Meal before MNSSHP?

DisneyJillian18

Mouseketeer
Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
325
Hi all, I'm looking for options for a supper on our MNSSHP day? Should we eat early prior to party starting? Sit down or counter? Should we eat during party? Sit down or counter? Just trying to figure out what would be the best way to get the most out of the party, we've been before, but have never met any rare characters, this time I'd like to fix that!
 
We do a larger lunch then a cs dinner. Want to maximize party time!
 
Our plan is the same as the PP, have a big sit down lunch and then have a quick CS dinner somewhere between 4-7 whenever we get hungry. And possibly (okay highly likely) will eat lots of snacks during the party! Hehe!
 
We were able to snag a 4:55 BOG ADR for our party night. I thought that was a good balance of time before the party started. Last Nov. we left and had dinner at WCC the night of the MVMCP and it was a chore heading back and forth and wouldn't do that ever again. If I couldn't get an early TS I would just grab a QS somewhere.
 

I like that plan! A nice big lunch, any ideas? Crowd calendar shows best at HS and MK. Should we go to HS have a big lunch there, and leave around 3 to get changed for party and head over? Or just spend the day at MK and have lunch there, we'd still have to go back and change either way. Just trying to figure out what would be best..
 
We've done it all! Most of all do not waste one precious moment of the party.

Thoughts:
- About half the counter service will close during the party. Best if you enter full and when hungry grab one of the special snacks at the party, ice cream etc.
- You can get in at 4 pm so that is a good time to grab dinner in park while everything still open. Only an issue if you aren't using a regular park ticket that day.
- We mostly do a rest day so we like to do pool time for a few hours, shower then head to a resort for a nice lunch, then back for our costumes and arrive at 4 pm.
- If you plan a dinner at park or monorail resort, book at 4 pm so no risk to missing any party time.
- Dinner at the MK before parties books solid very early so don't wait.
- If you plan to do a park day then book a lunch time that will give you plenty of time to go back to room and be back before the party starts. Your 5 hours will be gone fast and there is plenty to do.
- We have also done a huge character breakfast, then hotel pool to chill, then grabbed counter service for dinner. No lunch needed.
 
Our favorite way to do it is a late lunch (though they actually consider it dinner and that is fine as we prefer the dinner menu) at Crystal Palace around 3:30. If we were not using your MNSSHP tix, I would do it shortly after 4 pm. This last trip we attended two parties and did tea at the GF (fun but we were hungry again by 9 pm) once and BOG at 4 pm the second (meh, we much, much prefer CP for our pre-party fill up).

I am not a fan of MK QS, generally. But, if we were forced to do it that way, I would hit Columbia Harbor House before they close for the night.
 
We have done 4pm Crystal Palace and it has worked out great for our family twice with just snacks during the MVMCP.
 
I'm just planning on doing a CS meal before the party starts. Probably Pecos Bill or Cosmic Rays :)
 
Last year we did tea and as stated by PP it let us down later on. This year I booked a 4:25 res at The Plaza
 
We actually had an early dinner reservation before our MVMCP and it worked out great! We didn't want to lose any time from the party so we made sure to eat in either MK or one of the surrounding monorail resorts. We ended up going to GF for dinner at 1900 PF at 4:30pm and we were done by 5:30 and got on the monorail and to the party with plenty of time before it started. I also would consider a QS option before the party in MK. We love Columbia Harbor House, so an early dinner would be great and it is right next to HM!
 
How elaborate are you costumes? If they can fit into a locker, I would bring them with you, instead of heading back to your resort. I've seen plenty of guests changing and applying make-up in the bathrooms before MNSSHP. For my family, we've lately been having dinner at 'Ohana (5:00 pm or so) and then head over to MNSSHP. We usually get into the parks a little before 7:00 pm, which is fine with us because we had spent the morning/afternoon in MK already. Otherwise, my family would probably opt to have a late lunch (e.g., last lunch seating) at LTT and then snack at MNSSHP. Last year they had party exclusive treats, so snacked on those during the evening/night.
 
Maximizing party time for us often involves grabbing a waffle sandwich at Sleepy Hollow and eating it while we wait for the Boo to You parade.
 
Last trip, we had a 4:20 ADR for Liberty Tree the night of MVMCP and it worked out great for us! We plan to do the same thing this year for MNSSHP and we currently have an ADR booked for 4:35 at BOG the night of the party.
 
We booked Boma at 430 and planned to leave right after. I figured the little guy can do the park in the morning then get a good nap and dinner before heading back over. We do have a car with us as well if we felt the bus would take too long.
 
In Oct 2013, we entered at 4pm and went straight to Pecos Bill's and ate. That left us plenty of time to go ride Haunted Mansion, then get in line preparty start for the 7 dwarves.
 














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