Benefit of early PPO breakfast reservation at Magic Kingdom?

[Boardwalk III]

Hi all,

Read on the boards the other day that some folks book an early pre-park-opening breakfast reservation at BOG or the Plaza. I’ve just secured an 8 AM breakfast reservation on a day in April when MK opens at 9 AM. It’s just two of us, with no young kids , but my friend has never been before. We’re early risers so that’s not an issue but I’m wondering what the benefits actually will be other than being in the park about a half an hour before the rest of the public, and having a full breakfast (which will likely allow us to skip taking time for lunch). Any thoughts on the positives/negatives? My goal regardless would be to get our first 3 FP’s at 9, 10, & 11. And If she wants to do 7DMT should we book that first or would it be better to wait to do that later in the morning after the 9:00 am stampede?

We’re doing a quick 48 hour trip from her place in Delray Beach so trying to squeeze in as much as I can

Many thanks!

 

[SaintsManiac]

Personally, I don’t feel there is a benefit to PPO at MK since they changed the opening procedure. You’re behind the pack for anywhere other than BOG and that menu does not appeal to me. I’d rather have a good lunch when I am ready to take a break or book early morning magic if I had to choose.

 

[KMarston]

I've always liked doing a ppo at BOG because it puts us in fantasyland when the park opens. We usually have a toddler in tow though.

 

[hakepb]

Are you talking about April the week before or after Easter? Those 2 weeks are likely to have an 8am EMH where an 8am ADR gains nothing in terms of touring (but BOG would get you into the park a little earlier if staying off site)

 

[brockash]

Hi all,

Read on the boards the other day that some folks book an early pre-park-opening breakfast reservation at BOG or the Plaza. I’ve just secured an 8 AM breakfast reservation on a day in April when MK opens at 9 AM. It’s just two of us, with no young kids , but my friend has never been before. We’re early risers so that’s not an issue but I’m wondering what the benefits actually will be other than being in the park about a half an hour before the rest of the public, and having a full breakfast (which will likely allow us to skip taking time for lunch). Any thoughts on the positives/negatives? My goal regardless would be to get our first 3 FP’s at 9, 10, & 11. And If she wants to do 7DMT should we book that first or would it be better to wait to do that later in the morning after the 9:00 am stampede?

We’re doing a quick 48 hour trip from her place in Delray Beach so trying to squeeze in as much as I can

Many thanks!

The only benefit now is if you book BOG. I feel like the others are actually disadvantages now since while you're eating, Disney is allowing Main Street and lines to fill at the internal rope drop, which you'll be behind once you get done even if before 9am. BOG generally will allow you to at least be at the front of the standby line before rope dropper as long as you're out of there by 845 or so.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Are you talking about April the week before or after Easter? Those 2 weeks are likely to have an 8am EMH where an 8am ADR gains nothing in terms of touring (but BOG would get you into the park a little earlier if staying off site)

No sorry for not clarifying, first week of April, not near Easter.

 

[Boardwalk III]

The only benefit now is if you book BOG. I feel like the others are actually disadvantages now since while you're eating, Disney is allowing Main Street and lines to fill at the internal rope drop, which you'll be behind once you get done even if before 9am. BOG generally will allow you to at least be at the front of the standby line before rope dropper as long as you're out of there by 845 or so.

Yeah, decided not to do BOG. Was thinking of it but I’ve done it plenty of times and the reviews are not great for breakfast. Was going to try the Plaza as I’ve never been there. So it just comes down to if we want to get in the park first thing to have a leisurely breakfast and then use our fast passes. In any case guess it won’t make much of a difference one way or the other. Thanks all.

 

[brockash]

Yeah, decided not to do BOG. Was thinking of it but I’ve done it plenty of times and the reviews are not great for breakfast. Was going to try the Plaza as I’ve never been there. So it just comes down to if we want to get in the park first thing to have a leisurely breakfast and then use our fast passes. In any case guess it won’t make much of a difference one way or the other. Thanks all.

How long does the plaza serve breakfast... If it were me and I really wanted to eat breakfast at the plaza, I'd make it for the latest possible time so you can still get rope drop in and then relax a bit when more ppl are there.

 

[Boardwalk III]

How long does the plaza serve breakfast... If it were me and I really wanted to eat breakfast at the plaza, I'd make it for the latest possible time so you can still get rope drop in and then relax a bit when more ppl are there.

