Early AM Crystal Palace ADR mainly for photos?

[Experiment_626]

I've seriously considered trying to get the earliest possible ADR for Crystal Palace on some upcoming trip with my primary motivation being a chance for Cinderella Castle photos without throngs of guests in the shot. Don't get me wrong; I'd definitely want to actually partake of the breakfast, but if I tried for the earliest ADR, photography would be the reason.

Anyone here ever do that? How much time, realistically, would you have to stop and take photos? Will cast members give you a hard time about it if you take an actual minute or two to do this? If I could, I'd have my tripod and camera ready to go as I was walking down the street and could probably be done within two minutes or less -- I'd prefer to shoot a bracketed sequence or two for HDR purposes if I could.

What's the scoop? I may try it anyway at some point -- I do love a good breakfast buffet better than pretty much any other meal, and I prefer an early start on those rare instances when I can drag my wife out of bed before 9 am -- but I'd like to know what I could reasonably expect to be able to do, as opposed to looking like a big doofus (more so than usual, anyway).

SSB

 

[Evad]

We did this in 05. I took pics all the way up Main st. USA. Though I did not go right up to the castle, I did take about 15 mins working my way up to the restaurant. It allowed me plenty of time to get some really nice detail shots of Main st. USA as well some great distance shots of the castle. The photopass photogarphers were already out at this time time as well. Our adr was for 8:30 and we arrived at the park just before 8:00 am. I say go for it.

 

[Miller1412]

We do it every time we go. I think it's worth being able to get in and grab some great photos without being herded like cattle down Main St. Plus you get the added benefit of a yummy breakfast and if you eat quickly, you can still be out and in the hub before the rope drop.

My DH usually goes on ahead to check in at the CP and I shoot away, but honestly, we only have about 15 minutes or so before we have to be at the doors to be seated, but it's enough to get some nice shots in.

 

[Experiment_626]

Okay, 15 minutes sounds like enough time to get quite a few exposures.

I know Crystal Palace is a hot ticket, but I wonder how difficult it is to get that earliest ADR. I know most people seem less inclined to get up that early on vacation. I'll also have to double-check that the morning I choose doesn't offer AM Extra Magic Hours at the MK; I imagine that would defeat the purpose ...

SSB

 

[annnewjerz]

Okay, 15 minutes sounds like enough time to get quite a few exposures.

I know Crystal Palace is a hot ticket, but I wonder how difficult it is to get that earliest ADR. I know most people seem less inclined to get up that early on vacation. I'll also have to double-check that the morning I choose doesn't offer AM Extra Magic Hours at the MK; I imagine that would defeat the purpose ...

SSB

From what I can see over on the restaurant board when I pop by, the first ADR of the morning at CP is something that is pretty tough to get (or has been in the past). Usually, people call 90 days out for it.

However, what I have also heard is that whether you have an 8:05am ADR or an 8:15am ADR, they let everyone in that has pre-park opening reservations at the same time. So even if you can't get an 8:05am ADR----it might actually work out better to have one that's a little later but still show up as early as you would if your reservation was first-thing.

We are planning to do this for our trip in December, make sure to share how it goes if you end up getting an early reservation!

Ann

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

We have an 8:05 CP and an 8:05 Tusker house ressie in August. I am planning on walking very slowly so I can get some shots without crowds. The problem will be getting everyone up and going for those.

 

[handicap18]

I got an 8:05 ADR at Crystal Palace during our June '06 trip. They open the gates for those with early ADR's at CP or in the Castle at 7:45am. SWEEEET. We got there about 7:50. I was fine with being a little late for our reservation time, but DW was hungry. I did get a few nice shots, though in June at 8am the sun has been up for quite a few hours. I would love to go in December and get the early ADR. Sunrise is much later so 8am would have some real good light (so long as the weather is nice).

7:51am June 11, 2006:

7:52am June 11, 2006:

I liked this one too...
8:00am June 11, 2006:

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Thanks so much Kyle. I was hoping that it looked like that early in the morning.

 

[Pooh_Girl]

Ok, here's my suggestion (we did this last October.) Look at the hours of park operation and find a day that does NOT have extra magic hour in the morning; book an ADR for that day!! We had an ADR for Cinderella's Royal Table at 8:05 and the park did not open until 9:00. They actually let us into the park around 7:30 and I made sure that we were one of the first ones onto Main Street so that I could take pictures w/o one person in front of me. I took photos all the way up to the castle. I'll see if I can find a couple...

