Any recent experience with an 8AM BOG ADR?

[Jessirip]

Just curious if anyone can share their experience with what time they were let into the park for an 8:00AM ADR? We have one at BOG for our April 2018 trip.

Also, anyone with experience when park opening was at 8:00AM instead of 9? We are going the week after Easter, so I am only assuming that park opening hours will be altered due to high attendance that week. Can we still go in separately if that is the case? Or do people just pretty much get in at the same time, ADR or not, for an 8:00AM opening?

Our reasons for a PPO ADR aren't SDMT centered... we'd like a chance for a better castle photo, and a jump start on the rest of the park. Our first stop after breakfast would most likely be Peter Pan (with 2 littles).

Thanks for any input.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

On 9am opening days all guests are let in up Main Street at about 7:45am.
With an 8am PPO ADR you won't be getting in before others.
Also your assumption is most likely correct that your PPO will end up being a RD ADR if going around Easter.
In that case everyone will be headed throughout the park and your PP line will be getting long after you get out of your BOG breakfast.

 

[Jessirip]

On 9am opening days all guests are let in up Main Street at about 7:45am.
With an 8am PPO ADR you won't be getting in before others.
Also your assumption is most likely correct that your PPO will end up being a RD ADR if going around Easter.
In that case everyone will be headed throughout the park and your PP line will be getting long after you get out of your BOG breakfast.

Mmm, ok thank you. I didn't realize that even on 9am days Main Street starts to fill that early. I was searching but reading a lot of older posts. Sounds like an 8am ADR isn't really worth any hassle then? Any reason to keep it? We have an ADR at BOG for dinner that week also so wouldn't be missing out on experiencing it.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They changed the entry process. The open show is now in the Castle Forecourt. The ropes are all near the castle.

An 8AM open is pretty much chaos. You won't get a jump on anyone or anything, and by the time you eat, PP will be 120 minutes.

 

[sharonabe]

Mmm, ok thank you. I didn't realize that even on 9am days Main Street starts to fill that early. I was searching but reading a lot of older posts. Sounds like an 8am ADR isn't really worth any hassle then? Any reason to keep it? We have an ADR at BOG for dinner that week also so wouldn't be missing out on experiencing it.

With everyone getting onto Main St around 7:45, about the only reason to have a PPO ADR is if you want a jump on 7DMT, and then, only a PPO ADR at BoG will give you that.

The somewhat empty Main St pictures are a thing of the past.

 

[SandS_K]

We went in Aug and had a couple PPO ADR's. At that time they still had a PPO ADR entrance to the left. We were allowed entrance first. Once we were all in they allowed the regular lines in. It not the same as PPO ADR's in previous years when main street was almost empty, but if you head straight to the front of the castle you can get some great non crowed pictures. However, you only have a couple of minutes it get them. They have another area to the left of the castle for the PPO ADR's to check in. In Aug they had a photo pass photographer taking pictures after this check in area with the side of the Castle in the background. They ended up being nice pictures, with no people in the background.

 

[Jessirip]

We went in Aug and had a couple PPO ADR's. At that time they still had a PPO ADR entrance to the left. We were allowed entrance first. Once we were all in they allowed the regular lines in. It not the same as PPO ADR's in previous years when main street was almost empty, but if you head straight to the front of the castle you can get some great non crowed pictures. However, you only have a couple of minutes it get them. They have another area to the left of the castle for the PPO ADR's to check in. In Aug they had a photo pass photographer taking pictures after this check in area with the side of the Castle in the background. They ended up being nice pictures, with no people in the background.

This is great info thank you!