Help me pick Pre-MNSSHP DINING—SH71 or Skipper Canteen?

[erinch]

DH and I will be at the Oct 27 MNSSHP, coming from AKL. We have a Boma Breakfast at 10:30 . We have newly minted APS. This will be first use, and we have a longer stay so will be back at MK. Disney vets, but first party. Right now I have Skipper Canteen at 4:50. Advantage is it gets us in the park pre-party, but there is the line to get in to contend with.

Or we could do SH71, and then walk over at 6 or so when line is less. I would pick Skipper Canteen, but DH is not fond of crowds and lines.

What would you do?

 

[Newsies]

SH71 is my favorite resort restaurant right now but will offer a word of caution -- we went here before a DAH event at MK and it was a big mistake, the wine/steak dinner filled us up and really tired us out for the party, we ended up going back to the room about an hour before it ended

If I could do it again, I probably would have chosen Skipper Canteen before the party. The menu is a bit lighter and you are already in the park. I know that you probably already know this, but the Oct 27 party will be very crowded aside from the line to get in, with crowds potentially feeling slightly larger during the party than they did during the day-- so if you and DH are already aligned on those expectations, I wouldn't let the line to get into the park deter you from choosing Skipper Canteen for dinner!

Either way, you have a fabulous day penned out, Boma is terrific and the party is so much fun, you're in for a real treat. Can't go wrong with SH71 or SC but I'd choose SC

 

[erinch]

Newsies, thank you! I may have to send DH back to AKL, Lol. He keeps saying, wait? What is this? What are we doing? why would I want to see a parade and characters? Midnight???
The concern about the line at the entrance is to get him in the park to begin with. If it looks less crowded outside at 6, might be worth it. I, of course, am planning to have a blast.

 

[jenjersnap]

Are you saying your AP won’t be activated on 10/27? If it were me, with an active AP, I would go through the regular tickets gates and get my wristband and treat bag at Tortuga after eating at Jungle Skipper. There are several locations to get your mnsshp ticket scanned inside parks. In fact, that’s exactly what we did a couple weeks ago. Now, you do need a park reservation somewhere (MK if it’s your first park of the day but we hopped from AK).

If not active, I would go to Steakhouse 71. The mnsshp entry lines at 4ish were pretty formidable.

 

[Marthasor]

I would eat at Steakhouse and walk over to MK afterward - it will be a less chaotic experience.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Another vote for SH71 and then walk over. Just so much more relaxing, especially if you don’t care about being in the park between 4-7 before the party.

 

[Pens Fan]

As @jenjersnap mentioned with an AP you do not need to wait in the party lines if you arrive prior to the park closing to regular guests. So if you want to avoid lines, you're much better off coming in mid to late afternoon using the regular entrance with little to no wait and having dinner at Skipper Canteen. You can grab your wristband and treat bag at either Tortuga Tavern or over in Tomorrowland. If you choose Steakhouse 71 and come over after 6 PM you will be stuck in the party lines which can be crazy long - even after the 4PM rush.

 

[gmi3804]

For me, SH71 is a much larger, alcohol-soaked experience, and doing that before a Party would really slow me down for the rest of the evening. This is subjective, of course. But I'd also want to maximize my park time during a party, so I'd want to be in the park as early as I could be. Having a "lighter" dinner at Skipper Canteen, while I'm already in the park, is a no-brainer for me. As late as possible before they close when the party starts. Because ride lines tend to be realatively short in the couple hours before the party begins.

 

[soniam]

SH71 can book up kind of quick for dinner. I would do it soon.