 

[JR6ooo4]

Ya, we tried that our last trip, had an 8:05 reso. But it was thundering and lightning, and much rain, so we slept in a little. It stopped and we still made it to MK time for our first ever rope drop.

and since it was rainy and cold before dawn not many people were there.There could not have been more than 200 people that morning, waiting for Mickey and the guest family to ride in on the train.

Mikeeee

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I got an 8:05 ADR at Crystal Palace during our June '06 trip. They open the gates for those with early ADR's at CP or in the Castle at 7:45am. SWEEEET. We got there about 7:50. I was fine with being a little late for our reservation time, but DW was hungry. I did get a few nice shots, though in June at 8am the sun has been up for quite a few hours. I would love to go in December and get the early ADR. Sunrise is much later so 8am would have some real good light (so long as the weather is nice).

7:52am June 11, 2006:

At that hour I like the lighting of our pictures. And - that's a great date you were there - my 40th BD! I was in the west coast park that day heading off to the Walk in Walt's footstep tour only on PDT. This made me smile seeing WDW on the same day!

 

[Alztybrn]

I did something different than most people. I made a later ADR...8:45. We still got into the parks at 7:45. That gave me an hour to take pictures, and still not be late for my ADR. Yea...you miss the rope drop, but you will get some fabulous photos!

 

[senecabeach]

Ok, here's my suggestion (we did this last October.) Look at the hours of park operation and find a day that does NOT have extra magic hour in the morning; book an ADR for that day!! We had an ADR for Cinderella's Royal Table at 8:05 and the park did not open until 9:00. They actually let us into the park around 7:30 and I made sure that we were one of the first ones onto Main Street so that I could take pictures w/o one person in front of me. I took photos all the way up to the castle. I'll see if I can find a couple...

I do it on every trip...especially when I'm solo....
Yea...this ole' lady having breakfast, solo, with Pooh & friends..
The secret is as Pooh_Girl states...BE SURE its NOT an EMH day!!
ENJOY !!

Here's one...just as the rope dropped...

 

[tndisneyfan]

Just about two weeks ago we had an 8:25 ADR at CP. The CM's let us in about 8:05, right when we got there. I had heard they held you back and would only let you in 10 or 15 minutes before your ADR but it looked like they weren't even checking. We had time to get a few shots of Main St, the castle, and Walt's statue. We also had out picture took with a photopass photographer in front of the castle. I would say we took about 10 minutes walking in and taking pictures. The CM's didn't seem to mind.

 

[keywestbride]

We're planning on doing the earliest ADR at CP for just this reason. Seeing everyone's great shots makes me that much more excited!

 

[Experiment_626]

Okay -- we're going back to WDW in late August, and I'm going to try to get this ADR. I have no idea how hard it will be to get, but I'm gonna try ...

SSB

 

[annnewjerz]

Okay -- we're going back to WDW in late August, and I'm going to try to get this ADR. I have no idea how hard it will be to get, but I'm gonna try ...

SSB

Just in case you didn't know----WDW's online booking system for dining reservations is up and running. You can go to their site and find out if your date/time are available right now without making the inevitable long call to their dining dept.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

I had never even thought about doing this until a DIS'er recommended CP to me on my PTR... At 90 days out, I was able to get 8:15am on our first day at MK... I am very excited to get pics with out anyone in there... I should be able to get in 30 min early so I will walk slow in order to get some good ones of the front of the castle and main street.. These pics are getting me excited!!

 

[VacationKicks]

I usually don't post on this board since my photos are not in this league but I do love to look at all of the awesome photos posted. I have done the early adr at crystal palace but there is another option for the empty park photos: Bippidy Boppidy boutique in Cinderella's Castle also opens an hour before the park opens. It is expensive for girls but a boy "cool dude" is something like $8.50. Just another option for getting into the park early, and again you can enter the park well before your actual appointment time.

 

[Experiment_626]

Just in case you didn't know----WDW's online booking system for dining reservations is up and running. You can go to their site and find out if your date/time are available right now without making the inevitable long call to their dining dept.

I thought of that. However, I'm working with a travel agent, and I have compiled a long, prioritized list of possible ADRs. I'll turn over that list to the agent and let him work it all out. If I don't get it this time, I'll try again some other time.

Just as an aside, I find it interesting that all the major icons for the first three parks at WDW require considerable effort to get in photos without other guests being present -- but the fourth, The Tree of Life, is very easy to photograph that way.

SSB