Question about entering park early with dining ADR - The DIS Discussion Forums

MotherKnowsBest · 10-08-2012, 08:40 AM

So I thought I had everything planned out perfectly but changing park hours have foiled me again!
We have CRT ressies for 8:15am this Sunday Oct 14. When I booked it, MK opened at 9am so we were going to enter the park early for the first time ever. Obviously, the hours have now changes to an 8am open for MK.
So, how early would I be permitted to enter the park, if at all?
I tried to switch it to lunch but there is no availability as I would rather tour at 8am and eat at noon.
Thanks!

TheRustyScupper · 10-08-2012, 09:05 AM

1) They normally let you in 15-20 minutes before the ressie.
2) So, you may or may not get in before the throng.

sephorachick · 10-08-2012, 09:06 AM

I was just there at CRT and got in 30 mins before our reservation. It was an awesome experience.

seashoreCM · 10-08-2012, 09:07 AM

They'll let you in for your restaurant reservation with any valid park ticket, no room key needed if it is morning extra magic hour.

Some folks say you have to go to the far left turnstile but I'm not absolutely sure.

Cannot_Wait_4Disney · 10-08-2012, 09:55 AM

I feel your pain OP. That awesome 55 minutes before the park opens reservation everyone told us to get became a 5 minute after the park opens reservation due to a schedule change. And worse, they let everyone in for a rope drop at the end of main St. 20 minutes prior to opening and wouldn't let anyone in at all before that. Moreover, nobody was allowed beyond the rope. So not only didn't we get that great empty Main St., we wasted an hour of prime touring time eating. It is for this reason that I don't suggest before the park opens reservations during busy time periods. And even if everything works perfectly, you still are rushed to finish before the park opens. I'd much rather eat the latest breakfast or an early lunch and be able to enjoy the characters and my meal at my pace knowing I already have Fantasyland in my rear view before it becomes a stroller parking lot.

As to how long before your reservation they will let you in, it varies. Average is about 15 minutes. Sometimes it is longer. But It can indeed be zero. And sadly, it is much more likely to be closer to zero when your before the park opens reservation turns into an after the park opens reservation.

snesguy · 10-08-2012, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotherKnowsBest

So I thought I had everything planned out perfectly but changing park hours have foiled me again!
We have CRT ressies for 8:15am this Sunday Oct 14. When I booked it, MK opened at 9am so we were going to enter the park early for the first time ever. Obviously, the hours have now changes to an 8am open for MK.
So, how early would I be permitted to enter the park, if at all?
I tried to switch it to lunch but there is no availability as I would rather tour at 8am and eat at noon.
Thanks!

I feel your pain. I had a Crystal Palace reservation at 8:05 AM this Sunday and I decided to cancel it. It was to be my first MK pre-park opening experience. The same exact thing happened on my last trip which was Easter 2011 so not so surprising then because the crowds are bigger at Easter but in October? I'm disappointed again that we won't get to experience the pre-park opening. Oh well, we'll make the best of it.

MelissaTnNc · 10-09-2012, 10:36 AM

We had a ressie at CP at 8:15 and they didn't ask us what time our ressie was, just let us in. We loved being in the park early. At HS they actually checked us in at the turnstile before letting us in early for Hollywood and Vine.

fairestoneofall · 10-09-2012, 10:41 AM

as a PP said, they don't (generally) ask you what time your reservation is scheduled. we had this same thing happen in December. we had an 8:15 reservation and they changed opening to 8 am.

my immediate and extended family got in without any issues. however, my ILs told them the time of their reservation and they were held back from entering. DH had to go get them. we barely got any pictures before the ropes were dropped and the crowds came.

mom2rtk · 10-09-2012, 11:12 AM

This has happened to us many times in mid-December. Just be there by 7:30 or 7:45 and you should get in with the early folks with no questions asked.

However, if you miss that initial group of early ADR folks, you'll be held back to go in with the throngs. Don't let that happen.

10-08-2012, 08:40 AM	#1
MotherKnowsBest Earning My Ears Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 7	Question about entering park early with dining ADR So I thought I had everything planned out perfectly but changing park hours have foiled me again! We have CRT ressies for 8:15am this Sunday Oct 14. When I booked it, MK opened at 9am so we were going to enter the park early for the first time ever. Obviously, the hours have now changes to an 8am open for MK. So, how early would I be permitted to enter the park, if at all? I tried to switch it to lunch but there is no availability as I would rather tour at 8am and eat at noon. Thanks!

