Hi Christopher!
Welcome to planDisney! We’re so happy you stopped by to bring us your question.
Christopher, you are in for such a treat!
Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is such a great choice. There’s something really special about dining inside one of the original Walt Disney World Resort hotels. It has that classic Disney history, but the vibe is still super relaxed and welcoming. I hope you love it as much as I have!
When it comes to dinner plans, I try to make sure there is enough time to really sit back and enjoy. Disney vacations can feel busy at times, and a nice sit-down is a great opportunity to take a moment, relax, and enjoy a wonderful meal with wonderful company! In my experience, I’d guesstimate a nice dinner might take about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on whether you’re ordering multiple courses or keeping things simple. If your reservation is at 8:00 p.m., I'd say you would likely wrap up somewhere around 9:00 to 9:30 p.m.
If you’re hoping to catch the Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular,
Happily Ever After, you might be cutting it close. Now, show times do vary, so I highly recommend
checking the entertainment schedule for the day you plan this magical night.
My recommendation, so you don’t feel rushed, is to see if you can move the reservation up a bit. And if you don’t see the times you’re hoping for, keep checking back. Guests modify plans frequently, and I've had great luck finding and adjusting reservations as the dates become closer.
The great news is that the fourth floor observation deck at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is just an elevator ride away from the restaurant. Once you’re finished with dinner, it’s very quick to head upstairs, which makes it a really convenient spot if you’re hoping to catch Happily Ever After over at Magic Kingdom Park.
One last little pro-tip: when you’re seated, you can mention to your server that you’re hoping to head upstairs to watch Happily Ever After afterward. Cast Members at Steakhouse 71 are wonderful about pacing the meal when guests have fireworks plans.
I’m so excited for the magical evening you have planned. A great dinner followed by fireworks is one of my favorite ways to end a Disney day! And Happily Ever After is hands down my favorite fireworks show at Walt Disney World. The music, the projections, the emotion of that finale… it gets me every single time. Seeing it from the Contemporary is such a fun perspective too, because you still get that beautiful view of the castle in the distance with the fireworks lighting up the sky.
I hope you have the best time, and if any other planning questions pop up, feel free to stop by and ask away. Sending you sparkly wishes for your own happy ever after,
Emille