BOG breakfast for Mine train warning! Early ride not guaranteed

[happymommy]

I think in order to do that, they'd have to make it a buffet or AYCE. Those are currently the only meal types that do not allow sharing, iirc.

That is true. I don't think sharing will be a problem.
To me, it looks like more than I can eat at 8:00am! I got out of the habit of breakfast lately, though.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

When we ate at BOG pre-RD in June we were able to get in seperate lines for A&E and/or 7DMT that put us at these attractions just in front of the RD crowd. However we didn't experience being able to ride multiple times like some others have previously reported. It sounds like maybe the experience the OP reported was a 1 day thing but it is very helpful in the decision making proccess to get reports of what is going on.

For us, the experience of being in the MK and walking down Main Street almost by ourselves is an incentive that makes us more likely to pay the money for a pre-RD breakfast ADR. However if OP's experience becomes the norm I don't think we would feel like our Disney Civil Rights were violated (TIC) but we would be extremely less likely to want to eat at BOG. At that point we would probably still get an pre-RD ADR but would switch back to Crystal Palace which we love (and IMO is a better overal all value because omelettes).

Just to let you know, our family was able to do what is being talked about with 7DMT after eating at CP.

 

[IrishNYC]

I think in order to do that, they'd have to make it a buffet or AYCE. Those are currently the only meal types that do not allow sharing, iirc.

They can make it a pre-pay like CRT, where you have to pay for everyone you want a seat for in advance.

 

[madhavok]

we had an 8:05 BOG reservation this AM. We were done eating & out waiting near Mine Train at 8:30. They did not let us in early. They told us we had to wait until they saw the rope droppers come around the corner, near teacups/pooh. Once the masses showed up, they held us back & made us get at the END OF THE LINE. We jumped out & went to SM. We were at the very back of the RD pack . We ran into another family that was waiting with us, outside of BOG, THE DAD WAS LIVUD. They were in the exact opposite situation earlier in the week. They were at the fron of the RD pack & the BOG people were sent in first.

That's unacceptable and you should contact guest relations. As someone else mentioned if Disney doesn't want early ADR getting on rides before rope droppers then ADR shouldn't be available until after the park opens.

 

[madhavok]

Laugh all you want at people saying you only paid for breakfast, but I mean sorry, Disney doesn't advertise pre-park ADRs as a means to hit the rides before the crowds. Thus, they don't have to make sure that pre-park ADR people get to go first. You did pay for breakfast. You were allowed in BOG. You ate. That's all that was promised. Yes, a leg up on rides would have been nice, but that wasn't what you booked. You booked breakfast, which you got.

Breakfast should be expected, since that is what you paid for. A rides advantage is a common perk, but nowhere says it's guaranteed - because it isn't.

IMO there is nothing valid to complain about.

If the park is open then it should be open to all, including those who are in the park early for ADR. The issue is CM punishing pre-park ADR's, ie holding them back despite the fact the park was open.

 

[sunflare]

They can make it a pre-pay like CRT, where you have to pay for everyone you want a seat for in advance.

True, and they definitely can. However, remember that CRT (at least the last time I was there, which was a heck of a long time ago) is AYCE, so that fits in the paradigm. However, I'm reading conflicting reviews of that now, so I'm not sure how it's being handled now.

 

[BK2014]

As far as I can tell, the benefit of ADR is a guaranteed meal time, whether it is pre-park opening or during park hours. And as far as I can tell, the sole benefit of lining up for Rope Drop is to be among the first people into the park, and as a result, one of the first people on whatever rides are open. By arriving at the park early and forgoing the option of being inside at their hotel or a restaurant eating breakfast, they have earned the privilege of being among the first people in the park. Allowing the rope drop crowd does not take away any benefit that should have been expected by the early ADR crowd. However, allowing people who received the benefit of their early ADR to get in line in front of the rope drop crowd completely takes away any benefit that would have been earned by arriving early and waiting patiently for rope drop.

As someone pointed out previously, what it seems most people are upset about is the purported inconsistencies in the enforcement policies. If Disney had a consistent policy, ie - if you finish your ADR early you must leave and go take your place in the back of the rope drop line - then few people would be upset about it. But in my opinion, reserving a spot at an early ADR is not tantamount to reserving a spot at the front of the rope drop line.

To be clear, I am not taking away from the OP's legitimate frustrations. Had there been a clear policy, they would have known what to expect one way or the other. And certainly, if I had had an early ADR, and was admitted into the park ahead of the rope drop crowd, I would have been surprised to have been held back once I arrived at my desired destination. But looking at the situation as objectively as I can, I would implement a policy as I described above if I were in a position to do so.

