Late lunch before MVMCP? Can’t decide where.

[dspads]

I’m m thinking of 130 or 2pm lunch at Steakhouse 71 before MVMCP. If I can’t get an ADR would a walk up be available at the lounge? If I wanted to do a monorail tour to see the gingerbread houses, what time should we start and where, in order to arrive back at the Contemporary for lunch? Not sure how much time to allow.

Any other ideas for non-park lunch/dinner before the party welcome! My other idea is to just relax at our resort, Coronado Springs, and have lunch there before heading over. Rix seems to be the only decent option (3 Bridges not open yet, and I’ve read not much available st food court during lunch?).

 

[Robber Baron]

Every time we have gone to Steakhouse 71 mid-afternoon to sit at the bar for some drinks and food there have been plenty of seats available immediately.

 

[japanese maple]

One year before the Halloween party we had lunch at Whispering Canyon. It was great!

 

[dspads]

Every time we have gone to Steakhouse 71 mid-afternoon to sit at the bar for some drinks and food there have been plenty of seats available immediately.

Good o know! Thanks.

 

[dspads]

One year before the Halloween party we had lunch at Whispering Canyon. It was great!

That’s a great idea too. Seems like it would be a very filling lunch. Thanks!

 

[japanese maple]

That’s a great idea too. Seems like it would be a very filling lunch. Thanks!

And you can relax in the lobby and enjoy the tree for a bit while you digest and then take the boat over to MK!

 

[Pyxie]

We did Whispering Canyon once before MNSSHP and it was perfect. We chose the latest seating, the food was very filling, the environment was fun, and we took the boat over from Wilderness Lodge when we were done.

This year we are doing Chef Mickey's before MVMCP. I considered Steakhouse 71 too, but it will be just me and my 12 year old daughter who is quite picky. We haven't done Chef Mickey's since it returned to a buffet, and a buffet is actually good for her because I am more likely to find something she'll eat. I do kind of wish it wasn't just breakfast food at that time though. Nothing wrong with breakfast, but I like a little lunch too.

 

[MyNewDream012714]

We did Steakhouse 71 last year before our MVMCP and had a reservation around 12. We opted for a Minnie Van over to the Grand Floridian mid-morning, then took the monorail to the Contemporary, saw the gingerbread display there (if you time it right, you might also get to meet one of the pastry chefs who worked on the display - we did by accident!) and then had our lunch. We stopped at the Poly on our way back around after lunch and then got over to MK to wait in line to get into the party between 2:30 and 3.

 

[jimmymc]

Steakhouse 71 is a great option, and the bar/lounge area is all first come, first serve if you can't get a reservation.

Kona Cafe and Geyser Point are also tasty and in convenient locations for getting to MVMCP.

 

[erinch]

It may have been a one-off, but we tried Whispering Canyon for a 2 pm ADR and they seated us almost 45 minutes late. Server said low staff at lunch time. We should have bagged it and gone to geyser point.

This year we have APs and my daughter and her hubby will have a park ticket on party day. We are going to go to Crystal Palace or Skipper at 2 and be inside the gates before the entrance madness starts.

 

[patty57]

We are planning on booking an early dinner at 1900 Park Fair. We aren't looking to get into the Christmas party right at 4:00 pm.

 

[cattycat2]

We’ll have ressies at Liberty Tree Tavern and will be in the park already to beat the madness as well. Hubby said that’s the only place with sweet tea! LOL

 

[leebee]

I'd do Steakhouse 71 or Grand Floridian Cafe.

 

[bethy]

I have the exact same question and not a lot of experience visiting WDW. Also we are staying off site for the first time and that complicates things! I need to look into the Minnie Van service and or Uber - we have a party of 6. For now my plan is to utilize our rental minivan.

I've read all the monorail restaurant menus and am not super excited about any of them for lunch TBH - they are all so limited. Our favorite lunch menu is at Raglan Road but I'm thinking it's too complicated to drive there, then drive to the TTC to park for MVMCP. Or is it? We are a group who usually does best when things are kept as simple as possible plus we will be jet-lagged.

Thanks for reading my musings, lol!

 

[CarolynFH]

I have the exact same question and not a lot of experience visiting WDW. Also we are staying off site for the first time and that complicates things! I need to look into the Minnie Van service and or Uber - we have a party of 6. For now my plan is to utilize our rental minivan.

I've read all the menus and am not super excited about any of them for lunch TBH - they are all so limited. Our favorite lunch menu is at Raglan Road but I'm thinking it's too complicated to drive there, then drive to the TTC to park for MVMCP. Or is it? We are a group who usually does best when things are kept as simple as possible plus we will be jet-lagged.

