8:05 am ADR at Crystal Palace - tips on getting there from Boardwalk Villas

[kboo]

So - we snagged an 8:05 ADR at CP on a day that MK opens at 9.

What time should we plan on arriving at MK, and how often does Disney transportation run from Boardwalk Villas at that time?
Oh, and to add to the mess - we are 2 families with 3 3-yo among us.

Any suggestions or tips much appreciated!!

 

[LOUTED76]

Kboo, Buses should be running as early as 7am. I suggest you ask the front desk when you arrive but I've done it at least 3 times from the Boardwalk and started waiting at 7am and got a bus and arrived at MK with enough time. Just proceed to the line where they let in people with character breakfast ressies before the park opens and enjoy strolling down an empty Main Street.

 

[dansdad]

Buses start rolling at 6:30AM for early ADRs. I would be at the bus stop by 6:45. They like you to check in for your ADR 15 minutes before so you should arrive at MK by 7:45 to get through the gate and then checked in at CP.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

We do this breakfast every trip. A couple of years ago we were at Beach Club (near Boardwalk) and we were out by bus stop by 6:45am. We arrived at MK by 7:30 and were let in by 7:45- enough time for a few pictures and then check in for CP. We were a party of 10 with 3 under age 4, so it was a challenge but totally worth it! Great pictures on Main Street and we love Pooh and friends at the CP. Enjoy!

 

[mom2rtk]

Keep an eye on the park schedule. It looks like you'll be there after the spring break/Easter crowd dies down so not as likely...... but Disney has a habit of adding extra hours sometimes (as in opening at 8 instead of 9). Generally that's a great thing, but does mess up early park entry ADR plans for many.

 

[Canuck16]

We did this ADR from BC last May. We were at the bus stop about 6:45am and had no trouble getting to MK with plenty of time to spare. Just go to the far left side of the gates and let the CM know you have an ADR at CP. then once they let you in enjoy the empty park as you stroll to CP for your check-in.

Have fun and enjoy!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

We caught a pre park opening bus from BWV to Animal Kingdom for an 8:05 breakfast reservation at Akershus at 7:15 and were there in plenty of time.

We had a horrible time with buses from BWV to MK in January. There just weren't as many of them as there were buses to AK and DTD.

 

[kboo]

Thanks! So ... Just trying to plan for contingencies -- if we miss the first bus, how often do they run at that hour?

 

[Robo]

I suggest you ask the front desk when you arrive...

I suggest that you DON'T do that...
as the info you get may very well be wrong, and then you'd be in a mess.
Many CMs will tell you that the buses to the parks start at one hour before the park opens…
an often-repeated myth that just won't go away.

The resort CMs have virtually no knowledge of the bus operations.
They don't ride guest buses and most CMs can't even see the buses from where they are stationed.

 

[Robo]

Thanks! So ... Just trying to plan for contingencies -- if we miss the first bus, how often do they run at that hour?

Average of 10-20 minutes apart.

 

[Dacky619]

Thanks! So ... Just trying to plan for contingencies -- if we miss the first bus, how often do they run at that hour?

Not quite as often that first hour. But as dandsdad stated they usually start running by 6:30 or so. Plenty of time to get you there.

 

[goofy4tink]

Buses at this time is day tend to run less often than regular buses. So, if you just miss the bus you wanted, you could be waiting for 20 mins. The next one could come sooner than that, but I've been finding they run closer to every 15-20.

 

[Robo]

Not quite as often, I think maybe every 30 minutes or so.

That's not the case, on average.
If there was only an early bus to each park every thirty minutes, there would be a awful lot of LATE guests.
That's just two buses to each park per hour.