BOG breakfast for Mine train warning! Early ride not guaranteed

[cakebaker]

C) ... 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

I agree. A single experience does not a policy change make. I certainly wouldn't be canceling my adrs over it just yet.
It could very well be exactly what you suggest.

I think people should understand it's never been a guarantee but I wouldn't take a single report as proof that it won't happen it either.

 

[mom2rtk]

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...

Well isn't that sweet. Sort of like when my daughter's first grade would lose recess because a couple kids wouldn't quit talking.

 

[anniemae]

I agree. A single experience does not a policy change make. I certainly wouldn't be canceling my adrs over it just yet.
It could very well be exactly what you suggest.

I think people should understand it's never been a guarantee but I wouldn't take a single report as proof that it won't happen it either.

But there are a couple of other people who said it also happened to them so it isn't just a single experience.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

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

They're testing letting people through the gates early and holding them in the Oasis until official opening.

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...

Then they need to do something about that without punishing those who are normal paying customers.

Are these people using the ADR to enter early and never even showing up at the restaurant? Disney could track who entered the park early and never went to eat and charge them a higher no-show fee than standard. Or are they ordering 2 kids' meals for a party of 11? Disney is currently allowing this, but they could change that policy and make it a fixed price for everyone on the reservation.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

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

Yes, please say more! I noticed that and was wondering the same thing. We were there last month (so sad it's over) and didn't notice anything different.

Thanks for the heads up, OP. Nothing is more infuriating than inconsistencies like this.

We go the other way at RD, to Frontierland, and now you gave me a picture of what's going on with that crowd going to the right. 45 minute wait at RD!

 

[mom2rtk]

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!"

Does Disney really think people are paying $20 for donuts?

 

[ChimCher-ee]

Oops. Posted too late. WiFi glitches Sorry!

 

[cakebaker]

Well isn't that sweet. Sort of like when my daughter's first grade would lose recess because a couple kids wouldn't quit talking.

You could use your analogy for any policy from any company put into place to stop abuses.

Have you eaten there? It's not $20 for donuts. We thought the food was quite good, servings were generous and with it including drinks the price was not excessive, especially considering the venue. We did not book just for the food, but we rarely book anywhere just for the food- still we were pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

 

[mom2rtk]

You could use your analogy for any policy from any company put into place to stop abuses.

Have you eaten there? It's not $20 for donuts. We thought the food was quite good, servings were generous and with it including drinks the price was not excessive, especially considering the venue and location.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

If I'm not mistaken you also got the benefit of an early ride on 7DMT without being held back behind the rope drop crowd.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Why is letting people through the AK gates into the oasis an issue?

 

[anniemae]

Does Disney really think people are paying $20 for donuts?

Doesn't matter what they think. They don't advertise the "perk" so it is not guaranteed. I think word got out about it, and naturally people started taking advantage and strategizing how to exploit the system (like the pp said about people making the ADR and not having breakfast) so maybe they are cracking down on it. I personally don't understand because I would think by letting folks in early they are selling more breakfasts.

By the way, how would someone execute that? If they have an ADR, don't they walk you to BOG so you have to go in? Also, wouldn't you be charged the "no show" fee if you didn't eat?

 

[cakebaker]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

If I'm not mistaken you also got the benefit of an early ride on 7DMT without being held back behind the rope drop crowd.

We did. But we also knew that we might not. We were willing to take the chance as we were going to eat breakfast anyway, wanted to eat at BOG once during our trip and a pre opening adr offers more than just a chance to ride sdmt quickly.

 

[Sybernova]

Or are they ordering 2 kids' meals for a party of 11? Disney is currently allowing this, but they could change that policy and make it a fixed price for everyone on the reservation.

Until they change it, I see no problem with this. If Disney can change their mind on a whim to let guests on a ride or not, why can't some guests decide not everyone in their party is hungry once they get there?

 

[wdwobsessed]

You know it's kind of hard to get a BOG breakfast reservation ANYTIME. So I wouldn't say the only reason people eat there is to get a jump on rope drop. Otherwise no one would eat there at 9,9:15,9:30 ... You get my point.

 

[mom2rtk]

Until they change it, I see no problem with this. If Disney can change their mind on a whim to let guests on a ride or not, why can't some guests decide not everyone in their party is hungry once they get there?

Because apparently Disney is not required to commit to anything ahead of time, but guests are.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

Why is letting people through the AK gates into the oasis an issue?

It creates two giant masses of people heading to either Kilimanjaro Safaris or Expedition Everest instead of staggering them out as they pass through the turnstiles. Some people may not see it as an issue, but it's how things used to be at AK and they stopped doing it for a reason.

See http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...-flame-tree-reopens-with-jamaican-jerk-63015/ for a detailed report on it.

 

[cakebaker]

By the way, how would someone execute that? If they have an ADR, don't they walk you to BOG so you have to go in? Also, wouldn't you be charged the "no show" fee if you didn't eat?

No, they don't walk you to the restaurant. They have CM's along the route preventing you from entering areas that you shouldn't, but you walk at your own pace to your destination. That's a big plus to us to book a pre-opening adr.

Yes, you do pay the fee, but that's cheaper than the meal. There have been posts here describing this exact method of gaming the system. It's an abuse of the system that takes availability away from other guests and is unfortunate, but not surprising.

 

[cakebaker]

Because apparently Disney is not required to commit to anything ahead of time, but guests are.

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.

 

[Ladyfish77]

Well I'm with the group that says that if it's park opening time, then you should not be restricted in your movement in the park by a CM. Granted many want to head to SDMT but not everyone. So why is it OK for someone at RD at front of park able to head directly to SM but someone at BOG isn't allowed to head directly to HM (or anywhere)? OP had to exit the "holding area" to head in a different direction--the CM was holding everyone after park opening.

 

[anniemae]

No, they don't walk you to the restaurant. They have CM's along the route preventing you from entering areas that you shouldn't, but you walk at your own pace to your destination. That's a big plus to us to book a pre-opening adr.

Yes, you do pay the fee, but that's cheaper than the meal. There have been posts here describing this exact method of gaming the system. It's an abuse of the system that takes availability away from other guests and is unfortunate, but not surprising.

Ah, that makes sense. I can see people abusing that and getting time in an empty park. So they let you kind of wander over to BOG and then you can hang out and enjoy the empty park.