Crystal Palace ADR and Rope Drop question

[wareagle57]

I'm trying to decide if it is worth it to get an ADR for CP, mainly for the reason of being ahead of even the rope drop crowd. I've read where if you get an 8:05-8:15 reservation it is possible to get out of there before 9 as long as you're willing to possibly miss out on seeing all of the characters.

But doesn't rope drop actually happen at 8:45? I still feel like it would be possible to eat in 30 minutes, but it would definitely be rushing it a bit. We aren't a huge character family and the main reason we'd book this is to avoid having to get to wait for RP for 30-45 minutes and be stuck in that crowd, and to try and be the first at one of the RDs for the lands. I just think that would be really cool for some reason. It seems like it would give you a chance to ride pretty much anything you wanted and be in line for the next thing before the main RD crowd even makes it back there.

We'd be going around the 2nd week of December. If we go with the ADR we would probably do it on a party day to ensure even lower crowds. If not, we would probably RD on an EMH morning and park hop somewhere else once it got crowded.

 

[katt789]

If you're just in it for the food, and it seems like a good idea to you, sure, why not?! CP has some great delicious food options, and if you luck out with where you're sitting in the rotation you could get some great character interactions.

Make sure to ask for the bill right when you sit down though, as that's what always holds me up at character meals.

As for the rope drop part, I usually take my time walking down Main Street, and go left into Adventure/Frontier land and there's NO ONE over there.

 

[wareagle57]

If you're just in it for the food, and it seems like a good idea to you, sure, why not?! CP has some great delicious food options, and if you luck out with where you're sitting in the rotation you could get some great character interactions.

Make sure to ask for the bill right when you sit down though, as that's what always holds me up at character meals.

As for the rope drop part, I usually take my time walking down Main Street, and go left into Adventure/Frontier land and there's NO ONE over there.

Thanks! We are not really interested in it for the food, although that is definitely a bonus.

We also probably won't be spending much money on ADR. Probably one 1 or 2 and the rest will be quick service, so the money is a bit of an issue as this would be one of our own ADR meals. It's really only worth it to us if we are pretty confident we can get out of there before RD, which I thought was at 9:00 but apparently is 8:45? Also being in the park and taking pictures in an empty MK before our meal would be a huge plus.

 

[Love Tink]

Thanks! We are not really interested in it for the food, although that is definitely a bonus.

We also probably won't be spending much money on ADR. Probably one 1 or 2 and the rest will be quick service, so the money is a bit of an issue as this would be one of our own ADR meals. It's really only worth it to us if we are pretty confident we can get out of there before RD, which I thought was at 9:00 but apparently is 8:45? Also being in the park and taking pictures in an empty MK before our meal would be a huge plus.

1) Rope drop is at 9:00 at MK, not 8:45.

2) The pictures are not really of an "empty" MK. There are plenty of people around for breakfast reservations at CRT and CP, plus BBB reservations, tours, etc. There are fewer people than mid-day, sure, but it's not empty.

3) If you aren't into the characters and you aren't into the food I doubt it is worth the money. The jump you get on the rope drop crowds is only a couple of minutes. (Even if you leave the restaurant before 9:00, you can't get into any of the lands until the park opens.)

 

[2Tiggies]

We had one for 8.05 am for our June trip and I rescheduled it for 10.40 am instead. We are going to CP because we really like the food and want to enjoy the character interaction so rushing out of there to be outside before 9 am, especially if there are any delays in being seated, didn't seem like such a smart idea for us.

It can be done, but as a PP pointed out, you may have to forgo some of the character interaction.

 

[Aaeolien]

We had an early ADR at cp and loved it. Just being able to meander down Main Street before the crowds got there was awesome. The photo pass pics tht morning were great. We didn't worry about rope drop or eating quickly as it was still pretty quiet even when we got out of breakfast around 9:30 or so.

 

[wareagle57]

1) Rope drop is at 9:00 at MK, not 8:45.

