Be Our Guest strategy

[mshanson3121]

I've seen bits and pieces about this, but I'd like you to fill in the blanks:

1. Getting a pre-opening ADR is a good move because it will give us a jump for the lines for Peter Pan/7D?
2. Say I have an 8:00 ADR, and I'm at the TTC at 7:30 - how do I get into the actual park that early? (I've seen rumblings during the early morning events that transportation wasn't up and running)
2. You book your ADR, but I've also seen that you can pre-order your food? Do you do that online, or do you have to call? Does everyone have the option to pre-order?
3. Are the portions rather large? Could two adults share the Feast a la Gaston? Or an adult and a child?

 

[DisLaw]

1. Yes most definitely
2. We've had luck with transportation running early but from the resorts. Never tried from the TTC
2.5 everyone can pre order online it's on MDE where you see your reservation. Click on the order now link
3. Never had gaston feast but you can definitely share meals plus you get a plate of pastries which are filling.

Hope this helps!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you at the TTC and having trouble with transportation, simply walk to Poly and get on the monorail from there. Not sure where you are staying, but you could also cab/uber to the Contemporary entrance and walk from there.

 

[karpy111]

1) Wherever you are staying you should be fine. We were Animal Kingdom Lodge last week and the bus came at 6:45 for our 8:00 breakfast at BOG. Later in the week we transferred the Polynesian and took the Monorail around 7:15 again for an 8:00 am Breakfast.
2) You can preorder online 30 days out and I would definitely do so. It will get you seated earlier.
3) We ordered the Feast a la Gaston and it was ok. Eggs, sausage, potatoes. I shared it will my daughter. Keep in mind that they also bring our a plate of pastries too.

One extra thing I learned is to order the chocolate milk for your kids (thats if they like it). The soft drink station is open and anyone can get a soda.

 

[Moushe]

1. Getting a pre-opening ADR is a good move because it will give us a jump for the lines for Peter Pan/7D? Yes absolutely
2. Say I have an 8:00 ADR, and I'm at the TTC at 7:30 - how do I get into the actual park that early? (I've seen rumblings during the early morning events that transportation wasn't up and running) Buses are usually the only thing running that early (no ferry or monorail) they are located to your far right if you are facing the monorail station.
2. You book your ADR, but I've also seen that you can pre-order your food? Do you do that online, or do you have to call? Does everyone have the option to pre-order? at the 30 day mark you will get an email asking if you'd like to pre-order, it can be done online
3. Are the portions rather large? Could two adults share the Feast a la Gaston? Or an adult and a child? they didn't have this when we did BOG breakfast but I'll tell you that they bring a tray of pastries with your meal so it may be enough depending on how much of an appetite you have or if you are someone who likes a big hearty breakfast.

 

[lynzi2004]

1. I think it gives you a nice jump on the lines. We had little kids DD4, DS2 and it was nice not to have wait around for rope drop and they got to actually see Mainstreet and enjoy the stroller ride! The first morning we rode 7DMT and then went to Cinderella and Rapunzel. The next morning we went skipped 7DMT and went to Frozen M&G. I actually think we could have done Frozen instead the first morning but it was showing a 45 min wait after 7DMT. So we jumped in Cinderella and Rapunzel line. Once inside PFH, we noticed the Frozen line was moving very quickly. I think a private group had gone in to meet Cinderella and Rapunzel so we waited closer to 25 minutes when the wait time was posted at 5 min.
2. We had a PPO ADR, both days but ours were closer to 8:20. We had to take a different mode of transportation each morning. One morning the ferry wasn't running, the next the monorail wasn't running. Something SHOULD be running, but you will just have to see whats available. If nothing is running, tell a CM and they will get you over there. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time, I would be at parking at TTC by 7:15.
3. Definitely pre-order your food. 30 days in advance, online. Go to your online reservations page and it will give you the option to order once your 30 days out. Saves a ton of time, and in my opinion there is really no reason not to. Make sure everyone in your party is there when you go to check in, otherwise they won't be allowed in the restaurant if they come later. Everyone who is eating has to go in at the same time. They will give you a rose, go inside, pay, and pick your table. Leave your rose on the table and go get your drinks, a waitress will come get your rose and your food will be delivered shortly!
4. We ordered 1 adult, and 1 kids meal the first morning. The pastries are quite good. The second morning we ordered 2 kids meals. It was bacon, scrambled eggs, and fruit. Our kids were honestly too excited to eat much, so DH and I ate and the kids snacked on some of the pastries later. If everyone was super hungry, you may need to order more food.

