Dining during MVMCP?

[3littlecuties]

We have dinner reservations at 5:30 at Skipper Canteen on the evening that we plan to do MVMCP. I thought we would be fine since the party doesn't start until 7:00. Now I'm seeing a lot of people say to eat earlier and enter the park at 4:00. Are there things related to the MVMCP happening at 4:00? Or are people just wanting to be there ahead of time? Should I cancel our reservation and plan to eat earlier? The MVMCP tickets are expensive so I don't want to waste time dining if we will be missing out on stuff. But if nothing party related is happening before 7:00, maybe we should just keep the reservation?

 

[FelisLachesis]

The party starts at 7, but people will be allowed in as early at 4. The parks well close to non-party guests at 6. So that 4-6 pm time is when you'll have a little overlap.

 

[JimmyBean42]

Depends on what you want to accomplish at the party. If hard to meet characters are on your priority, I would definitely cancel dinner as lines for those will start very early, way earlier than the party starts. We always opt for quick service since it's faster. Last year we did do BOG during the Halloween party and DW and I both agreed it wasted too much time. Even before the party.

 

[3littlecuties]

The party starts at 7, but people will be allowed in as early at 4. The parks well close to non-party guests at 6. So that 4-6 pm time is when you'll have a little overlap.

But is there anything specifically party related going on at that time? I know there will be an overlap of people, but are there things that we can "get started on" related specifically to the party during that time?

 

[3littlecuties]

Depends on what you want to accomplish at the party. If hard to meet characters are on your priority, I would definitely cancel dinner as lines for those will start very early, way earlier than the party starts. We always opt for quick service since it's faster. Last year we did do BOG during the Halloween party and DW and I both agreed it wasted too much time. Even before the party.

Do the characters actually start seeing people at 4:00? Or do the lines just start? If they start seeing people, then maybe we will cancel. If it's just people lining up, we won't do that. My daughter has Down syndrome and there is no way she can wait in lines that are that long!

 

[sharonabe]

But is there anything specifically party related going on at that time? I know there will be an overlap of people, but are there things that we can "get started on" related specifically to the party during that time?

As JimmyBean said, you can get in line for some of the hard to meet characters. If that is important to you, then you want to cancel. Those lines do not get shorter for most of the night, so if you don't want to spend your party time waiting in line to meet a character, you want to line up early, before the party starts.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

But is there anything specifically party related going on at that time? I know there will be an overlap of people, but are there things that we can "get started on" related specifically to the party during that time?

If it's similar to how they are running the MNSSHP's, the only thing party related that will start at 4 pm will be the handing out of the special Sorcerer's card (which you can get at any point after 4 pm). Otherwise, the only thing happening will be people lining up to meet characters who will not come out until the party starts. If you aren't interested in characters, go ahead and eat at Skipper Canteen. We ate there at 6 pm on our MNSSHP night (Aug. 25) and were out by 7 pm (we actually got in as a walk-up). We will do the same thing on our MVMCP night, though I'll probably try to eat a little earlier (I think 5/5:30 pm is perfect). We aren't interested in meeting any characters.

 

[3littlecuties]

If it's similar to how they are running the MNSSHP's, the only thing party related that will start at 4 pm will be the handing out of the special Sorcerer's card (which you can get at any point after 4 pm). Otherwise, the only thing happening will be people lining up to meet characters who will not come out until the party starts. If you aren't interested in characters, go ahead and eat at Skipper Canteen. We ate there at 6 pm on our MNSSHP night (Aug. 25) and were out by 7 pm (we actually got in as a walk-up). We will do the same thing on our MVMCP night, though I'll probably try to eat a little earlier (I think 5/5:30 pm is perfect). We aren't interested in meeting any characters.

So people will wait in line for up to 3 hours to see a specific character, then? Wow!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Well, if you join a line at 7, it'll still be 3 hours. So waiting 4-7 means you won't miss the parade.

 

[JimmyBean42]

Do the characters actually start seeing people at 4:00? Or do the lines just start? If they start seeing people, then maybe we will cancel. If it's just people lining up, we won't do that. My daughter has Down syndrome and there is no way she can wait in lines that are that long!

So Jack Skellington has historically started meeting people pre-party at around 5 pm. And the 7 Dwarfs have started seeing people around 6 pm. Keep in mind this is not guaranteed at all, but I'd check the boards for some parties before you go to your and see what people are saying. They'll usually come out at a similar timeframe. Every time I've gone they have been out before the starting party time.

 

[3littlecuties]

So Jack Skellington has historically started meeting people pre-party at around 5 pm. And the 7 Dwarfs have started seeing people around 6 pm. Keep in mind this is not guaranteed at all, but I'd check the boards for some parties before you go to your and see what people are saying. They'll usually come out at a similar timeframe. Every time I've gone they have been out before the starting party time.

Good to know! Thanks!