That's what I thought. Another post on here today says that MK and HS open at 8:45 though. I'm not sure why misinformation like this gets posted.

I still think getting to spend those 45 minutes sitting and eating rather than standing shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of strangers might make it worth it. I really don't like crowds, (yes, I'm aware of where I'm going. ) I'm aware it won't be a huge jump on the RDers, but if we were at the Fantasyland RD, I would imagine we could ride Peter Pan by 9:05 and be in line for 7DMT by about the time the RDers get there.

 

[Love Tink]

That's what I thought. Another post on here today says that MK and HS open at 8:45 though. I'm not sure why misinformation like this gets posted. :

Unfortunately, some people just like to answer questions...whether they actually know the answers or not. It's pretty annoying. MK is definitely still 9:00, though (or, obviously, 7:00 or 8:00 or whatever in busy times).

I still think getting to spend those 45 minutes sitting and eating rather than standing shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of strangers might make it worth it. I really don't like crowds, (yes, I'm aware of where I'm going. ) I'm aware it won't be a huge jump on the RDers, but if we were at the Fantasyland RD, I would imagine we could ride Peter Pan by 9:05 and be in line for 7DMT by about the time the RDers get there.

Yeah, the "worth it" or not is definitely up to you. We did a CP breakfast on our last trip because we had free dining. Then it's kind of a no-brainer. But out of pocket, I don't think the money would have been worth it for us just to avoid waiting near the gates for the day to start. Maybe that's because we go to rope drop every day, so it doesn't seem like a big deal to us. But if it bothers you and you can afford the breakfast, why not?

As for the bolded part - the new coaster isn't open yet, so nobody knows for sure...but knowing how fast people get down Main Street, and based on my personal experience...I really, really doubt that this is true.

 

[Disney Queenie]

We have done this a couple of time during free dining. This year we are paying for the dining plan and are doing it again.
I love the pictures in front of the castle without a million people. We have managed to get a few pics with no one behind us, but there are other people just like you with early ressies trying to do the same thing.

My one tip would be, is when you sit down and your server first greets you, ask them to give you the bill then. That makes it easier to relax and leave when you want to leave.

Obviously this is worth it to our family, but we also tend to love the characters too.

 

[happymomof1]

Lots of negative things said in this thread, here's a few happy ones!
We like to do CP just a bit after 8. Like 8:10 or 8:15. The "rush" that's trying to get in early has already passed and those guests are at their respective restaurants already. You WILL have times when you can get a photo with No One in the background. We have! More than once. It has never been busy that we've seen. Before opening. There will be a few families here and there, but remember, they are either waiting for their photo pass pic or they are on their way into the restaurant. There aren't people just standing milling around.
We've never hurried through character greetings while we were eating and were still
able to be out where the CM rope off the adventure land bridge, what-at 9? 9:05?
Even if you were still eating at 9 and got done by 9:30, the park is no where even close to being packed at that hour.
There are a lot if people who, while on their vacation like to take it easy and not wake up at the crack of dawn to ride dumbo at MK.
There are thousands upon thousands of guests who don't know whst" rope drop" means and who have never gone on Disboards.
Don't worry so much! It's disney! Have your pic in front of the castle, enjoy hugging tigger and pooh while you
eat, then go do some rides before it's really crowded. That's all it boils down too. It WILL be fun, if you have a "fun" attitude. Go for that Disney magic!

 

[nat8199]

We did an 8:05 ADR and had no problem seeing the characters and being out the door at 9am. We had pre-opening, in park ADRs almost every morning of our last trip and plan on doing the same for the next. My kids eat a lot, which puts them in a good mood, and it kills the hour before opening, which we need to do with our early risers. Add in the fact that you are in the park early, and I don't see how it couldn't make sense!

 

[ferd]

That's what I thought. Another post on here today says that MK and HS open at 8:45 though. I'm not sure why misinformation like this gets posted.

