CRT reservation too close to MSEP - I need advice

[ludvig]

Hi!
I managed to get a reservation for the 6 of us (tough number) for sunday 7th september at 20:10. Main Street Electrical Parade is scheduled for 21 and Wishes for 22:00.

I'm constantly checking to move it to an earlier time but without luck (there is a spot for lunch at CRT at 13:25 but only for two).

What do you recommend us to do (of course one option is to let MSEP go...).
How early we can arrive, to try to greet Cinderella before dinner time? I've heard that meal time can be very rushed and maybe this time it will run in our favor... :S

I've read somewhere that it is possible to watch it from inside the castle.

Any help?

This is our first time dining at the castle, and I would prefer to loose MSEP than missing dinner but we will try our best to do both... Or maybe run from the castle to Frontierland to watch the end of the parade? or part of it?

Thanks!!

 

[ses1230]

You can not see MSEP at all from the castle.

I usually allow 60-75 minutes for a table service meal. If it is closer to 60 you might be able to catch some of MSEP as it is at the end of it's route if you hurry to Liberty Square or Frontierland, but I wouldn't count on it. I think it is only about 20 minutes long so you don't have that much time to work with.

 

[purple figment]

Keep checking online multiple times a day to see if an earlier time comes up. It is definitely a reservation that people will cancel if their plans change because of the full payment penalty.

You cannot see MSEP at all from inside the castle. Rather, you might have read that you can see some of Wishes while dining, but it isn't a very good view.

Generally you can check in at any restaurant about 15 minutes before your reservation. CRT is always busy so you probably wouldn't be able to check in any earlier than that. You'll have your photo taken with Cinderella in the foyer and then you'll have to wait until you are called to go upstairs to the banquet room for dinner and to meet the princesses. Altogether CRT usually takes 75-90 minutes including the photo op.

While I like MSEP a lot, I would not rush through dinner in hopes of seeing the parade. Also, as the end of the parade passes, the majorit of viewers will be heading towards Main Street or the hub so you'll be going against a lot of traffic to try and catch up with the parade in Frontierland.

Good luck! I hope you find an earlier reservation.

 

[pepperandchips]

While I like MSEP a lot, I would not rush through dinner in hopes of seeing the parade. Also, as the end of the parade passes, the majorit of viewers will be heading towards Main Street or the hub so you'll be going against a lot of traffic to try and catch up with the parade in Frontierland.

Good luck! I hope you find an earlier reservation.

Completely agree. But - I thought this thread was helpful in picking a parade viewing location in a time crunch as well. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2526230 It looks like Robo gives the parade 30 minutes-ish to reach Frontierland, so you might make some of it if you are able to get past the masses of people!

 

[Luckybee]

Dh and I are in the same sort of position but based on this thread some of you have given us hope. We have CRT for Sept 27th at 9:30 pm (a bit late but when we changed from breakfast to dinner it was the only thing left) with it being a 2 parade day. If we grab a fp+ for the 11 pm parade based on what I'm reading here it seems we should be ok Im thinking ? This isn't a major ride day for us so im not concerned about "wasting" a fp...we'd only be getting to the park at about 7:30p or so and doing 2 other rides.

 

[ludvig]

Thank you all for your help!

We will try to make it to CRT early just to give it a try.

I'll keep trying to change our reservation for an earlier time. First time I booked it it was for 20:30, now I have it for 20:10.. who knows.. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

And if we don't get to see the parade, at least we have time to catch Celebrate the magic and Wishes without problems.