 

[larryz]

However, allowing people who received the benefit of their early ADR to get in line in front of the rope drop crowd completely takes away any benefit that would have been earned by arriving early and waiting patiently for rope drop.

Ah, but those RD'ers KNEW there were going to be people in the park having breakfast at multiple venues, so there's no reasonable expectation that they'll be FIRST on any ride, despite being first person at the gate. Regardless of first or thirty-first, they still get the benefit of being in the park early before the main crowd shows up between 10:00 and 11:00.

 

[cakebaker]

However, allowing people who received the benefit of their early ADR to get in line in front of the rope drop crowd completely takes away any benefit that would have been earned by arriving early and waiting patiently for rope drop.

You do realize that the people from BOG are not costing rope drop people anything, right? They are put in the FP+ line and are in and out before the rope drop crowd is at the boarding area.

The numbers from BOG are very small and not enough to cost anyone anything.

 

[BK2014]

Ah, but those RD'ers KNEW there were going to be people in the park having breakfast at multiple venues, so there's no reasonable expectation that they'll be FIRST on any ride, despite being first person at the gate. Regardless of first or thirty-first, they still get the benefit of being in the park early before the main crowd shows up between 10:00 and 11:00.

Well, I am hesitant to assume that everyone at RD knew this one specific fact, but even if true your argument works both ways. In the absence of an established policy, those with early ADR have no reasonable expectation that they will be allowed to leave the restaurant and get in line with or ahead of the RD'ers. Regardless of being allowed in ahead of, with or after the RD'ers, they still got the advantage of their ADR. Again, a consistent policy would at least give both ADR'ers and RD'er notice of what to expect, regardless of its perceived fairness. By no means am I suggesting that there is an absolute right answer to this perceived dilemma.

 

[madhavok]

For those who have issue with pre opening ADRs getting on rides / lines, I'm curious when you would consider the park open for them? Should they be required to walk back the the gate to get on line?

 

[t-roy]

Regardless of whether you agree/disagree, think it's fair/unfair whether guests with early ADRs should go ahead of rope drop people, it happens. If Disney didn't want it to happen, it wouldn't. Being put behind rope droppers is ridiculous since at that point the park has officially opened. I totally understand the OP frustration. I think this was a cranky CM who disagreed with the policy. Doesn't seem like this has been the norm since a few people have reported being led in ahead of the masses.

 

[Rosebud123]

You do realize that the people from BOG are not costing rope drop people anything, right? They are put in the FP+ line and are in and out before the rope drop crowd is at the boarding area.

The numbers from BOG are very small and not enough to cost anyone anything.

No, I don't think anyone that's complaining on this thread does understand that! They think that the BOG guests are "cheating" the RD crowd, when in reality they're helping them by finishing riding before they get there!!

Also, I'd bet that 95% (myself included) of the early BOG crowd would be at RD by 8:15 if there was no such thing as BOG early advantage. It's a win-win.

 

[Mome Rath]

You do realize that the people from BOG are not costing rope drop people anything, right? They are put in the FP+ line and are in and out before the rope drop crowd is at the boarding area.

The numbers from BOG are very small and not enough to cost anyone anything.

And I can confirm that the cars are half empty when the BoG "crowd" are going through, there aren't enough BoGers to fill them fast enough.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Can't wrap my head around anyone thinking those with an early ADR should go back and get in line BEHIND the RD's

Seems like a very silly (and maybe its sour grapes) idea.

You do realize people pay for their breakfast so it's not like they are sneaking in for free. If they are finished and the park opens why should they have to wait for anyone to walk to a ride from Main Street? By the tw the RD's get there it sounds like the early ADR guests are usually finished riding anyway

 

[Summertinkerbell]

My DD & DH were at the front of the rope drop line and made it to the 7 dwarfs ride near the beginning of the line. The ride was not ready. The wait time sign already read, "40 minute wait." The same thing happened when we had an early ADR at Cinderella's castle. They had to wait 40 minutes even though the ride hadn't started yet, and the line was short.

The only way to get on that ride without a wait is using FP+. 60 days out, I was unable to get a FP+ for the ride...probably because I did it in the morning. It never occurred to me to do it at midnight.

Lesson learned.

 

[wisblue]

There are a couple of things in this discussion that puzzle me.