It may not be misinformation as much as different views as what one considers park opening. At MK the morning show occurs about 8:45am (on 9am mornings) and the show is only a few minutes long. After that, they do a countdown and the crowds are then admitted into the park. Everyone can proceed down Main Street and spread out to the different lands, HOWEVER, there are inner ropes blocking anyone from entering each of the lands (including those people who were admitted early with an ADR, etc). At 9am, there is announcement made and the park is then 'officially' opened and the ropes at each land are lowered, and guests can then procced to their attraction of choice. So, if you are admitted early into the park for an ADR, you will be able to get into the park, but you would not be able to proceed early to PFTH to get in line for A & E for example, you would be stopped by the ropes near the castle, and then you would be joined by the crowds admitted a little before 9am for everyone to go into Fantasyland, or whichever land they want to go. So, an ADR would give you the chance to stand at the inner ropes first, but you would not have the advantage of getting past them before anyone else, if that makes sense.

 

[AngiTN]

It may not be misinformation as much as different views as what one considers park opening. At MK the morning show occurs about 8:45am (on 9am mornings) and the show is only a few minutes long. After that, they do a countdown and the crowds are then admitted into the park. Everyone can proceed down Main Street and spread out to the different lands, HOWEVER, there are inner ropes blocking anyone from entering each of the lands (including those people who were admitted early with an ADR, etc). At 9am, there is announcement made and the park is then 'officially' opened and the ropes at each land are lowered, and guests can then procced to their attraction of choice. So, if you are admitted early into the park for an ADR, you will be able to get into the park, but you would not be able to proceed early to PFTH to get in line for A & E for example, you would be stopped by the ropes near the castle, and then you would be joined by the crowds admitted a little before 9am for everyone to go into Fantasyland, or whichever land they want to go. So, an ADR would give you the chance to stand at the inner ropes first, but you would not have the advantage of getting past them before anyone else, if that makes sense.

So they do hold the inner ropes till the folks up at the main ropes reach that point? I wondered if they did that or if they dropped the inner ropes at the same time they drop the main gate rope. The later would give you a few moments head start, but not much. Which I guess is why they may not do that one

 

[wareagle57]

It may not be misinformation as much as different views as what one considers park opening. At MK the morning show occurs about 8:45am (on 9am mornings) and the show is only a few minutes long. After that, they do a countdown and the crowds are then admitted into the park. Everyone can proceed down Main Street and spread out to the different lands, HOWEVER, there are inner ropes blocking anyone from entering each of the lands (including those people who were admitted early with an ADR, etc). At 9am, there is announcement made and the park is then 'officially' opened and the ropes at each land are lowered, and guests can then procced to their attraction of choice. So, if you are admitted early into the park for an ADR, you will be able to get into the park, but you would not be able to proceed early to PFTH to get in line for A & E for example, you would be stopped by the ropes near the castle, and then you would be joined by the crowds admitted a little before 9am for everyone to go into Fantasyland, or whichever land they want to go. So, an ADR would give you the chance to stand at the inner ropes first, but you would not have the advantage of getting past them before anyone else, if that makes sense.

Ah, thank you! This is the information I was looking for. So to be the first at the inner RD, we WOULD need to finish before 8:45, not 9. It also means there would be a large crowd right behind us immediately and we wouldn't have a 2-3 minute head start one everyone. I think based on this, we will just plan on doing MK on an EMH morning and then again from 4-close for MVMXP.

 

[ferd]

So they do hold the inner ropes till the folks up at the main ropes reach that point?[/B] I wondered if they did that or if they dropped the inner ropes at the same time they drop the main gate rope. The later would give you a few moments head start, but not much. Which I guess is why they may not do that one

They do not lower the inner ropes until the park 'officially' opens at 9am (or whatever time the park is scheduled to open that day--normally it's 9am.) The mass crowd of 'rope drop' people are admitted a few minutes before that, right after the morning show, and so a large amount of people will have a chance to reach the inner ropes before they are 'dropped.'