MNSSHP Dinner

[Kit'smommy]

We always make a 5 or 5:30 reservation for somewhere in the park. We come in at 4, ride one quick ride and then eat dinner. This lets us miss the heavy crowds trying to get in later in the evening and we get to eat dinner at a somewhat normal time. We have done this about 10 times and have always had plenty of time after dinner for everything we wanted to do.

 

[mousebit]

I guess I have a little bit of a different opinion on this than most. Last year was the first year we'd been to MNSSHP - and we loved it so much that we bought tickets to return to a second party later in the week.

The first night, I had planned ahead and had ADRs at LTT. We followed the advise of a lot of DISers and arrived at MK early, ate early and were out of the restaurant and in full party mode by 6-6:30p. It was great. Rides were walk on. We did the candy trails, got our pictures taken, met lots of characters, saw the fireworks, parade and shows, and rode and rode and rode...until midnight. So much fun!

The second night, I had ADRs at Kona for 5:00p so we didn't arrive at MK until around 6:30p - and we liked our later arrival so much BETTER! The first night, by arriving early and being at the back of the park, we had missed the neat atmosphere as you enter MK for the party. The fog, music, lighting and greeters on Main St. just really added a lot to mood of the party. And we had even more fun this night even tho we'd been there/done that just a couple of days ago!

So our plan this year is to eat at a monorail restaurant at around 5:00p and not arrive at the party until 6:30p so we can soak up a little of that ambiance right at the start.

I think we would have missed a lot if we hadn't come back at a later arrival time for the second party. Sometimes we planners try so hard to avoid the crowds, that we miss some of the little things that are so special. Crowds were never a problem for us at any time for either party. In this case, later was better - at least for us.

 

[RadioFanatic]

we always did LTT for dinner at 5 pm (getting into MK at 4) and loved it. Year before last we did Tony's b/c we couldn't get into LTT and enjoyed that as well. We never felt we lost out on doing things b/c of it. This year, we're going to make reservations at CP for 5.

 

[DaisyD]

Exactly...make your large meal that day lunch, even if you do it a bit later, and then just snack during the party. There is so much to see and do at the party, don't waste party time with dinner.

You can still get an ADR around 5pm and not miss any of the party. We always ate at LTT at 5pm and got out before the party even started. We hang out at the pool on that day and eat from the food court for lunch. For dinner, we always like to have a fun character meal to start off the party night.

 

[pixidust princess]

I was thinking of going to DTD disney and doing a late lunch at T Rex around 2 and then heading over to MK at 4ish for the party.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

we always did LTT for dinner at 5 pm (getting into MK at 4) and loved it. Year before last we did Tony's b/c we couldn't get into LTT and enjoyed that as well. We never felt we lost out on doing things b/c of it. This year, we're going to make reservations at CP for 5.

We were thinking of Tony's this year about about 5ish. We would have done LTT if it had characters but we are not interested without them. The menu is not a big enough pull for us now. The kids love their spaghetti so we thought this was a good choice for us. I figure we would be done by 6:30pm and be at the front of the park for the beginning of the party. We are not looking at doing rides. We will have AP's so will have spent a lot of time at MK (we have two weeks there before the party) by the time it comes around. We just want to experience the party activities.