What would you recommend before MNSSHP?

[mom25kiddos]

I have been wading through posts here and on the MNSSHP thread, but haven't found my answer-as we are staying off-site. I am looking for recommendations for where to eat before the party. Given we are staying off-site we will be driving so would like either something close to MK (but not in it) or somewhere we could park and then drive to the TTC. We are a party of five, two adults with three kids (ages 10-13) and no real food restrictions (I would say sushi likely isn't ideal for one of the kids, while the other two would love it!). Think we would do a very late lunch/early supper (lupper we call it ). What are your thoughts-should we go to disney springs and eat there, or try and find something close by, or even doing something off property (we are staying at Marriot World Centre)? One of the 3 kids is a big eater (rest of the group are not) and he will need to eat again in the park, but hopefully something quick so we don't miss the fun-don't want to do ADR for the park.

 

[Mtraynom]

If you are parking at TTC, you could take the monorail to one of the resorts and eat there. Maybe Ohana or Whispering Canyon Cafe, if you have a big eater. When you are done, you can monorail back to MK for the party.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you can get a ~4pm reservation to eat somewhere in the MK, then you can start the party right afterward.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’d park at the TTC, walk to the Poly and get a reservation at Kona Cafe for 2pm. Walk around a bit, maybe get a Dole Whip and then boat or monorail to the MK for 4pm.

 

[saraheliz]

I've been debating this same thing- in park at 4 vs out of park, etc. We settled on WCC for 1:40 lunch- we were going to do lunch there another day but I think it will work out better to do it this day. We can not have to rush or feel like we're missing out on something, can enjoy the meal and check out the resort a bit and then ride the boat back to MK for the start of the party. My youngest is a huge fan of trying different modes of transportation so that's an added bonus. If for some reason we change our mind about that being the meal we want, I think we might actually do Captain Cooks at the Poly.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you’re not eating in the MK, I’m not sure they’ll let you in at 4pm. Technically the party starts at 7pm (and day guests can stay until 6pm). You might get lucky, but you might not.

 

[Disneylover99]

If you’re not eating in the MK, I’m not sure they’ll let you in at 4pm. Technically the party starts at 7pm (and day guests can stay until 6pm). You might get lucky, but you might not.

Everyone can enter the MK at 4pm with their party ticket.

 

[Mle8308]

I'd try and get an after 4pm reservation at a MK restaurant or do QS there. Or if you want to do something outside of the park, make a reservation at one of the resorts by the MK. But don't plan on leaving your car there, even with an ADR. People often do this to try and avoid paying to park at the TTC, Disney is wise to that. You generally have 3 hours of parking and with a MNSSHP that night, they will be very strict. If a monorail resort is your choice, I'd just park at the TTC and take the monorail where you want to go, then take the monorail to the MK for the party. After, take the monorail or ferry back to the TTC parking lot.

 

[leiaorgana]

We always stay offsite and when we did the Halloween party last year we got a reservation for The Plaza at 5:45pm so that we could eat while the crowds were leaving and that worked for us.

I’d also recommend Steakhouse 71 at The Contemporary because that’s good value for money but I don’t think they start serving dinner until 5:00pm so you might be better finding somewhere in MK to make sure that you’re in the park in time for the start of the party.

 

[maltdizzy]

If you’re not eating in the MK, I’m not sure they’ll let you in at 4pm. Technically the party starts at 7pm (and day guests can stay until 6pm). You might get lucky, but you might not.

Party tickets allow the guests to enter 3 hours prior to the start of the party to enjoy the park. So, party guests can enter starting at 4pm for a 7pm party.

For the OP, the monorail resorts are so easy and, if you can't get an ADR, they also offer QS options. You can even walk right to the Poly from the TTC, they are side-by-side. Otherwise, most resorts are within short driving distance to the TTC if you can find an ADR you like.

 

[Her Dotness]

For an enthusiastic eater, MK's Liberty Tree Tavern could be an excellent choice. It's all-you-can-eat for whatever someone wants more of.

As you may be aware, it's traditional American food served family-style which allows for meat choices if some prefer roast beef or pork to turkey.

Dinner begins at 3:00 p.m. which puts you optimally in the midst of MK at a great time if that's your park of the day or you can ParkHop to it. You must have a MK park ticket or use PH to get into MK before 4:00 p.m. as mentioned above.

