AK & MK before opening -- how early can I get in

[Experiment_626]

We're going to WDW starting next Friday (August 21-24). On the 21st and 22nd, I have early ADRs at Tusker House and Crystal Palace, respectively. While I'm looking forward to breakfast, I really made such early reservations because of the unique photography opportunities! Tusker House is at 8:35 am and Crystal Palace is for 8:20 am. Since my primary motivation is photography, how early prior to my ADR times am I likely to be allowed to enter the park? Will it get me anywhere if I mention to the cast members at the turnstiles that I want to get as many photos as I can before I have to be at the restaurant each morning? If it were you, what time would you try to be at the turnstiles in such a situation? 7:45 am? 8:00 am? Once I'm inside, will cast members likely try to shoo me along, or will they let me shoot as I please, so long as I stay within areas that are accessible at such an early hour?

SSB

 

[oregondaddyof2]

I would say about 30 min early is acceptable... I have an ADR for CP at 8:05am, and I am going to try to get inside around 7:30-7:40... I want pics of the castle without anyone in them.... I am pretty sure they are used to people who want photos...

 

[WillowBelle]

They won't shoo you along, but they will have basically a one direction path open to you....towards the restaurant. You won't have free roam throughout the park.

Word to the wise - I know that my camera is always fogged up in the morning. Make sure you give your camera time to adjust from the a/c to the humidity. If not you'll have haze in all of your pictures .

 

[annnewjerz]

I would think you won't be able to get in much before 7:50 no matter how early the reservation.

I read a lot of reports on the Restaurant Board from people with 8:05am ADRs for Crystal Palace being let in 10-15 minutes before their ressie. From the reports I have read, it seems that people in the 8:05am reservation slot are not let in earlier than X:XXam. After that, whether you have a 8:15am ADR or a 8:25am ADR, it looks like you should be able to head into the park.

It also seems that if you are most interested in empty park pics, the later reservation time (8:20, 8:30, etc.) may be better. Since the 8:05am slots are so coveted now that there is a reasonable sized crowd of people waiting to enter the park. Once they let you all through, Main Street is reported to be anything but empty at that time. Having the later ADR will allow you to linger a little while longer while everyone heads to CP and CRT and get some real empty park pictures.

Good luck!

 

[Experiment_626]

They won't shoo you along, but they will have basically a one direction path open to you....towards the restaurant. You won't have free roam throughout the park.

I figured. I expect to be limited to Main Street and the hub in the Magic Kingdom. That will be fine with me -- I'm hoping for photos looking up Main Street toward the castle, maybe looking back down Main Street from the hub, the castle with and without the Partners statue, and the exterior of Crystal Palace.

I'm not really sure what I'll get in Animal Kingdom that I couldn't get at other times. It strikes me that AK is the one park where it is fairly easy to get shots of major icons without guests even during regular operating hours. Any suggestions?

Word to the wise - I know that my camera is always fogged up in the morning. Make sure you give your camera time to adjust from the a/c to the humidity. If not you'll have haze in all of your pictures .

If I can, I'll be up extra early the morning we're going to the Magic Kingdom, trying to get some shots around Coronado Springs. Also, we'll be driving to the parks. I'll probably take my camera out of the bag when we get out of the car. My tentative plan is to try to be parking the car at the TTC at around 7:20 and getting on the monorail at 7:30, all with the goal of being at the turnstiles at 7:45. If I have to wait a few minutes at that point, so be it. I'll double-check my camera settings while on the monorail. How does that sound?

SSB

 

[WillowBelle]

I figured. I expect to be limited to Main Street and the hub in the Magic Kingdom. That will be fine with me -- I'm hoping for photos looking up Main Street toward the castle, maybe looking back down Main Street from the hub, the castle with and without the Partners statue, and the exterior of Crystal Palace.

If I can, I'll be up extra early the morning we're going to the Magic Kingdom, trying to get some shots around Coronado Springs. Also, we'll be driving to the parks. I'll probably take my camera out of the bag when we get out of the car. My tentative plan is to try to be parking the car at the TTC at around 7:20 and getting on the monorail at 7:30, all with the goal of being at the turnstiles at 7:45. If I have to wait a few minutes at that point, so be it. I'll double-check my camera settings while on the monorail. How does that sound?

SSB

I would have your camera out of the bag and aclimating as early as possible. In June we had reservations for Akershus at 9:30. I didn't pull my camera out until we were at the turnstiles @ EP. I still ended up with a picture like this:

Thankfully by the time we were in and eating the camera was defogged and my pictures worked out alright.

I remember other years having the camera out and leaving the room, riding the monorail, and it was STILL fogged up by the time we were on Main St. for our super early CRT breakfast.

As for walking down Main St. for your CP resi, you should get a few pretty good ones. I like Ann's suggestion about not being the very first reservation. I think the "secret" is out for empty park pictures and many are clammouring to get them.

If nothing else, you'll have so few people that editing them out may not be that big of a problem. Good luck!

 

[oogieboogieman]

8am will be the earliest you can get in.