WWYD - Dinner At Cali Grill vs MVMCP

[godders]

I was lucky enough to snag a dinner ADR for Cali Grill in the post Thanksgiving week but it is on an MVMCP evening.

I've never been to the Christmas Party and plan to go earlier in the week but when I've previously been to MNSSHP I've gone multiple times in a trip to fit in all everything I want to do.

Cost wise they come out roughly the same and I wouldn't plan on losing party time by waiting for 7 Dwarves and/Jack & Sally but I would queue up to meet the Princesses and their Princes, watch the fireworks, get a good spot to get pictures of the parade etc. It's only a week long trip this year so my only other full day at MK would be a non party day with evening EMH so my day may be more limited due to the crowds (but I am a rope dropper so that helps).

I ate at Cali Grill on my last trip but my entree was awful (so peppery I had to send it back) but I really enjoyed everything else and it was a great experience of the fireworks

So if you were me and had the choice would you go Cali Grill or the Christmas Party??

 

[mmafan]

MVMCP...........no question.....................................

 

[lpizzuro123]

MVMCP.

 

[Figmentmommy]

One more vote for MVMCP!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Cal grill!

I despise mvmcp and think it's a waste of money. The last time we had free tickets and had I paid I would've demanded my money back. It was insanely crowded, fights broke out in the cocoa & cookie lines, all the character lines were insane & both the fireworks & parade have been shortened from their original versions etc

 

[HopperFan]

Are you saying you are already going to the party earlier in the week and asking if you should go twice, like you do for the MNSSHP?

 

[godders]

Are you saying you are already going to the party earlier in the week and asking if you should go twice, like you do for the MNSSHP?

Yes I currently plan to go on the Tuesday that week and am wondering if it is worth going twice or whether I should stick to with my Cali Grill ADR a couple of nights later.

Money wise they run about equal but I'm a photography enthusiast so I spend quite a lot of time getting photos while I'm at the Halloween parties so I imagine it would be the same at the Christmas party. From the DIS I get the idea that MVMCP tends to have a higher average crowd than MNSSHP so I'm worried I won't be able to fit everything into one party.

 

[HopperFan]

Yes I currently plan to go on the Tuesday that week and am wondering if it is worth going twice or whether I should stick to with my Cali Grill ADR a couple of nights later.

Money wise they run about equal but I'm a photography enthusiast so I spend quite a lot of time getting photos while I'm at the Halloween parties so I imagine it would be the same at the Christmas party. From the DIS I get the idea that MVMCP tends to have a higher average crowd than MNSSHP so I'm worried I won't be able to fit everything into one party.

I have done 2 MNSSHP each year for almost a decade. I have done the MVMCP a few times. I've never felt the Christmas was more crowded, actually less and our family got much more done. I feel like the Halloween is way superior to the Christmas. The best thing about the Christmas is the parade on Main Street with the snow coming down. Other wise it's just a crowded park night with a few extra characters. You can get the castle lighting any other day.

I have watched MNSSHP and MVMCP from Cali and it is beyond awesome and totally completely different from any other fireworks. They shoot off more 360 and even have launch pads on side roads, one just past the Contemporary. If you shoot photos and have good camera to grab fireworks, the view up there is awesome. Get all the way to the end of the observation deck and prepare to be in awe.

Now I have found Cali food quality to decrease so last December DS and I went to see MVMCP fireworks. We ordered two appetizers and soft drinks, had a very nice not drug out meal for less than we paid to eat at just an average TS restaurant. We did tip closer to 25% because we didn't order entrees and our server was totally fine with our plan.
I personally would do one party and then appreciate the fireworks from up high.

 

[Mitzicat]

I've been to both parties (MNSSHP and MVMCP) as well as dined at Cali Grill. I would do MNSSHP twice - I would never do MVMCP twice or probably ever again. I just didn't enjoy it as much as the Halloween party. It was cool to see it snow on Main Street, but that was about it. It be neat if each cookie location had a different type of cookie, but I understand that wouldn't be cost effective. the Christmas Party just didn't have the feel of the Halloween party. I can't put my finger on it. But we all just felt it was blah.