Otherwise, make an ADR after 4:00. We made one for 5:00 and found that perfect. Crowds were being thinned dramatically by the time we finished eating, and the party was about to start.

 

[Marthasor]

If you have a big eater, I would consider Whispering Canyon at WL. You can either park at WL and then drive to TTC afterward, or just park at TTC, monorail to MK and boat to WL. Or simply park at TTC and book a restaurant on the monorail - I would consider Kona, GF Cafe or Steakhouse 71. I would try to time it so you are walking into MK at 4 pm so you don't miss any of your MK time. Another option could be a late lunch at Sanaa at AKL and then drive to TTC from there. Unless you want to spend a lot of time at DS, I wouldn't eat there - IMHO, it takes too much time to park, get through security and walk to the restaurants there if you are just looking for a bit to eat.

 

[Her Dotness]

Completely on a tangent--another reason to eat somewhere in the MK is wanting to buy party-specific souvenirs such as t-shirts, pins, etc.

This is why we prefer eating in the MK for either MNSSHP or MVMCP. You need to be at The Emporium on Main Street at least 15 minutes before 7:00 if interested in buying party exclusives. That's a great source for those, but it's a popular one.

CMs won't let anyone near the displays until exactly 7:00 p.m. There sometimes are lines of people waiting to get to the party display, why it's important to get there well before 7:00.

Dropping bunches of bucks on this stuff may not be something your family will do, but if it is, here's your warning. Party stuff can sell out within a half hour of 7:00 p.m.

 

[Upatnoon]

If are eating at a monorail resort, it is still going to take some time to get to the front gates. I would probably want to be wrapping up eating around 3 p.m. or soon after.

No matter what option you pick to eat, you want to be at the gate of MK before 4 p.m. so you can get right in when they allow it. Sometimes it is a few minutes early.

Once in, you can start taking full advantage of your precious park time.

At some point in the evening, you may need a break from candy and walking around and you can stop for a quick bite somewhere.


.

 

[leebee]

The last time we went to MVMCP we had a 2pm ADR at The Wave at the Contemporary. We ate, changed into our party shirts, and were in line to enter MK by 3:50. I booked FP rides until 6pm, then we stayed for the party. We'd eaten enough at lunch that we didn't need a full dinner, just noshed throughout the evening at the party.

 

[erinch]

Staying offsite at Vistana. On our party day, I am brooking our park reservation at Epcot. We will do a late entry, parking at the TTC and taking monorail, and have lupper there. Then take monorail over to be at MK at 4.

In your scenario, an advantage of WCC is that the food comes out quick, so you could have an ADR at 2 and be at MK for start of party. Nobody has mentioned Ohana as another option. I am not a fan of the meats, but the rest is great, and the problem there is slowing it down, so your 2 pm timeframe would work.

Steakhouse 71 lounge is open for lunch, and the burgers are great.

My priorities are to be parked at TTC well before the start of the party, and not to fill bonus 4-7 time with a sit-down meal. In addition to merch questions, do you want to meet characters? Some of those meet and greets generally start before 7.

 

[RanDIZ]

Drive straight to Ft. Wilderness and eat at P&Js. The whole campground is decorated too which is a fun experience. Then drive across the street to TTC when you’re rdy for the party.

 

[georgina]

I have had a substantial late lunch at Whispering Canyon and Grand Floridian Cafe before parties. I prefer to do rides once I enter the park at 4, so I eat earlier. GFC may be undergoing renovation this fall. I have never tried Steakhouse 71, but that is a convenient option also.

I had a nice dinner at Geyser Point before an after hours event, that may be an option but no reservations there. (I was solo and ate at the bar.)

 

[gottalovepluto]

Grand FL Cafe gets my vote. I would make an ADR for 2 hours before you want to be at the party. Park at TTC & take the monorail over to GF. If that’s not to your fancy I would browse all the monorail resort dining options & find one that does. I would not do any of the big eater places though because with only 1 big eater in the family that’s a lot of wasted money on everyone else.

 

[Raya]

We eat at Grand Floridan Cafe, taking the last lunch reservation of the day - 2pm. A lesurely lunch still leaves you a bit of time to shop or ride the monorail over to the park in time for your 4pm MNSSHP ticket's entry. We've been tempted to try Steakhouse 71 for lunch, again at 2pm, but haven't heard the best things about the lunch menu.