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Hi everyone,
Boy, it's been a looooong time since I've posted here. Unfortunately, that means it's been a loooong time since I've been to WDW. Well, all that is about to change, yay!
A group of 7 of us are headed to WDW for a couple days for an impromptu celebration of my father's 75th birthday. He loves the place, especially Epcot during the FWF. Eating at Epcot during FWF is easy, some may say too easy. But eating at MK is a bit more difficult.
I'm late to the game on reservations for a place we'd love to eat dinner (BOG ) but I was wondering what other ideas people had for dining. (Honestly, I used to be so good at this.)We will be at MK all day so I don't actually mind leaving to eat an early-ish dinner at a nearby hotel. After dinner, we return to MK for MNSSHP. We don't want to miss the parade or the fireworks if at all possible.
Any thoughts about getting a ressie at BOG or other great suggestions are welcome! Thanks again!
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Wisconsin Reunion July 2017
Last edited by WEDway Guy; 07-27-2017 at 01:10 PM..
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I would definitely choose leaving and hitting up one of the monorail resorts for a good meal. Not sure if you are thinking a low key or a fancier meal...our favorites in the area are 'Ohana, Narcoossee's, Kona Cafe, GF Cafe & the Wave. We like 1900 Patk Fare but we have never done dinner there but the reviews are always good. If you really want to stay in MK, I would look at Crystal Palace since with a group it is always fun there and definitely something for everyone. As far as snagging a ressie - stalking & perseverance. Many people snag stuff at the last moment due to changes in plans but you will need a Plan B just in case.
Your issue with leaving the park to eat dinner will be that you might miss a fair chunk of the beginning of the party. If you want to take in the trick or treat stations or the character greetings, or even some of the attractions (Haunted Mansion, etc.), going to the Poly or Grand Floridian takes a while round trip. You could walk to the Contemporary in about 10 minutes, but even a 6:00 PM, prime dinner time, reservation probably puts you back at MK no earlier than 7:30. If memory serves, the parade is at 8:30, assuming you don't want to wait for the late one. So, an hour or so to do whatever you want, and then another hour or so before getting into position for the fireworks. I don't know what you plan to accomplish, but that doesn't seem like much time to me. Of course, there is time after the fireworks, too.
I'm rambling. If I were going, I would eat in the park and save myself the travel time back and forth to the resorts. If you can't get BOG, I think Liberty Tree Tavern serves a nice meal. Crystal Palace's buffet is good. And of course there's Cinderella's Royal Table, but you'd probably have about the same chance getting in there as you would BOG.
The resorts definitely give you more meal options, but those all come with the trade off of less time at the party. Bear in mind, when I've gone to the party, I've entered the park at 4:00 PM. We've done a late brunch at the Contemporary and let that serve as dinner.
If your tastes run to it, you could try the Skipper Canteen in Adventureland. It's pretty new (been open maybe a year and a half now) and I think they finally started taking ADR's. For a while it was a walk up only thing for getting them. If not, I agree, just keep trying for BoG and if booking for 7 doesn't work, try for 4 and 3 and then request to be seated together when you get to the restaurant.
Are all the restaurants going to be open during the party? I was under the impression that only select attractions & restaurants are fully open during the party, which is why we opted for a late lunch at Sanaa the day of our party (10/26). I agree with joelsmom who brought up a valid point - you're spending a good chunk of change to be at this amazing party, I'd be reluctant to leave, especially with all the cool impromptu stuff that pops up!
If it were me, I'd either do a late lunch outside of MK, or hit a counter service while I'm there so as to minimize downtime! Or, if you can do it, you could snack your way through the night!
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As you may have discovered by now, getting an ADR for BOG is pretty challenging if you weren't lucky enough to nab one immediately upon your window opening on your 180.
Keep trying if you want that. We are and hoping maybe...possibly...the magic will come through for us.
We really enjoyed having Afternoon Tea at the GF as "linner" before the MVMCP. Food came at a leisurely pace, filled us plenty but not "oh-so-stuffed" full (and we're both big eaters). You can chat, enjoying each other's company and then have a very short monorail ride to the MK or take the boat, slower but enjoyable and drops you in front of the MK gate. Allow a couple hours for AT, though, not something to rush.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
I like The Wave at Contemporary but dinner doesn't start until 5 (Lunch runs from 11-2 however), also Grand Floridian Cafe imo is good but has similar hours to The Wave. Maybe try a park restaurant Liberty Tree of Crystal Palace.
If you stick with an early dinner, like 5-ish, you can certainly choose someplace like Kona Café or The Wave. I personally wouldn't pick a signature restaurant because I generally don't like rushing those meals, but that's just me. If you're trying inside MK, we've done LTT and Tony's for MNSSHP, with LTT being the better meal. We have also enjoyed meals at Skipper Canteen and Crystal Palace, but we haven't tried to get them during the party.
As you may have discovered by now, getting an ADR for BOG is pretty challenging if you weren't lucky enough to nab one immediately upon your window opening on your 180.
Keep trying if you want that. We are and hoping maybe...possibly...the magic will come through for us.
In my research, it seems that the consensus is that the better deal is a Lunch CS at BoG rather than a dinner - the food is just as good (if not better) and you get more bang for your buck. AND...you don't have to stress out about ADRs. I think in 2019 (our next trip after this October), we're going to do that instead of dinner.
In my research, it seems that the consensus is that the better deal is a Lunch CS at BoG rather than a dinner - the food is just as good (if not better) and you get more bang for your buck. AND...you don't have to stress out about ADRs.
That ol' time warp snagged you again.
All three meals at BOG now require an ADR.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
When we were at MNSSHP, we ate at Casey's. I know it's a quick meal, but we really had fun watching the flow of costumed people make their way into MK. We were all dressed in costumes too. We ate early, before 5 if I remember correctly, and it was mobbed. But, it was one of those memories that I will treasure!
Casey's is fine for a quick bite from a very limited menu if that's what is wanted so as to get to partying with the least interruption. I agree with you on that much.
I understood the OP to be wanting a TS meal which is why I didn't suggest QS.
And, I heartily disagree that Casey's offers what I'd call dinner. Your mileage clearly varies.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
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If you're trying inside MK, we've done LTT and Tony's for MNSSHP, with LTT being the better meal. We have also enjoyed meals at Skipper Canteen and Crystal Palace, but we haven't tried to get them during the party.
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