Cinderella's Royal Table breakfast question

[mccreel]

We have an 8:05 reservation for CRT on October 21 for our anniversary. I was wondering how early should we arrive for our reservations? I have heard that sometimes they overbook so I thought if I got their early I would not run into a delay. I think the park opening on that day is 9:00 A.M.
Thanks,
Melissa

 

[scanne]

We have an 8:05am reservation as well. I am planning on getting to the gates at MK by 7:30am. I know it will be early, but sometimes they begin letting dining reservation families in a little early (5 minutes) and I enjoy walking down Main Street with hardly a soul there. It's quite magical!

 

[mccreel]

That's actually that I was thinking. Around 7:30. Do a lot of people show up that early or do they mainly start showing up about time for the reservation?

 

[scanne]

I am sure there will be people there, but not as many as there would be around 8:30....

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We usually push for between 7:30-7:45 when we have that first pre-park opening slot at one of the MK restaurants.

If you're not driving yourselves, make sure you get a bus as early as you can. We were staying at WL back in 2010, got out to the bus stop between 7:05-7:10 and we didn't get a bus until just after 7:40 (yes, we called to tell them there had been no buses- frustrating experience). Thankfully, we were a quick drive to MK from that point, but I was really nervous.

A side note with CRT...while we have only done it for lunch and dinner (we usually do the pre-park opening slot at Crystal Palace)...when we did CRT dinner in summer of 2011, they wouldn't let us check in any more than 10 min before our adr time. The CMs at the gate should still let you in, so I guess it's just more time to snap pics in front of the castle if they use this same policy for breakfast adrs.

 

[mccreel]

When we have an early ADR we usually drive that day. We have learned by taking a bus to get to our dinner ADR that even if you leave in plenty of time, the bus can still cause you a delay. So, especially for breakfast when hardly any of the buses are running, we drive to make sure we get there on time.

 

[Maddle]

If you have a pre-opening reservation (we have 8:35 at CP) is there a certain location for checking in to get through the gate? In other words, who's got the list?

 

[cigar95]

One thing to be aware of at the MK restaurants for those early reservations. When the place first opens at around 0800, they are swamped with guests, and truth be told, they don't worry much about whether your reservation is for 0805, 0810, 0815, 0820, or even 0825. They want to get guests in and seated and get the restaurant flowing.

The result is that at that hour, what time you get seated depends a lot more on where you are in line to check in than what time your actual reservation is for. No one comes out and says "who has an 0805? Step right to the front! All the 0810 people come over here. 0815, relax and we'll get to you in just a few minutes . You 0820 folks, don't even think about it! . . . . "

It might sound unfair, but my observation is that it's like that every time I go to CRT or CP. Later in the day, once things are settled, there's more structure to the operation.

 

[Maddle]

Thanks - that's great advice - we'll get there early. Our little ones are early risers.

Where do we go to check in through the gate?

Maddle

 

[emmysmommy]

Thanks - that's great advice - we'll get there early. Our little ones are early risers.

Where do we go to check in through the gate?

Maddle

Once you are past security there is an entrance turnstile marked "event entrance" overhead. (When we went it was to the left as you were facing the entrance plaza. Since the signs are changable, others may have entered to the right.) It wasn't hard to spot as there were Cast Members grouped over in that area to provide direction.

Enjoy your magical breakfast!

 

[disfan4life1]

We have an 8:05 adr at Cindy's..are there busses running early enough to get you there by 7:30 if the park doesnt open until 9??

 

[KNovacovschi]

We are staying at PoP and have an 8;05 ressie. Does anyone know what time the first bus will run to MK from PoP? Don't want to be late.

 

[fdecker]

No one knows? Anyone have a comment on how to catch the first bus from any of the value resorts to get to the castle for an 8am reservation?

 

[purple figment]

Busses start running to the parks at 6:30 AM

 

[juliebug1997]

Busses start running to the parks at 6:30 AM

That has not always been our experience. We had an 8:15 ADR for Ankershus and we were at the bus stop at 7:15 and there still wasn't a bus at 7:45. Thankfully, a transportation director happened by not too long after that and gave us a lift.

In all honesty, I would take a taxi. Ask it to drop you off at the Contemporary and you can just walk over.

 

[mom2rtk]

One thing to be aware of at the MK restaurants for those early reservations. When the place first opens at around 0800, they are swamped with guests, and truth be told, they don't worry much about whether your reservation is for 0805, 0810, 0815, 0820, or even 0825. They want to get guests in and seated and get the restaurant flowing.

The result is that at that hour, what time you get seated depends a lot more on where you are in line to check in than what time your actual reservation is for. No one comes out and says "who has an 0805? Step right to the front! All the 0810 people come over here. 0815, relax and we'll get to you in just a few minutes . You 0820 folks, don't even think about it! . . . . "

It might sound unfair, but my observation is that it's like that every time I go to CRT or CP. Later in the day, once things are settled, there's more structure to the operation.

I agree. I've long felt it didn't matter exactly what time your ADR is. They are likely to seat whoever is in line first for that initial crush of people.

But later in the day...... the PP is right. CRT will not let you check in more than 10 mintutes early.

 

[Masonmj84]

One thing to be aware of at the MK restaurants for those early reservations. When the place first opens at around 0800, they are swamped with guests, and truth be told, they don't worry much about whether your reservation is for 0805, 0810, 0815, 0820, or even 0825. They want to get guests in and seated and get the restaurant flowing.

The result is that at that hour, what time you get seated depends a lot more on where you are in line to check in than what time your actual reservation is for. No one comes out and says "who has an 0805? Step right to the front! All the 0810 people come over here. 0815, relax and we'll get to you in just a few minutes . You 0820 folks, don't even think about it! . . . . "

It might sound unfair, but my observation is that it's like that every time I go to CRT or CP. Later in the day, once things are settled, there's more structure to the operation.

This is 100% true and is why I always book an 8:15-8:25 am ADR (instead of 8:00 or 8:05). It takes some of the pressure off of having to be there quite so early (we rely on Disney transportation). And if you happen to get there with the first group, you get seated with that group (even if your ADR is for 8:25 and nearly everyone else at the podium has an earlier time). So it ends up being a "can't lose" proposition.