Crystal Palace at Opening?

[Palm_Tree]

Heading to WDW for first time with our kids (DD 7, DS 6) next April. Would appreciate any comments or feedback to help us decide if worth eating breakfast here or not. Here is some background: My wife and I are light eaters for breakfast and probably won't eat much from the buffet which we figure will cost the four of us around $70 all in. Neither us, nor or kids, are major Pooh and gang fans, but I'm sure it is cute. If we don't eat breakfast here on our scheduled MK day then we will likely eat something in our room at the Poly and hence have a little more "down time". However, if we don't eat here for breakfast we do plan to be at MK for rope drop.
What we do find appealing about eating at CP is the chance to arrive at 8:05 for breakfast and hence to be able to experience Main St and the MK before it opens which people have said is unique. We've also read, and seen photos, of the setting which looks very pretty and which we would likely enjoy and appreciate. Lastly, I think I read that if we are sure to finish before 9:00 that it would put us at the front of one of the rope drops which could also feel exciting. If we do the CP it would be the morning of our first time at the MK.
There is obviously no "right" or "wrong" choice (as either way we will be at the MK!), but would like to hear people's opinions. Thanks.

 

[Annette_VA]

We do breakfast at CP just so that we can get those pics of an empty Main Street.

 

[tinkandpan]

We do it just for those very reasons. I like being there early. My family is not huge eaters, we pick and choose the kids eat their meal in fruit only for the most part. It's a great experience and if you can afford it i think it is worth it not just for the food or the pooh experience. It's a nice way to kick off the MK.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We love being able to take pictures of an empty park and uncrowded castle front. I have a beautiful picture I took with my cell phone of the castle with the sun rising in the back about 8:00am on my birthday in June and it is just wonderful.

We really love the food also though. I, myself am not a morning person and really don't like to eat in the morning, but to me CP is a great place to have a great breakfast. DH loves the omlet bar and I love the puffed pastry (french toast, I think).

I don't know if it is worth $70 for pictures of an empty park though, but if you enjoy the food like we do, then it is an added bonus.

Suzanne

 

[noahdove]

I think it's worth the extra money just to have the pictures....it's only the happiest place on earth and why not enjoy the energy of it? It's a memory that no one can take from you or your children...I am not a big breakfast eater, but I make sure I am that day

 

[MickeyNicki]

DH and I love CP for breakfast but when we are on vacation we like to eat a big breakfast and skip lunch....we do not care if we see characters or not.

What about getting in early at Kona, take the monorail to MK in time for rope drop?

 

[Tricia1972]

I think if the money is not going to set you back that you should go for it.

Though you may not get your 'moneys worth' out of the buffet itself, you certainly will be able to find enough regular breakfast foods to fill you up. You'll be paying more for the experience of an empty Main St.

 

[Palm_Tree]

Thanks to everyone for their help. After reading the replies, we are definitely leaning more to doing breakfast here.
I think it comes down to whether we want to spend a few bucks to see, and be, in the MK before it opens. Given that this will be our first time at MK we're not sure though that we would really "appreciate" this empty scene.

 

[Tricia1972]

Thanks to everyone for their help. After reading the replies, we are definitely leaning more to doing breakfast here.
I think it comes down to whether we want to spend a few bucks to see, and be, in the MK before it opens. Given that this will be our first time at MK we're not sure though that we would really "appreciate" this empty scene.

Being that it's your first time in the MK, I think it'd be the most magical way to experience it for the first time.

You'll appreciate the emptiness of Main St for your first time right around noon on the same day!

 

[lynninpa]

Being in MK before the official opening is so cool! Just make sure your ADR is NOT on a day with morning EMH at MK!

 

[LSK]

Not trying to hijack a thread...but we have ADR's for Feb. Our ressie is for 8:05...when we enter the park do we get to walk around and take pictures on the way to Crystal Palace? After breakfast, do they have a holding cell for us or are we released into the park to take pictures and frolic with nobody else around?

Hubby and I have been to Disney before but never to a character meal and never in MK before park opening. Oh, and DD sleeps with an Eeyore every night so we may be in Crystal Palace a while. Do they clear the restaurant when they switch to lunch?

 

[Tricia1972]

You'll be able to take pictures of Main St, and walking up Main St as you walk to the Crystal Palace.

After breakfast you'll be let out and you'll be able to walk as far as the inner park 'rope drop' areas for each land. For the most part you'll be confined to the hub until park opening.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

In June we had a ressie for 9:05 am, but we entered the park about 7:55 am because we had to rent ECV's, and we walked around taking pictures for a few minutes, then checked in at 8:05 and were immediately seated. We finished about 9:00 and were able to walk into many areas, but not everything was open, so we just took more photos. About that time, alot more people had entered the park, too.

Suzanne

 

[lynninpa]

 

[Palm_Tree]

Wow - great shot Lynninpa! That really makes clear what being in the park before official opening may be all about. Thank You.

 

[lynninpa]

Wow - great shot Lynninpa! That really makes clear what being in the park before official opening may be all about. Thank You.

 

[MomtoGKC]

I was trying to decide the same thing. I loved the idea of being there early. And we like breakfast. And my kids like pooh. But I still decided against it. It's going to be our first full day there and i don't want to have to wake the kids up any earlier than I have to (I know they'll be up late the first night there, they always are too excited to sleep) I figure if I try to get 8:05 ressies I'd have to wake them up around 6:30 to get us all ready by 7:00 - 7:15 to get from WL to MK on time. If I just go for rope drop I can let them sleep another hour - the extra sleep for my kids could make a big difference later in the day!! We decided on lunch at Crystal Palace that day instead.