Breakfast ADRs at park - latest or earliest?

[itsallaboutme]

We want to go to both Crystal Palace and Tusker House on our trip for breakfast. Having never been to WDW before we don't know whether to make the earliest seating or latest seating. It will be a party of 2 adults, no kids. Does it make a difference in food or character interaction? Also will we be able to get to our ADR if we do earliest using WDW transportation?

Figured I would ask the experts here at the Dis! I've learned a lot and really appreciate all the help I have received! Thanks!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

EARLIEST!!!!!

This gets you into the park an hour before everyone else, you get to be on a practically empty Main Street and you will get some fabulous photos.

 

[HUFF590]

EARLIEST!!!!!

This gets you into the park an hour before everyone else, you get to be on a practically empty Main Street and you will get some fabulous photos.

AGREE

 

[suedaisy]

I like the earilest as well. I select the earliest option for breakfast except on our last day when we usually hang out at the hotel.

I am an early bird by nature. As well getting into the parks before the crowds makes it very nice. At Animal Kingdom, the breakfast is close to the Safari ride. We were first in line after our 8am breakfast (they had us stand behind a rope before 9am- but this was not all the way back at the park entrance- we waited less than 5 minutes)

WDW transportation is sufficient to get you there on time- whether it by bus (AK) or boat, monorail, or bus (MK). The evening before an early breakfast, I stop by the front desk and double check about what time I need to get to the pick up area. You may have to wait for a few minutes, but it is always better to be a little early and it takes a couple of minutes to get into the park and to the restaurants (by the way- Tusker House is located closer to the back of AK)

The only issue we had was the time I did not check with the front desk the evening before...we had early reservations in MK. We were staying at the Wilderness Lodge. We wanted to take a boat. When we arrived, we found that the boat was heading to Fort Wilderness and there would not be another boat for a long time. EVERYONE at the dock had early meals at MK. The captain called someone and then she took us all onto MK. Many of us on the boat would have been late for a meal, and we were all super appreciative. My mom commented to my dad about how the FEMALE captain had fixed everything...

 

[itsallaboutme]

Thanks everyone! I guess we will try for the earliest seatings then....

 

[phisigprincess]

I don't think you'll regret your early ADRs. It really is neat to see Main Street with no people - especially on your first trip.

 

[dzorn]

We've always did the latest. We just cannot seem to get up that early on vacation. We usually make it right around rope drop or shortly after. We hit the major rides we want then take a late breakfast break to escape the heat and cool off. We do have two little ones to get ready in the am.

Denise in MI

 

[F1Julie]

I agree with most other posters to get the earliest seating. I only do that though if I can get a 8:00 seating so I'm done by 9:00 when the park opens. If I can't get the earliest seating, I'd go with a later seating near the end of breakfast time so you don't spend those first relatively uncrowded hours in the park eating.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I agree with most other posters to get the earliest seating. I only do that though if I can get a 8:00 seating so I'm done by 9:00 when the park opens. If I can't get the earliest seating, I'd go with a later seating near the end of breakfast time so you don't spend those first relatively uncrowded hours in the park eating.

This too is excellent advice! The latest we'll do is 8:15

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I vote for earliest, with the exception of a morning EMH day. In that case, I'd go latest. Hit the EMH, get a lot done, and then have a late, relaxing breakfast.

 

[csarenz]

I guess I will be the less-popular opinion here. We did one of the last breakfast seatings at CP in 2007. We found it wonderful. We were able to go do some of the big rides when the park opened, we got to CP about 10:30 (I think), it wasn't too crowded, the characters made the rounds, then they actually came back to hang out with DD (2). We then left and we didn't have to stop to get lunch that day.

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
We always like to go to a later breakfast. We get to the park when it opens, or take advantage of early entry, ride everything before it gets crowded, and then relax and have breakfast about 10:15 or 10:30.