Thanks for reading my musings, lol!

For lunch at Raglan Road, you’ll need to drive to DS, park in one of the garages (no charge), and walk to RR. After lunch you can drive to the TTC (just follow signs to MK) and park for MVMCP. It will be time consuming but not really complicated.

 

[erinch]

I have the exact same question and not a lot of experience visiting WDW. Also we are staying off site for the first time and that complicates things! I need to look into the Minnie Van service and or Uber - we have a party of 6. For now my plan is to utilize our rental minivan.

I've read all the monorail restaurant menus and am not super excited about any of them for lunch TBH - they are all so limited. Our favorite lunch menu is at Raglan Road but I'm thinking it's too complicated to drive there, then drive to the TTC to park for MVMCP. Or is it? We are a group who usually does best when things are kept as simple as possible plus we will be jet-lagged.

Thanks for reading my musings, lol!

We won’t be jet lagged, but we will be staying offsite at the Vistana with a car. Since we willl be in a park earlier in the day, we will beat the crowds and eat in MK.

If I were you, and dealing with jet lag, I would suck it up and eat wherever sounds most appealing on monorail loop or at WL. For us, that would be Steakhouse 71, Kona or Whispering Canyon. I agree that none are at the top of my list, but already being parked at the TTC would be gold for us. WL is less crazy busy for late lunch than the Poly or Contemporary, so we would find something at WL and be happy. The other thing is there are some quite good party-exclusive savory items , so being less full is a bonus if the food lines aren’t crazy.

 

[Robber Baron]

I've read all the monorail restaurant menus and am not super excited about any of them for lunch TBH - they are all so limited. Our favorite lunch menu is at Raglan Road but I'm thinking it's too complicated to drive there, then drive to the TTC to park for MVMCP. Or is it? We are a group who usually does best when things are kept as simple as possible plus we will be jet-lagged.

Thanks for reading my musings, lol!

I'm not trying to discount your feelings on this, but, really, the few extra minutes here and there are really no big deal.

Would you rather have 10 or 15 extra minutes involved in going where you want to go, or, save a little time and not be doing what you really want to do?

It's all on property, the drives and transportation issues aren't as taxing as you think.

Eat where you want to eat and take it all in stride.

 

[bethy]

We won’t be jet lagged, but we will be staying offsite at the Vistana with a car. Since we willl be in a park earlier in the day, we will beat the crowds and eat in MK.

If I were you, and dealing with jet lag, I would suck it up and eat wherever sounds most appealing on monorail loop or at WL. For us, that would be Steakhouse 71, Kona or Whispering Canyon. I agree that none are at the top of my list, but already being parked at the TTC would be gold for us. WL is less crazy busy for late lunch than the Poly or Contemporary, so we would find something at WL and be happy. The other thing is there are some quite good party-exclusive savory items , so being less full is a bonus if the food lines aren’t crazy.

If we were to eat at Whispering Canyon would we park first at TTC and then uber there? The interactive meal there sounds fun - the reason I don't love the other monorail options is because they don't sound Disney or immersive enough - I am all about the Disney theming and vibe!

 

[erinch]

If we were to eat at Whispering Canyon would we park first at TTC and then uber there? The interactive meal there sounds fun - the reason I don't love the other monorail options is because they don't sound Disney or immersive enough - I am all about the Disney theming and vibe!

You would park at TTC, take monorail or ferry boat to MK, and then get the resort launch boat to Wilderness lodge. I would do a 1:30 adr if it were me, or you could do 2. Then you would take the boat back, and get in line by 3:30 to go into the party at 4, if you want to get as soon as you can. In my opinion, if the lay of the land is new , you REALLY don’t want to travel, navigate Disney Springs, then get to MK and start it a.l over again. I would build in more time than you think you need for WL and if you have time Leftover you could walk around and explore.

 

[bethy]

You would park at TTC, take monorail or ferry boat to MK, and then get the resort launch boat to Wilderness lodge. I would do a 1:30 adr if it were me, or you could do 2. Then you would take the boat back, and get in line by 3:30 to go into the party at 4, if you want to get as soon as you can. In my opinion, if the lay of the land is new , you REALLY don’t want to travel, navigate Disney Springs, then get to MK and start it a.l over again. I would build in more time than you think you need for WL and if you have time Leftover you could walk around and explore.

This makes me think I need to stick with Kona Cafe, Steakhouse 71 or Grand Floridian Cafe? I think those are the only monorail restaurants that serve lunch, I think? I want as few steps as possible. I've been to Disney Springs but only once. I know in my heart that it needs to be simplicity over menu/theme.