7:45pm Crystal Palace then HEA???

[nutshell]

I have a 7:45pm Crystal Palace reservation. Will we be able to get out in time to get a decent spot for HEA? We want to be able to see the projections. HEA is at 9:10pm.

I can also do a 6pm reservation but that might mean sacrificing the afternoon break due to travel time between MK and POFQ.

Me, DW, DD18, and DS15.

Thanks!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I have a 7:45pm Crystal Palace reservation. Will we be able to get out in time to get a decent spot for HEA? We want to be able to see the projections.

I can also do a 6pm reservation but that might mean sacrificing the afternoon break due to travel time between MK and POFQ.

Me, DW, DD18, and DS15.

Thanks!

What time is HEA on your date?

 

[nutshell]

What time is HEA on your date?

9:10pm

 

[SG131]

It will be tight. We had a 7:40 reservation for 9:00 HEA. We were done eating but had only seen one of the characters so they did hunt down the characters for us. We walked out of the restaurant just as HEA was starting and stood by the railing there. We didn’t have the best view of the projections, but we had another night to see the show so it was fine for us. If you don’t care about the characters much you might be ok.

 

[nutshell]

It will be tight. We had a 7:40 reservation for 9:00 HEA. We were done eating but had only seen one of the characters so they did hunt down the characters for us. We walked out of the restaurant just as HEA was starting and stood by the railing there. We didn’t have the best view of the projections, but we had another night to see the show so it was fine for us. If you don’t care about the characters much you might be ok.

Thanks. We’re not huge character fans (except for maybe my wife). How many characters are there? How are the character meets arranged during the buffet?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

9:10pm

That seems pretty tight to me. The chances of you being seated on time would concern me, then feeling rushed through eating. I’d try to change if possible.

 

[nutshell]

That seems pretty tight to me. The chances of you being seated on time would concern me, then feeling rushed through eating. I’d try to change if possible.

Thanks. I can do 6pm, but when I enter that in touring plans I lose 60 minutes of break time and add 30 minutes of line time. I suppose those estimates don’t matter since I’ll be using the refresh strategy and grabbing additional FPs (hopefully).

 

[nutshell]

I know it’s a total estimate, but if I arrive at 7:30 for a 7:45, at what time will I actually be seated?

 

[SG131]

Thanks. We’re not huge character fans (except for maybe my wife). How many characters are there? How are the character meets arranged during the buffet?

There are four characters. Tigger, piglet, Pooh and Eeyore. The characters will go table by table around the room, so it’s the luck of the draw when the characters come to you. If you sit down as Pooh just passed by, it can take quite awhile for him to come around again. Each character moves through the room on their own, so seeing all four takes some time.

 

[nutshell]

There are four characters. Tigger, piglet, Pooh and Eeyore. The characters will go table by table around the room, so it’s the luck of the draw when the characters come to you. If you sit down as Pooh just passed by, it can take quite awhile for him to come around again. Each character moves through the room on their own, so seeing all four takes some time.

Thanks. How much time? 60 minutes? 90 minutes?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm going to move this thread to the Restaurants board since it's mostly about the restaurant. Hope it works out for you OP!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I know it’s a total estimate, but if I arrive at 7:30 for a 7:45, at what time will I actually be seated?

7:50.

 

[Alesia]

I know it’s a total estimate, but if I arrive at 7:30 for a 7:45, at what time will I actually be seated?

Probably sometime between 7:30 and 8:00.

 

[Lisa F]

I'd do the 6pm, have a nice relaxing dinner and you'll probably be out at 7:30, do a ride or two and then park in a good spot for HEA an hour before. We rarely take breaks and always find a good place to sit and wait for fireworks well in advance. It's a nice rest break at the end of the day.

I would not go later than 6:30-6:45 with 9:10 fireworks but I always show up early for nighttime shows.

 

[crabbygal902]

I agree with many of the PPs, that is too tight of a schedule. In my experience, CP has never been running on time at that time of the evening. We have waited about 30-45 minutes before being seated. You may be in for a substantial wait and then have to rush through a very expensive meal or perhaps just miss the fireworks entirely.

For what it is worth, we usually plan for 90 minutes at most character meals and an extra 30 minutes for some, including CP dinner.

Here’s my recommendations, take em or leave em:
1. Keep that park break! Some time away from the park and crowds is refreshing and relaxing.
2. Keep checking for a time that is right around 7. That should give you enough time to eat a leisurely meal, even if you have to wait a bit.
3. If nothing opens up in the right timeframe, The Wave at the Contemporary or Kona at the Poly are quite good and close to the MK. Whispering Canyon at the WL is fun and themed if that is what you are looking for, and only a boat ride away. Of course, you’d have to build in travel time for each of these places.
4. Perhaps one of the MK CS or TS locations would be a good substitute.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[Nancyg56]

I know it’s a total estimate, but if I arrive at 7:30 for a 7:45, at what time will I actually be seated?

It could be anytime from 7:30 to 8:15. Personally, I would ditch that ADR if you really want to see HEA.