Counter service before MVMCP?

[anneofgreengables]

We are thinking of grabbing a counter service meal around 5 p.m. before MVMCP starts at 7 p.m. Where is a good place to get it? Is this a good idea? We are saving our table service credits for other days. Thanks.

 

[disney queen]

casey's corner is good as is pecos bill. either of these would be a good choice. enjoy the party!

 

[Rella Bella]

From our experience last year I wouldn't recommend eating any later than 5:00. And I would go to a counter service far away from Main Street... maybe Columbia Harbour House (my favorite), El Pirata Y el Perico Restaurante or Pecos Bills.

Last year we arrived for the party at about 5:30 Casey's was packed! Of course we stood in line and ate there anyway... but lots of the people getting ready to leave the park were stopping there on the way out.

On our other party night we waited until later -- around 9 -- and went to Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe it was completely packed... a long miserable story.

We decided from now on we will eat before we go in or get an early ADR.

MVMCP is awesome, you'll have a blast... have fun planning!

 

[salmoneous]

I like the CS place in the GF (Gasparilla Grill). Eat there, then head over. Note that with just a party ticket, you can still get in the park at 4:00, hours before the "offical" start time of 7:00.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I'm doing the exact same thing! I'm planning to try cosmic ray's before mvmcp on the 12th. I think I'm going to try to go at around 4pm before it gets too crazy.

 

[MickeyT]

We did ADR's at Ohana for 5 on Dec 19th then on to MVMCP. Hoping this works out.

 

[anneofgreengables]

Thanks. Looks like it's going to be packed, so we will heed the advice to get to the CS restaurant no later than 5 p.m. and eat away from Main Street.

 

[anneofgreengables]

So I gather that all the CS restaurants will be open then? Of course, they should the park doesn't officially close until 7 p.m.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

While we didnt do counter service, we opted for an early adr at crystal palace, I would say pick something more towards tommorrowland because that is where they were doing the bracelets and the group pictures which is what we did, we originally wanted the first show of mickey? in tommorrowland but it was standing room only and I missed out on seeing some people from the dis boards because we couldnt find them in the huge crowd. Best of luck.

 

[anneofgreengables]

Thanks--hmmmnnn... wonder what's a good counter service at Tomorrowland.

 

[Rella Bella]

Thanks--hmmmnnn... wonder what's a good counter service at Tomorrowland.

IMHO Cosmic Ray's is the best... if it's not too busy.

 

[anneofgreengables]

IMHO Cosmic Ray's is the best... if it's not too busy.

Thanks. Hopefully, if we eat at 5 there, we can get our photos taken and line up for the first show in Tomorrowland.

 

[3for Me]

The other nice thing about Cosmic Ray's is that if you time it right you are very close to the Galaxy Theatre and you can try to catch the first showing of the Mickey's Night Before Christmas (or whatever it's called!) That way you don't have to walk clear accross the park to see it.

 

[Straitlover]

I was at the 12/11/06 party. We ate a late breafkast at Trails End and an afternnon snack, so we decided to just grab a CS during the party. We were going to to go the first Twas the Night Before Christmas sow, but the line to get in was waaay long, so we headed over to Cosmic Ray's to eat. We actually went in about 7:30, and it only took us a few minutes to get our food once we decided what we wanted. We saved our dessert for the next day (we were on the DP), and just grabbed some of the cookies and hot choc they were serving as our dessert right then! Just keep in mind they don't serve their whole menu during the party.

 

[tjmw2727]

My dd's and I just did the MNSSHP on Monday 10/2 and ate about 5ish at Cosmic Rays. We love the 1/2 chicken meals anyway and it was a great spot to start the party in. Our favorite CS in MK is Columbia Harbour house but unfortunately it was not open.

In past years when DH was on the trip we did a nicer meal at Concourse Steak House at CR and then walked to the MK. I would consider any of the TS at the resorts or CS at MK but I personally don't care for any of the TS at MK.

TJ

 

[Eeyore2003]

We have done the parties several different ways with the eating....

Plaza around 4:15 or so.

Grand Floridian Cafe at 5:00

Cosmic Rays at 4:30 or so

I don't think it matter where you eat, but eat early and in the park. They clear everyone out of the park at 6:00 except Tomorrowland and you can begin doing the rides there. By the time the party opens, you are ready to go to the rest of the park and that works out great. Especially in fitting in programs, parade and fireworks. The time does fly and it help to get an early start. We usually have later brunch in the AM and then eat an early dinner around 4:00 - 4:30. If you want sit down, the Plaza is wonderful, Cosmic Rays is great too and was not crowded at that time. Being both in Tomorrowland, that works out nice also.

