8:10 ADR for Crystal Palace

[MoreMouse5]

We have an 8:10 ADR for Crystal Palace one morning in March. We're excited about being in the park before rope drop, but I'm worried that we won't be finished eating and on our way to Fantasyland by 9:00. We've been to CP before (for dinner), so it's not crucial that we meet and greet every character. Really we just want to get some empty Main Street pictures, grab some breakfast, and be on our way. Can someone describe what the early breakfast is like? Is everybody in a big rush? We're staying off-site this time and will have a rental car. Any advice about what time we should be parking and heading for the monorail?

 

[3prettyprincesses]

We've done this ADR before and love it! Our plan of action is to actually ask for the bill after the waiter brings our drinks. That way as soon as we're done, we can pay our bill and hit Fantasy Land. For us, getting out of there quickly trumps seeing all of the characters. If we happen to see them all before we're done, then great. If we don't, we don't wait around. It isn't a mad dash to Fantasy Land, it's pretty civil and not too crowded. What happened to us is that we were allowed to walk all the way into the castle where the Fairy Godmother was waiting. She greeted a bunch of kids (including mine!) while the cast members stood with a rope at the end of the castle that leads into Fantasy Land. I'd plan to be at the MK turnstiles by 8am at the latest. You'll love it!

 

[JDUCKY]

Yeah, definitely ask for the bill after the drinks are brought around. It's a buffet, no reason to wait any longer.

I assume you meant parking at the TTC (*shiver*)? Are you staying on-site? Just catch a bus by 7:30. Otherwise, plan on parking the car by 7:30 because by the time you walk to the MK Express monorail, wait for the next one (if they're running that early...should be but i've had to take a ferry before), exit the MK monorail station, walk to the entrance, have a CM confirm your reservation and then walk to the CP, it will be about 8am probably.

 

[MJAJmom]

Love having an early morning ADR at CP before rope drop. We had an 8:10 ADR and had no problems getting out on time. It's a buffet, so it's very easy to grab all your food. The characters circulate very well here. We've even had them come around twice. We never felt rushed.

The key to getting out quickly ... is getting your bill paid. After you get your food, ask the server to bring your check and get it paid. This just always seems to take forever. That way, when your finished, you can just head out and not have to worry about where your server is.

Have a great trip!

 

[Paintedlady]

This is great info. We've got similar ADR at Crystal Palace for my dd's birthday and I was wondering the same things.

 

[MadiWI]

Thanks for the tips. We're planning to do this, too!

 

[cbg1027]

Early CP breakfast is one of my favorite meals!

Whether or not you're out before 9 depends largely on how fast you want to eat and if you want to allow time for all the characters to get around to your table. It takes 45-60 minutes for all the characters to make their way around.

That early in the morning, the restaurant isn't completely filled, so you're less likely to have to wait past your ADR time and the crowds at the buffet are smaller.

Like the others said, ask for your bill right away. Although most of the servers seem to know the deal and will bring it before you seem to be done eating.

I had an 8:05am last trip. We were in our seats by 8:10 and had seen Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore by 8:50. Maybe we missed Tigger, but I decided at 9 that I didn't want to wait for him, and we left to go ride stuff! I wasn't out right at actual rope drop, but if you don't leave the restaurant til 9:05 or something, you'll still have lots of short lines!

Since you're staying off site, I don't know what time you need to leave your hotel. But I would aim to be passing through the MK toll booths at 7:30. You have to allow time to park the car, catch the monorail or ferry, have your bags checked, get through the early ADR line, walk to CP, take photos, and check in.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Our experience was a little different.....we wanted to see the characters at the character meal. It took the characters over an hour to make the rounds and that is with an 8:10 adr. So now we are torn about hoping out of the restaurant to join the opening fray or actually enjoy our breakfast and time with the characters. We did not care for being done with breakfast and having to wait another 20 mins for the last two charcters to come around. It isn't cheap either, I think we went during the surcharge timeframe. Anyone else experience this? This has made us very hesitant about going back.

 

[stephie1012]

both time we have eaten here have been 805adrs both time we only ended up seeing two characters....By the time the other 2 were making there way to our table it was time for the parade and then they took a break...it had to be around 850 at this point, so both times we left. One time we had to wait on the bridge for RD, the last time we were able to wait right outside BBB.