Best Way To Do Dinner on a Party Night?

[mom2rtk]

What should be done first then rides? Characters??

It really depends on what your priorities are. We only did one ride each of the 2 nights we did the party. We were there for a week so had plenty of other opportunities to do the rides. For us it was about meeting characters. Our first party we did the Toontown preparty then went to do the villains (twice to catch both rotations). Our second night we started with the villains (for photos with my daughter's second costume). Then we headed off to see Mickey & Minnie. That was a tactical error. They said the line was 60 minutes at that point but it was closer to 90. But I really wanted to catch them in those costumes.

You get one chance for a "first" item. You need to decide on something to line up for early (ahead of the party start time) so you can be at or near the front of the line then off to do other things. I have to think the Mickey/Minnie line might be a good choice for a first item, given our experience last year.

I would save trick or treating for later in the evening. That worked great for us. We got a decent amount of treats without even trying. We never did wait in a long treat line.

 

[lindyv321]

Thanks!!! We want to try to hit a few rides at night, meet characters, and do some trick or treating. Thank goodness for these threads or we'd be so lost! Sounds like we should eat around 3:00 go to Toontown, line up for Mickey and Minnie, line up for the Villans, ride some rides and do some trick or treating along the way then watch the nighttime entertainment. For some reason I keep forgetting that we have lots of time to enjoy ourselves. Do you know if the shops on Main Street stay open after the end of the party? I know we want to get some of the exclusive merchandise

 

[dark54555]

Am I making a tactical error?

We have tickets for an early October party on a Friday (so 7pm-midnight). I made a dinner reservation for 5:50 pm at Carnation Cafe. I know the group doesn't tend to be leisurely eaters, but should I be moving this to an earlier time to better take advantage of the party? The youngest in the group (4, first trip) may like the characters or may end up being afraid of them, but I'm leaning toward the former in which case he'll likely want to see at least some of them. Last party I was at was 2008, and seems like this is an entirely different ballgame.

 

[mom2rtk]

Am I making a tactical error?

We have tickets for an early October party on a Friday (so 7pm-midnight). I made a dinner reservation for 5:50 pm at Carnation Cafe. I know the group doesn't tend to be leisurely eaters, but should I be moving this to an earlier time to better take advantage of the party? The youngest in the group (4, first trip) may like the characters or may end up being afraid of them, but I'm leaning toward the former in which case he'll likely want to see at least some of them. Last party I was at was 2008, and seems like this is an entirely different ballgame.

I would not do it. If you think the 4 year old might not like the characters, then he sure isn't going to like them after an hour long wait. You don't want to still be sitting in a restaurant at 7 PM. If you can line up 20 minutes before the 7 PM start of the party, you can probably meet someone with a short wait (Maybe Mickey and Minnie?)

I would be looking for an earlier time.

 

[dark54555]

I would not do it. If you think the 4 year old might not like the characters, then he sure isn't going to like them after an hour long wait. You don't want to still be sitting in a restaurant at 7 PM. If you can line up 20 minutes before the 7 PM start of the party, you can probably meet someone with a short wait (Maybe Mickey and Minnie?)

I would be looking for an earlier time.

Thanks! Just changed it to 5.