Suggestions on dining before MVMCP

[shan981]

We are staying at CR and having breakfast at Chef Mickey's at 9:50am on our party day. Right now, I also have T-Rex scheduled at 3:30, but after some input from these forums, I realize that it doesn't really make sense to travel to and from DS for a 3:30 ADR when we could stay in the MK/monorail area and enter the party at 4pm. So where should I look into eating?

We are a party of 5 (me, DH, DS10, DSalmost2, DSalmost2). Is it best to just do a QS before the party at one of the monorail resorts then eat snacks at the party? If so, which ones should I consider? Or should I try to get an ADR inside MK? It doesn't seem like there's much open right now in the 4pm-5pm range, which is what I would need, right? We couldn't enter before 4pm for an ADR without using a whole park day ticket, correct? And I have heard not to "waste" party time with a later ADR.

 

[drwadadli]

When we are doing the parties, we do Boma at 4:30 and head directly from AKL to MK.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We are staying at CR and having breakfast at Chef Mickey's at 9:50am on our party day. Right now, I also have T-Rex scheduled at 3:30, but after some input from these forums, I realize that it doesn't really make sense to travel to and from DS for a 3:30 ADR when we could stay in the MK/monorail area and enter the party at 4pm. So where should I look into eating?

We are a party of 5 (me, DH, DS10, DSalmost2, DSalmost2). Is it best to just do a QS before the party at one of the monorail resorts then eat snacks at the party? If so, which ones should I consider? Or should I try to get an ADR inside MK? It doesn't seem like there's much open right now in the 4pm-5pm range, which is what I would need, right? We couldn't enter before 4pm for an ADR without using a whole park day ticket, correct? And I have heard not to "waste" party time with a later ADR.

You have a few choices depending on how you want to utilize your party time. You could just eat at Contempo Cafe at CR and then walk over to MK. That's probably the simplest thing to do. If you would rather try another monorail resort QS, check out the menus for Capt. Cook's at Poly and Gasparilla's at GF. You could also eat QS in MK either before the party actually starts (between 4 - 7 pm) or during the party if you get hungry then. We utilize mobile ordering to speed up the QS process when in the parks. We typically eat TS in MK on a party night, but we aren't go-go-go touring people. We currently have a 5:40 pm reservation at Skipper's so the party should just be getting started once we are done. That will take up at least 60 minutes of our time, though. If you would rather tour, stick with QS. You will not be able to enter prior to 4 pm without using a regular park day ticket.

 

[Boulie]

When we did MVMCP last year, we opted for a 5:00 reservation inside MK (we did Skipper's Canteen). For us, that worked great because we had a good dinner at a reasonably-normal-ish time, but didn't feel like we needed to rush or like we were missing any of the party. We finished a little after 6 and were having treats and going on rides shortly thereafter. We plan to follow the same approach this year.

There are lots of different ways to do a party day - some people relax all day and then head to MK for 4:00 to do some rides before the party officially starts; others park hop to a different park that morning and then hit MK closer to party time (usually with a mid-afternoon break - this is what we do), etc. What's best for you and your family may be different from what works for others.

If it were me, I'd probably skip a mid-afternoon T-Rex ADR that day, to avoid any extra stress and travel that afternoon. Especially since you are staying at CR; I'd stick the two littles in a double stroller and walk over to MK at your normal dinner time (or eat at CR first (or another monorail resort), and then head over).

Whatever you decide, hope you enjoy.

 

[Missyrose]

We do a 3ish ADR at The Plaza and then snack during the party. It lets us finish eating in time to get in line for a big party character.

 

[caribbeandream]

I'm having a small breakfast, lunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe and QS dinner at MK so I have plenty of room for all the holiday treats.

 

[Kaelorian]

We're spending the day at Disney Springs, then eating at Homecomin' at 4pm before heading to the party. I worried over missing a couple hours of park time before the party starts, but we want to take things leisurely. Also, we are having counter service breakfast at the resort, so we want to keep the meals spread apart and save room for treats during the party.

 

[rwdavis2]

We just grabbed a turkey sandwich at Cosmic Ray's. It was fine but nothing special.

 

[RolloTomasi]

We got a reservation at the Plaza at 5:00. Enter at four, take it easy and do some shopping on Main Street, eat, and when we’re done the park will be clearing out for the party. No party time missed, and we’re not interested in meeting the characters so there’s no line for us to run to.

 

[christmasmagic]

We actually did Chef Mickey at 2pm the day before and it worked out perfectly. We took our time eating and at 330 jumped on the monorail and got there just as they were letting people in. We were hungry at some point of the party despite heavy snacking but we just got hot dogs and chicken fingers.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

We entered MK at 4 then just ate QS at Cosmic Rays around 5pm, before the party officially started. Nothing fancy, but convenient.