A tip on the picture. The pictures are swamped early. We were told to do picture first, so we went to the one in Tomorrowland around 5:00 and got in line,the wait was already 45 minutes. Then we noticed that everyone in the picture places were just standing around later in the evening. So now we do it on our way out in Adventureland. Walked right in both times.

 

[anneofgreengables]

We have done the parties several different ways with the eating....

Plaza around 4:15 or so.

Grand Floridian Cafe at 5:00

Cosmic Rays at 4:30 or so

I don't think it matter where you eat, but eat early and in the park. They clear everyone out of the park at 6:00 except Tomorrowland and you can begin doing the rides there. By the time the party opens, you are ready to go to the rest of the park and that works out great. Especially in fitting in programs, parade and fireworks. The time does fly and it help to get an early start. We usually have later brunch in the AM and then eat an early dinner around 4:00 - 4:30. If you want sit down, the Plaza is wonderful, Cosmic Rays is great too and was not crowded at that time. Being both in Tomorrowland, that works out nice also.

A tip on the picture. The pictures are swamped early. We were told to do picture first, so we went to the one in Tomorrowland around 5:00 and got in line,the wait was already 45 minutes. Then we noticed that everyone in the picture places were just standing around later in the evening. So now we do it on our way out in Adventureland. Walked right in both times.

Thanks for the tips. Re: pictures, funny, that is opposite the advice I've been reading.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Thanks for the tips. Re: pictures, funny, that is opposite the advice I've been reading.

Yep, that's why we went really early the first time, because of all the recommendations here. If you don't plan on staying "late-ish", then I would probably do it first. But if you plan on staying until like maybe even 10:00 for sure 11:00, the CM's have actually been standing on the paths asking if we've had our picture taken yet. I'm not sure about the place in Tomorrowland later, but I know the Adventureland one was empty the last two times we went at that time. And the time before that was the time we did it early and they asked us later that night if we had it done. So each time we were there this happened.

 

[tjmw2727]

We have done the parties several different ways with the eating....

Plaza around 4:15 or so.

Grand Floridian Cafe at 5:00

Cosmic Rays at 4:30 or so

I don't think it matter where you eat, but eat early and in the park. They clear everyone out of the park at 6:00 except Tomorrowland and you can begin doing the rides there. By the time the party opens, you are ready to go to the rest of the park and that works out great. Especially in fitting in programs, parade and fireworks. The time does fly and it help to get an early start. We usually have later brunch in the AM and then eat an early dinner around 4:00 - 4:30. If you want sit down, the Plaza is wonderful, Cosmic Rays is great too and was not crowded at that time. Being both in Tomorrowland, that works out nice also.

A tip on the picture. The pictures are swamped early. We were told to do picture first, so we went to the one in Tomorrowland around 5:00 and got in line,the wait was already 45 minutes. Then we noticed that everyone in the picture places were just standing around later in the evening. So now we do it on our way out in Adventureland. Walked right in both times.

Actually if MNSSHP is any indication they may not be closing the park prior to the start of the MVMCP. In past years both parties were done the same way with the park closing at 6, partygoers in one land and others exiting between 6-7. This year for MNSS the park is closing at 7 and the party just starts. Personally I liked it better as we entered about 4:30 and were able to nejoy the park the entire time.

The other change was the pictures, they are not free at MNSS but a reduced price and we found photo spots everywhere and none were crowded so if you happen upon a good spot have it taken. They used a special photopass card so no paperwork etc just pose and go.

TJ

 

[Eeyore2003]

Actually if MNSSHP is any indication they may not be closing the park prior to the start of the MVMCP. In past years both parties were done the same way with the park closing at 6, partygoers in one land and others exiting between 6-7. This year for MNSS the park is closing at 7 and the party just starts. Personally I liked it better as we entered about 4:30 and were able to nejoy the park the entire time.

The other change was the pictures, they are not free at MNSS but a reduced price and we found photo spots everywhere and none were crowded so if you happen upon a good spot have it taken. They used a special photopass card so no paperwork etc just pose and go.

TJ

Thanks for the info. So how were the crowds 4:30-5:00. Usually with the park people exiting at 6:00 or so, most things in Tomorrowland were virtually "walk-ons". Do the non party people still hang around until 7:00 then, or is there still a pretty big difference in the crowd by 5:00 throughout the whole park then.