Bistro, CP, no CP package + suggestions for rest of stay! :)

[freecia]

I made a PS for Bistro de Paris in France at 6 pm and want to catch the 8:15 Candlelight Processional show on Xmas eve. I don't have one of those CP packages so I don't have access to the reserved area. (I am not aware of Bistro having one)
Do you think I'll have enough time to get from France to America and squeeze in the theater? (You can't tell the French to hurry on a meal, you know!)

Also, has anyone eaten at Bistro de Paris? I read in the Unofficial Guide that it's sub-par compared to Chefs de France. (I booked bistro because I only just booked today and heard that the rest of the 60 day PS time places were prob. booked). However, I read on TourGuideMike.com that the place was good. Any opinions? We mainly want to take a break from the crowds and eat some good food. This should be our special meal of our trip. Additionally we're on a time crunch (4 days) during the peak season so I don't think we have time to do the foodie tour. (No time to see the parks AND eat all the food).

Should I bother to request the window at Bistro? What kind of view do you get?

Anyone have recommendations for the other parks following the same philosophy?
12/24 EPCOT- lunch, Japan (no PS tempura KIKU if we can get in, yakitori if we can't) dinner- Bistro de Paris. 8:15 CP then Illuminations
12/25 AK- Flame Tree BBQ, dinner downtown disney?? or perhaps BOMA/ JIKO?
12/26 MGM ?? <-need suggestions PLEASE!
12/27 MK ?? <- need suggestions PLEASE!!!!!! (small park and peak crowds)

Also, I'm not staying in a Disney resort so no extra magic hour (not that I can get up that early anyhow) but am staying at the Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza so lots of Downtown Disney recommendations are welcome.

(I wish Disney would put their PS system online, too. Then I could check availability myself without bugging the resv. agents)

Thanks!
-Freecia

 

[BCV23]

Can't help about the timing of CP but I have the impression that you have to line up early if you don't have the CP package. Maybe you could flip and go to the earlier CP and then dine without worrying about the time.

We've enjoyed Bistro and think the food is absolutely as good as downstairs. The atmosphere is much more subdued and romantic. It's one of those places where you forget that there's a theme park right outside the door. Go for it!

We do mostly sitdown restaurants so can't help about quick choices in the parks. I would eat at Jiko....it is so good!

 

[CarolMN]

I do not think you will be able to get in to the CP on Christmas Eve without getting a dinner package or lining up way ahead of time. Since you are eating a nice sit down dinner anyway, why not try to book one?

If you really want to eat at the Bistro (which is not participating in the CP Dinner Packages), my advice is to go to the 5:00 p.m. show. You will need to line up very early (maybe as much as 90 to 120 minutes) to be sure of getting in. The CP is 40-45 minutes, so you should have time to get to your 6:00 p.m. PS at the Bistro if you go directly to the restaurant after the show ends.

FWIW, if you can't get into the theater, you can still stand nearby and hear everything quite well. You won't have much of a view, but IMHO, the music and narration is inspiring all by itself!

Good luck!

 

[freecia]

Thanks for the replies.
I will think about moving the reservation later.
Another option is to get a late dining reservation and request a window seat for Illuminations.
I guess we'd be talking about 8:30 pm or later.
In this case we should be able to get into either of the first two and watch Illuminations from the window.
However, I haven't seen Illuminations so would I lose out on the storyline and music if I weren't standing outside?

Thanks again.
Also, anyone have decent luck with calling the restraraunt to make a PS a few hours before leaving a park on the same day? Or should I just try to make a PS for a certain timeframe and call to let them know if I will be early/late?
I'm thinking of doing this for Jiko or Boma after a day at the AK. Most likely a 5 pm dinner if we get to the park at 10 am. I know lots of people like to see the safari in the early morning or late evening but we don't really want to sacrifice sleep on Xmas day.

 

[CarolMN]

You are going to be in WDW during the most crowded/busiest time of the year. What you propose works in the slow seasons, but doesn't work very well at all during peak seasons. If you want to eat a sit down dinner at a restaurants like Jiko/Boma or those in the WS, you need a PS. Without a PS, you will most likely be turned away and have to settle for fast food/counter service. The best case (without a PS) is a long wait for a table.

A PS is not like a regular reservation. It actually means that you will get the next available table for your party size. Someone with a PS will have priority over someone who just walks up.

Also, most WDW restaurants require a credit card to hold a reservation on major holidays like Christmas. If you are asked for a credit card when you call to make your dining arrangements, you actually do have a "regular" reservation and you will be charged a fee if you do not show up. I urge you to call soon - I've read that many of the restaurants are already sold out for Christmas.

I've never eaten at the Bistro, so I can't help you with the Illumination view questions. I assume that they pipe in the Illuminations music, but I could easily be mistaken about that. The best viewing places are those around the lagoon with a view of the globe/earth in the center of the lagoon. I don't know if that is possible inside the Bistro. Actually, the very best view (IMHO) is from one of the pontoon boats that park under the bridge between France and Great Britain.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[freecia]

Changed Bistro reservation to 6:30 pm in hopes that we will get into the 5 pm CP show and have time to get to bistro a bit early for a window seat. BTW, anyone know if you can request a window seat? My reservation agent said that she wasn't allowed to put that kind of information in.
Also made a Xmas reservation for Boma because it looks yummy, we can try new things, and it's excellent bang-for-the-buck! We're on for 5:30 so if we are lucky, may pop back over to AK to catch the last run of Safari. AK is open until 7 while I am there (I guess it would be dark by then...) Anyhow. If we get tired of AK we'll go wandering at AKL for an hour and take in the holiday decorations. Visit the Savannah perhaps?

Any ideas for MK? I'm thinking lunch at the Plaza. Perhaps around 1 because we'll definitely need a sit-down break then.

I don't know if I want to make a PS for MGM. How long do you usually visit the park for? It's open from 9 am - 10 pm while we're there.

Thanks.
-freecia