 

[Hagrid xox 65]

I mention this because it happened to us and I did see someone else on here say it happened to them also. Preordering DOES save precious time - however be sure you get directed to the correct line once entering the castle! The CM at the check-in kiosk outside the castle told us to tell the CM that was inside the castle that we pre-ordered. We DID that, and the inside CM said "you are fine to go right" (with everyone else - long line). I mentioned to a CM that was just inside and to the left of the line standing at a cash register that we preordered, and he said 'right this way my lady' Had we listened to the first castle CM we'd have preordered for nothing. Ugh!

 

[srauseo]

The portions are large IMO. My sister and I easily could have split an entree and the pastry plate and been fine.

 

[Ser Arthur Dayne]

1. Getting a pre-opening ADR is a good move because it will give us a jump for the lines for Peter Pan/7D?

Potentially, yes. I am more of a "go with the flow" kind of person, so I have never done it, but if you are the type of guest who prefers to see and do it all, this could be invaluable.

 

[MariMama]

Is your trip soon? We have all seen how quickly things can change with Disney and I'm afraid planning specifics for a trip that is a year away is going to turn out to be a frustrating experience.

 

[ariane37]

DH and I did a PPO BOG breakfast in January when we went w/o the kids. It should definitely help you get a jump on things: we had an 8:00 ADR, were out by 8:35 and rode 7DMT 3x before the RD crowds showed up. It'll just depend on what time you're done eating and what time they let the RD people in.

I can't speak much to transportation so I'd just listen to pp's We came from Poly and monorail was running, we got on at 7:15 that morning. We've also always come from an on property resort when hitting RD so no experience from TTC

As for sharing meals, I'm going to say the opposite from pp's but I guess we just eat a lot Between my adult meal and a couple pastries I didn't leave hungry but certainly wasn't stuffed; had I shared my meal I would've been. As it was I got a snack like 2 hours later. DH chose a kids meal (the French toast) which was delicious but ridiculously small. Both my kids 11 and 14 would have still been hungry after eating that even with a pastry or two. Also YES, pre-order!

 

[mshanson3121]

Is your trip soon? We have all seen how quickly things can change with Disney and I'm afraid planning specifics for a trip that is a year away is going to turn out to be a frustrating experience.

No not till next June. I was just curious. Trying to get an idea of how many in park meals we'll be doing as we want to get a budget going.

 

[quagmire0]

Seems to be a discrepancy on the portion size of the food. I see a lot of people that say they split an adult entree, then some that say it was small. Then I see people ordered kid entrees for adults, and then people posting that the kid's portions are too small and they were still hungry. I'm just going to err on the side of hunger this first time through and order everyone something.

 

[kevgraub]

Seems to be a discrepancy on the portion size of the food.

Very likely a difference in size of appetites as well.

 

[quagmire0]

Very likely a difference in size of appetites as well.

No doubt. But opinion seems to be split down the middle, so it's hard to gauge.

 

[Duckiedee]

1. I think it gives you a nice jump on the lines. We had little kids DD4, DS2 and it was nice not to have wait around for rope drop and they got to actually see Mainstreet and enjoy the stroller ride! The first morning we rode 7DMT and then went to Cinderella and Rapunzel. The next morning we went skipped 7DMT and went to Frozen M&G. I actually think we could have done Frozen instead the first morning but it was showing a 45 min wait after 7DMT. So we jumped in Cinderella and Rapunzel line. Once inside PFH, we noticed the Frozen line was moving very quickly. I think a private group had gone in to meet Cinderella and Rapunzel so we waited closer to 25 minutes when the wait time was posted at 5 min.
2. We had a PPO ADR, both days but ours were closer to 8:20. We had to take a different mode of transportation each morning. One morning the ferry wasn't running, the next the monorail wasn't running. Something SHOULD be running, but you will just have to see whats available. If nothing is running, tell a CM and they will get you over there. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time, I would be at parking at TTC by 7:15.
3. Definitely pre-order your food. 30 days in advance, online. Go to your online reservations page and it will give you the option to order once your 30 days out. Saves a ton of time, and in my opinion there is really no reason not to. Make sure everyone in your party is there when you go to check in, otherwise they won't be allowed in the restaurant if they come later. Everyone who is eating has to go in at the same time. They will give you a rose, go inside, pay, and pick your table. Leave your rose on the table and go get your drinks, a waitress will come get your rose and your food will be delivered shortly!
4. We ordered 1 adult, and 1 kids meal the first morning. The pastries are quite good. The second morning we ordered 2 kids meals. It was bacon, scrambled eggs, and fruit. Our kids were honestly too excited to eat much, so DH and I ate and the kids snacked on some of the pastries later. If everyone was super hungry, you may need to order more food.

