the ones in Epcot...and that will take some time. thanks again for the advice.. btw, we made it to Chef Mickey's with time to spare on our first day by using standard Disney transport...ie: bus to MK, monorail to Contemporary. It was a magical fist night....and the rest of the trip too!