crystal palace advice?

[kymom79]

We were fortunate to get an 8:15 am Crystal Palace reservation for the first day of our trip in September, when the MK is opening at 9. Do you think we'll be done in time for rope drop (our kids are young enough to love the Pooh characters, but too young to be real autograph nuts)? And, I've heard widely varying estimates of travel time -- so does anyone have an idea on when we should leave the Epcot resort area (driving our own car) in order to arrive at our reservation on time?

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

When you dine early you can get done faster but 45 minutes is probably cutting it close.

A great piece of advice that I picked up on this board is to go ahead and ask for your check when you place your drink orders. It's a buffet so that won't be a problem and that way you can have it already taken care of to expedite your exit when you are done.

I totally get the "stay on schedule" mentality but have a wonderful time and enjoy your breakfast. The Crystal Palace is beautiful and light and the characters are adorable. That priceless picture with Piglet, or whatever magical moment you may rush by if you completely live by the clock, will be worth it in the long run and you'll remember it more than if you make it out of the restaurant 5 minutes earlier. It's taken me a long time to figure out that my children will not remember if we made it to every single soccer practice on time or in this case made our touring plan schedule by the minute but they will remember if I am kind and not yelling all the time to hurry hurry hurry.

That's my $.02 and is proably worth about that much.

 

[Coach81]

We were fortunate to get an 8:15 am Crystal Palace reservation for the first day of our trip in September, when the MK is opening at 9. Do you think we'll be done in time for rope drop (our kids are young enough to love the Pooh characters, but too young to be real autograph nuts)? And, I've heard widely varying estimates of travel time -- so does anyone have an idea on when we should leave the Epcot resort area (driving our own car) in order to arrive at our reservation on time?

Get there around 7:30 am if at all possible.. if you don't mind missing some of the characters, then you should be ok for rope drop. If you plan to see all the characters, I don't think it is going to happen for you.

 

[jlm]

Enjoy your bkfst and empty park! Could you do rope drop on another day? It's just a small show and the first family throws out pixie dust.
We hurried and rushes to get it all in our first vacation....we regret not enjoying the moment we were in.
Jen

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Nope.
2) Although an early ADR, it takes a few minutes
. . . to get seated
. . . to get your beverages
. . . to get your check
. . . to walk 5-minutes back to the park entrance
3) Now, you need to gulp-down or breathe-in the food.
4) As mentioned, do the drop on another day.

As a side note, nothing worse than watching a whole family running down Main Street with food dripping from their mouths just to see the Rope Drop. It is even worse when one its trying to pour syrup on their panckes while trotting.

 

[serene56]

Get there around 7:30 am if at all possible.. if you don't mind missing some of the characters, then you should be ok for rope drop. If you plan to see all the characters, I don't think it is going to happen for you.

would they allow you in the park that early? I thought 8:00 was the earliest

 

[Wendybird55]

Don't try to get to rope drop. Not only will you rush your breakfast - you will then have to go back out to the front of the park to see it. Part of the fun of an early ADR is to get into the park when it's empty and then when finished your already down Main Street and ready to go...No reason to back track - and even thought rope drop show is cute, it's not worth going out of your way for.

Crystal Palace is big and it takes time for the characters to get around to all the tables.

As far as travel time, I always stay at EPCOT hotels, but never drive. I say give yourself at least 45 minutes. I would leave not later then 7:30pm. If you want to get there before your ressie and hope to get seated earlier then maybe leave at 7:15.

 

[mavdav]

Crystal Palace is A MUST DO for me. Not because of the food or characters, but its b/c of the early arrival. I try to arrive at least 30 min before my ressie time. Why? b/c the PARK IS EMPTY and there are photopass photographers all on main street and in front of the castle. PRIMO TIME to get pictures with no one else in your picture. This is our Christmas picture. And the photographers take plenty of pictures, b/c there is no one waiting.

Just bring your confirmation number with you and they will let you in the park early.

I agree with other posters, rope drop show isn't that all impressive and you can catch it on another day. Its up on the train deck and you can't always get the best view.

 

[serene56]

Just curious -- if someone has a ADR for 8:15 could that person be taken before someone with an 8:00am appt? Is it first come first serve?

 

[Withacy]

I always try to do a pre-opening ADR at CP - just for the empty park. And honestly, I can't remember the last time I did a "rope drop". (I believe we weren't able to see anything anyway.) Enjoy the breakfast. Personally, I find walking down an almost deserted Main Street far more of a thrill than rope drop any day!

 

[MrsLS]

Thats the time we had last time. We waited though when we saw the characters getting close and waited to get food, we didn't want to miss them and then you would have to wait for the characters to go around the entire restaurant again, so we timed it well. Plus we asked for the check way before we were done too, so that helped. We were out about the same time as people were walking into MK, we might have been a few minutes after 9am, so it is possible but it might not always be doable. I would make sure you check in early too - we walked in with the others way before 8am.

 

[MrsLS]

when you say rope drop though you don't mean the show in the front right? because that you won't have time to see.

 

[bonoriffic]

We had 8:15 CP ADR and by the time we got a stroller rental, took pictures, and got to Crystal Palace it was 8:15. Add another 5 minute wait to get seated. We saw all the characters, the parade, and were outside with a few minutes to spare before we were allowed past the hub.