Just wondering - did you find the 8:20 time was still early enough to take advantage of the lines? Did you get in earlier? How long did it take you to get in and leave - start to finish? Also - how did you know to pre-order so little food? Or did you change your mind about what to receive once inside? Thank you!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Seems to be a discrepancy on the portion size of the food. I see a lot of people that say they split an adult entree, then some that say it was small. Then I see people ordered kid entrees for adults, and then people posting that the kid's portions are too small and they were still hungry. I'm just going to err on the side of hunger this first time through and order everyone something.

My kids have very small appetites. They both had to have a second breakfast about an hour after BOG breakfast, but they also weren't into the pastries the way some people are.

My daughter eats like a bird and she was also still hungry after getting the kid's pasta dish for lunch.

I think some of the discrepancy may also be because of when people visited. We've been to BOG every year since it opened and it seems to me the portion sizes have decreased over time (at least at dinner). The kids' meals at breakfast and lunch are toddler size, IMO. Once you get over the age of 4, your kid is likely to need more food than is offered.

 

[Love Tink]

Just wondering - did you find the 8:20 time was still early enough to take advantage of the lines? Did you get in earlier? How long did it take you to get in and leave - start to finish? Also - how did you know to pre-order so little food? Or did you change your mind about what to receive once inside? Thank you!

We did this last Thursday, and I did a bit of research beforehand. Everything I read said that any PPO reservation can get into the park when they open the gates at 7:45. It also said that you can pretty much check in for any PPO reservation at BOG any time after 8:00. You don't have to wait for your reservation time.

We had an 8:25 reservation and we got in at 7:45 and into the restaurant about 8:05. So the research seemed correct. We came outside around 8:30 and were the first people in line for SDMT. They walked us over around 8:45 and let us board the ride at about 8:55.

 

[Angel Ariel]

No not till next June. I was just curious. Trying to get an idea of how many in park meals we'll be doing as we want to get a budget going.

for budget planning this far out, I personally would budget as though we were doing the most amount of in park eating we'd possibly do. I find that planning high like that allows for more flexibility as dates get closer. it's always better to have more in the budget than you end up needing.

 

[lynzi2004]

Just wondering - did you find the 8:20 time was still early enough to take advantage of the lines? Did you get in earlier? How long did it take you to get in and leave - start to finish? Also - how did you know to pre-order so little food? Or did you change your mind about what to receive once inside? Thank you!

We had an 8:20 the first morning and an 8:10 the next. My favorite was the 8:10. I didn't feel like we had to rush quite as much to finish and get back outside, but still had plenty of time on Mainstreet. BUT, part of our rushing on the first morning was just bc of a general sense of feeling a little "out of place." DH and I had not been to Disney since we were kids, so just the general rush of trying to get into the park, get that perfect picture, figure out exactly where to go, how to get our food, etc left me a little unnerved. The first morning we were probably in the restaurant by 8:15 and out by 8:40 waiting to be let on to Mine Train. The second morning we were in about 8:10 and out by 8:30ish and waited for Frozen meet and greet.

As for as pre-ordering so little food... In general we just aren't big eaters. Especially when excited or nervous. Which after planning this surprise trip for the kids for 6 months, we were all sorts of excited that morning! lol To be honest, I was not booking this reservation to try the fabulous food at BOG...I was wanting to see the inside of the castle and not have to wait around and fight the crowds at rope drop. I looked at the menu and when nothing was overly appealing to us, I went with what we knew we would like. (I would have ordered the kids oatmeal or Frosted flakes, but wasn't going to pay $14 for that!) DH wanted to try the egg sandwhich thing the first morning, but he wasn't overly impressed so we just went with the bacon, eggs, and fruit the second morning. The kids hardly ate anything, the second morning we ate in the West wing...the stared at the rose the entire time!! DH and I ate our breakfast and they had a pop tart waiting in line later

I would not eat at BOG again for the food or if I was absolutely starving or had teenage boys to try and fill up. DH and I basically paid $28 for early entry to the park, bacon, eggs, fruit and pastries and of course...coffee! We are planning to go back sometime next year and will probably do it again. If you are looking for a really filling meal...I would book CP buffet!