BOG breakfast for Mine train warning! Early ride not guaranteed

[Gina Starr]

Honestly, I made my early BOG ADR so we could get photopass photos on main street with thinner crowds. I'm basing that on a previous trip with an early CRT ADR. It is the ONLY reason I would bother getting a breakfast ADR at MK. So, if I'm made to go through some sort of tunnel (I read that it happened to someone early in this thread) instead of walking down main street in some attempt at "fairness" to the RD crowd, I would shout that it's unfair because I've previously been allowed to do it by Disney without some sort of "official" rule or policy change being publicized. If you were able to do it on one trip, you should be able to do it on another. If they want to do something to address the use of breakfast ADRs to obtain perceived "advantages" over RD crowds, then they need to make them official and apply them consistently. If not, people will complain and IMO, they have every right to.

Not sure what kind of tunnel someone would go through to get to an adr other than the utilidors which I got to see on the keys to the kingdom tour (which you have to be over 16 to go on, I'm sure it's for some liability/safety thing) Not sure how they would move 100s of people with kids/strollers/wheelchairs through the utilidors. I was in MK before 8 am on a 9 am opening day twice this past week and everyone was lined up on the left side under the train station and let through about 7:45-7:50 each day.

 

[megs1313]

Not sure what kind of tunnel someone would go through to get to an adr other than the utilidors which I got to see on the keys to the kingdom tour (which you have to be over 16 to go on, I'm sure it's for some liability/safety thing) Not sure how they would move 100s of people with kids/strollers/wheelchairs through the utilidors. I was in MK before 8 am on a 9 am opening day twice this past week and everyone was lined up on the left side under the train station and let through about 7:45-7:50 each day.

Someone said it upthread. I think on page 1 or 2.

 

[Gina Starr]

Someone said it upthread. I think on page 1 or 2.

I see that now. The tunnel they are talking about is the tunnel underneath the Main Street train station. You must go under that tunnel to get into the park. It's not an actual underground or backstage tunnel. You will still be able to walk on Main Street. CMs will be around preventing you to go to certain areas though

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I think it just comes down to this. It is possible, even probable, that you will get an early ride on SDMT with an ADR at BOG. However, there is also a number of reasons that they may not be allowing it on any given day. So just remember that there is a chance that it may not happen and have realistic expectations. Just like everything at Disney and in life.

Agreed. It is much like showing up at a park gate before the posted opening and assuming CM's will start letting guests in before the posted opening time.

One thing that maybe folks forget is that rides need a certain amount of CM's to operate. CM's are real people, and I-4 has real traffic jams!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

If you were able to do it on one trip, you should be able to do it on another.

I wish you well, but I fear you are going to be disappointed on your next WDW vacation.

I've been going to WDW for many years, MANY policies change over time.

Just off the top...character interactions are nothing like they used to be.
We've been on rides accompanied by the characters!
We saw Jack Sparrow where a restaurant now sits! (which currently has no ADR's but soon will!)
We've seen rare characters in out of the way places...then never again.
And my, oh my, have character meals changed since our first one!

It is time we ask to get back legacy FP!

 

[megs1313]

I wish you well, but I fear you are going to be disappointed on your next WDW vacation.

I've been going to WDW for many years, MANY policies change over time.

Just off the top...character interactions are nothing like they used to be.
We've been on rides accompanied by the characters!
We saw Jack Sparrow where a restaurant now sits! (which currently has no ADR's but soon will!)
We've seen rare characters in out of the way places...then never again.
And my, oh my, have character meals changed since our first one!

It is time we ask to get back legacy FP!

But all of those changes are applied consistently across the board now, n'est-ce pas? Which is the point I was trying to make. If they want to change it so that an early ADR does not afford you any other in-park benefits, then they need to be consistent about that.

But i agree, FP+ strategizing is taking most of the fun out of my planning for this trip.

 

[LilyWDW]

But all of those changes are applied consistently across the board now, n'est-ce pas? Which is the point I was trying to make. If they want to change it so that an early ADR does not afford you any other in-park benefits, then they need to be consistent about that.

But i agree, FP+ strategizing is taking most of the fun out of my planning for this trip.

However, there could be a number of reasons that you can't get on the ride early... not just a change in policy. How will people react to that?

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Honestly, I made my early BOG ADR so we could get photopass photos on main street with thinner crowds. I'm basing that on a previous trip with an early CRT ADR. It is the ONLY reason I would bother getting a breakfast ADR at MK. So, if I'm made to go through some sort of tunnel (I read that it happened to someone early in this thread) instead of walking down main street in some attempt at "fairness" to the RD crowd, I would shout that it's unfair because I've previously been allowed to do it by Disney without some sort of "official" rule or policy change being publicized. If you were able to do it on one trip, you should be able to do it on another. If they want to do something to address the use of breakfast ADRs to obtain perceived "advantages" over RD crowds, then they need to make them official and apply them consistently. If not, people will complain and IMO, they have every right to.

While it would be nice to get early Mine Train and Peter Pan, this is exactly why we're doing pre park BOG. A photo op without half a dozen photobombs behind us.

