Timing of Dinner (at MK) with MNSSHP

[ThreeBoyMama]

So...I originally booked The Plaza for 6:20 p.m. the night of our Halloween party. It was a little later than I wanted, but then I started thinking it might be good timing to be eating while the non-party guests are piling out of the park. I realize we may miss the first few minutes of the party but don't see that as a major issue. Then the ADRs for Skipper Canteen became available and I grabbed one of those for 4:55 p.m.

Menu choices notwithstanding (my hubby and I think SC sounds great--our less adventurous kids would likely all be having the crispy chicken unless more kid-friendly options are added by the fall), which would you keep based solely on timing? We've been to MNSSHP once before but it was literally the very first thing we did on our very first visit and we were so excited for arrival day and the party that I don't remember what the pre-party crowds were like, LOL.

Our party night is 10/23, which is a Sunday. Thoughts?

 

[2forMe]

The earlier reservation....how ever I would not do a sit down meal on a party night only a CS meal.

 

[serene56]

Party ticketd are too expensive for use to spend prime party time sitting and eating taking 9o minutes out of that time. Main street will be bust from 4-7 with oeople coming and going. Its just not at 7pm. R u aware you can get 3 fps from 3:30=6:30

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

The earlier reservation....how ever I would not do a sit down meal on a party night only a CS meal.

Ooops, should have mentioned that it's my oldest son's birthday so we want to do TS for dinner. We are OK sacrificing a little bit of party time.

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

Party ticketd are too expensive for use to spend prime party time sitting and eating taking 9o minutes out of that time. Main street will be bust from 4-7 with oeople coming and going. Its just not at 7pm. R u aware you can get 3 fps from 3:30=6:30

Yep. This is our last day of a 9-day stay so I am not worried about packing in rides at MK that night. We will be there primarily for the party offerings and, as I should have mentioned in the original post, it's my oldest son's birthday so we are OK with missing a little bit of party time in order to have a TS dinner. I really am wondering if it's better to be eating closer to 7:00 when the park is emptying out, or eat earlier and then head into the park for the start of the party 30-60 minutes later.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would choose the earlier one because I cannot get past sitting down for dinner during a party, but that is my issue. LOL! But if this is the nght you celebrate you son's birthday, and you don't care if you lose paty time, I would go with the Plaza, because I think if you are celebrating a birthday, the menu should be really kid friendly.

Personally, I don't think guests piling out is an issue to be concerned with and I would not base my dining timing on that. It will be busier throughout the park between 4 and 7.

 

[SillySallySews]

I would go with the earlier reservation. It is definitely busier in the park from 4-7 and IMO that makes it a perfect time to sit down and eat if you're eating in the park. Plus if you are inside in a restaurant at 7pm I don't think you'll be able to hear the Ghost Host from the HM announcing the party is starting (this is a big deal to my kids, and I'll admit that I like hearing it as well). What does your son want? If it's his birthday I'd probably let him look at both menus and decide which one he'd rather eat at.

 

[Lisa F]

Earlier for sure. when I did MNSSHP in 2014, by 6pm the park was really starting to clear out. I have 3:30 Ohana booked for our christmas party in December.

 

[85glht]

I would do the early ADR.

 

[Allison]

Early. No question about it.

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

I would choose the earlier one because I cannot get past sitting down for dinner during a party, but that is my issue. LOL! But if this is the nght you celebrate you son's birthday, and you don't care if you lose paty time, I would go with the Plaza, because I think if you are celebrating a birthday, the menu should be really kid friendly.

Personally, I don't think guests piling out is an issue to be concerned with and I would not base my dining timing on that. It will be busier throughout the park between 4 and 7.

The Plaza is definitely the more appealing menu for the kiddos, I just wish I could get an earlier res! I'll keep looking and hope one pops up

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

Thank you all for the feedback! I think we are going to go with the earlier time at Skipper Canteen and hope everyone is able to find something they like. If not, there's always pretzels and Mickey bars as a Plan B, LOL

 

[FeralCatRogue]

I always do a TS before MNSSHP between 4 and 5pm so i'd say the earlier 4:55pm one.

 

[kayteekt]

The Plaza is definitely the more appealing menu for the kiddos, I just wish I could get an earlier res! I'll keep looking and hope one pops up

It's just been announced that The Plaza will no longer do ADRs (except from 11am-noon). They will be going to a walk up system. But that may work out better for you. If it's like SC was, then theyll text when your table is ready.

 

[kayteekt]

Here's a link to a thread where the new "no adr" policy is being discussed
http://disboards.com/threads/the-plaza-no-more-adrs.3518059/

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

It's just been announced that The Plaza will no longer do ADRs (except from 11am-noon). They will be going to a walk up system. But that may work out better for you. If it's like SC was, then theyll text when your table is ready.

Thanks, I saw that! Funnily enough, I had booked an ADR for The Plaza the day before that announcement came out (for a different day on our trip, since I still wanted to try it). My son seems stoked to try Skipper Canteen for his birthday so we're going with that plan and I'm crossing my fingers. We'll see how we do