Mvmcp....first timer, please help with questions.

[Misty89]

i know we have 6mths yet, but i like to plan ahead because even my best plan always seems to change

OK- so we have tickets to MVMCP for nov 30th 2004.
trying to decide where to eat that evening( recap - we are flying in on the 29th, staying at CR and are still getting organized for what we want to do the frist day..most likely epcot because it is open late and we will have had a long day 7am flight,)
so what pops into my head for the 30th is
plan #1-
that will probly sleep in and relax at resort and have a late lunch/ early dinner and go to MVMCP - so where should we eat? at the park or resort - which is easier? i read on here that sometimes people can get in to start MVMCP as early as 4:30pm?
dont have a clue where to eat at MK....but at resort would be concourse grill or chef mickeys -need suggestions if people think its easier to eat at park ( not intrested in LTT)

or plan #2

still sleep in a little bit, ( say 9am) then head over to MK using a days addmision and then again either eating at MK or CR before the party.......

is it foolish to use a days admission to go to MK and then to the aprty that night? - would it be more wise to do say...MK on the next day ? (= one night visit to MK, via party and 1 all day on a seperate day plus the MVMCP?


thank you
i am sure i will have more question edit this post later......sorry



Tina

 

[cobbler]

I could be wrong but I think LTT is the only restaurant that will be open during the MVMCP time, therefore that is why so many people make their reservations there. I could be wrong on this so someone correct me if I am.

I guess it depends on how long your vacation is if you want to kind of chill out that day or do an MK. I think I am going to do a partial day at a park, but that is just me.

Good luck and you will have fun at the MVMCP

 

[REH]

I've attended MVMCP about 10 times and always had a great time. The places open for dining do vary but Cosmic Rays is nearly always open. To look at the menus on wdwig.com. It's worth checking what time you can enter the park for the party. Last year you could enter at around 4pm then you showed your ticket and got a wristband (near the castle)and when the park closed you where send to tomorrowland where the rides where open, short queues, you just showed the wristband. Although I did notice at this time that Cosmic rays was very busy!! I would recommend going to the park early and it could be worth eating before the party either in the park before it closes/reopens for the party or before you go to the park either Chef Mickeys , 1900 Park Fayre or off site.
Enjoy!

 

[Misty89]

thank you, i am hoping someone else has some input also.
so if LTT is the only one open we would be better off eating at our resort? -
we will only be there for 3 days ( CR) then we will head off to DTD - praying for the swan - so we could actaully do the MK on both days ( the MVMCP and MK full day) but i wanted to get others opinions on it.


thanks

 

[Eeyore2003]

Hi Misty89, I see you're from Sheboygan. So am I. Born and bred that is. Family is still there and we go back every few weeks. My sons are both in WI too. HAVE to live in MN right now, but have only been here a few years. Well, anyway, back to your question. You're definitely not too early to start planning!!!

First of all, how many of you are there and ages???
I'm not positive about this, but you probably won't be able to get into LTT anyway. I tried for the next week one day when we're going and it was already full. That leaves counter service (which will be open during the party), or an early dinner like you said, either at CR, park, or actually any of the MK resorts would do.

The big problem is that the other MK restaurants, The Plaza Restaurant, Tony's and Crystal Palace, all close around 5 ish I think. We had to eat at The Plaza really early last year to eat before it closed. The advantage to doing this though, is that you'll already be in the park. Last year they "corraled" us all in Future World and we got our picture taken first thing with a little line, and they started letting people on rides early.

That being said, we're doing it different this year I think. We stayed til closing of the party last year and watched Wishes then the SECOND parade. We found we had PLENTY of time to do everything we wanted and right around the time of the second parade, the picture people were just standing around and asking people if they had their pictures taken yet. So I think THIS year, we're going to eat at a MK resort around 5:00 and then go over to the party and stay til it ends.

The problem with eating at a MK resort "mid afternoon", "early evening" is that most of them don't open until at least 5:00. You'd have to check to make sure of their hours.
This link has allot of the hours for the different places, plus they are also in some of the guide books.

http://allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

You COULD go to MK whenever you want, eat a mid afternoon lunch/dinner and then just stay for the party. Or do what you said about hanging around the resort eat an early dinner and then go to the party, (I'd plan on staying late then).
Also remember that it will be winter there. Last December we only went in the pool one day. So "hanging" around the resort takes on a different meaning in December vs August for us. Probably could have one or two other of the days, but it was pretty cool for swimming some days, so you're taking a chance on being able to "hang" around the resort, if you're including the pool in that.

I guess this doesn't particularly answer your question, but it gives you a few pros and cons from my point of view.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you choose not to go into MK that day, then I would eat at Chef Mickeys. Get a seating at around 5ish, that's when they open. You should be able to get into MK after you eat. I believe they start letting MVMCP pass holders in at 4:30-5. Or you could try for a PS at Crystal Palace. A lot of people book LTT really early. Then, when the 90 day mark gets here, they change to CP!!

Or, if you decide to go to a different park that day, you could eat a late lunch there. THen you'll only need a snack later on.

We'll be at the party that night also. We are eating at LTT. You're going to love MVMCP...it's a wonderful start to the holidays.