The first is the idea that people who schedule breakfasts before park opening are paying for the privilege of some advantage at rope drop. As far as I know, the people who eat at 8 AM are paying the same as those with reservations at 9 or later. So, IMHO, any advantages, like a quick spin or two on 7DMT, should be seen as a special perk, not an entitlement.

The second thing is the comments that some people have made that, without the perk of a free ride or two on 7DMT, nobody would make reservations for breakfast before park opening. Maybe it's just us, but a couple of years ago (before 7DMT opened) one of my adult daughters decided that she wanted to celebrate her birthday with breakfast at CRT, something we had never done before. We made the reservation for 8 AM on a day with a 9 AM opening, not because we thought we would get some special head start at rope drop, but because we didn't want to forfeit the ability to take advantage of short lines when the park opened.

It has to be understood that this issue is purely a result of the current popularity of 7DMT and the change in RD procedure it produced. Before, when the ropes at the front of the park were dropped, guests streamed into the park, but were usually held at secondary ropes leading to the various lands and the most popular attractions. A few minutes later, CM's led guests toward things like Space Mountain, BTMRR, etc.

When we had our CRT breakfast, we finished our breakfast before 9 and were held in the area around the castle. We were held there even when they let people in the front gates, and it was fun seeing the crowd streaming down Main Street. Then they let us proceed to the secondary ropes, where we seamlessly joined in with the other guests. So, the breakfast got us neither an advantage or a disadvantage relative to other early guests. When they dropped the second ropes, we headed right to Space Mountain just like we would have if we had entered with the main crowd.

With the new entry procedure and controlled stampede to 7DMT, it is much more difficult to execute a seamless merger of the small group of early ADR guests with the horde of others. Allowing those ADR guests a quick ride on 7DMT before the horde arrives seems like a sensible way to handle this.

All this having been said, I agree that Disney should try to have its opening procedure be as consistent as possible so that guests who care and plan have a good idea of what to expect. It sounds like what happened on the day the OP visited is clearly the exception and not the general rule. Maybe 7DMT wasn't quite ready to open early that day.

The bottom line on this for me is that I don't see me scheduling a reservation for a meal I don't really want just for a benefit that I didn't pay for and might or might not get. If I have an expectation of some special perk, and it doesn't pan out, I will swallow my disappointment and move on.

 

[BudgieMama]

For me, I want an early BOG reservation because I like being in the park when it's quiet, and next time I will be on QSDP, so it will save me paying out of pocket at Crystal Palace. If they continue to make BOG patrons wait until RD guests fill the queue, and that means some people don't see the value in the early breakfast, it won't change my desire of a reservation! We each have our own priorities, and just because mine might be different to yours (getting on SDMT early over just enjoying breakfast early!) doesn't mean there's no value for anyone in those early reservations.

 

[Magpie]

I just booked my BOG breakfast for 8:20. But not so we can ride 7 Dwarves. We've been there, done that, might FP it this trip, might not (isn't anyone else disappointed when the coaster slows down during the descent?).

The last time we had a BOG breakfast, we skipped past the 7 Dwarves at about ten minutes to official park open and had a delightful time riding everything in Fantasyland with zero wait, while everyone else lined up for the Dwarves.

 

[lisathomps]

Many years ago when my DD was little we had a pre-opening breakfast ADR at CRT. After we were done eating we waited for park opening at the rope at the back of the castle breezeway. I knew the first child into (can't-remember-the-name-of-) store could wake Tinkerbell. I thought it would be a cute thing to do but I didn't tell DD about it in case we weren't the first people in the store. When the rope dropped we started walking towards the store but everyone else was doing the Dumbo Dash. We entered an empty store and the CM took us to the place to wake up Tinkerbell. Well, about 30 seconds later this woman and her two daughters come running into the store all red-faced and out of breath. When the woman realized they missed it she turned to me and said they'd been standing in line at the entrance for hours just to do this. Then she asked me if the reason we made it in there before them was if we had an early breakfast reservation. I have to tell you that really put a damper on the whole thing. At first I felt really bad but then I got irritated. It's not my fault I got an early ADR (and paid for 3 meals) and was in a position to get to the store faster.

So, with BOG & SDMT - I am going to breakfast and will be paying for my food. I don't expect to ride SDMT before the park opens but if I am in a position to get in line before the RD masses do I should be able to. I shouldn't be held back and made to get at the end of the line.

I hate it when a few bad apples spoil the entire basket.

Great example story for this post. It's not like you "took" the experience from them. You just happened to be first. I would have done the same as you (not mention it to my daughter in case you didn't make it in time). Glad you got to experience it!!