MNSSHP Dinner ideas..

[Microcell]

Hello all! Going in September and plan to hit the first possible MNSSHP of the season and I can't decide if it is better to do quick service before the festivities begin or do a decent sized dinner at LTT or something early maybe?

What have you done for dinner on MNSSHP days? All ideas welcome!

 

[PatsMom]

We've done 1900 Park Fair at the Grand Floridian (first booking available) and then taken the monorail over to the MK. Our favorite is to get a Crystal Palace reservation for an early dinner before the party starts. The park crowds kind of thin out between parade time and when the party guests start arriving so there is time to do a few attractions between dinner and party start.

We are not crazy about Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary but that would be another possibility. I would not book dinner during the party but would plan on eating early if you are doing sit down. Wasting party time eating seems kind of silly.

 

[Microcell]

What time would you suggest making an ADR? Early like 4PM?

 

[FigmentLoverForLife]

we've always arrived a little early to the park and done a cs meal, usually at casey's corner. but whatever cs is your favorite that would be my suggestion to do.

 

[lesabrowning]

We have done it a bunch of different ways and for us, if we plan to stay at the party until the end, we do a TS restaurant in the park at a traditional dinner time. (last time we did this at LTT, this year we will do it at Tonys) If you don't plan to stay till the end, I would book either a reservation before the party starts, or stick to quick service.

 

[Tinker12]

We always hit Crystal Palace before MNSSHP. We make the reservations around 5:30- 6p. On the 2nd night of MNSSHP, we have a quick service in Magic Kingdom and then snack throughout the evening festivities.

We found going twice to the party is awesome. One night for rides, since everyone is trick or treating and the lines are very short or none at all. The second night is for the festivities!!

Enjoy!

 

[book_junkie]

I've always liked doing an early table service, (4 or 4:30) and then catching a late counter service during the party... We've done Kona one time and rode the monorail over with a car full of party-goers (extremely fun), had a 5 p.m. ADR at Crystal Palace and watched the kids change into costumes in the bathrooms, and had some delicious sandwiches at the Plaza Restaurant. I like being in MK and eating beforehand better than eating outside and then trying to get in during crowds; we also get our wristbands early and can just start enjoying attractions and special events early without waiting!

 

[mickeynut1]

The first Halloween party we went to, we booked dinner at Crystal Palace for around 5:00 or 6:00. After that, whenever we did any of the parties, we booked a TS dinner at either the Poly, CR, or GF around 4:30-4:45 and then hop on the monorail afterwards, making it to MK in plenty of time before the party started at 7:00 .

 

[tlenzendorf]

We are going to try to get an ADR for The Plaza around 5:00ish that night.

 

[mrmdisneyfl]

We always seem to do Cystal Palace for an early dinner on the night we eneter NK for the Halloween Fun. We enjoy it everytime and are pleased to know once we are done we strat with the Halloween fun.

Enjoy!

 

[ses1230]

Since you can get into MK with just a party ticket at 4pm, our preference is to get to MK around that time and do a quick CS.

We have found that the park is less crowded during those 4-7 hours, so we eat, do a few rides and then line up for the Dwarfs or Cinderella Carriage photo ops at around 6:30.

 

[RMulieri]

Since you can get into MK with just a party ticket at 4pm, our preference is to get to MK around that time and do a quick CS.

We have found that the park is less crowded during those 4-7 hours, so we eat, do a few rides and then line up for the Dwarfs or Cinderella Carriage photo ops at around 6:30.

THIS
It is what we do.They let you in the MK at 4pm with just a party ticket, those hours between 4-7p you can get some rides in and grab a quick CS meal to be ready to go at 7pm

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We always do a table service for a late breakfast at our resort or a late lunch either at our resort or at Whispering Canyon Cafe. We arrive at MK at exactly 4:00 to enter the park. Then we grab a quick dinner at Columbia Harbor House before they close at 6:00. I am NOT wasting park time eating!

 

[Lehuaann]

We did a TS (Tony's) at approx 4:30 and a CS (Cosmic) close to midnight/closing...avoided most of the exiting crowds both times.

Also, after we ate Tony's, we were surprisingly first in line at Alice in Wonderland meet/greet/candy path. It was nice being able to line up early.

 

[luv2plan]

I agree with many others, we like to eat about 4:30pm. I really like The Plaza, the food is very good and it doesn't take too long to eat there. They have great kids offerings as well. Happy planning!!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

We like to do a table service lunch around 1pm. Relax for an hour at the hotel and then hit the park for 4pm on the nose. Then in the evening, we'll share a couple of counter service meals and / or have a snack during the fireworks.

Before going to the Christmas party I made the mistake of booking the Castle for dinner (back when it was non princess / order off of a regular menu restuarant) at 5pm. We rolled out of there stuffed to the gills, didn't want to ride any rides because we were too full. By the time we had recovered from the sit down meal, the party was in full swing and everything seemed crowded. We didn't get as much done as I would have liked and I put it down to the big meal before hand and not using the hours between 4 - 7pm to tour the park.

 

[OhThePain]

My girlfriend and I are doing our first MNSSHP this year. Right now our plan is spend the whole day at MK. The crowds should be lower from what I have heard so we figured to do most of the rides we want durring the day so we can explore the party more at night. Right now we are planning to do a late brunch at 1900 PF (would like to get one of the last morning ADR's at about 11:15 or so) then maybe just get a couple of dogs from Casey's or something along those lines while waiting for the parade. I am sure the way we plan things will change quite a few times between then and now, but right now that's where our thinking is.

 

[2BusyPlanning]

Back in 2007 my husband and I went to LTT before the party and the wait staff was dressed up in Haunted Mansion make-up. And there were characters at the time, no characters anymore. But we were hoping to do the same thing this year, around 5pm.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Last year we had my 3 yo great-nephew so we went to CP at 4:45. We'd spent the day at MK and it was pretty empty. He hung in good til aomost 11. If we hadn't had him, I'd prefer LTT(my plan this year) or The Plaza, which we did before MVMCP in '09. We had an ADR at 5:35, just had a sandwich, fries and Coke(paid oop) and planned to snack later. Never did. My first Halloween party, we ate at Cosmic Ray's later in teh evening, and it was a madhouse. We got lucky and were out quickly, but they'd been out of chicken for 30 minutes, came up just in time for our order.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I went to my first and only MNSSHP last year. Because we were on the dining plan, we did use a TS for that day but it was for a character breakfast. We did not want to spend the party time in a restaurant! We did get to MK around 6:30 and went to Cosmic Ray's (knowing that my favorite Columbia Harbour House was closed). And I would NOT do that again! Why??? Well first, I would get there earlier OR have dinner prior to getting to the park. And Cosmic Ray's was not good - sorry, I just don't like the place. Here's something else, they changed the menu for the party! So they took the chicken and ribs off the menu! We happened to ask and they did have 2 portions left so we ordered that but the menu became VERY limited. Also, it was PACKED. I mean jam packed solid with lines out the door. So my advice....
Eat counter service for dinner but eat it earlier (between 5 & 6) - at the park, at your resort, or wherever. During the party, you'll be munching on the candy. If you get hungry (like we did!), grab some popcorn or a snack. We got dole whips, popcorn, and sodas It was great to just eat and walk around and enjoy the party.
Have fun!