What to do on Disney World arrival and departure days
Travel days can be exhausting no matter where you are traveling to. When vacationing in Disney World these days for many are half-days.
With the rising cost of theme park tickets many people choose to reserve their park ticket days for only full days. There are many ways to spend those half-days and one of them is trying out new restaurants that are located in Downtown Disney or one of the many resort hotels.
Late Night Arrivals
There are limited number of restaurants to eat at on Disney property once it’s late at night. Downtown Disney is a good option since many of its restaurants stay open late and most of them until 11 pm. Those with dining option beyond 11 pm include: Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant which has a bar menu that is available after 11 pm Paradiso 37 serves dinner until midnight Thursday – Saturday, Planet Hollywood is open until midnight, and House of Blues serves until 1 am on Friday and Saturday.
At the Disney resorts, most of the food courts are open until midnight. If you are looking to dine after midnight there is one option, Picabu Buffeteria at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. If you are staying at a Epcot area resort hotel this is just a short walk away. For those staying in other areas, you’ll have to take a cab over to grab a bite.
Late Morning Departures
Consider making a reservation for breakfast at one of the Disney resorts other than the one you’ve stayed at. It gives you a chance to see a new resort and enjoy a nice breakfast before heading home. Several of the restaurants that offer breakfast start reservations at 7 am. We love visiting Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary for breakfast.
Evening Departures
These departures give you plenty of time to enjoy one of the other resorts. You can take time to walk around and relax before or after your meal. The Epcot area resorts offer the opportunity to enjoy walking around the boardwalk and Big River Grille and Brewing Works has outdoor seating.
You can also head to Downtown Disney and pick up some last minute gifts you forgot. There are several great restaurants both quick-service and table-service. If you don’t have enough time to eat due to shopping, Earl of Sandwich is a fantastic place to grab sandwiches and salads to go and enjoy on the plane ride home.
What do you do on your arrival and departure days? Share your actives below!
Dining at Disney Fans:
You May Also Like
How to use the Rapid Fill Mug stations
Our 2015 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Dining Guide is now available!
