ADR in MK before open?

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

Hi. Please excuse if this sounds like a dumb question. We've been to Disney several times before, but this is something new for us. We're hoping to get reservations at The Crystal Palace for breakfast. I've heard that you can get times for even before the park opens (???). If this is true, how do you get in the park if it's not open yet? I'm sure you don't just walk up to the guard and say "please let me in for breakfast" Also, do the busses start up that early from the resorts? Or would we have to drive ourselves? Thanks alot for your help.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

yes, you can take the bus. They start running before the parks open. I think they take reservations up to an hour before the park opens. It is a great way to get an early start on your day and take some pics on the empty street. They have a cast member at the entrance to check for your name on the reservation list so the park is only open for people with dining reservations.

 

[rlahansler]

Hi. Please excuse if this sounds like a dumb question. We've been to Disney several times before, but this is something new for us. We're hoping to get reservations at The Crystal Palace for breakfast. I've heard that you can get times for even before the park opens (???). If this is true, how do you get in the park if it's not open yet? I'm sure you don't just walk up to the guard and say "please let me in for breakfast" Also, do the busses start up that early from the resorts? Or would we have to drive ourselves? Thanks alot for your help.

Yes, all the buses start running early. There is a special entrance on the left side of morning ADR"s. They let you in approx 15 minutes before a 8am breakfast. I love early morning ADR's for this fact. You get to view the park before all the people are let in. Its awesome!!!

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

Thank you both for the info. That would be so cool to get mostly-empty park pictures that early. Allbeit, a bit strange since we've never seen the park empty before. So i guess we just show our Keys To The World passes to get through then? Or, do we show driver's license or something?

 

[AJKMOM]

Thank you both for the info. That would be so cool to get mostly-empty park pictures that early. Allbeit, a bit strange since we've never seen the park empty before. So i guess we just show our Keys To The World passes to get through then? Or, do we show driver's license or something?

I believe your name will be on a list the CM will have. I also think the early entrance at the MK is to the right of the row of turnstiles. At least it was a few years ago.

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

Thanks AJKMOM! We're looking forward to trying this out.

 

[wraunch]

Excuse the N00B question, but what is an ADR? Are there any restaurants other than The Crystal Palace for early breakfast?

 

[starrysky]

Excuse the N00B question, but what is an ADR? Are there any restaurants other than The Crystal Palace for early breakfast?

Its an advanced dinner reservation, most places that are sit down meals you will need to make these before your trip. Most people on here book at 180 days before they go to make sure they get the places they want.

Apart from Crystal palace there is also Cinderella's royal table that is open in MK for breakfast. At EPOCT its the Askerhus (sorry about the spelling) in Norway that offers a princess breakfast.

At Animal Knigdom there is Tusker House which is mickey and donald etc.

The contemporary offers Chef Mickeys which is another popular place for breakfast.

You will only get into the park early if you have an ADR. We did our first early ADR a couple of years ago and it was fantastic. Priceless photos in front of the castle and not another person in sight. As well as an empty fantasy land.

 

[wraunch]

How pricey is the breakfast at Crystal Palace? My wife doesn't normally do big breakfast but I can eat a big breakfast and skip lunch and her 12 yr old sister can eat as well. I would pay the price for breakfast just to ensure a memorable experience and get the great photos. Also, how early should I try to book breakfast for to ensure we finish before the rope drops?

 

[bonoriffic]

If you have young kids, doing an early breakfast at MK and HS are essential. Epcot not so much as the big rides there young kids aren't big enough for anyway. AK is a toss up, but given that the Safari entrance is so close to breakfast and the distances involved in getting there, an early breakfast there is probably advisable.

Keep in mind you need an early breakfast time that allows for you to complete the meal before park opening. Getting breakfast at 8:45 will allow you to take pictures with few to nobody else in the way, but you won't get to take advantage of being in front of the rest of the crowd. Also seating is based on arrival time, so if you have an 8:20 reservation and show up at 8am at the restaurant, you aren't going to be waiting until 8:20.

For Magic Kingdom, you will be held at the hub entrances to all lands until the official opening time. Usually you will be held at Fantasy Land past the castle, so you have a 15 second walk to Dumbo. Given the painfully slow load times for Dumbo, and parents that insist on getting into the car in front AND behind their kid, your savings will be huge by having breakfast inside.

For Hollywood Studios, your breakfast is at Hollywood and Vine which seems to be universally hated. OK, it isn't all that great, but you will be held back past the main rope drop crowd. Once the park opens, you join the parade of cast members walking you toward Toy Story. You will be in the front, and as you get closer and the line eventually breaks down, you will be walking onto Toy Story. Your "crappy" breakfast will have saved you anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

 

[bonoriffic]

How pricey is the breakfast at Crystal Palace? My wife doesn't normally do big breakfast but I can eat a big breakfast and skip lunch and her 12 yr old sister can eat as well. I would pay the price for breakfast just to ensure a memorable experience and get the great photos. Also, how early should I try to book breakfast for to ensure we finish before the rope drops?

The price is the standard Disney range, so depending on when you go it can change. Around $26.

Some people seem to think it takes over an hour to get through breakfast. I have done it in half an hour, and that included visits from all the characters. To be safe, assume 8:20 is the latest you want to go. There are occasional mini character parades, and when that happens you won't get your check taken care of. So settle up early so you won't be caught off guard if you need a quick escape.

I always arrive earlier than my reservation and have always gotten in earlier. Save picture taking for after breakfast, you will still have near empty streets, but gives you some extra time for those occasional rope drops that happen early.