CG and MNSHP

[lovealldisney]

Hi All,

I have a reservation at CG on Sept. 20th for 5:45pm, DH and I plan on going to MNSHP that evening. I know the party starts at 7pm. I'm wonder if we will get there by 7 with that reservation time? I've read that dinner can take quite long there. We are also on the free DD plan if that helps.

Thanks!

 

[godders]

I've never eaten there myself but from what I have heard they tend to run behind for seating (although you are there fairly early) and it can take awhile to get through dinner. On the plus side, you are only a short walk away from MK so you have minimal travel time. I would say more likely you'll get to the gates around 7.30pm but others may have a better insight

 

[figment_jii]

Signature dining tends to take between 1.5 and 2 hours depending on the number of courses ordered, how busy the restaurant it, how long you wait to be seated, etc. It's a fairly short walk from the Contemporary to MK (about half a mile), so I would think you should be inside MK between 7:30 to 8:00 pm. You can probably finish up faster at CG if you eat quickly or order fewer courses, but Signature meals are designed to be leisurely.

 

[nkereina]

You can enter MNSSHP as early as 4pm. Most people will take advantage of that, and most of the character meet lines will have already formed well before 7pm. You'll want to enter the park before 7pm as well and get in line for any character must-dos. So, I would cancel that ADR. CG is such a nice meal, you don't want to rush through it.

 

[lovealldisney]

Thanks everyone! Still on the fence about this. We'll be in Epcot earlier in the day and I'm thinking maybe of doing a table service lunch instead.

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks everyone! Still on the fence about this. We'll be in Epcot earlier in the day and I'm thinking maybe of doing a table service lunch instead.

I would lean towards doing the table service lunch (there are so many great options in Epcot) and save CG for another night when you aren't pressed for time. I really like CG, but it's not meant to be a rushed meal, so some of the experience would be lost if you had to spend the whole meal watching the time. As nkereina, said, guests with MNSSHP tickets will be arriving from 4:00 pm onward and lines for the more popular characters tend to form well before 7:00 pm. If you aren't into meeting characters, then it's a little less pressing to be in the MK right at 7:00 pm (most entertainment - e.g., HalloWishes, Boo-To-You, etc. - won't start until later in the evening), but still most folks want to maximize their MNSSHP time because there are plenty of party exclusive activities (dance parties, trick-or-treating, etc.) to partake in. Personally, I would do a pick TS lunch in Epcot and then grab a CS meal around 6:00 pm (right before the party starts) to tide you over for the rest of the night.

 

[HopperFan]

I would say you will be late. 5:45 means you might be seated by 6 but it might be later. The meal is usually 1.5-2 hours which could put you at 7:30 or later. Then it will probably take you 30 minutes to walk/ride monorail, clear bag check and finally be in park. My guesstimate would be arriving at the party at 8-8:30. Parade one is starting around 8:15 so you will be coming in to Main Street packed with folks all waiting for the parade.

Personally I would never spend that much money at both CB and the Party and have to cut either short. Eat a heavy late lunch and enjoy the party.

 

[rwdavis2]

Dinner at CG takes around 2 hours. So you will be late. I would change the CG reservation to another night if possible.

Thanks everyone! Still on the fence about this. We'll be in Epcot earlier in the day and I'm thinking maybe of doing a table service lunch instead.

That's how we did the Christmas party 3 years ago. Spent the day at Epcot and then entered MK at 4 for the party.

 

[Lucius Best]

I have a reservation at CG on Sept. 20th for 5:45pm, DH and I plan on going to MNSHP that evening. I know the party starts at 7pm. I'm wonder if we will get there by 7 with that reservation time? I've read that dinner can take quite long there. We are also on the free DD plan if that helps.

Like others have said, 7:30pm or later is more likely, but you are more likely to be seated on time with your early ADR, and it is a short walk to MK. Whether CG is worth missing first hour of MNSSHP depends on your plan for the party. If you care about meeting characters, you'll want to skip the ADR. If you want to do rides/trick-or-treating and are planning on staying late, the first hour of the party is the busiest. Personally I'd be okay getting to the party a little late, but you don't want to dilly-dally and be walking up Main Street close to parade time.

 

[lovealldisney]

Thanks Everyone!

We are planning on having lunch at Le Cellier then heading earlier to the party. Our first time doing MNSHP and don't want to miss a thing including characters! You all were a big help.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think canceling is a good decision. I woudl hate to waste both CG and the party because that is what this one would do for me. I would not be able to enjoy dinner because I would be hurrying to get to the Party, and then we would be late for the party.

 

[ArmyVet80]

Hi All,

I have a reservation at CG on Sept. 20th for 5:45pm, DH and I plan on going to MNSHP that evening. I know the party starts at 7pm. I'm wonder if we will get there by 7 with that reservation time? I've read that dinner can take quite long there. We are also on the free DD plan if that helps.

Thanks!

We too will be going to the Sept. 20th MNSSHP. We have an ADR at Tony's at 5:05 pm. We are spending the first half of our day at AK and having lunch at Sanaa.

I would change your CG ADR to a different day if possible. Our last three trips to WDW we have eaten at CG and it has taken 2-2.5 hours. We are always on the DlxDP though so we get appetizers, entree and desserts. Not to mention an after dinner glass of wine. We also try and get our reservations for around 8-8:30 PM so that we are getting our desserts/wine around the time Wishes (or the holiday variation of) starts. You definitely can't beat the view from CG during the show.