Thought of that too but latest is 10:30 and that seems just too early, losing 1/2 the morning. What time is rope drop? Right at 9:00? May end up going back to a lunch reservation!

 

[Nancyg56]

How long does the plaza serve breakfast... If it were me and I really wanted to eat breakfast at the plaza, I'd make it for the latest possible time so you can still get rope drop in and then relax a bit when more ppl are there.

The Plaza is actually a good idea if. You want a bit of a jump start after breakfast. Our party of 7 booked for 8:20, but arrived early, checked in before 8 AM, and was called at 8:05. Service was prompt and food was excellent. We had time to have a lovely relaxing breakfast, use the restroom, and then get right in at the Rope for tomorrowland. We walked onto Buzz which was our goal, and then Space Mountain in a flash, less than 20 minute wait from walk in to walk off.

It will not get you into Fantasyland earlier than the hoards of folks, but is not a bad idea if you want Tomorrowland.

 

[Lisa F]

to me the benefit of booking a PPO breakfast is that you get a nice breakfast outside of park time. It's more about the overall experience than getting ahead of everyone else at Rope Drop. We can have a nice, laid back meal without missing any park time.

 

[Nancyg56]

to me the benefit of booking a PPO breakfast is that you get a nice breakfast outside of park time. It's more about the overall experience than getting ahead of everyone else at Rope Drop. We can have a nice, laid back meal without missing any park time.

Exactly. You cannot count on "benefit" other than a nice meal. Anything else is a bonus.

 

[HopperFan]

No sorry for not clarifying, first week of April, not near Easter.

Just an FYI - that is a huge Spring Break week. Been ours in Metro Atlanta forever.

Pretty sure last year MK opened at 8 am all week so watch for hour changes.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Assuming a 9 am open, a Plaza ppo (or crystal palace) is a great way to start the morning if you plan on rope dropping anything but fantasyland.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Just an FYI - that is a huge Spring Break week. Been ours in Metro Atlanta forever.

Pretty sure last year MK opened at 8 am all week so watch for hour changes.

Thanks, will do. It’s literally just over 48 hrs , Sunday 4/7-Tuesday 4/9. A last-minute side trip added on to a visit to a friend on the east coast of FL so didn’t have any flexibility in dates.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Assuming a 9 am open, a Plaza ppo (or crystal palace) is a great way to start the morning if you plan on rope dropping anything but fantasyland.

And if we did NOT “rope drop” Fantasyland but went in right at 9:00 after breakfast (& had a later FP for 7DMT) would we reasonably be able to get on Peter Pan and Small World in first 1/2 hour or so? Another idea would be to rope drop for pirates, haunted mansion and maybe Splash mountain, and get FP’s for the other Fantasyland attractions for later in the morning. We aren’t doing most of the coasters so that helps a lot. Not even sure if she’ll want to do 7DMT.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

And if we did NOT “rope drop” Fantasyland but went in right at 9:00 after breakfast (& had a later FP for 7DMT) would we reasonably be able to get on Peter Pan and Small World in first 1/2 hour or so? Another idea would be to rope drop for pirates, haunted mansion and maybe Splash mountain, and get FP’s for the other Fantasyland attractions for later in the morning. We aren’t doing most of the coasters so that helps a lot. Not even sure if she’ll want to do 7DMT.

Small world you can get a 4th fp for after lunch easily. Peter pan you can be behind the rope drop crowd and be ok. Most go to 7dmt. If you are on line for Peter pan by 9:05 (which should be doable getting to Plaza by 8), you should have about a 20 min wait at most, which is not much more than the wait with a fp. Plus, you can enjoy the queue.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I should add it is very unlikely to get a Peter pan FP day of.

You can do Peter pan then head to frontier land for short waits the rest of the morning

 

[Tomh]

I don't find any advantage as far as rides go, to doing a PPO at MK. It used to be an awesome opportunity to get photos on Main Street, and of the castle with no people in the way. However, now that they are opening Main Street an hour before park open, that opportunity largely doesn't exist any more.

I generally get a PPO at Crystal Palace just because I enjoy having breakfast in the park, and find it to be a nice way to start our magical day. That, I believe, is the best reason to schedule a PPO at MK!

 

[HopperFan]

Just an FYI - that is a huge Spring Break week. Been ours in Metro Atlanta forever.

Pretty sure last year MK opened at 8 am all week so watch for hour changes.

I just was sharing that the park will likely open at 8 and your breakfast would be during the golden hour when lines are shorter.