When would you eat at Cafe Orleans on a Halloween party evening?

[Eeee-va]

We're planning to be in the parks on Halloween for Mickey's party. I figure we'll eat lunch in Downtown Disney and then head over to the parks at 3 PM for the party, which starts at 6 and ends at 11.

I recalled from 2010 that the counter-service eateries were very busy on party nights, so I figured we could do a sit-down meal. I emailed a dining request for Cafe Orleans for the latest time possible, figuring they'd close at or near the party start time, so we could wait out some of the crowds in the restaurant.

They helpfully noted "Guests booked after 5:00pm must have tickets to Mickeys Halloween party." and gave me a 10 PM booking!

Has Cafe Orleans always been open through the whole Halloween party? I don't remember reading that here.

I'll be requesting a new time, given I hope to be riding rides at 10 PM. What time would you make a reservation to avoid crowds? I know in 2010 (7-midnight party) the park seemed to get busier around half an hour before the party started. We figured that once the official party time hit, things would get less crowded. In fact, after the party started, it felt MORE crowded, though I now suspect part of the problem was us going where the crowds were. (Note to self. Skip the locker and do NOT go to Main Street near party start time.)

Would it be silly to make a reservation for 6 and spend an hour of the party in a restaurant? Or would you do a 5 PM or 5:30 PM reservation? Would it be neat to be in the Cafe Orleans and see the Rivers of America effects from the restaurant, or would you not even notice? Will there be good peoplewatching?

As far as the party, 3/4 of us have seen the fireworks and the only 2 who are interested in the parade have seen it. So I think our main priorities are wearing costumes, rides, a bit of trick-or-treating, and if he is around, meeting Duffy.

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

I don't recall if they were open for the entire party last year. I know they were open for the first few hours, though, because my friend and I wished we hadn't grabbed a quick bite before going into the party and had eaten there instead so we could people watch. (The key to people watching there is to sit outside. Great view from there.)

We also noticed how busy the first couple hours of the party were, and I don't think having dinner during those craziest hours would be silly at all. You'd still have plenty of time for rides and trick-or-treating, and you wouldn't have to fight quite as ridiculous a crowd to do it.

 

[MagicMomma1]

We've been to the party the past 2 yrs and frankly I don't think it's worth it to spend party time at a sit down meal. Last year we had a late lunch at Ralph Brennan's which was finished by 3. It was our main meal of the day and left us so full we didn't need/want dinner. And then we got cookies and hot cocoa from the Market House when we were ready for a snack and enjoyed that during the fireworks. I'd just recommend having a late lunch/early dinner and spend the precious party time focusing on the rides/characters/atmosphere, etc. If you get hungry later, grab a snack. During the Halloween party is the perfect time to indulge in one (or more!) of the delicious seasonally-themed treats available at the park then.

Hope you have an AMAZING time when you go!

 

[tinkerbelt]

I think I'd do an early dinner, and not waste time eating during the party. I'd just eat early, and then plan on grabbing a quick snack during the party to maximize ride time.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

I was worried about food on party day, too. To top it off, that is also our check in day, so I've got to hope that our hotel can and will check us in early on arrival day (thier check in time is 4pm). I had one of two ideas bouncing in my head. Idea one: go straight to Tangarora Terrace for lunch after trying to check in (we should be arriving at 1pm at the latest). Go back to the hotel to get ready for the party and have a blast. Idea two: I made ressies for Carnaition Cafe at 4:10 pm, enough time to get through the line and make our way down Main Street. That way we could get a light lunch at the hotel, unload and get ready. If the hotel can check us in on arrival, we could order a pizza and relax from the 5+ hour drive and take our time getting ready.

 

[sweethannah]

We've been to the party the past 2 yrs and frankly I don't think it's worth it to spend party time at a sit down meal. Last year we had a late lunch at Ralph Brennan's which was finished by 3. It was our main meal of the day and left us so full we didn't need/want dinner. And then we got cookies and hot cocoa from the Market House when we were ready for a snack and enjoyed that during the fireworks. I'd just recommend having a late lunch/early dinner and spend the precious party time focusing on the rides/characters/atmosphere, etc. If you get hungry later, grab a snack. During the Halloween party is the perfect time to indulge in one (or more!) of the delicious seasonally-themed treats available at the park then.

Hope you have an AMAZING time when you go!

Great information! One of our party is not doing the Halloween Party ( DM77!) so we were hoping to do a early dinner/late lunch as a group and then head off in our separate directions. The official start time of the party is 6pm for us so we might try one of the surrounding area restaurants that aren't common in our area. Bubba Gump Shrimp is definitely on our list!

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

My family and I are hitting the parks during early entry as DLH guests. Take a good nap after lunch. Enjoy our makeovers at Disney 365 and Pirates League at 4:15 followed by dinner at Cafe Orleans at 5:15. Then party until closing. Learning from experience, my family does best with a good afternoon nap followed by early dinner to enjoy the party until closing.

 

[disneychrista]

I do know that Rancho del Zacola was closed last year during the party. We had planned to eat there but couldn't due to its closure.

 

[Eeee-va]

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone!

Cafe Orleans is likely going to be our only table service meal at the resort, unless I talk my mom into going somewhere else instead. So assuming her restaurant choice doesn't change, we have to eat there either Wednesday on the party day, or Thursday or Friday, November 1 and 2. (We have 2-day hoppers and 2 nights at the GCH--thank you, DIS Unplugged contest! --and we added a party day to stretch out the vacation a bit.) Halloween is the only day we're locked into Disneyland Park (as opposed to having DCA as an option for food and attractions). One of my travel companions hasn't been to DCA since before The Little Mermaid and the other has never been (and my mom and I haven't been since before Buena Vista Street and Cars Land opened). So I anticipate spending a lot of time there.

In 2010 we tried to eat a late lunch but it didn't end up being that late and we absolutely had to get some protein during the party. Even with a late lunch, I don't know if we can go from 3-11 without more than snacks. Though I guess I could look for gingerbread and try!

My thinking is that around the start time of the Halloween party very well may be the most crowded time in Disneyland overall during our trip. At least, in 2010, we found it too crowded to do much of anything around party start time (inexplicably, the line for BTMRR was outside the switchbacks at one point!). I will plan better this time, but I'm not sure if there is a way to avoid crowds at the party start time, unless we're holed away somewhere, such as a restaurant.

From the timestamps, it looks like it only took us 15 minutes to get our food from Bengal Barbecue (got in line a bit after 7:45 PM on a 7 PM party start date). It felt much longer, probably due to the pressing crowds. So even if it "only" takes 15 minutes to get food from a counter-service place, that still means it's in theory about 15-30 minutes more to have a sit-down meal. So assuming we need to actually eat during the party (which I'm not sure about), I still lean towards sit-down as being a viable option. Obviously there's mixed feedback as to if it's the BEST option. I'll have to think about this.

Thanks!