Dinner before Spectromagic?

[Miscrapper]

We aren't going until October but I can start calling for some PS's next week!!!! We arrive on Saturday at MCO about 1:45 p.m. Hopefully by time we get to All Star Movies we can check in. So I am trying to plan what to do next!

Options I am considering are:

1. Just go to MK and deal with crowds, eat at Crystal Palace (which was sooooo crowded our last trip on Saturday before night parades), or try counter service perhaps at Columbia Harbor

2. Go to Animal Kingdom for 4 p.m. parade and eat at Tusker House (on parade route) then hop to MK. I have not seen this parade yet and don't know if we will make it until 4 p.m. the day we spend in AK.

3. Go to Epcot and get late lunch in World Showcase - while this might be best food option I am afraid it will be a lot of walking! But it would be easy to hop on monorail to MK after eating.

4. Make PS for O'Hanas, 1900 Park Fair, or Chef Mickey's for around 5 p.m. and then head into park.

This trip there will be 10 of us (4 children), one vegetarian, and my mom who cannot eat massive amounts at buffets!
In Sept 2000 like I said we ate at CP and waited nearly an hour for our table for 4 so I am not inclined to try that again. After dinner we took train to Toontown while people were lining up for first showing of MSEP. We rode Barnstormer, did the mouse houses, rode IASW and then saw fireworks and second parade. That worked out pretty good. I don't know that we'll get lucky this time with a 2nd parade so I am planning to watch it at 8 p.m.

Any advice from people who have done a similar itinerary would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Captain America]

I have the same dilemma . We are arriving Fri. night 10/10 and are tentatively looking to tour AK Sat. and then hop over to MK for Spectro & Fantasy..., but we're afraid MK may be packed by the time we get there and thus we'll be left outside looking in, if you know what I mean .
I think that PS for any restaurant in MK or the Contemp. would be the best solution . Just make it early enough so that you can still eat leisurely and then get out in time to get a good spot for the parade .
Good luck !

P.S. - We'll be staying at Allstar Sports .


Captain America
(aka Firefighter Tom Maloney proud and grateful member FDNY !)

 

[dahess]

Have fun planning our trips! Just remember to relax & take time to enjoy your families & parks!

 

[Miscrapper]

Captain America - I don't think you'll really have trouble getting in - although that is Columbus Day weekend. We were at MK in Sept 2000 and it was packed on Saturday but we still got in without any problem. Actually since it was so crowded they decided to add second parade and it was less crowded by that time! I suppose making a PS for inside MK might somewhat guarantee admission to park (and staying onsite). I don't think not getting in is as much a concern as it just being so crowded it is difficult to enjoy!

 

[apagano]

I would do option 4 - make a PS at a restauant in one of the monorail resorts for an easy trip into MK after dinner.

 

[jjohns]

There definitely are a few of us going mid-Oct and doing our planning now!

Our schedule sounds much like yours - arriving at WDW around 2 on Saturday and want to take in Spectro that night.

I am thinking about seeing either the AK or the MGM parade (leaning heavily toward AK parade, right now), then hop over to Kona or Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Fare for supper, then into MK for Spectro.

May/may not stay for fireworks - depends on how tired the kids are from the travel day.

I like the idea of getting over to ToonTown if we get into the park early enough - I wonder if that area (and Barnstormer in particular) is less busy toward the end of the day... Any idea?

Jeff

 

[DisneyCP2002]

A suggestion if you don't mind counter service is Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe. It is right on the edge of tomorrowland/fantasyland and you can eat there and then head toward the castle to find a place for the parade. I actually have watched the parade from their outdoor seating area a few times. Not the best view but at least you can see everything without having to look over lots of heads.

 

[WIcruizer]

How many days will you be there?? I wouldn't waste park hoppers for a few hours on arrival day. Why not go to Downtown Disney (DD), tour the hotel, check out the swimming pool, then you'll be ready to go at it first thing Sunday morning.

 

[Mel6197]

Hey.. Im planning the same thing too....

I know Sat night at MK will be PACKED.. All Im looking for is the parade and if they have the fireworks...Its going to be my moms first vacation ever and to me what a way to start a vacation at MK watching a Parade.. I was thinking about Dinner at the Grand and taking the monorail over.. Any tips for what time to do this.. Dinner/Moniorail and good seats for the parade??

 

[Miscrapper]

Well I have made PS for Chef Mickeys at 5:15. We are there 7 nights/8 days with Fairytale package so its not a question of burning a day on our hoppers. Depending on how we feel when we get there we could squeeze in a parade at AK or MGM or just relax and head over to MK area at a relaxed rate!

We ate at Chef Mickeys on our last visit and loved it! I was watching our video from last trip and DH commented he didn't really care for parades or shows as much as rides. He is going to have to endure Spectro though!

Oh and Jjohns you asked about your son getting picked for warthog at AK in another thread. My DH got picked - we got there early and sat in front or second row. He did not want to watch tape of it last night! It was very funny though. As you enter theatre we were in section just to left of middle (I don't think there were bleachers behind us.) Good luck!

 

[jjohns]

Originally posted by Miscrapper
Oh and Jjohns you asked about your son getting picked for warthog at AK in another thread. My DH got picked - we got there early and sat in front or second row. He did not want to watch tape of it last night! It was very funny though. As you enter theatre we were in section just to left of middle (I don't think there were bleachers behind us.) Good luck!

I realize the answer to this depends a lot on seasonal traffic levels, but I'll ask anyway...

How 'early' did you have to get to the show? Were you among the first few in the line to enter the theatre? Did you speak to any CMs before the show? etc etc etc.

He is very pumped about the show, and I realize the odds of being selected are low, but I want to make them as good as can be... We might be seeing that show a few times this trip...

TIA, Jeff

 

[Miscrapper]

We did get there very early - we were some of first people in theatre. We probably didn't need to get there so early to get seats but we did. We did not talk to any cast members that I remember.
Most of the other animals were kids. My DH was 42 at time and only adult to do animal! When I watch the tape it looks like he was okay with it, but now he gets really embaressed thinking about it! I had to watch tape when he was at work LOL!
I don't know how he got so "lucky"!