Pre-park opening Akershus or Garden Grill lunch

[BlondeAppetit]

We have a short trip planned in December.

I was originally going to do a Candlelight Processional meal but in order to conserve our credits and not pay out of pocket, we are trimming the fat. My kids are 2 and 7. We will watch/listen from the concourse area and then I will consider getting a dining package for a future trip when they are older.

With that being said, we could do either a prepark opening Akershus and then try to get to Frozen Ever After by RD. I have two little girls. They would enjoy the ride. I did not get a FP for it.

Or

Don't tell them about the ride. Ride it only if the wait is manageable. And have a more leisurely morning and go to a Garden Grill lunch.

We will be at MVMCP the night before. It is not like we will be there till midnight but it will be a busy day.

We have HDDR another night and will be attending Chip and Dales Campfire Singalong so we can meet those characters then.

Thoughts?

Also...can kids get waffles or pancakes at Akershus?

 

[crabbygal902]

Am I reading correctly in your signature that there is a baby on the way? If so, I'd definitely recommend the more relaxed plan and the opportunity to sleep in a bit more after a MVMCP night, especially with 2 young children to care for.

You are smart not to mention the Frozen ride!

 

[BlondeAppetit]

Am I reading correctly in your signature that there is a baby on the way? If so, I'd definitely recommend the more relaxed plan and the opportunity to sleep in a bit more after a MVMCP night, especially with 2 young children to care for.

You are smart not to mention the Frozen ride!

Ha! She arrived in July! Need to fix that! She won't be attending this trip with us though!

Yes... I am all about keeping things on the down low! We will be back for spring break and if we miss it this time around we and do it then!

They will enjoy the princesses. However the menu does not look very kid friendly and all I see them eating are the muffins and fruit.

 

[jillt2ph]

How about split the difference and book a later breakfast at Garden Grill. It was just such a positive character experience when we went in May! And if you get a booth on the lower level it seems so much more relaxing.

 

[BlondeAppetit]

I am torn bc of the potential advantage of the prepark opening and frozen ever after. Hmmmmmm.

 

[hj8nc]

I am torn bc of the potential advantage of the prepark opening and frozen ever after. Hmmmmmm.

Just my two cents... we tried to do the "MVMCP night before a pre-park opening day" with our three year old... and it did not work out well at all!!
Even if you don't stay at the party very late, it's incredible how much walking you still do and how physically exhausted you are!!!! You still come back from the party completely pooped, and then trying to wrangle up the troops in the early morning to catch an early reservation was just torture!! After that disaster, we promised ourselves to never ever EVER plan a late evening event right before an early morning event. It looks good on paper... but it is really really really exhausting in reality. I think it would have worked if it were just my husband and I... but with kids... I'd avoid it if possible unless you have super-human energy and strength... then more power to you!!

=)

 

[Hopefully]

Not knowing your actual dates in December, I put 8 weekday dates in December in for PPO Akershus 8 AM ADR and nothing is available. I think it is a moot point.
Even if you could get it I don't think it is a good idea.

 

[BlondeAppetit]

Not knowing your actual dates in December, I put 8 weekday dates in December in for PPO Akershus 8 AM ADR and nothing is available. I think it is a moot point.
Even if you could get it I don't think it is a good idea.

I actually already have it. Trimming the fat on my trip. Dropped the first day of our trip. It was original party day. Dropped deluxe dining for standard dining. Moved the day of the party and I already have the prepark opening Akershus.

Thank you so much for checking for me!

 

[BlondeAppetit]

Just my two cents... we tried to do the "MVMCP night before a pre-park opening day" with our three year old... and it did not work out well at all!!
Even if you don't stay at the party very late, it's incredible how much walking you still do and how physically exhausted you are!!!! You still come back from the party completely pooped, and then trying to wrangle up the troops in the early morning to catch an early reservation was just torture!! After that disaster, we promised ourselves to never ever EVER plan a late evening event right before an early morning event. It looks good on paper... but it is really really really exhausting in reality. I think it would have worked if it were just my husband and I... but with kids... I'd avoid it if possible unless you have super-human energy and strength... then more power to you!!

=)

THIS....is exactly what I was thinking.

 

[BlondeAppetit]

I believe that we are going to drop Akershus and go with lunch at Garden Grill! Thanks everyone!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Just my two cents... we tried to do the "MVMCP night before a pre-park opening day" with our three year old... and it did not work out well at all!!
Even if you don't stay at the party very late, it's incredible how much walking you still do and how physically exhausted you are!!!! You still come back from the party completely pooped, and then trying to wrangle up the troops in the early morning to catch an early reservation was just torture!! After that disaster, we promised ourselves to never ever EVER plan a late evening event right before an early morning event. It looks good on paper... but it is really really really exhausting in reality. I think it would have worked if it were just my husband and I... but with kids... I'd avoid it if possible unless you have super-human energy and strength... then more power to you!!

=)

I agree with this!! I just came back from Disney and did mnsshp....man, is it tiring! You do A LOT of walking around! Yes we stayed until midnight, but I remember by 10pm or so, I was completely exhausted. Although I guess it didn't help that i toured all day long during the day too. Silly me.


OP, Let me share my PPO experience with you....I had an 805am ADR at Garden Grill. Checking in at the gate was a bloody nightmare. They dont let you go through the gates until about 750am. Once you pass through the gates you think your free to dash to Garden Grill? NOPE!! Your not. You have to walk through another little maze in order to meet another CM who scans your band once more, just to confirm your ADR (even though this was done prior to me scanning my magic band and supplying my finger print!!). After she checks your ADR, off you go to GG. I honestly thought i'd be late. By the 2nd check point maze thingy, it was already 8:01am at this point.

LOVE the breakfast and characters here, what a hidden gem this place is! After eating, we head over to the Frozen ride. Just to give you an idea, we left GG at 8:54am. By the time we walked over to frozen it was 9am, there was already a HUGE line of people outside. The line extended down past the stroller parking area in norway. Within minutes, the line was already past Mexico and the wait time posted was 120 minutes. This was just after 9am!!! In October!! (Oct.16th to be exact).

The ride was down at the time....but it was running again at 9:15am. We got on the ride just before 10am. So we waited a solid 45 min once the ride was up and running. Not too bad. I guess if you were at the back of the line, it was a 120 min wait from there. Yikes! Is it always this crazy at Frozen at PPO?

OP, good choice on doing GG lunch! you'll need to rest after the MVMCP.