BOG breakfast for Mine train warning! Early ride not guaranteed

[Mome Rath]

This just happened a few days ago to a friend of mine with an 8:05 breakfast. She instagrammed the whole thing from where they made everyone enter en masse at once (and she's disabled and kept being pushed and shoved from behind. Several parents were putting kids on their shoulders and grabbing them in their arms so they weren't run over) to after breakfast where the CMs were saying to get in the back of the line after all the rope droppers were let through.

I'm really wondering if our early ADR is worth it. Part of the reason we make it early isn't to get a ride (we fastpass) but because I hate that early rush crush and have an excited kiddo who wakes very early all ready to go.

This would only be a problem if the park opens at 8 am and the reservation is around 8 am. If the park doesn't open until 9 am and you get an ADR around 8 am, then you will get in the park with a very small crowd (only those who also have an early ADR) around 7:50 am. If you get an ADR around park opening time, then the rope drop crowd will be an issue.

 

[GaryDis]

I'm complaining about the inconsistency. ... I just wanted to let others know that it isn't a guarantee.

I think that's the key. When you say it's not guaranteed, of course it isn't. Nowhere do they say it is.

But people are generally happier with consistent policies, even if they work to their disadvantage, than inconsistent policies that sometimes work and sometimes don't. People have a surprisingly innate sense of fairness. Even chimpanzees have a sense of fairness, so it's a strong part of our nature.

 

[MYD714]

This news bums me out. I'm hoping others will continue to post their experiences. If this continues, I may cancel our BOG breakfast. While I want to try breakfast there, DH isn't too thrilled about the menu, and the possibility of an early ride on the mine train was the one thing about it that sounded good to him.

Suebedo, any chance that you what happened with the people who didn't want to ride the mine train? Were they held longer than the rope drop people as well? At what point were people not wanting the mine train allowed to go off into the park?

 

[suebedo]

I have to ask the OP, how long was the wait once you got to the back of the RD line?

I've only ever done rope drop once, and that was at DL, to buy tickets for the Fantasmic Chocolate Buffet, back when it was being held at the Disney Gallery balcony. But IIRC, there was a CM with a sign on a stick who made it clear to the RD hoards going in the same general direction that no one who was in front of him would be allowed on the Indiana Jones ride until after all the people who calmly walked behind him. This was after IJ had been open several years, but it was still the leading RD attraction.

Where that gets me is that if Disney is trying to do crowd calming on the RD crowd, it makes things awkward for them when a well behaved group of RD people arrives at a prime ride and sees that there are already people there. I have no idea whether that's what happens at the MK, or if it's everyone for themselves once they drop the rope. But it does seem like a no-win situation for them. The RD people are just as likely to complain that they're already paying high prices, they got extra early to get to the park before the crowd, they were clever enough to avoid an early EMH day, and Disney still let people with more disposable income on the ride first. I'm not saying they're right, I'm just saying that's what they have to contend with.

I wonder if a better compromise would be to include an extra FP+ for all the BOG guests who book before opening (and actually show up to eat).

We got out of line and went to Space Mountain. But we would have easily been at least 45 min to an hour .

 

[suebedo]

This news bums me out. I'm hoping others will continue to post their experiences. If this continues, I may cancel our BOG breakfast. While I want to try breakfast there, DH isn't too thrilled about the menu, and the possibility of an early ride on the mine train was the one thing about it that sounded good to him.

Suebedo, any chance that you what happened with the people who didn't want to ride the mine train? Were they held longer than the rope drop people as well? At what point were people not wanting the mine train allowed to go off into the park?

It looked like you could walk over toward the Carousel to A&E, but I really wasn't paying attention. I didn't see any other cast members in the area.
FWIW, I'm glad didn't cancel the Mine Train FP, I was considering it! We ended up riding with FP around noon. It is an OK ride but I'm glad I didn't wait an hour to ride it. We rode a ton of rides in the first hour so we really would have missed a lot had we waited.

 

[GaryDis]

We got out of line and went to Space Mountain. But we would have easily been at least 45 min to an hour .

Thanks. That gives me a better feel for the issue. I would have been royally ticked too, but I don't know what the right solution is.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I can see how the inconsistency regarding early and/or multiple rides could be infuriating, but what gets to me is actually holding people back when the park has already opened and making them go to the end of the line. If you aren't going to give BOG people an advantage, fine, but don't hold them back from entering a line once the park is open. That's ridiculous and yes, will most likely cause many BOG breakfast cancellations. If I schedule an ADR at BOG pre-RD, yes, I am making a reservation for breakfast, but that should not mean my movement should be restricted once the park opens. People should be able to eat and then enjoy the park at 9 am just like everyone else!

What confounds me about this and the responses about people "abusing" the system is DISNEY is the one that created this situation. If you didn't want BOG guests riding early or multiple times before RD, then why open the ride to them early? BOG guests didn't storm the ride and get it started on their own! Only Disney can start the ride earlier than RD and let people on it. So they went from giving a perk to BOG guests, to, not only taking the perk away, but penalizing people for eating there. It's bizarre to say the least.

