MVMCP vs. Dinner

[knottmel1]

So here is the delimma...I have 2 ADRs set for the Crystal Palace on November 16th (our day to attend the MVMCP). I have a 3:40 reservation, which would require us to leave half of our party 2+ hrs early, as they are not attending with us. They have ADR at Chef Mickey at 7:55. My other ADR is at 6:20, which puts me missing the beginning of MVMCP. WHAT DO I DO? Ditch our friends or take a chance of missing something special. I guess the other option is to skip the sit down and just do counter service that night for dinner. I need the help of the veterans here!


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[juliebug1997]

Hmmm, I would leave your friends for the 3:40 PM ADR. If you're going to make it to midnight, a slightly bigger meal at that time would probably do it.

I would not take the later meal. You're paying a lot to go to the party and I wouldn't want to miss a minute of it. It just so happens to be one of my favorite things at WDW.

 

[gator girl]

If you are planning on seeing any of the more in-demand characters such as the Dwarves, you should already be in that meet & greet line well before 6 pm, or else you are going to spend about a third of your party time dealing with that one meet. In other words, if you plan to see the Dwarves, you're probably going to have to split from your friends prior to 7:00 anyway, unless they are willing to stand near you for over an hour & stare at you while you're in a character line that CMs will not allow them to join.

A 6:20 ADR means that you will probably get seated about 6:45 and get through eating & seeing characters by about 8:00. That scenario is a waste of a party ticket, in my opinion.

I would either take the earlier ADR or skip it entirely in favor of a counter service meal during the party (either at about 6 pm while you're in line to meet a character or while you are waiting for the parade). The option I would choose would depend on when you ate earlier that day - will you be hungry at 3:40 or would you rather wait until later in the evening? Whatever you decide, remember that you have to cancel any character meal ADR you don't use more than 24 hours in advance or you will be charged for no-show.

If you split up from them, surely your friends can find something to entertain themselves in the MK for two hours without you!

 

[knottmel1]

I called and got a got a 5:30 for LTT! Would that be best???? This is so complicated! I know it's not the CP, but would do???


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[gator girl]

Sorry for the double post, but I wanted to re-emphasize this point:

If you are lining up for a character meet prior to 7 pm, which you SHOULD BE DOING if you are planning to meet any of the more in-demand characters, you will have to split from your friends prior to getting in that meet line anyway. CMs will be checking for wrist bands on anyone in the character line. Your friends will not be allowed to stand there with you. Every year, I've experienced the CMs repeatedly going down the line prior to 7pm & checking bracelets over & over (literally about every 5 minutes as 7:00 approaches) and anyone without a bracelet is booted from the line.

So... if you're meeting the Dwarves or the Princesses/Princes or Captain Jack, etc. you're not going to be with your friends all the way until the party starts in any case. You might as well split from them a little bit earlier & enjoy your character meal.

That way, they can enjoy the park until they are ushered out and then they have their own character meal to look forward to!

Now, if you are not planning on meeting any in-demand characters, you can certainly hang out with your friends on rides until 7 pm when they have to leave. But I would not set my family up for missing a huge chunk of the party by sitting down for dinner right before it begins.

 

[gator girl]

I called and got a got a 5:30 for LTT! Would that be best???? This is so complicated! I know it's not the CP, but would do???

Again, you will not be finished eating in time to get in line for a short wait for the Dwarves, etc. once 7:00 rolls around. If that's not important to you, then a 5:30 ADR inside the park should be fine.

 

[knottmel1]

gator girl...
Sorry. Your post did not show up when I put my second post up there. I'll plan on keeping my 3:20. This is my first trip since I was a child and I have NEVER experienced the MVMCP.

 

[gator girl]

This is my first trip since I was a child and I have NEVER experienced the MVMCP.

You will love it! I recommend checking out party touring plans before you go. I know Easywdw had a great one for both parties last year. Also, keep an eye out for specific character lists & the party schedule which will appear on this forum as soon as the first party occurs.

That way you can plan out your night before you arrive in order to maximize your time & see the things that your regular park ticket doesn't allow during the few hours of party time you have available.

Things like lining up for characters well before 7 pm... If you didn't know about this in advance & assumed that you could stroll up to the Dwarves at 7:00, you would be faced with about a 90-minute queue. But plan ahead & your "wait time" occurs prior to the official start of the party. You're finished with them by 7:10 and off to the next thing!

 

[sharonabe]

One other possible kink...are you using a park ticket on that day to go to MK? That 3:45 ADR will require a park ticket to get into MK; you can't use your party ticket until 4:00.

 

[gator girl]

One other possible kink...are you using a park ticket on that day to go to MK? That 3:45 ADR will require a park ticket to get into MK; you can't use your party ticket until 4:00.

I assumed that the OP was using a park ticket for the earlier part of the day, because she talked about being there that day with friends who were not buying a party ticket. If so, she should be fine!

 

[knottmel1]

sharonabe... We will be in the MK all day. It's our first full day of our vacation and it had the best crowds that day.

 

[juliebug1997]

I called and got a got a 5:30 for LTT! Would that be best???? This is so complicated! I know it's not the CP, but would do???


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You might be done by 6:15 if you gobble down your food. Just like Gatorgirl said, this will put you late in a line if any of those big groups (7 Dwarves, Cindy and her Prince and Family). I know it's not everyone's priority, but I just wouldn't do it.

Edit: You've already said you're going to keep your early ADR so good!

I took my brother in Dec. 2010 and we both had a great time!!!!! You'll love it (I hope). Also, just as Gatorgirl suggested, check into a plan and also check back here for the happenings (because you never know when they might actually change something--hopefully for the better!).