Breakfast before park opening

[caspersf]

I have reservations at Crystal Palace at 8:15am for family of 4 (twin four year olds). Park opens at 9am. Not really doing it for the food or characters but more to not sit in rope drop with two four year olds and have to run in the stampede when it opens. I have a couple of questions about getting in before the park opens.

1. What time should I be at MK to get into the park?
2. Do they let you in at a specific time or is it based on your reservation time?
3. Are disney PP photographers in the park at this time to take Castle shots with no one else there?
4. What time do I need to leave CP to beat the rope drop rush to 7DMT?

 

[AngiTN]

Your #1 needs to be
Hope they don't change the park hours on you and open at 8:00.

And be aware that your chances of being finished before the RD crowds head down Main St are slim. Be ready to leave before you see all the characters and ask the waitress for your check as soon as you get your drink order placed, so that is out of the way.

No, PP photographers will not be out if opening at MK remains at 9:00 AM
I'd plan to be at MK 7:55 or so and try to check in early so you can have a better chance of getting done before the crowds arrive

 

[mom2rtk]

Have you tried to get an ADR at BOG for their quick service breakfast before the park opens? It would cost less and get you a better 7DMT advantage.

 

[caspersf]

Have you tried to get an ADR at BOG for their quick service breakfast before the park opens? It would cost less and get you a better 7DMT advantage.

I did. I could only get 8:45am.

 

[DrummerBoy523]

Your #1 needs to be
Hope they don't change the park hours on you and open at 8:00.

And be aware that your chances of being finished before the RD crowds head down Main St are slim. Be ready to leave before you see all the characters and ask the waitress for your check as soon as you get your drink order placed, so that is out of the way.

No, PP photographers will not be out if opening at MK remains at 9:00 AM
I'd plan to be at MK 7:55 or so and try to check in early so you can have a better chance of getting done before the crowds arrive

This.

 

[caspersf]

Your #1 needs to be
Hope they don't change the park hours on you and open at 8:00.

And be aware that your chances of being finished before the RD crowds head down Main St are slim. Be ready to leave before you see all the characters and ask the waitress for your check as soon as you get your drink order placed, so that is out of the way.

No, PP photographers will not be out if opening at MK remains at 9:00 AM
I'd plan to be at MK 7:55 or so and try to check in early so you can have a better chance of getting done before the crowds arrive

If they decide to change the time for park opening, when do they usually do it? I assume it is a certain amount of time in advance of the day.

 

[ghtx]

I have reservations at Crystal Palace at 8:15am for family of 4 (twin four year olds). Park opens at 9am. Not really doing it for the food or characters but more to not sit in rope drop with two four year olds and have to run in the stampede when it opens. I have a couple of questions about getting in before the park opens.

1. What time should I be at MK to get into the park?
2. Do they let you in at a specific time or is it based on your reservation time?
3. Are disney PP photographers in the park at this time to take Castle shots with no one else there?
4. What time do I need to leave CP to beat the rope drop rush to 7DMT?

I think you've made a bad choice. You will not get out of your CP meal before the RD crowds arrive, unless you eat really really fast and miss the characters. That is a really expensive way to just avoid RD. If you really don't care about the food, then I recommend instead just arriving at MK about 10-15 minutes after it opens, when most of the crowds will be gone.

Then again, I recommend just arriving at the gates for RD, since there really isn't a "stampede" at all.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Crystal Palace is not one of the faster of the dining options for pre-rope drop. Keep checking and see if you can get a 7:45 or even 8:00.
I've gotten in about 15-20 minutes prior to reservation time.
ive always found photographers in the park prior to park opening as they know people are coming in for ADRs and want that 'empty park' picture (or as empty as we'll ever see it).
if park in fact opens at 9:00 and not rescheduled for 8:00, IMO you'll likely need to be out the doors by 8:40-8:45.

 

[AngiTN]

If they decide to change the time for park opening, when do they usually do it? I assume it is a certain amount of time in advance of the day.

Park hours change at rather random times. Sometimes not till last minute.

 

[mom2rtk]

Crystal Palace is not one of the faster of the dining options for pre-rope drop. Keep checking and see if you can get a 7:45 or even 8:00.
I've gotten in about 15-20 minutes prior to reservation time.
ive always found photographers in the park prior to park opening as they know people are coming in for ADRs and want that 'empty park' picture (or as empty as we'll ever see it).
if park in fact opens at 9:00 and not rescheduled for 8:00, IMO you'll likely need to be out the doors by 8:40-8:45.

I thought 8 or 8:05 was the earliest. Has that changed?

 

[mom2rtk]

If they decide to change the time for park opening, when do they usually do it? I assume it is a certain amount of time in advance of the day.

Often just weeks out. This has happened to us in mid-December. Fridays and Saturdays are higher likelihood for it to happen.

 

[ErinsMommy]

I thought 8 or 8:05 was the earliest. Has that changed?

Are you referring to how early breakfast is served? Or being allowed to enter the park prior to reservation time?

 

[CAS239]

If you really don't want breakfast you could just show up at the same time and wait for rope drop. You don't have to show up ridiculously early to be among the first ones. You're essentially waiting anyway, just spending a lot more money to do so.

Or if you don't care about the mine train, then don't wait at all and just show up when the park opens.

It's just for breakfast you might be paying a lot more money to possibly not beat the crowd. Or have the park hour get bumped up an hour.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you are not doing it for the food, cancel your ADR. You won't make it out in time to beat the hoards to the 7DMT. It would be cheaper to just get to rope drop every early, so that you are at the front of the crowd. Don't worry about running, because they won't allow people to run. Fast walk, yes. But no running.

 

[mom2rtk]

Are you referring to how early breakfast is served? Or being allowed to enter the park prior to reservation time?

Actual ADR time.

 

[ErinsMommy]

CP I believe has an 8:00 a.m. reservation, but you can get into the park at 7:45.

 

[mom2rtk]

CP I believe has an 8:00 a.m. reservation, but you can get into the park at 7:45.

OK, that's what I thought. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Disney44please]

Earliest ADR times are 8/8:05.

I agree with the group and say skip breakfast. If you arrive at MK by 8:15 for a 9 am opening you will be fine and in the first group of people.

The days of empty park pics have gone the way of the dodo bird so I would save the money, get a fp for 7DMT and stroll in after the initial crush of people.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

The answer if 7D is your goal- is to go go late! If you are already going for more than four days- maybe add a day to your tickets and go on arrival night. (extra $10pp)

We've had hours added last minute more than once. It is pretty common for WDW to adjust park hours at MK. (Epcot no, but MK yes.)

I'm also no fan of the RD stampede. We've survived, but it's the way folks act before the gate opens that often puts me in a less than stellar mood. I'm happy to walk quickly. We usually arrive just after RD, and do much better!

Truly though, late night hours are FAR more useful than RD, even if you can't do it arrival night.

We don't trust posted wait times late at night either. As long as you are in line before official park close, they will let you ride, but it will likely be far less than posted wait. by far it is your best bet for a minimal 7D standby wait.

 

[georgina]

I did. I could only get 8:45am.

A lot of us had this issue as 8:45 seems to be the default if you just select 'breakfast'. If you try again for BOG, select 8:00 instead of breakfast on the dropdown time menu.