BBB? What would be your preference for timing

[littlejen22]

of BBB and Royal Table? I did not realize that BBB did not open until 8:45 I was hoping to do BBB early and then Royal Table still during breakfast since we always enjoy the food there but now I am questioning if we should do it a little later in the day so that we can get on a few rides before lines get long and then maybe do BBB around 10:30. I am no where near ready to book yet since I am talking about 12/12 but I want to plan now...insert whining voice. So, if it were you and you were doing these two things, what would your preferred timing be? Oh, and as of now there will be EMHs starting at 8, this is our first time on site and was not really prepared to do 8am but we will, it is the kids birthday and they will be turning 8 and 10!

 

[mom2rtk]

We always did appointments at 8:05. But it's been a few years. I hadn't heard it changed to 8:45.

We liked doing it pre rope-drop (double check your facts on that time) then lunch in the first seating of the day so we had time to enjoy some rides and photos around the park.

I would not do that on an EMH morning though. No seatings are before park open on an EMH day.

But basically we like to do it as early in the day as possible so we could enjoy the result for as much of the day as possible. My daughter was never one to leave the hair up overnight into the next day.

 

[mshanson3121]

of BBB and Royal Table? I did not realize that BBB did not open until 8:45 I was hoping to do BBB early and then Royal Table still during breakfast since we always enjoy the food there but now I am questioning if we should do it a little later in the day so that we can get on a few rides before lines get long and then maybe do BBB around 10:30. I am no where near ready to book yet since I am talking about 12/12 but I want to plan now...insert whining voice. So, if it were you and you were doing these two things, what would your preferred timing be? Oh, and as of now there will be EMHs starting at 8, this is our first time on site and was not really prepared to do 8am but we will, it is the kids birthday and they will be turning 8 and 10!

What we did was have a 5:00 BBB, and a 6:50 CRT. We did it later in the day, for the RD reason - we didn't want to miss the prime ride hours. IT ended up working great, we did BBB, the portrait session, then A&E FP+, carousel, had photos done with Sword in the Stone, and then up for CRT. So if you're not married to the idea of breakfast, that might be an idea, because BBB is not fast - plan on at least an hour (and longer if you do the portrait session which is free). Nor is CRT - again, at least an hour. So your entire morning will be shot if you don't start BBB until 8:45.

 

[littlejen22]

They must have changed it because I remembered it opening earlier too but online it says 8:45 and the person I just spoke with said the same time. Between EMHs and Christmas Party there are not many days they could do it. But more importantly I cannot move their actual birthday, lol.

 

[mom2rtk]

Another consideration is that the later in the day your appointment is, the more you expose yourself to delays if they are running behind. First appointment of the day kept us from ever having to wait more than a couple minutes to be seated. I wouldn't give up the first hour of time the park is open though unless you have multiple days in the MK. If you can get in before park open, you can also get semi-empty park photos before the appointment.

Cinderella in front of HER Castle! by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[littlejen22]

I think I am leaning towards that, maybe not 5:00 but after lunch which would allow us to do rides in the morning and then BBB and CRT, I will also do E&A and we will definitely do the photos which we did last time. I cannot wait to get back, they did BBB in Hong Kong this year and loved it.

 

[mom2rtk]

They must have changed it because I remembered it opening earlier too but online it says 8:45 and the person I just spoke with said the same time. Between EMHs and Christmas Party there are not many days they could do it. But more importantly I cannot move their actual birthday, lol.

That's odd that they'd cut back on times when it continues to be so popular. Are you sure you were looking at WDW times and not DLR?

If that's the case, I'd probably suggest a couple hours after park open for your appointment, followed by lunch at whatever time works best for you. We just never got more than one day out of the makeover, and liked enjoying it for as long as possible that day.

 

[littlejen22]

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[littlejen22]

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[mom2rtk]

They no longer seem to be doing 8:05 so it isn't an option unless they change it in the next 11 months.

That's a bummer! You'll have a great time regardless. Do you have more than one day in the MK?

 

[littlejen22]

That's odd that they'd cut back on times when it continues to be so popular. Are you sure you were looking at WDW times and not DLR?

If that's the case, I'd probably suggest a couple hours after park open for your appointment, followed by lunch at whatever time works best for you. We just never got more than one day out of the makeover, and liked enjoying it for as long as possible that day.

Thank you! I was looking at Disney Springs. What would you do if your kids birthday was on an EMH day? Would you do it first thing or would you do it later?

 

[littlejen22]

That's a bummer! You'll have a great time regardless. Do you have more than one day in the MK?

Turns out you were right and I was wrong, thank goodness. And the person working the phones was not helpful because she could not find it, put me on hold and then seemed to just tell me what I thought was right. Now I have to decide what to do because it is still EMH. We will have two full days and do the Christmas Party another day.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thank you! I was looking at Disney Springs. What would you do if your kids birthday was on an EMH day? Would you do it first thing or would you do it later?

Ah, so the MK still opens at 8. Yeah!

Even if it's an EMH day, you will likely be let in just prior to rope drop along with the breakfast people. You could still get photos on a (mostly) empty Main Street right ahead of the crowd. I'd probably give up some of that early ride time in favor of the princess experience that day.

That photo of my daughter was on the only actual birthday she has spent in the MK. We don't remember what we rode that day, but we remember the BBB, the lunch in the castle (complete with chocolate slipper dessert!) and meeting the princesses. (That was her 9th birthday, so right between your 2).

It helps that you have another day in the MK. I would go on the birthday during EMH even though it's contrary to most advice you'll see here.

Your princess days are soon to be a thing of your past. I'd soak it for all it's worth while you can.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Turns out you were right and I was wrong, thank goodness. And the person working the phones was not helpful because she could not find it, put me on hold and then seemed to just tell me what I thought was right. Now I have to decide what to do because it is still EMH. We will have two full days and do the Christmas Party another day.

Maybe do BBB not on their actual birthday...
Do it the day there is no EMH.
We did DGDs early in day for all the same reasons pp have listed. But we didn't go directly to breakfast, we rode rides and did an early lunch. For us it worked out perfect.
Whatever you decide, your princesses will love it!

 

[Aurora0427]

We like to rope drop, ride rides with minimal waits, do BBB about 10:30, lunch at CRT, then start our fast passes after lunch and do Festival of Fantasy.

 

[RachaelA]

We just did 8am BBB, were in line for A+E before the park opened (we were 2nd or 3rd), got pictures at Castle Couture, rode a bunch of rides and then had a 12pm lunch at CRT. It worked out really well. Her hair was as hard as a rock so it stayed in place.

 

[TristiK]

We have 2 appointments at 8:15 in June. We have dinner reservations that night at 5:45. I didn't want to waste an hour of park time, or deal with major delays later in the day. Everything I've read says the hair can last overnight so I'm not worried about them being a mess by dinner.

 

[RachaelA]

We have 2 appointments at 8:15 in June. We have dinner reservations that night at 5:45. I didn't want to waste an hour of park time, or deal with major delays later in the day. Everything I've read says the hair can last overnight so I'm not worried about them being a mess by dinner.

With hairspray touch ups for fly away strands of hair, it can last for days. I might have had a 4 year old who refused to take it out (tiara and all) for 4 days...

 

[TristiK]

With hairspray touch ups for fly away strands of hair, it can last for days. I might have had a 4 year old who refused to take it out (tiara and all) for 4 days...

Our reservation is in the middle of our trip, so I can see both of them trying to make it last the last 4 days...

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

@RachaelA "Her hair was as hard as a rock so it stayed in place"
True that!
But DGD couldn't stand to sleep in it! And holy cow, the pins! Lol!