Tony's or Crystal Palace for late dinner on Spectro night?

[kimkim]

We are going to the MK our first night in WDW. We probably won't get to the park until around 5 or 6, but it is the only night of Spectromagic scheduled during our whole 6 night stay. So that's definitely where we'll be.

So, I am planning a late TS dinner and am trying to decide between Crystal Palace or Tony's Town Square. It will be me, DD9 and DS7. The characters at Crystal Palace won't have much appeal (sadly, they just aren't into them anymore!). So I'd be going only for the food itself. At Tony's, can you see the parade? If so, that would be a huge bonus. I am not one to 'stake out' a spot to watch the parade an hour ahead of time.

Spectro is scheduled for 9. So it will definitely be a late dinner for us at Tony's if we can stay for the parade (but that's OK, my kids can handle that!). I actually have an ADR at 8:00 for Crystal Palace. Tony's is wide open after 8 for ADRs if I want to switch to it though. We eat pretty fast, especially with only one adult in the group!

This is all scheduled for Labor Day Monday, which is also PM EMH at DHS (so hopefully all the crowds will be there!!).

What do you think we should do?

TIA!
Kim

 

[momof2minnies]

CP for sure!

 

[Nadjalu]

If you are trying to see the parade while you eat you may want to change that. AT CP you can't see any of the parade while in the restaurant. And at Tony's only the few tables "outside" would have a view, but that view gets obstructed by people. So if you want to see the parade you need to be done with dinner 1/2 hour before the parade starts in order to get close enough to see it.

CP at 8pm will probably not get you out in time to see the parade.

 

[kimkim]

If you are trying to see the parade while you eat you may want to change that. AT CP you can't see any of the parade while in the restaurant. And at Tony's only the few tables "outside" would have a view, but that view gets obstructed by people. So if you want to see the parade you need to be done with dinner 1/2 hour before the parade starts in order to get close enough to see it.

CP at 8pm will probably not get you out in time to see the parade.

Thanks for the responses. So at Tony's is the view of the parade really not all that good? I have 7 and 9 year old kids, so if it's hard to see for an adult, I assume it would be even harder for them to see?

I feel like CP would be a better meal, but if it is possible to get a good view from Tony's then I'd sacrafice the food for that (and I have seen some really good reviews on Tony's!).

This is our first trip and will be our only night to see Spectromagic, but it is also our travel/check-in day. I know the kids will be excited when we get to MK that night and not want to sit outside just to stake out a good spot for the parade. They will want to be doing rides and seeing everything. But we do have to eat sometime. So I just don't know what to do!

Thanks!
Kim

 

[CathieArms]

You might be surprised at how "into" the characters your kids will be at character meals. I never in a gazillion years thought my (then) 13 year old daughter would enjoy the characters at Crystal Palace and Cape May and Garden Grill, but she LOVED it every bit as much as my (then) 4 year old did.

So, with that in mind, don't underestimate that allure of the characters.

But, even without the characters, I think my choice would be Crystal Palace. I've never eaten at Tony's, but the variety and pure beauty of Crystal Palace would draw me in.

But I bet your kids end up liking the characters.

 

[Nadjalu]

You are right, the view is not good. Your chances of getting a table outside are very slim (there is only a few if I remember right) and they are set back a bit, so people crowd in front of you, making the parade very hard to see.
The kids would have a very hard time seeing, if they could see anything.

I can't stress enough, if the parade is a must for the family eat first and leave 1/2 - 45 mins between to get set up. I know how kids don't want to sit still so what my niece does is stop at the candy store there on mainstreet (by Ton'y) and buys some treats to eat while waiting. Her girls love this and they make it a tradition. They sit on the sidewalk and eat their treats, very cool.

 

[kimkim]

I can't stress enough, if the parade is a must for the family eat first and leave 1/2 - 45 mins between to get set up. I know how kids don't want to sit still so what my niece does is stop at the candy store there on mainstreet (by Ton'y) and buys some treats to eat while waiting. Her girls love this and they make it a tradition. They sit on the sidewalk and eat their treats, very cool.

That's a great idea!

Actually, I'm starting to wonder if I should even do a TS this night. Since it's our first day and we're not getting to the park unil 5ish, my kids may not want to sit down for a big meal! Maybe we'll do a QS insteand and then do as you suggest and get a bag of treats to have while waiting for the parade.

I do hate to miss a chance to eat dinner at Crystal Palace (and we probably won't be back at MK for dinner again). But, it really may not be the best for the night.

Thanks!
Kim