 

[megs1313]

However, there could be a number of reasons that you can't get on the ride early... not just a change in policy. How will people react to that?

You quoted me, so I'm going to reply, but I wasn't taking about getting on the ride early. I don't really care about rides. I posted upthread about getting an early ADR so that my main street photopass photos are less crowded. As long as I get to walk down main street when it's less crowded, the ADR is worth it to me. I wouldn't get the ADR without that bonus.

On our last trip, the mostly deserted walk up to CRT was easily the most magical moment of our stay. The pictures I got of my kids running up to the castle in pure unadulterated joy (without me having to freak out about them getting too far ahead of us because there were so many PEOPLE) are some of my favorite pictures of them ever. i really, really hope that we can experience some of that magic again. I'll make FP+ reservations for rides, but I can't FP+ a cleared crowd on main street. The early ADR is my best chance.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

But all of those changes are applied consistently across the board now, n'est-ce pas? Which is the point I was trying to make. If they want to change it so that an early ADR does not afford you any other in-park benefits, then they need to be consistent about that.

But i agree, FP+ strategizing is taking most of the fun out of my planning for this trip.

I'm right there with you! Last trip was not so much fun between the uber planning and everyone in my party upset about the week being planned down to the minute. This trip we hope for way more down time and flexibility. I'm still doing some planning, but much smarter, like RDs and pre park ADRs so we can do afternoon sanity breaks.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

If they want to change it so that an early ADR does not afford you any other in-park benefits, then they need to be consistent about that.

I completely disagree. A big part of what used to make made each WDW visit unique and fun was that we never knew what kind of surprise perks we were going to get. Guests DEMANDING special perks has in large part ruined much of the magic of WDW!

Once upon a time, characters didn't even have assigned spots! Seeing a character was pure surprise bonus!

Disney World used to be full of surprise magic bonuses! (free food, a golden pass, free gifts) I could go on listing ALL kinds of special surprises that were NOT at all UNIVERSAL. They were ONE time perks and treats. That is what made the magic.

Sad to say, guests DEMANDING consistent policies have in many ways ruined the WDW experience, because those kind of special perks are now all but gone.

If the CM's happen to bestow a BONUS trip on 7D before the park officially opens, then take it for what it is - a SURPISE BONUS!

 

[megs1313]

I completely disagree. A big part of what used to make made each WDW visit unique and fun was that we never knew what kind of surprise perks we were going to get. Guests DEMANDING special perks has in large part ruined much of the magic of WDW!

Once upon a time, characters didn't even have assigned spots! Seeing a character was pure surprise bonus!

Disney World used to be full of surprise magic bonuses! (free food, a golden pass, free gifts) I could go on listing ALL kinds of special surprises that were NOT at all UNIVERSAL. They were ONE time perks and treats. That is what made the magic.

Sad to say, guests DEMANDING consistent policies have in many ways ruined the WDW experience, because those kind of special perks are now all but gone.

If the CM's happen to bestow a BONUS trip on 7D before the park officially opens, then take it for what it is - a SURPISE BONUS!

I think that was probably a lot easier to do before the social media age, where everyone is very aware, very quickly if some guests are getting better treatment than others. It's a changing world both in the DIS and out of it.

 

[starjazz]

I completely disagree. A big part of what used to make made each WDW visit unique and fun was that we never knew what kind of surprise perks we were going to get. Guests DEMANDING special perks has in large part ruined much of the magic of WDW!

Once upon a time, characters didn't even have assigned spots! Seeing a character was pure surprise bonus!

Disney World used to be full of surprise magic bonuses! (free food, a golden pass, free gifts) I could go on listing ALL kinds of special surprises that were NOT at all UNIVERSAL. They were ONE time perks and treats. That is what made the magic.

Sad to say, guests DEMANDING consistent policies have in many ways ruined the WDW experience, because those kind of special perks are now all but gone.

If the CM's happen to bestow a BONUS trip on 7D before the park officially opens, then take it for what it is - a SURPISE BONUS!

I still see lots of what you mentioned. Free buttons from CMs for a variety of things. Trading with the Jawas in Launch Bay. All kinds of games/activities that kids can participate in that include free items. And while not as much in WDW, in DLR there are TONS of wandering characters, so I'm not sure why WDW got away from it. I love the wandering characters.

But I agree that no one is necessarily entitled, which is why its not in the policy now that if you get an ADR, you get an early ride, or a deserted walk down Main Street. So there would be no need to change any policy, because one does not exist. Booking an ADR gets you breakfast. You just hope to get what others have received.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I still see lots of what you mentioned. Free buttons from CMs for a variety of things. Trading with the Jawas in Launch Bay. All kinds of games/activities that kids can participate in that include free items. And while not as much in WDW, in DLR there are TONS of wandering characters, so I'm not sure why WDW got away from it. I love the wandering characters.

But I agree that no one is necessarily entitled, which is why its not in the policy now that if you get an ADR, you get an early ride, or a deserted walk down Main Street. So there would be no need to change any policy, because one does not exist. Booking an ADR gets you breakfast. You just hope to get what others have received.

