We have 2 teenagers (a boy 15 & a girl 14) and were looking to go out for Christmas Eve & New Years Eve. We had received several recommendations from the forum but didn’t really want to do a theme park. We were looking more for a relaxing evening, maybe a nice meal with a bit of a party atmosphere, something we would remember in future years. There are lots of organised parties for both occasions e.g City Walk, Pleasure Island, The Tavern in Celebration, but as most party tickets include free alcohol or at least champgne at midnight the tickets are restricted to strictly over 21’s.
However, we came across some really good alternatives.
On Christmas Eve we did the ‘meal & a movie’ package at Universal which costs $19.95 including tax. You can choose any of the movies showing at the Multiplex Cinema and choose a meal from a restricted menu at almost any of the restaurants in City Walk. Be careful not to leave it too late to eat as many of the restaurants stop serving by about 9pm. We went to see King Kong, which was very good, the kids loved it, and then on to The Hard Rock Café which is open until 1am most nights.
The ‘meal & a movie’ deal is available all year round and great value.
On New Year’s Eve we went to Celebration for the ‘snow’ in the Market Square, falling at 6,7,8 & 9pm, had a walk by the lakeside, a drink in the Market Street Café (nice menu) and then on to Downtown Disney. We booked a table for 10pm at Planet Hollywood who were serving their usual menu at usual prices (no entry surcharge for New Year’s Eve). At 11.45pm the party atmosphere really warmed up - all diners were offered Party hats, streamers & blowers, champagne for the over 21’s, lots of party music from the DJ, on screen greetings and requests. The big screens showed a run down of events in the news & music world during 2005 prior to the count down to midnight live from Times Square. We had a great night and came out just in time to catch the end of the fireworks display from Pleasure Island.
You could always create your own meal & a movie night by combining a visit to the AMC cinema at Downtown Disney or Celebration with a meal in your favourite restaurant nearby.
We will certainly do it again!
However, we came across some really good alternatives.
On Christmas Eve we did the ‘meal & a movie’ package at Universal which costs $19.95 including tax. You can choose any of the movies showing at the Multiplex Cinema and choose a meal from a restricted menu at almost any of the restaurants in City Walk. Be careful not to leave it too late to eat as many of the restaurants stop serving by about 9pm. We went to see King Kong, which was very good, the kids loved it, and then on to The Hard Rock Café which is open until 1am most nights.
The ‘meal & a movie’ deal is available all year round and great value.
On New Year’s Eve we went to Celebration for the ‘snow’ in the Market Square, falling at 6,7,8 & 9pm, had a walk by the lakeside, a drink in the Market Street Café (nice menu) and then on to Downtown Disney. We booked a table for 10pm at Planet Hollywood who were serving their usual menu at usual prices (no entry surcharge for New Year’s Eve). At 11.45pm the party atmosphere really warmed up - all diners were offered Party hats, streamers & blowers, champagne for the over 21’s, lots of party music from the DJ, on screen greetings and requests. The big screens showed a run down of events in the news & music world during 2005 prior to the count down to midnight live from Times Square. We had a great night and came out just in time to catch the end of the fireworks display from Pleasure Island.
You could always create your own meal & a movie night by combining a visit to the AMC cinema at Downtown Disney or Celebration with a meal in your favourite restaurant nearby.
We will certainly do it again!