 

[mummabear]

I see no problem with telling you get get to the end.

Why should they be at the end?
I'm not saying they should be at the front either but shouldnt they be allowed at the same time?

 

[JJZMgailey]

I think the "inconsistencies" are pretty purposeful and might be the exact reason that the BOG breakfast service is in a trial run still. They've got to control crowds somehow while still keeping the magic alive for everyone. They do say "menu items, pricing and hours are subject to change." That applies to Park hours and their procedures too.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

are people that upset that people might get the slightest advantage of going on a ride early by paying so much for mediocre food???

 

[GaryDis]

are people that upset that people might get the slightest advantage of going on a ride early by paying so much for mediocre food???

I don't think anywhere here has expressed that opinion. I may have come close, by saying that *other people in the park* might have that view, and that Disney would need to cope with it, but that doesn't mean I have that view.

I believe the OP, in spite of using the word "guarantee", understands that there was no explicit guarantee, and was merely trying to share the experience, and at most express frustration at the inconsistency.

I believe others have expressed what might be called a "free market, caveat emptor" view, saying that people shouldn't complain about not getting something that was never expressly guaranteed in the first place. I'll try not read too much into their motivations. This can easily come across a bit harsh, but it's difficult to make this type of legitimate point while still being sympathetic.

 

[larryz]

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.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

Also, for those who are considering doing BOG breakfast only for an advantage over regular rope drop, I have seen the occasional report of SDMT not being operational at park opening. It happens.
OP, for reminding people there are no guarantees. Sometimes you get pixie dust and sometimes you get the short end of the stick.

 

[edolee]

The never ending question... Why is Disney trying to find another way to spoil my vacation??

A) Disney getting back at the evil ADR doers that are trying to scam the system! (Bet they used to show up late for their paper fastpass windows too, the swine!!)
B) Disney experiment on crowd management
C) Cast member error

Let's apply Occam's razor:

A) Not likely, Disney actually likes to take your money.
B) Plausible
C) Ding Ding Ding... seems like this happens all the time. Gets my vote as the simplest explanation. Maybe the cast member made up a rule, maybe they were having a bad day, maybe they were new, maybe they misunderstood their training. Honestly, it amazes me that there not more cast member mistakes when you consider the vast number of them, and I suspect fairly high turnover.

Before anyone cancels BOG ADR's might be best to get at least one similar experience from another person.

Ed

 

[scoobygrl79]

To the OP-I am so sorry about your experience. Holding you back while allowing others to line up ahead of you and to do so for no good reason is so.........un-Disney! I'm glad that it didn't blemish your trip and it was thoughtful of you to warn fellow Disboard-ers

 

[aretha30]

I'd be livid too! Disney can't be ignorant of the fact that people often do pre-park opening ADRs just to get an edge on the crowds.

Between this report and the ridiculous rope drop procedure happening at AK, I am just shaking my head.

What is happening at AK? What did I miss? We will be down there in 10 days so I'd like to know!

To the OP, I'm sorry that this happened, it sucks. Thanks for the warning, we have a Prepark opening ADR at Crystal Palace but don't expect to be done before RD so it doesn't apply for this trip. I thought about BOG for breakfast but glad now that we didn't. Hope the rest of your trip is magical

 

[Gabriele73]

It's one thing to not allow "early" rides (which they have done)

We had an 8am BOG Breakfast-ADR on June 29th and were allowed on SDMT 2times before the rope-drop-crowd arrived. The Castmembers even hurried in those who wanted a third ride with the
words "Hurry up, the crowd is arriving"!

 

[Sybernova]

I think the "inconsistencies" are pretty purposeful and might be the exact reason that the BOG breakfast service is in a trial run still. They've got to control crowds somehow while still keeping the magic alive for everyone. They do say "menu items, pricing and hours are subject to change." That applies to Park hours and their procedures too.

Then why not be upfront with guests and list that? It would be an easy explanation to guests why they may or not ride before RD? Or is part of the "magic" of Disney having to infer things not mentioned in your vacation package like waiting around after you have eaten and not being able to move around the park?

Also, what was the CM saying when they held you? Did you ask why they held you until after the RD crowd?

 

[DarkPaw]

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...

 

[anniemae]

I never even knew people booked BOG to get the extra little perk of riding SDMT early until these boards! I think it's a great perk, but seems like it's just that, an extra little bit of magic. You may get it, you may not. It seems that once Disney does something special, everyone expects it. It would be different if people were not expecting it, but it seems some folks purposely book breakfast at BOG not for breakfast, but for the perk of getting in a little early to get a jump on rides. Since Disney does not advertise this, I would only book BOG if you want to eat there, not to get in early. You can't get upset because you didn't get something that is not promised to you. It would be different if Disney advertised "Eat breakfast at BOG and ride some rides before RD!"

I am also curious to the comment about AK, what is happening at RD there?