Character meals?

[mommyof2boys1girl]

This question has probably been asked before, but I can't find it right now....

Am I correct in assuming that some seatings for the character meals take place before official park opening? If this is the case, how does one get in to their meal when the gates are closed? Or are "off site" visitors limited to seatings after park opening?
I read somewhere that following your breakfast is a good time to wander around before the rides open, but not sure how that would work if the gates aren't open as well....

Can anyone elighten me? I am confused....

Carm

 

[DangerMouse]

There is only one character meal inside DL: Minnie's. The other character breakfasts are at the DLR hotels (DLH, GCH, PP). So, the earliest seating for the resort hotel restaurants is 7 am.

I understand that with Minnie's, you can get seating prior to park opening on certain days, and they meet groups who have made PS ressies at the front gates and escort them into the park and straight to the Plaza.

Edited to add: OOPS! I totally forgot that Ariel's Grotto is now offering breakfast. I believe the earliest seating there is 8:30 am. They escort you in for this meal as well.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I understand that with Minnie's, you can get seating prior to park opening on certain days, and they meet groups who have made PS ressies at the front gates and escort them into the park and straight to the Plaza.

This is correct. You can only make PS before the park opens on early entry days and I think the first sitting is 30 min prior to the park opening for the general public. You would go in 30 min after EE starts and 30 min before the park opens. So you won't be able to wonder around the park before the rides open. We were able to do this on our last trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

They usually give you 1.5 hours for a character meal, and waiting for characters to come around and such will usually take up quite a bit of that allotment, so I'm not sure there would be much time to look around, even if they let you do that before the park opens.

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Thanks - clears up that question - I didn't think they'd let you in early....shucks!

 

[Hound 109]

M2&1, I thought i'd jump in since i think you're staying at the crosswalk on Harbor & have 4-5 days at the park with toddlers. & i believe you'll be there OFF season.

If it was me, (& all character meals are similar...which i don't have an opinion on) I would do Minnies in DL.

- The other character meals are at the Hotels (twice the walk for you...look at the maps).
- I would NOT do it on your planned EE day (which should be Tues. btw)
- If you want to walk down Main St. by (for the most part) yourself, do it on a NON EE day. (but maybe an EE day which you don't have EE is better...i'm curious what others might think.)
- Assuming the other poster is right, book the first available time...you'll enter half an hour before gate opening (which shouldn't be TOO early during the week / OFF season.)

 

[actionvaughn]

As someone that has been at DCA rope drop many a time, having had conversations with a lot of guards, and seen it myself, there's not TOO much room for wandering. Disney is tricky in that they place guards so closely together... Once you're done with your breakfast, they corral you over to wait with the rest of us if you get too close...

As for wandering around the Main St shops, my opinion is to do it on an EE day actually... Main St is open before rope drop and in mind, it's less clutter..? I agree with Hound though about doing a character breakfast on an EE day though.