Time to Leave MK for dinner at GF and then back to MK?

[100acreHiker]

Hi All-- Planning a last minute trip with my mom. We only have two days with park hoppers--we plan to do EP and MK and maybe a morning at HS.

Heading to MK in the mid afternoon of Sunday 4/29. We have FP for 7DMT at 4:20 and then another at HM (window of 7-8pm, though I can modify this if need be). I hoped to hop on the boat (or monorail) and head to GF for dinner at GF Cafe with a 5:05pm reservation. What do you think? Can I get there after Mine Train, and then back in time for my FP window? Ideally we want to fit in HM and then see Happily Ever After before heading back to Swan/Dolphin.

Should we just eat in MK? There isn't a restaurant there that's available that my mom will really like, I worry. Just Skipper Canteen and that's not her type of cuisine. Suggestions or will this work with security, etc.?

Thanks!

 

[kreckl]

I think it’s tight to make your reservation. If you are lucky enough to have a short fp line ( and no delays with a ride prob), and hustle down Main Street and luck out with quick transportation- maybe?
Your HM looks fine but I would try to tweak one of the others.

 

[Surgie2]

I think it would be tight and take up a lot of what could be park time. What about a good lunch at an Epcot restaurant before you hop? So many good choices there. Then just get a lighter snack at MK.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

You won't make it to GF Cafe in time, IMHO. Even with entering the FP line 5 minutes early, you wouldn't be off the ride until 4:30/4:35 pm. Then you have to walk all the way down Main St. (putting you around 4:45 pm) and hope a boat or monorail is right there. Even then, GF is the last stop on the monorail from MK and the boat would take at least 15 minutes. Would the Wave at CR appeal at all? If it's available, you can walk there from MK, so you aren't at the mercy of Disney transport. Personally, I would either try a walk-up at the Plaza (which only takes walk-ups most of the day) or eat QS (we like Columbia Harbour House).

 

[stsomewhere]

We ate at Skipper's canteen last week. My daughter is a picky eater. She got the fried chicken dish. They left of the sauce and substituted mashed potatoes and green beans for sides. We really enjoyed eating there.


I also wanted to mention that you have to go through bag search and metal detectors as every time you leave monorail resort to get on tram.

Keep checking for reservations to open u. I was able to get BOG and Cinderella's table a few days before our trip

 

[100acreHiker]

I think the majority is right...we only have from 3-10pm at MK so we should probably just stay in the park. Mom won't eat at the Skipper Canteen, so it's either I stalk reservations for BOG or Casey's or we eat a nice lunch in Epcot around noon. Sorry to miss the GF, but I appreciate your advice!

 

[BebopBaloo]

I wouldn't try it. It could be done, but it would be stressful. What about Columbia Harbour House,or The Plaza Restaurant?

 

[Princess_Lisa]

You could try to move your ADR back a little. GF Cafe isn't typically a hard ADR to get, so you should have a decent chance of finding a later time. Even if you move it back 30-60 minutes, you should still have plenty of time to make it back to HM.

 

[GPC0321]

That's going to be really tight. I'd honestly suggest just staying in MK and finding dinner. What about The Plaza? Or Columbia Harbor House is a pretty decent quick service.

 

[kreckl]

If you want to enjoy GF, maybe eat there before you go to MK? It’s right on the monorail.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I think the majority is right...we only have from 3-10pm at MK so we should probably just stay in the park. Mom won't eat at the Skipper Canteen, so it's either I stalk reservations for BOG or Casey's or we eat a nice lunch in Epcot around noon. Sorry to miss the GF, but I appreciate your advice!

Granted my mom would probably be exactly the same, but it’s funny to me she’ll eat at Casey’s but not Skipper Canteen.

But I tend to agree with the others - if you’re not arriving at MK until 3, it’s not ideal to head back out for dinner.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[100acreHiker]

Granted my mom would probably be exactly the same, but it’s funny to me she’ll eat at Casey’s but not Skipper Canteen.

But I tend to agree with the others - if you’re not arriving at MK until 3, it’s not ideal to head back out for dinner.

Hope you have a great trip!

i think part of my issue is that my mom and I only have 48 hours, she hasn't been to Disney in over 30 years and I want to show her the best it has to offer. She has an aversion to Asian food, which is bizarre to me since I love it, but stems from a food poisoning experience. I don't think she'd love any of what MK has available right now on the reservation site (The Plaza, Tony's etc) as it's all pretty ho hum. I think she'd like BOG. That's why I was leaning towards GF and squeezing in GF cafe or Citricos, but we'd lose all of our park time. With only 48 hours, I hate for one of her two sit down meals to be disappointing. That's why i think we'll do Spice Road Table for lunch, rest at our hotel, then head to MK and figure something out that won't take too much time and won't be too disappointing. I've always liked the lobster roll at Columbia Harbour House...

 

[KittyKitty]

Look at the menus to see if your Mom finds something to eat. The Plaza has good food, I think, and can sit inside.

 

[kreckl]

We really like the wave, which is right at the contemporary....

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Agreed with Contemporary as an alternative. Much closer and easier. No worries about transportation.
But, quite honestly, I would not leave MK to grab a bite. Your time is limited. What about a dessert party for fireworks and grab a CS meal for dinner, then enjoy fancy desserts and great view for FWs?

 

[CloveLeaf]

What about Liberty Tree Tavern? Decent food