I agree with much of what you say in the 2nd paragraph.

The buttons have been around for a while, at one point the button volume was silly. It was like one of those child events where every child gets a trophy, except it was mostly adults wearing the "I'm Special! Notice ME!" buttons. There were some funny threads here on the DIS at the time.

Now we have the narcissistic selfie (video) craze. Some of the new devices are a hoot!

 

[livie1205]

We just booked for May and when I called for a ADR for BOG the CM on the phone suggested the day we booked breakfast 8am because it was NOT EMH day at magic kingdom and suggested we try for 7DMT as soon as they opened to beat the crowds . We have not been since they switched to FP+ ( prefer the cruise) but it would be nice to try to beat big crowds IF possible .

 

[TXStormtrooper]

I completely disagree. A big part of what used to make made each WDW visit unique and fun was that we never knew what kind of surprise perks we were going to get. Guests DEMANDING special perks has in large part ruined much of the magic of WDW!

Once upon a time, characters didn't even have assigned spots! Seeing a character was pure surprise bonus!

Disney World used to be full of surprise magic bonuses! (free food, a golden pass, free gifts) I could go on listing ALL kinds of special surprises that were NOT at all UNIVERSAL. They were ONE time perks and treats. That is what made the magic.

Sad to say, guests DEMANDING consistent policies have in many ways ruined the WDW experience, because those kind of special perks are now all but gone.

If the CM's happen to bestow a BONUS trip on 7D before the park officially opens, then take it for what it is - a SURPISE BONUS!

YES!! Some of our BEST Disney memories are of surprise and totally random character interactions (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Alice & Mad Hatter, Mulan and Stitch to name a few)! We have never waited in line to meet characters, but it used to be so fun to just run into them and have special unexpected time with them. We were also surprised with all-day, unlimited fast pass lanyards on one trip by a CM close to the entrance right after entering MK on one trip (pre FP+). That was incredibly magical! When I was young, I was pulled out of the crowd to walk with the 7 Dwarfs in a parade at Disneyland. Granted, that was way back in the 80's, but it was so cool! Miss those times, for sure!

 

[Baklava]

We were the absolute first people on Mine Train a couple days ago. We had breakfast at BoG and were done by 8:30. We were "held" by CMs about 10 yards from the queue until shortly before 9 and then walked over in a line. By the time we got off the RD crowd had hit and the line was huge, so just one ride for us. It was a nice little ride.

 

[Sydnerella]

Thank you Opie100 and Natenapril! Your posts are encouraging and useful updates to a thread started months ago. While it seems some CMs may do things differently than others (and still may) it is nice to know what has happened recently.

what is it they say... the best laid plans???? So 2/11 BOG breakfast at 8:05 and SDMT at 850ish was the hopeful plan. But when we departed BOG after our tasty but quick breakfast and were heading for the area near SDMT that CMs appeared to be holding back five or so people, we saw glum guest faces and heard the CMs talking, "no idea how long it will be down" uh oh.... So we asked what they were talking about and they indicated that SDMT had some issues and would be down through park open for a while yet and encouraged us to head elsewhere.... bummer.

But we went to Peter Pan and really enjoyed the new queue, then quickly over to BTMRR (the kids favorite coaster) for two quick rides and did Haunted Mansion after that... all by 930. So the disappointment of the minetrain being down quickly evaporated and it turned out to be a big win for us! And the SDMT finally opened about one hour or so before our 2PM FP+!! So we had to wait under 10minutes for our ride on SDMT for the day, which was just fine with us.
So it all worked out, despite the change in plans!

 

[larryz]

what is it they say... the best laid plans???? So 2/11 BOG breakfast at 8:05 and SDMT at 850ish was the hopeful plan. But when we departed BOG after our tasty but quick breakfast and were heading for the area near SDMT that CMs appeared to be holding back five or so people, we saw glum guest faces and heard the CMs talking, "no idea how long it will be down" uh oh.... So we asked what they were talking about and they indicated that SDMT had some issues and would be down through park open for a while yet and encouraged us to head elsewhere.... bummer.

But we went to Peter Pan and really enjoyed the new queue, then quickly over to BTMRR (the kids favorite coaster) for two quick rides and did Haunted Mansion after that... all by 930. So the disappointment of the minetrain being down quickly evaporated and it turned out to be a big win for us! And the SDMT finally opened about one hour or so before our 2PM FP+!! So we had to wait under 10minutes for our ride on SDMT for the day, which was just fine with us.
So it all worked out, despite the change in plans!

Key lesson - stay flexible and go with the flow!

 

[provencio]

While it would be nice to get early Mine Train and Peter Pan, this is exactly why we're doing pre park BOG. A photo op without half a dozen photobombs behind us.

I just booked my early BOG reservations using the single guest strategy and it worked .. anyway I had to call in to do this as it was difficult on MDE and the cast member on the phone advised me that the "early" let in is not always getting to mine train ride first as the "secret" is out.. she did wish me luck and said she crossed her fingers all my plans worked.. and of course wished me a magical evening