Dinner in MK before MNSSHP

Kris74

Earning My Ears
Joined
Aug 20, 2009
Hi there -

We're only going to MK once afternoon/evening and that's the night of the MNSSHP. We didn't opt for the dining plan on this trip.

If you were in this situation, which meal would you be willing to spend OOP for IN the park?? Leaving the park is not an option for us and we'll be there right at 4 so we don't want to have dinner before we get to the park.
 
Hey Kris74!

I asked a similiar question recently regarding eating before MNNSHP. Different circumstances (it won't be our only night in MK), and I was trying to decide about doing an early ts dinner at CP or doing a late breakfast/ early lunch that morning at CP and doing cs after 4 when we return to MK for the party.

The consensus was, don't waste your time with a ts meal before the party. Since it is your only day in MK, I would certainly not waste it sitting down for a meal either. Your paying a premium to be at the party, not to mention, if you get there at 4:00 it will give you time to do rides before the party actually starts at 7:00.

Since your paying OOP, I would say do a decent cs option, like Columbia Harbor House or Cosmic Rays? Not sure what time Columbia HH closes the day of the party, but I know Cosmic Ray's will stay open.

Another suggestion (which I'm still thinking may be a good option as well), is to make an ADR at The Plaza? Yes, it's considered a TS, but lighter fare (sandwiches, burgers, ice cream), so not as expensive as the other TS options in MK. Not sure how long the wait and eating time will be.

Good luck deciding, I was uncertain as to what to do this day as well. Hope you find an option that works for you!
 
I wouldn't have a meal. Make your big meal of the day a later lunch, and then have hotdogs/popcorn on the parade or snack that evening. So much to see and do, don't waste party time (even a little bit of it) sitting in a restaurant.
 
We're planning the day of the MNSSHP to be a resort day (we're staying at the CBR), so a late lunch would be a good option I think.

I also like the idea of a CS dinner, I agree - I'd rather be waiting in line for Splash Mountain then waiting in line for dinner ;)

Thanks for the great ideas guys!!
 


On our MNSSHP day we are having dinner at CRT (have a 4:20pm ADR) so we can be out right before the actual party begins. We originally were not going to do this but since FD came out, and we upgraded to the DxDP, we figured why not. We are not spending the whole day in MK, we are starting out at Epcot and having lunch at Chefs De France before heading over to MK, but this not our only MK either so we will be back to ride any of the rides. Good luck.
 
if i were going to do a TS meal on MNSSHP day, it would be liberty tree tavern-it just has that "legend of sleepy hollow" feel to it. OTOH, if i were going to go the CS route, i would do some rides between 4:00pm and about 5:30pm, eat at Pecos Bill's, then get a good seat for the 7:00 MNSSHP parade in Frontierland or liberty square (around Liberty Tree Tavern is good). this is a great parade viewing area. have a great time! :)
 


I would recommend going to Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, because in my opinion I think it's the best counter service location in the Magic Kingdom.
 
Ray's is good but we like Columbia Harbour House better. With that said, last year we ate at CHH around 4:30 or 5:00 PM, we're hungry later, and did get a turkey leg for a snack later that night at the Lunching Pad in Future World. The Turkey Leg was absolutely disgusting. I don't know since they figured no one else was opened, so they would serve bad food. So, we booked a CRT reservation for 4:30 PM. DDs (8,5) will get to eat at the castle with their costumes, and then's we'll walk out in time for the party to start.
 
We booked dinner at the Plaza at 4:30. It was great, came right out of the restaurant and were right on Main Street when the party began. It was great!
 
We're having an early dinner at Crystal Palace so that we can see Pooh and Friends before MNSSHP.
 
I was wondering about this too. Last time, we had an early dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the GF, then hopped on the monorail and got into MK at 6.30pm. We have also had dinner right at 7pm at the LTT before (our travelling companion's choice of time :rolleyes:). Although we all enjoyed our meal, it ate into a lot of party time. :sad2:

This year, we'll only manage to visit MK once - our MNSSHP night. I'm thinking a late lunch, then grab a quick bite during the party if we are hungry will be the best way to go for us, too. :)

Thanks for all the advice/tips.
 
I also agree a late lunch and snack your way through the park.
 
Last year when we went to MNSSHP we were on the quick service plan, and we ate at Cosmic Ray's before the party.
But I think CR is our first choice there anyway for CS.
That being said -- one of the ports was closed already that night. :confused3 The one on the far right -- burgers I think. Because I would have gotten a pork sandwich and ended up with the more expensive rib and chicken combo instead. :confused3

We have also eaten at LTT and Kona Cafe prior to going to MNSSHP and those worked out well too. (Sit down restaurants of course.)
 
On our MNSSHP day we are having dinner at CRT (have a 4:20pm ADR) so we can be out right before the actual party begins. We originally were not going to do this but since FD came out, and we upgraded to the DxDP, we figured why not. We are not spending the whole day in MK, we are starting out at Epcot and having lunch at Chefs De France before heading over to MK, but this not our only MK either so we will be back to ride any of the rides. Good luck.

We decided to do the same thing also.....we wanted to make the night be super special, so we've got 4:25 dinner ressies then onto the party! I figured that since our DD4 is already going to be in her princess costume for MNSSHP, might as well eat in a castle!:thumbsup2
 

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