 

[daisy112878]

Last Dec when we went to MVMCP we got there at 645pm and ate at the Hot dog place on main street. I think it's Casey's and it stayed open almost all night. We spent the morning part of the day at Epcot and then went back to the hotel for rest before going to MVMCP. We had plenty of time to do everything that night. We went to the show in front of the castle first and then went and rode rides. We went to the second parade which was not nearly as crowded as the first parade. Also my DH and I got our pictures done with Mickey and Minnie. They were standing down next to Tony's. It was awesome. We got the best pictures with the characters that night too. Also Tony's was open when we went in Dec but we decided we wanted a faster dinner.

 

[McKelly]

Hello Misty89!

I just had to say Hello! We live in Plymouth! We are going to WDW too at that time of year, but, we are arriving on Dec. 4th. I am also debating about taking the day off before MVMCP to increase the chances that everybody makes it well into the night. We are staying at the WL and right now are planning to do resort stuff and then head over to MK at 5 for a PS in the park. Have fun!!

 

[Misty89]

Hi Misty89, I see you're from Sheboygan. So am I. Born and bred that is. Family is still there and we go back every few weeks. My sons are both in WI too. HAVE to live in MN right now, but have only been here a few years. Well, anyway, back to your question. You're definitely not too early to start planning!!!

WOW i think you are the first person here i have seen that is from Sheboygan! - how cool is that!!!!????

ok...we are a family of 4- DH, Myself, and 2 DD's ages 13 and 5.

Last Dec when we went to MVMCP we got there at 645pm and ate at the Hot dog place on main street. I think it's Casey's and it stayed open almost all night.

Caseys! - that is the ONE place we(100% sure) will eat lunch while at MK .....we were there last year and loved it! - we have photos of us sitting on the park benches in that back room looking rater melty LOL( we about died from the heat - afterall we ARE from WI and it was the end of june in Florida ) but we LOVED the food and for sure are going back!

thank you for the replys......i thnk i will keep option #1 at the front of my list....my kids are swimmers( weather permitting) and i am sure it would be a good odea to let everyone "unwind" that day, becasue of the long day coming in the day before, and i am sure a late night at epcot( thinking we will get to epcot around 3pm - not rushing at all, as my DH says - and stay until close.)

- just read about the candlelight processional--! going to be checking that out too!


Eeyore.......what part of Sheboygan did you grow up in? i really think thats neat to come across someone on a WDW message area from Sheboygan - nice to " meet" you.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I just briefly looked up a couple things and most menus that have lunches seem to close about 2:30 ish and the dinners start 5 ish. If you do the late lunch/early dinner thing, you could make a late PS at CRT and be done by about 3:30 to 4. Last year you could get your wrist band for the party at 4. At the CR, the Concourse Grill is the one that has lunch, which is from noon to 2:30. Chef Mickey would be really fun, but is not open for lunch.

 

[disneyfan551]

When we went to the MVMCP last year, we went the day we returned from our cruise. We were able to get in early, since we had a ps at CP @ 4:20. It was our 1st time at the CP and we love it!! In fact, we went twice during our April visit! I feel certain it will be on our to-do list again!

 

[scarlett873]

we're in the same boat right now! we arrive in orlando (dolphin) on the 29th and we're planning to do the MVMCP on the 30th. i'm not sure if we'll be using a park day then or not. we may...just can't decide!

and then we don't know when/where to eat. originally, we wanted LTT, but i keep rethinking that one. we may just find someplace in the park or hit one of the monorail resorts before we go in for the party.

you guys say that they have historically let people with MVMCP tickets in the gates as early as 4pm-ish, right? do you present your ticket for the party and then go in and get your wrist band? and if i understood correctly, you DON'T need to use an admission day from your park hopper to get into the party. is that right?

decisions decisions!!!

 

[disneyfan551]

If you don't want to chance it, make a ps at the CP and then you can cancel it when you get in! I would hate to go, and then be turned away, with time wasting...

 

[Tanya]

We have had dinner before the party at Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's.... I liked CP because the park closed and we had dinner and stepped right out into the park without being swamped with people.... we also did Chef Mickey and walked over with a crew of people that didn't want to take the monorail....

I think we are going to try and do CP again...
Now I have a question...? What time should I make a ressie for at CP?... I don't remember what time I had ...

 

[kmc]

for those of you who ate at CP last year were the characters dressed in holiday attire??

 

[Misty89]

I just had to say Hello! We live in Plymouth! We are going to WDW too at that time of year, but, we are arriving on Dec. 4th. I am also debating about taking the day off before MVMCP to increase the chances that everybody makes it well into the night. We are staying at the WL and right now are planning to do resort stuff and then head over to MK at 5 for a PS in the park. Have fun!!

HI! sorry was at work all afternoon and just got to check computer now........HI to you ....we almost would have run into each other down there, but we leave the night of dec 3 rd
can i pick your brain as to your budget etc? - what airline you are using, and all kinds fun planning stuff?

i will try to PM you if you dont mind!


Tina

 

[chyam]

Hi Misty..........I grew up in Door County so am familiar with Sheboygan!
I have been going to the parties for many years, and we actually like to make a PS at 1900 Park Fare for an early dinner (4:15) it's in the GF and although it is a character dinner it's not as kiddish as Chef Mickeys, don't get me wrong I like Chef Mickeys I just don't like twirling my napkin in the air every 15 minutes! Anyways since the GF is on the monorail we eat and then hop on the monorail to the park. It has a large variety buffet and the atmosphere there is nice, also love to see the lifesize gingerbread house in the lobby.
I would also not do the MK on that day so you take in all the fantasy and the magic of it for the party......it is so beautiful.! Then go again on another day. You will have a great time!:

keiki,binky&mouse my 3 beautiful white kitties!