 

[HopperFan]

I've been to both parties (MNSSHP and MVMCP) as well as dined at Cali Grill. I would do MNSSHP twice - I would never do MVMCP twice or probably ever again. I just didn't enjoy it as much as the Halloween party. It was cool to see it snow on Main Street, but that was about it. It be neat if each cookie location had a different type of cookie, but I understand that wouldn't be cost effective. the Christmas Party just didn't have the feel of the Halloween party. I can't put my finger on it. But we all just felt it was blah.

I think part of it is that for Halloween the entire park vibe changes with all the spooky lights, smoke and variety of characters such as Madame Carlotta, Dead Dapper Dan guys etc. The shows, the parade .. all not the norm. It has a totally different feel everywhere.

At Christmas other than snow on Main Street there really is no difference in how the rest of the park looks and holiday music is a norm. The castle lights look exactly the same party night or not. And the parade is available after the parties end so it's not entirely exclusive. We enjoy as a family, our elf tshirts and made it our own fun but I agree nothing like Halloween.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I was lucky enough to snag a dinner ADR for Cali Grill in the post Thanksgiving week but it is on an MVMCP evening.

I've never been to the Christmas Party and plan to go earlier in the week but when I've previously been to MNSSHP I've gone multiple times in a trip to fit in all everything I want to do.

Cost wise they come out roughly the same and I wouldn't plan on losing party time by waiting for 7 Dwarves and/Jack & Sally but I would queue up to meet the Princesses and their Princes, watch the fireworks, get a good spot to get pictures of the parade etc. It's only a week long trip this year so my only other full day at MK would be a non party day with evening EMH so my day may be more limited due to the crowds (but I am a rope dropper so that helps).

I ate at Cali Grill on my last trip but my entree was awful (so peppery I had to send it back) but I really enjoyed everything else and it was a great experience of the fireworks

So if you were me and had the choice would you go Cali Grill or the Christmas Party??

Reading the bolded...are you asking about going to MVMCP twice vs. going to MVMCP once and then Cali Grill? THat's what it seems like..

If that's the case, then I would do 1 MVMCP and 1 night at Cali Grill. IMHO, the christmas party doesn't have as much that is party-exclusive as MNSSHP does, and it would be easy IMO to get the MVMCP stuff done in one night (especially if you aren't waiting for Jack&Sally/7 Dwarves). We've done both parties, and while I'd do MSSHP twice in one trip, I don't know that we'll ever do MVMCP again, much less do it twice in one trip.

 

[Quellman]

Since you are already doing 1 party night, there isn't too much at night that you couldn't get from the regular full day you have planned at MK anyway. The parade, fireworks, and some of the characters are the biggest differences between the party and normal MK offerings. The cookies and cocoa aren't a big deal, especially if its still 75 degrees out (as it was when we were there in December of last year).

Enjoy the cali grill, giving them another fair shake at the food. Then enjoy the fireworks show which like the halloween party includes spectacular perimeter bursts.

 

[AnnaKat]

Same. Our Cali was night we chose for MVMCP w/ Holiday Wishes Dessert Party.
So we ca nceled Cali G.

And booked Cali on a different night!!

 

[godders]

Brilliant!

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[Nancyg56]

I might consider going to MNSSHP twice, but not MVVMCP. Nope. It's nice, and I have been several times, but not twice in the same trip.

If you do not care for CG, why not go to Narcoossees? You still get to enjoy the Holiday Wishes from outside the park, and the meal and atmosphere is lovely. It is nto the same vantage point as CG, but I think it is spectacular anyway. I choose this restauant to view the show when I am not in the park.

 

[Mitzicat]

I think part of it is that for Halloween the entire park vibe changes with all the spooky lights, smoke and variety of characters such as Madame Carlotta, Dead Dapper Dan guys etc. The shows, the parade .. all not the norm. It has a totally different feel everywhere.

At Christmas other than snow on Main Street there really is no difference in how the rest of the park looks and holiday music is a norm. The castle lights look exactly the same party night or not. And the parade is available after the parties end so it's not entirely exclusive. We enjoy as a family, our elf tshirts and made it our own fun but I agree nothing like Halloween.

You may have hit the nail on the head!