Breakfastosaurus entry (early)

[tkroar]

We have PS for Donald's for 8:00 AM and the schedule says the park opens at 9:00 AM. We will be driving to the park that morning. Will we have a problem getting in?
Any suggestions on making our PS

 

[cseca]

Nope, they'll check your name in front of the park. As long as you have a PS they'll let you in no problem.

Have fun!

 

[Snurk71]

Seems like there was a thread recently about AK not opening the lot for cars to enter before 8:00. So those that think to get to the park around 7:30 in order to park, walk to the gates, and be ready a few minutes before 8:00 - might be stuck at the little toll booth-like thing waiting for the CMs to clock in and let the traffic flow.

 

[Valera]

They did that to us this past December. We were late to our PS because they wouldn't let us through even with PS's. The Disney buses when through just fine as there were many people there before us. I would definitely suggest using the bus service for this breakfast.

 

[westjones]

We like the early breakfasts at MK because when you are done you can go out into the park and get in line for your first ride right away. Is this also the case at AK? If we have an 8:00 breakfast here will we be able to then go out into the park about 10 minutes early and get in line for a ride?
Thanks,
DJ

 

[westjones]

BUMP!

I am hoping someone can tell us if we get to walk around inside the park a little early after we eat. I thought somewhere someone said they don't actually let you do that like at MK.

Thanks,
DJ

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

First, DO NOT DRIVE to the Animal Kingdom for the early breakfast at Donald's. There are many posts on the transportation board warning people that they will NOT be allowed in early even if they have a priority seating.
This happened to us two years ago when we took a taxi (we did not know at the time about the early morning breakfast buses). It was a nightmare and the taxi driver told us that this happened to him a few days earlier.
You must take Disney transportation for your early ps at Donald's or you will likely not make it in time.
If you are finished eating before the park opens you will be held at the rope and you cannot walk around the park until the official opening time.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

I just got off the phone with a WONDERFUL cast member, who told me that if I wanted breakfast at 8am then I needed my own transport as Disney transport does not start til then. I explained what i read on here and she told me it was absolutely not true and that they would let all rental cars in. I'm so excited, my PS is for 31st July at 8am and also CG (same date) 8.30pm it's our first wedding anniversary, I can't wait.

 

[philaround]

I just got off the phone with a WONDERFUL cast member, who told me that if I wanted breakfast at 8am then I needed my own transport as Disney transport does not start til then. I explained what i read on here and she told me it was absolutely not true and that they would let all rental cars in. I'm so excited, my PS is for 31st July at 8am and also CG (same date) 8.30pm it's our first wedding anniversary, I can't wait.

Direct from the Transportation board and a great Disney Transpotation CM who goes by the handel of Chip'nDale Express. Never trust transprtation from anyone who does not wear purple pants.

No matter what any reservation CM or even front desk people at the resorts tell you. There is Disney transportation available for ALL character breakfast, even for a PS before park opening time. The busses will start running resort guests at about 7:15.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR OWN VEHICLE OR TAKE A TAXI YOU WILL NOT GET IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL 20-30MINUTES BEFORE REGULAR OPENING TIME.

 

[estnh]

We like the early breakfasts at MK because when you are done you can go out into the park and get in line for your first ride right away. Is this also the case at AK? If we have an 8:00 breakfast here will we be able to then go out into the park about 10 minutes early and get in line for a ride?
Thanks,
DJ

We were at Donalds for an 8AM PS last Sunday, and they completely roped off the restaurant area until 9 when the park opened. At around 8:45. we wanted to get back down to the park opening ceremony in front of the Tree, and the CM standing guard at the rope would not let us leave the restaurant area. (I must admit I was a little upset).

 

[estnh]

I just got off the phone with a WONDERFUL cast member, who told me that if I wanted breakfast at 8am then I needed my own transport as Disney transport does not start til then. I explained what i read on here and she told me it was absolutely not true and that they would let all rental cars in. I'm so excited, my PS is for 31st July at 8am and also CG (same date) 8.30pm it's our first wedding anniversary, I can't wait.

