BOG breakfast for Mine train warning! Early ride not guaranteed

[GaryDis]

But how on earth could they factor in guest that don't complain but still didn't like it? Or at least ones that complained to the CM and not formally? Does the CM report "I got yelled at four times and three different parents approached me" to a superior? Unless the results of a 'test' yield results or can be measured, then there is no reason to test anything. In fact, without someone there to actually record the results, I doubt it was a test at all. Just a CM on a power trip.

I obviously agree that it's unlikely to have been a test.

But statistical measures are always an approximation, never perfect. They just do what they can to filter out distortions. If they know from past experience that on a customer satisfaction survey, 10 out of 100 people disliked something strongly, but in reality they only got 1 complaint directly to Guest Services from every 100 people, then they know that every 1 complaint to Guest Services means 10 dissatisfied people. And with the vast number of people that Disney serves, they probably get a really good handle on things from the Guest Services complains without measuring ever single informal complaint to a CM (because with a large set of samples, statistics can be really reliable).

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I also think it was just a CM on a power trip. If I recall, the week before our trip in June, someone on here reported that they were also held outside BOG until the RD herd arrived and didn't get extra rides without waiting. That turned out to be a one-off situation as well. We were in MK not even a week later, with our bellies full and happily rode the Mine Train twice before the RD crowd arrived (and were also encouraged by the CMs to ride one more time, though we declined).

As for the subject of the OP...getting extra rides is never a guarantee with a BOG breakfast. The Mine Train is down fairly often (see this chart from easywdw.com showing Mine Train downtimes during July http://www.easywdw.com/reports13/minetrainjuly.jpg ) and while it's been better about being up at park opening lately, it's never guaranteed when it will be running anyway. I took our pre-opening ADR to mainly get in a decent breakfast unlike other breakfasts available at Disney, and only hoped we'd get an extra Mine Train ride. Had we not, it would have been disappointing, but really not that big of a deal. I loved being allowed into the MK in a small group, rather than a large herd, and being able to stroll casually up Main Street without eleventy billion people with me was surprisingly pleasant. For that alone, I'd do the pre-opening ADR. Extra rides on the Mine Train is just bonus.

 

[cgattis]

Disney is not required to commit to an experience they don't officially offer. And your comment shows the reason why they often quit offering these types of things- people complain that they didn't get what they were never promised in the first place.

It's like when we let my grandson skip his nap- he thinks the next day he shouldn't have to take one.

I don't think she was referring to the pre-open ride. I think she was referring to the fact that we have to pay cancellation fees if we decide to cancel a reservation day-of, but Disney can cancel anything at any time with no repercussions.

 

[MYD714]

We have an 8am BOG breakfast on a day the MK opens at 9am. If we can ride SDMT early I would love it. But, if we can't I have FP+ for later in the day. We'll just head to PP instead!

I think this is going to my plan as well for now. In fact, I may just plan on heading to PP no matter what. I really want to see the new queue and I don't want to wait for it once the lines get too long during the day. I have a FP for 7DMT later in the day anyway.

Of course, this is what I tell myself now. I'm bound to change my mind about a thousand times within the month.

 

[Sybernova]

I think this is going to my plan as well for now. In fact, I may just plan on heading to PP no matter what. I really want to see the new queue and I don't want to wait for it once the lines get too long during the day. I have a FP for 7DMT later in the day anyway.

Of course, this is what I tell myself now. I'm bound to change my mind about a thousand times within the month.

The problem with that: If what happened to the OP happens to you, you may be facing a bit more of a line as well. Not SDMT levels, but still pretty apparent. Would it not be frustrating to be held from leaving the area while people flood in all around you?

 

[ginny_lynn]

We have a Pre Park opening ADR on 08/19. I have no expectation to be allowed to ride 7dmt before the park opens but I would expect to be allowed to enter the line just like any other person not be held back until they have entered. If that were to happen it wouldn't ruin my day but I would be sending a complaint through the website that night. I do not feel having the ADR should give me an advantage but I should not be treated differently then those coming in at RD either.

Hopefully this was a one off and it will be handled better most days. I will keep my eyes out for updated reports.

 

[robinb]

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.

I think the worst part of this story is that you wolfed down a very expensive breakfast in 20 minutes to be out there in time.

 

[IrishNYC]

I have heard from a few CM friends that they were getting a lot of people having an ADR, getting in the park early but not actually going to eat. That might be the reason why they are changing things...

When BOG breakfast first opened there were many people in a thread about it saying they were going to book a table for their party and just order one breakfast, or even skip out on it completely and pay the fee, just for the advantage of getting in early. I do think Disney quickly became well aware of that fact and are trying to curb that.

