Hiya Jennifer!
Welcome to planDisney, and thank you for sending us your question! I am honoured to be a part of your planning journey today, and I completely understand the struggle of making plans on your arrival day. Indeed, as a Canadian resident who is always flying in, I have had to master the Orlando International Airport and transportation to the Walt Disney World Resort. As they always said in one of my favourite Disney movies, we're all in this together!
In my experience, there have been a few times when I had to wait at baggage claim to pick up my luggage. It usually takes about an hour to get out of the plane and pick up your luggage, although it may take longer than that, depending on how quickly you can pick up your suitcase. The last time I flew in, my flight landed at 4:44 PM. My family and I finally left the airport at around 5:50 to 6 P.M. With that being said, we were able to make it in time for our dining reservation at Boma - Flavors of Africa at 6:30 P.M. Indeed, the car ride from the Orlando International Airport to the Walt Disney World Resort is typically around 25 to 30 minutes. Plus, don't forget that you can check into your dining reservations up to 15 minutes past your original reservation time, so don't worry if you are a bit late! With that being said, I believe that you should have enough time to make it to your dining reservation, though it probably will be a tight squeeze. The only thing I would recommend is to keep an eye on traffic patterns the week before your flight! This will give you a better idea of how long the drive will be.
Now, Jennifer, I am so glad that you have decided to try some of the dining experiences at Disney Springs! The Walt Disney World Resort has so many amazing restaurants across property, and Disney Springs has some particularly delicious options.
Morimoto Asia has been incredibly popular among the Disney community, so I am very excited that you will get to try it! Personally, one of my favourite restaurants is
Chef Art Smith's Homecomin', which has the best "Church Lady" Deviled Eggs I have ever had. Another favourite of mine is
Wine Bar George, located near
Gideon's Bakehouse. Their burrata toast with tomatoes and olive oil was refreshing and tasty, and I cannot recommend their key lime pie enough. This restaurant is definitely a must-try in my book!
I hope this was helpful, Jennifer, and that you and your family will have the best day ever on your upcoming Disney vacation. If you have any other questions in the time leading up to your visit, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are always happy to help, and it shows when we stand, hand in hand, and make our dreams come true!
Have a magical day,
Ariane