10-08-2012, 09:06 AM	#3
sephorachick DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charles Town,WV Posts: 1,610	I was just there at CRT and got in 30 mins before our reservation. It was an awesome experience. __________________ Kate WDWCP Spring 99-Spring 00 Me: Husband: Pacey Minnie Vicky Ginger Check out my Disney blog! http://yohoyohobloggerslifeforme.blogspot.com Today's entry is on my review of Four Parks One World Music CD !.. Facebook page for my Disney blog! Please "LIKE" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yohoyo...99050306822131 Mickey Mouse Lover!

10-08-2012, 09:07 AM	#4
seashoreCM All around nice guy. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 20,605	They'll let you in for your restaurant reservation with any valid park ticket, no room key needed if it is morning extra magic hour. Some folks say you have to go to the far left turnstile but I'm not absolutely sure. __________________ Last Disney trip: December 2010. (news item) Rescuers and responders getting headaches from leaking natural gas all over the place in Oklahoma. (me) Utility companies need to cut off service to the affected streets and cancel the latest monthly bills of subscribers whose homes were damaged and where a substantial increase in consumption was recorded.

10-09-2012, 10:41 AM	#8
fairestoneofall DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south carolina Posts: 4,122	as a PP said, they don't (generally) ask you what time your reservation is scheduled. we had this same thing happen in December. we had an 8:15 reservation and they changed opening to 8 am. my immediate and extended family got in without any issues. however, my ILs told them the time of their reservation and they were held back from entering. DH had to go get them. we barely got any pictures before the ropes were dropped and the crowds came. __________________ emily (wife to DH), mom to DD DS DS POR January 2014AoA October 2013CR-December 2011--DD's 10th birthday trip!POP-June 2010Ft. Wilderness Cabin-September 2009CSR/GF-Thanksgiving 2008Caribbean Beach-August 2007: 10th Anniversary TripShades of Green-November 2006Port Orleans/All Star Movies-February 2005yearly growing up, but never on site (generally the Knights Inn)

10-09-2012, 11:12 AM	#9
mom2rtk DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 19,630	This has happened to us many times in mid-December. Just be there by 7:30 or 7:45 and you should get in with the early folks with no questions asked. However, if you miss that initial group of early ADR folks, you'll be held back to go in with the throngs. Don't let that happen. __________________ Magic In The Kingdom 2012 Princess Palooza 2011! December 2010: Don't Read This TRIP REPORT If You're A Princess Hater! June 2010: 3000 miles, 3 kids, and too many photos to count! Mom2RTK's FLICKR Photostream

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10-08-2012, 09:05 AM	#2
TheRustyScupper ALMOST DAILY TRIVIA: Annette played Constancia de la Torre, where? (Zorro) Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: 15-min from WDW. Posts: 15,132	1) They normally let you in 15-20 minutes before the ressie. 2) So, you may or may not get in before the throng.

10-08-2012, 09:55 AM	#5
Cannot_Wait_4Disney Ok all you A cattle, get in the chute. Moooo. Moooo. It has a kick. Otherwise, yummy yummy. Onions rule!!! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 5,637	I feel your pain OP. That awesome 55 minutes before the park opens reservation everyone told us to get became a 5 minute after the park opens reservation due to a schedule change. And worse, they let everyone in for a rope drop at the end of main St. 20 minutes prior to opening and wouldn't let anyone in at all before that. Moreover, nobody was allowed beyond the rope. So not only didn't we get that great empty Main St., we wasted an hour of prime touring time eating. It is for this reason that I don't suggest before the park opens reservations during busy time periods. And even if everything works perfectly, you still are rushed to finish before the park opens. I'd much rather eat the latest breakfast or an early lunch and be able to enjoy the characters and my meal at my pace knowing I already have Fantasyland in my rear view before it becomes a stroller parking lot. As to how long before your reservation they will let you in, it varies. Average is about 15 minutes. Sometimes it is longer. But It can indeed be zero. And sadly, it is much more likely to be closer to zero when your before the park opens reservation turns into an after the park opens reservation.

10-09-2012, 10:36 AM	#7
MelissaTnNc Earning My Ears Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 69	We had a ressie at CP at 8:15 and they didn't ask us what time our ressie was, just let us in. We loved being in the park early. At HS they actually checked us in at the turnstile before letting us in early for Hollywood and Vine.

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