CRT Timing Question

[misse336]

About how long does CRT take if your reservation is for 8:05am?

The day I want to make my CRT reservations there is an opening at 8:05am and one at 12:30 that I am considering. I was originally thinking of getting to MK at rope drop - (1) doing the busy rides right away and (2) making an early afternoon reservation between 12-1 at CRT to be out of the heat of the day since we will be there in August and to be out of the lines when they're longer since we will be there on a predicted 8 crowd day and then (3) make my FF+ reservations for the afternoon. Now I'm wondering if the 8:05 reservation would be better or would I miss a lot of the prime time for a little bit less crowded visiting the rides at rope drop? It will only be my dd and I so if we do the 8:05 one my dh and ds would be stuck outside of MK because they have no interest in dining at CRT. This will be the first visit for my kids and for all practical purposes my dh since he doesn't remember going when he was 4.

Anyone with experience at the 8:05 and/or 12:30 timeframe?

 

[luvsJack]

We have done the 8:05 time once and it worked out great.

We got to the gate at the earliest time they will let those with reservations in, not sure if that time has changed but it gave us plenty of time to walk down Mainstreet, take pictures and enjoy the quiet, morning atmosphere a little. When we got to CRT, there were maybe 2 families ahead of us getting their pictures done with Cinderella. We waited there and then went upstairs to be seated immediately.

We ate, visited with all the princesses, took lots of pictures and were still downstairs by 9. We were the first ones on Peter Pan's Flight and the morning went great from there!


BUT, I will say that if it was me, we would all be going to CRT or none of us for that early because it may make it hard to meet back up or meeting up may eat into your touring time. I know your dh and ds might think its "too girly" but in reality I have seen many younger boys there that are truly enjoying the meal, the castle and the princesses flirting with them!

If your husband and son just simply do not want to go to CRT, I think I would choose a lunch time and have them eating lunch at the same time so it would be easy to meet up afterwards.

 

[nikki071406]

We were done, changed out of princess dresses, and downstairs by 9 am

 

[kmv]

I would do the 8:05am since you get to walk into MK before it opens and enjoy that. You should be done before 9am and can get to rides before those arriving for rope drop that still have to walk up Main Street.
We have a 2.5 yr old and a 9 yr old so my DH and I split up fairly often bc their interests are so different. We have never had a hard time meeting back up somewhere so I don't see meeting your DH and DS later as being a problem.

 

[disneyag]

You can usually be done in an hour.

 

[becalubob]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I would go with a lunch ADR. I haven't had breakfast in the castle, but I've done an 8:05 ADR at Crystal Palace. It is pretty cool getting in early with few people, but as someone else mentioned, where will your husband and son be? They will miss out on that experience. Also, there's no guarantee you'll be done by 9am. My CP breakfast was done around 9:10 and we were two adults. I've done CRT for lunch twice and it's nice taking a break in the air conditioning after a busy morning.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We always do lunch ADRs at CRT in the 12-12:30 time range. It's nice because you can arrive at RD, hit the rides hard the first 90 minutes, get in a few character meets, and then sit down for a great meal and relax for awhile! I've never been to WDW in August, but during one of our trips we had August-like weather (over 90 and lots of humidity every day) and we needed those mid-day breaks.