ETA: I see that's been covered.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Waaaaaiiiit...

People get early breakfast reservations just to get on the mine train? Seriously?

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I have always booked a CP ADR for pre opening-it's our favorite breakfast. We would finish eating and then wait at the rope to whichever land we were going to-normally FL because that early in the morning it is easy to get a lot done in that area. The CM who would be on guard a the rope would drop the rope and let us go as soon as the announcement over the speaker was made. Yes we were in front of the crowd. Why should BOG be treated any differently? The OP did state that they were held until they would be at the end of the line, which is just wrong IMO. Once the park is open, it's open and you should be free to go to any attraction you wish. She was allowed to leave to go to SM, so why is 7DMT different?

And seriously are people really paying the no show fee to get to ride or meet and greet? That's just crazy to me.

 

[walker0829]

Waaaaaiiiit...

People get early breakfast reservations just to get on the mine train? Seriously?

If only they had a system where you can get an advance reservation on rides....oh wait...

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think the worst part of this story is that you wolfed down a very expensive breakfast in 20 minutes to be out there in time.

#FirstWorldProblems

 

[RustManFan]

Didn't know getting on ANY ride before rope drop due to early ADRs was a perk at any of the parks... let me see that in writing!

 

[Sybernova]

Didn't know getting on ANY ride before rope drop due to early ADRs was a perk at any of the parks... let me see that in writing!

Look in this thread. There are a few people who already made claims to have done that. There are also a few trip reports and "lifestyle bloggers" claiming the same I'm sure.

 

[anniemae]

I have always booked a CP ADR for pre opening-it's our favorite breakfast. We would finish eating and then wait at the rope to whichever land we were going to-normally FL because that early in the morning it is easy to get a lot done in that area. The CM who would be on guard a the rope would drop the rope and let us go as soon as the announcement over the speaker was made. Yes we were in front of the crowd. Why should BOG be treated any differently? The OP did state that they were held until they would be at the end of the line, which is just wrong IMO. Once the park is open, it's open and you should be free to go to any attraction you wish. She was allowed to leave to go to SM, so why is 7DMT different?

And seriously are people really paying the no show fee to get to ride or meet and greet? That's just crazy to me.

It's crazy to me too, but then again, I have seen people do many crazy things on these boards!

 

[Goofy'slady]

If it weren't for the fact I came on here I would have never even considered making an ADR in hopes of getting on a specific ride early than most. I thought that was what FP+ was generally for and that ADR were for dining purposes.

 

[MYD714]

The problem with that: If what happened to the OP happens to you, you may be facing a bit more of a line as well. Not SDMT levels, but still pretty apparent. Would it not be frustrating to be held from leaving the area while people flood in all around you?

Ugh! So true.
While I have no problem waiting until park opening to ride, I would have a problem being held back while everyone else has already been set free.

I guess I'm back to being torn about what to do. I had been debating pushing back my first FP time, canceling breakfast at BOG, and booking the Marceline to the Magic Kingdom Tour instead. We took the Walking in Walt's Footsteps tour last year in Disneyland and loved it.

 

[jcarwash]

I think this is going to my plan as well for now. In fact, I may just plan on heading to PP no matter what. I really want to see the new queue and I don't want to wait for it once the lines get too long during the day. I have a FP for 7DMT later in the day anyway.

Of course, this is what I tell myself now. I'm bound to change my mind about a thousand times within the month.

On July 17 we exited BOG breakfast (8am reservation; food was late) at around 8:50 or so. Seeing a 30 minute posted wait for SDMT, we instead walked on to the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and then headed for Peter Pan's Flight, which had a 15 minute posted wait (took less time to board). I suspect if you went directly to PPF you'd have a nice short wait and get to see the new queue. It's cute.

 

[NavyDad]

The amount of snark in threads on the theme park board is so funny!

We really enjoyed our BOG breakfast (DW felt way too rushed though) but I think we would be way less likely to book if the practice OP pointed out becomes the norm.

IMO - I think giving pre-ADR some sort of perk as standard OP is a good business practice for Disney Parks.

I'm thinking we will go back to our old standby of CP breakfast and then head to BTMR and Splash on the next trip...

 

[anniemae]

If it weren't for the fact I came on here I would have never even considered making an ADR in hopes of getting on a specific ride early than most. I thought that was what FP+ was generally for and that ADR were for dining purposes.

If it weren't for the fact that I came on here, I would never have known:

how to stay off site yet still get fp+ and ADR benefits the same as on-site guests
how to park for free
how to enjoy a salad for free at the topping bar
and now, how to get into the park earlier than the masses by only paying $10pp