ADR's before Park Opening - New Policy??

[johnvree]

Wasn't sure where to put this.

I made an ADR for 8:00 at DAK - an hour before park opening. The CM told me that since the park would not be open yet I had to have my resort stamp my admission ticket in order for me to get in to DAK. This doesn't make sense to me since we will have annual passes.

Is this a new policy?

 

[Robo]

Wasn't sure where to put this.

I made an ADR for 8:00 at DAK - an hour before park opening. The CM told me that since the park would not be open yet I had to have my resort stamp my admission ticket in order for me to get in to DAK. This doesn't make sense to me since we will have annual passes.

Is this a new policy?

Is that morning an EMH morning.
That would be the reason for needing a Resort "key".

There are lots of things on "the list" that pop up on the computer that a reservation CM reads to you when you make a ressie like "you will need a park admission to dine at this restaurant", or "there are no windows in this restaurant" (Mexico in Epcot), "this is a non-smoking restaurant" (virtually ALL in the parks).

Don't worry, you will NOT need anything but your park admission (AP in your case) to be allowed in and escorted to your "Breakfastosaurs".

 

[johnvree]

Sorry. 8:00 a.m.

The CM said I would need it to get in the park early. As in, if I showed up just with an ADR number, I'd be unable to get in before park opening.

 

[Robo]

Sorry. 8:00 a.m.

The CM said I would need it to get in the park early. As in, if I showed up just with an ADR number, I'd be unable to get in before park opening.

Yes and no.

(JUST an ADR number won't EVER cut it at a theme-park.)

But if you have valid tickets... you're fine.

In your case, with your AP's, you're good-to-go.
If your name is on the Breakfastosaurus ressies (or if you just want to try a "walk-in" to the Restarurant) you'll be escorted (at least part of the way) to Dinoland.
Otherwise, if they didn't LET YOU IN, there would be NO POINT in them offering early breakfast ressies... that THAT is a WDW "tradition".

We have gone in early (before the gates opened to anyone) to MK to do a "walk-in" (no advance ressies) to Crystal Palace (they were actually ASKING out-front if anyone wanted to eat breakfast with no waiting... we took 'em up on it.)

 

[johnvree]

Yes and no.

(JUST an ADR number won't EVER cut it at a theme-park.)

But if you have valid tickets... you're fine.

In your case, with your AP's, you're good-to-go.
If your name is on the Breakfastosaurus ressies (or if you just want to try a "walk-in" to the Restarurant) you'll be escorted (at least part of the way) to Dinoland.
Otherwise, if they didn't LET YOU IN, there would be NO POINT in them offering early breakfast ressies... that THAT is a WDW "tradition".

We have gone in early (before the gates opened to anyone) to MK to do a "walk-in" (no advance ressies) to Crystal Palace (they were actually ASKING out-front if anyone wanted to eat breakfast with no waiting... we took 'em up on it.)

That's why I didn't get it. I told the CM that we have made ADR's at Donald's Breakfasaurus before park opening in the past and didn't need to get anything stamped. She specifically said,\ our tickets need to be stamped by the resort.

 

[mommyintn]

We also have ADR's for Donald's breakfast before park opening and we were told just to take our tickets and ADR# to the gate and they would let us in. I don't understand why the CM would say the resort needs to stamp your ticket, because we are staying offsite and we wouldn't be able to get a resort stamp. Sounds like a confused CM?

 

[Lorelai]

We also have ADR's for Donald's breakfast before park opening and we were told just to take our tickets and ADR# to the gate and they would let us in. I don't understand why the CM would say the resort needs to stamp your ticket, because we are staying offsite and we wouldn't be able to get a resort stamp. Sounds like a confused CM?

Yes, that's exactly what we did when we stayed offsite in April. We went to the gate with our tickets and ADR #'s (formerly PS #) and then just went on to CRT in MK. I too think that the CM was just confused.

 

[Robo]

That's why I didn't get it. I told the CM that we have made ADR's at Donald's Breakfasaurus before park opening in the past and didn't need to get anything stamped. She specifically said,\ our tickets need to be stamped by the resort.

That's another thing.

What the heck is a "RESORT STAMP"?

There is not a "resort stamp" that let's anyone do anything special at WDW.
The only thing that has to do with a resort is your ROOM KEY (key-card) that identifies you as an on-site guest for admission (and evening Wrist-bands) at EMHs.

Guests with ressies (ADR's) are ALWAYS allowed to enter parks for meals (as long as they have valid ticket media for that day).

Don't sweat it.
Just go and enjoy your breakfast (say, "Hi" to Donald).

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

The Animal Kingdom has a turnstile set up early in the morning for guests going to Donald's. When we went a couple of years ago there was a sign clearly stating only guests for Donald's can enter.
I also believe the Cast Member was wrong about stamping anything. All you need is your ADR number and a theme park admission.

Just a word of caution....don't drive to the AK. Only Disney buses are allowed in early. Cars are not allowed through the gates until a few minutes before the park opens. There are a number of posts about this on the Transportation Board.

 

[Rachie0507]

The Animal Kingdom has a turnstile set up early in the morning for guests going to Donald's. When we went a couple of years ago there was a sign clearly stating only guests for Donald's can enter.
I also believe the Cast Member was wrong about stamping anything. All you need is your ADR number and a theme park admission.

Just a word of caution....don't drive to the AK. Only Disney buses are allowed in early. Cars are not allowed through the gates until a few minutes before the park opens. There are a number of posts about this on the Transportation Board.

We were just there for an early ADR and had no problem driving in. I don't know how they could ever do that, even, since they offer early ADR's at that park. Not everyone stays on-property and is able to take a bus.

As for the OP, I would agree with everyone else that the CM was probably mistaken. Ask when you check into your resort and they should tell you if you need anything done. I remember when I made my ADR's, the CM told me about notifying the resort that I would need an early bus to AK, but as I already said, we drove there.

 

[DizznyChick]

ive never had to have the resort stamp my ticket

 

[johnvree]

Thanks for all the replies.

I remember the posts about people being denied access to the lot before the park opened, which struck me as odd.

Another question, do you have to be staying on site to make an ADR before the park opens?

 

[POB14]

Another question, do you have to be staying on site to make an ADR before the park opens?

Nope. Read Lorelai's post, #7 above. We did the same thing at MK for Cindy's breakfast; all you need is your tickets and your ADR number (actually, we weren't even asked for the number at the gate).