I can vouch for the fact that this is WRONG!! We had an 8AM last Sunday (4/24/05), and had no problem getting a bus from POR to AK (bus arrived at South Depot of POR about 7:20). When the bus passed the AK gates, there WERE cars lined up that were not moving, so I assume they were not letting them in. (We passed by quickly, but I would estimate as many as forty or fifty cars were just sitting there). As we got off the bus, there was a flow of busses from other resorts coming into AK.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR CAR--THE BUSSES ARE RUNNING!!

 

[baggypants]

How should we get there if we are not staying on site? Where should we get on a bus? Thanks!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

The problem is I really wanted to take the car as I find the buses slow. How long does the bus take from POR? That is where we are staying, my main concern is getting back. I heard of people waiting 1.5 hours for a bus back, we can't afford to do this as we have a PS at CG at 8.20 and want to get back and changed into our evening clothes, in order to get a bus to the TTC to get the monorail to CG. If I thought the bus was a good idea then I would do it. SOmeone help me please.

 

[estnh]

How should we get there if we are not staying on site? Where should we get on a bus? Thanks!

Park at DD and take a bus to any resort, and catch another bus to AK.

(I am editing this post to add that I'm not sure what time the busses start running from DD, so this might not be an option.) The only other thing I can think of would be to park at TTA, and bus to AK, but again, I'm not sure what time TTA busses run to the parks. In retrospect, if I was offsite, I think I would change to an 8:30 PS.

 

[estnh]

The problem is I really wanted to take the car as I find the buses slow. How long does the bus take from POR? That is where we are staying, my main concern is getting back. I heard of people waiting 1.5 hours for a bus back, we can't afford to do this as we have a PS at CG at 8.20 and want to get back and changed into our evening clothes, in order to get a bus to the TTC to get the monorail to CG. If I thought the bus was a good idea then I would do it. SOmeone help me please.

POR was at capacity last week, so everything I mention should be worst case. In the morning, we went to the bus stop at 7:10, and a bus for AK arrived within 10 minutes. At that time of the morning, there were no crowds--probably around 20-25 people on the bus at the most.

Leaving AK for POR is another story. If you leave at park closing, from our experience last week, you probably will wait 30 to 40 minutes before you can cram onto a bus, and then its another 20 minutes back to the hotel. My suggestion would be to leave the park an hour or two early if you are concerned about time.

 

[rt2dz]

This might be a stupid question, but... How/where do you know to find the buses for the early character meals? Are they at the regular bus stops or are they special buses just for the meals? How do you know the difference. We always have a car, with little ones just find it MUCH easier.

 

[estnh]

This might be a stupid question, but... How/where do you know to find the buses for the early character meals? Are they at the regular bus stops or are they special buses just for the meals? How do you know the difference. We always have a car, with little ones just find it MUCH easier.

They are at the regular bus stops. They are no different than any of the other busses. For the Donalds breakfast, you simply take the AKL bus. It really requires no special preparation--just go out to the bus stop a little after 7 if you have an 8AM PS.

 

[singleLiz1005]

I got into a huge discussion with a CM about this yesterday. Wanted to change from 8:30 PS at Chef Mickey to earliest as I booked a tour that morning. She said I couldn't get to CR from POP that early. Asked can't I take a bus to Trans area and take monorail....he exact words were no buses run before 8:00 am!!! Period....told her to book my breakfast and I would figure out a way when I get there. Drives me nuts on how some CM are so insistent that they are always correct. Not that I know better, first trip but reading the board here has obviously made me a better judge of things than her sometimes.

For that I thank each and everyone of you. Your advice, insight and wisdom into WDW will make my children's first experience unbelievable!!!!

 

[sprite]

We had an early ps at AKL last summer. We were staying at the POR. The cm on the phone told us there would be no buses before 8:00 and we would need a taxi. Luckily I knew better. The most amazing thing was the guy at POR running the bell services desk out front. He was surprised to see us at 7:00 when we asked what time the bus normally arrived. He told us that there were no "character breakfast buses" we would have to get a taxi. Also informed us that he'd been working there for 10 years so he should know.

While he was telling us this the character bus pulled up.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I will repeat what several others have stated:
DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, LISTEN TO ANY CAST MEMBERS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION UNLESS THEY ARE WEARING THE PURPLE PANTS OF THE BUS DRIVERS!!!!!
Take the early buses for breakfasts or tours. They will get you there in plenty of time.