Crystal Palace & Wishes

[Plutofan1]

I asked this the other day but didn't really get a response. On the last night of our next trip we have a dinner at 6:45 at Crystal Palace. Wishes is at 8:00 that night. If we are still eating while Wishes starts, will they let us walk outside the restaurant so we can watch, or do they want everyone to remain in the restaurant until they've finished/payed the bill? The only other times offered to me are at 3:40 and 7:50 and we were planning on spending the morning at DHS or Epcot. I could dothe 3:40, but really only wanted to go to MK after 5:00 (EMH). Thanks!

 

[redrosesix]

You will likely be finished by that time -- turnaround time really is about 45 minutes, since it's a buffet. Then you can walk out the front door and watch them from there.

If you're still eating at that time, you can watch from inside (all the walls are windows, hence the name Crystal Palace) -- we did this last year -- or take turns leaving. We saw several people doing this last year. Since it was our last night and we had done MK several evenings, we didn't need to see the fireworks badly enough to rearrange our meal.

 

[Plutofan1]

You will likely be finished by that time -- turnaround time really is about 45 minutes, since it's a buffet. Then you can walk out the front door and watch them from there.

If you're still eating at that time, you can watch from inside (all the walls are windows, hence the name Crystal Palace) -- we did this last year -- or take turns leaving. We saw several people doing this last year. Since it was our last night and we had done MK several evenings, we didn't need to see the fireworks badly enough to rearrange our meal.

I'm just afraid that we'll get seated late, the characters won't come by fast, and we'll miss Wishes on the only night we can possibly see it.

 

[redrosesix]

I'm just afraid that we'll get seated late, the characters won't come by fast, and we'll miss Wishes on the only night we can possibly see it.

You likely won't be seated right at the time of your ADR -- otherwise, you could have booked a bit earlier. It does take some time for the characters to come around, but when we went there last year during President's Day week (really busy), we had seen all of them by the time we were eating dessert.

 

[Tink_Kel]

Be sure to ask for your check early, that way you can pay and not have to wait for it at the end of the meal!

 

[MinnieCandi]

Our story is the exception rather than rule...but two years ago we had ADR's for our last night at Crystal Palace as well, with the intent of catching all the characters at CP and then two last rides in the park and our last night of Wishes. There was not emh that night, so after wishes, the park was closing (I had everything planned out perfectly! ).

We got to CP about 10 minutes early and checked in. After about 1/2 hour I checked in again and was told sorry but they were really busy and we should be seated soon. So another 1/2 hour later, I checked in...again...and was told that somehow our ressie was GONE, they were sorry and they would try to get us in soon...So...another 1/2 hour goes by...I go up to check in...again, and we were finally seated.

By now the kids were starving (and so were we), so we all went right up to the buffet, of course missing Tigger at our table. We did get to see Piglet, but then had to choose between having dessert and the seeing rest of characters, or Wishes...it was too late to go on any rides. You know what they say about the best laid plans, right?!?!?

Now, this is no way did, or will change our attitute about CP, making adrs or having a wonderful vacation (which we did)...

But, the morale of our story is...if you really want to see Wishes, just make sure you are going to have enough TIME, you never know what is going to happen. Book the ADR for early and if you have extra time, great! Hit a couple of rides or do some shopping before the fireworks, and HAVE FUN!

Have a great trip

 

[Plutofan1]

Thanks for the responses everyone. We decided to book the 3:40 dinner. Now we have an early dinner and have the rest of the evening for Wishes and riding rides. I realize that we could probably get away with the 6:45, but we really don't want to rush through the meal. Only 27 more days!