8:05am Crystal Palace question?

[PSamowitz]

Maybe one of you can offer suggestions. We are staying on site (DH, 13yr oldDDs (x2), sister in law with 2 daughters (11 & 7). We have a mini van and are staying on site (Pop). We are going to the Magic Kingdom on a Sunday morning in October. It will not be an Early Morning hour day. What time does the parking lot open? What time should we be at the parking lot and how do we get to turnstiles, monorail or park? We can't wait and thank all of you for all of your suggestions. These boards have been a wealth of information.

 

[gallagher35]

Hi! We also drive or rent a car in Disney, but I have to say that MK is the one park that its easier to take resort transportation. Just my opinion. It took me near 45 minutes (w/o crowds) to drive to MK after napping my daughter at Old Key West. I've seen other reports where a group split up and the group on the bus made it back a full 25 minutes sooner than the husband that drove the car. Anyway, whatever you do, enjoy your trip

 

[beroh2253]

We also will be staying at POP and we are going to Crystal Palace for breakfast Oct. 27 for 8 am. You will have to drive over to the transportation center and take the momorail or boat over to the MK. We found that driving to all parks and having the aaa pass is pretty good except for the MK. It may be better to take the resort bus and that gets you right over to the MK bypassing the momorail or boat. Gates or turnstiles are open early for breakfast but they rope off the different lands till park opening or the rope drop. Great breakfast there the puffy French toast and made to order omlet are tasty.

 

[PSamowitz]

Thank you so very much for the suggestions of the transportation from the hotel. We do AAA parking passes as well and an issue that requires us to use the minivan.

Does anyone know what time the parking lot opens?

Does anyone know what time the monorail starts running? Is it the local line (hotel stops) or the express to the park?

If there are early morning hours at Epcot would we be better off parking there and taking the monorail from there?

 

[daleswife]

we had 8am ressies at crystal palace last year for breakfast. we took the bus and got there in plenty of time. Just make sure you tell them that you have early ADR's there and there wont be a problem getting in the park. have fun

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

If you have dining reservations they will let you in early. Have your confirmation number with you.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

We are staying offsite and driving with an early ADR, so bus is NOT an option. Doesn't anyone know what time the lot/monorail opens??

 

[Faldred]

TTC lot opens at 7 AM. Resort monorail is running at that time -- I think the MK express line starts running later.

 

[patandlisa]

Hi, just reading this thread because it also applies to my CP breakfast at 8:05 (in Nov). As this is our first visit to WDW, I'm nervous about transportation. We are renting a car, but many people have mentioned that going to MK is easier by Disney transportion--and not driving there yourself. What I'm wondering, (as another person also asked)-- can you park your car at Epcot, and take the monorail directly to MK from there??? Does that eliminate the TTC ??We are staying at POFQ, and will be there a few days before Thanksgiving. (assuming it will be crowded) So, just trying to eliminate some parking/driving headaches before we go. We will also have AAA parking, if that makes a big difference. Does anyone have any input on this?? Should we drive--or take Disney transportation to MK?

 

[3mickeys&me]

On our last trip we had 7am ressies at Chef Mickeys. We took our resort bus at 6:40 am at the suggestion of our front desk (All Star Movies) and were taken directly to the contemporary. The buses do run early. I can't imagine driving once we are there, they buses are just so much easier.
worked like a charm for us.

For the other poster asking about parking at Epcot and taking the monorail. If you take it from Epcot you will need to get off at the Transporation Ctr and get on another one to take you to the MK.
Hope this helps

 

[Hootch]

Hi, just reading this thread because it also applies to my CP breakfast at 8:05 (in Nov). As this is our first visit to WDW, I'm nervous about transportation. We are renting a car, but many people have mentioned that going to MK is easier by Disney transportion--and not driving there yourself. What I'm wondering, (as another person also asked)-- can you park your car at Epcot, and take the monorail directly to MK from there??? Does that eliminate the TTC ??We are staying at POFQ, and will be there a few days before Thanksgiving. (assuming it will be crowded) So, just trying to eliminate some parking/driving headaches before we go. We will also have AAA parking, if that makes a big difference. Does anyone have any input on this?? Should we drive--or take Disney transportation to MK?

staying at POFQ on our recent trips. My suggestion is to drive to all of the resorts except the MK. DHS and Epcot are just a short drive and Animal Kingdom is not that far away. Also take the boat to DTD.

The answer to your question is yes and no. You can park at Epcot and get to the MK via monorail. The Epcot monorail ends at the T&TC. You will either have to switch to a MK monorail or take the boat across to the MK.

If you're trying to do park hop to Epcot and then the MK, I would take the bus to Epcot and then the monorail to the MK. (Another option is to take a bus to the Contemporary and walk to the MK.) That way you can go directly from the MK to POFQ. The ride is pretty short because they take a back way.

We were there in June and the resort was packed but there were no issues with the bus system.

 

[beroh2253]

There is great parking at EPCOT especially with the AAA pass. And we have taken the momorail from there to the MK but like others have said the momorail from the EPCOT take you to the transportation center and from there you have to switch momorails to get to the MK.
We love driving to the Animal Kingdom, HS, water parks, DTD, other resorts, Hoop-Dee Doo bus lot and expecially EPCOT (great for after Illuminations to go right to the car and not wait in a long line to get on a crammed bus, same with after fantasmic). I just wish the MK had a parking lot for people in the resorts to park so you don't have to drive to the transportation center then take the momo or boat. The bus from the resort to the MK gets you right there real close to the main gate without using the momo or boat.
We hop around alot (expecially to EPCOT for diners) so driving the car is great, no parking charge when you stay in an Disney onsite resort.
Can't wait to take the rental to the parks the last week in Oct.

 

[patandlisa]

Thank you so much!! I didn't mean to hijack the original posters thread, but it kinda sounded like we both had similar questions. It definitely sounds like we should just take the bus to MK. We were going to take a mid-day break as well, but not park hop, just come back to mk in the evening. Whatever is the simplest thing to do--then we will just do it. I didn't realize the monorail from epcot didn't go straight to mk. (i've located a schematic online since I asked the question) And if we drive, then we have the hold-up at the TTC. So, I will just go with the majority of you, and not try to reinvent the wheel. Thanks for your input. (gee--you dis'ers are sooo smart)

 

[cwdefouw]

We want to make an 8:05-8:15 ADR for CP but my question is: Will guest services be open this early to handle "Free Admisssion on Your Birthday" services? Any information is appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris

 

[maj42169]

I am also interested in the procedure for entering the park early for the ADR. Is there a special area that we need to enter from? I am worried that there might be large crowds and we won't be able to get up to a turnstyle to get in!