Will I have enough time after dinner?

[kguenther8]

First, quick background: We are visiting MK on Sept. 7th, and watching 3pm parade, doing Cinderella's Royal Table for lunch, and just doing all we want to do that do with no dinner plans.
We are then headed to AK on Sept 8 until around 2 or 3pm. Then we planned on heading back to MK. I have a 6:30 ADR for BOG for dinner. Will this give us enough time to eat dinner, and then head over to see Electrical Parade and the light show on castle/wishes? I know it will be cutting it close for parade, so what should be my strategy for leaving the restuarant to view parade, and get to a good spot for light show and wishes? We have never seen any of these, so I want to have a decent spot, but doesnt' have to be perfect. Should I try and do dinner earlier, or do you think we will be okay? We are not dinner lingerers....
Also, I didn't want to be too rushed at AK, so I thought, with travel time, it would take us a bit to get from one park to the other (we will be driving).
Thanks for all your help in advance. Last time, we did not make any night time shows, so I am unsure how to prepare

 

[figment_jii]

I answered on your other thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/bog-dinner-timing-question1.3390777/

Just to clarify, you have a BOG ADR for Sep 7 (Mon) or Sep 8 (Tue)? It makes a big difference in terms of timing.

MSEP is at 9:00 pm and Wishes is at 10:00 pm on Sept 7. That would give you about 2.5 hours to have your dinner and then find a spot to see MSEP. I think you'll probably be okay because once you're seated BOG tends to more fairly quickly. I generally allow between 60 and 90 minutes for a non-buffet TS meal, so that gives you some cushion time in case they're running behind schedule for seating and then some more time to find a viewing spot for MSEP and Wishes.

If you ADR is for Sep 8 (Tue), then MSEP is at 8:00 pm and Wishes is at 9:00 pm, which only gives you about 90 minutes to have dinner and then find a spot for MSEP. In that case, I think there is a chance that you'll make it for MSEP, but there is a good chance that you'll miss some/all of MSEP and/or won't be able to find a good viewing spot because you'll be getting there very close to the start of the parade.

For me, I would look into trying to get a FP+ for MSEP and Wishes. I know that parade/show FP+ get mixed reviews, but I liked having them on my last trip. While it might have saved a lot of time, it did mean viewing in a generally less crowded area.

 

[kguenther8]

My ADR is on Sept. 8th. We have a down day on Sept. 9th, so I wanted that to be our later night, so we can sleep in the next day Wondering if maybe I didn't leave enough time now, though...

 

[figment_jii]

As I said, I think there is a chance you'll be able to see MSEP, but if it were me, I'd be spending the entire dinner watching the clock worrying about the time. Luckily, Sep 8 is the day after Labor Day, so that might help in terms of crowds, but the flip side is that is also MK's EMH night, so crowds might be higher due to that. Overall, I don't think you can walk up to the parade route a few minutes before step-off an expect to find a curb spot.

MSEP is at 9:00 pm on Monday. Is that to late? Because if it's not, then I would try to watch it on Monday (even though there will be Labor Day crowds) and then focus on Wishes on Tuesday (after BOG).

 

[kguenther8]

hmm, I went ahead and booked for Sept. 7th, at 6:20, since we will be in the park that day anyways. That way, we can stay if the kids are feeling frisky, and if not, we can leave after dinner and come back the next night, but with no dinner to have to make. Does this sound better? I may be heading over to post my cancellation for BOG for sept. 8...

 

[kguenther8]

Great point about watching the clock. I know myself, and I won't enjoy my AK day, worrying about my BOG reservations that night! I am going to cancel my BOG for Sept. 8th, and go instead on Sept. 7th (I have them booked both days) Then, we can enjoy AK and head over to MK when we are done, grab a QS dinner at Columbia Harbor House, and wait for parade/wishes. I like that they are earlier that night also. I feel like this won't be as rushed, or leave me worrying. Does this sound like a good plan?

 

[To the honeypots]

My ADR is on Sept. 8th. We have a down day on Sept. 9th, so I wanted that to be our later night, so we can sleep in the next day Wondering if maybe I didn't leave enough time now, though...

Seriously, we are on the same travel schedule. Lol. Yes, I agree with moving BOG to 9/7.