Crystal Palace before Park Opening, what can we do?

[jennytablina]

Got an ADR July 3rd for Crystal Palace at about 8:00am a full hour before MK officially opens and all

I was just wondering, is anything open other than main street? I assume the rides wont open till 9am (I know its not EMH in the morning that day). But will shops on Main Street or anything like that be open?

I assume we just chill at Crystal till near 9am and then make for Tomorrowland (for Space)

 

[Minnie M6]

I wondered about this too- we have an 8:05 ADR and I was hoping to get some pics in the park when it's relatively empty.

 

[msmayor]

This is the BEST time...we've done Crystal Palace at 8am before and will do it again on our trip this August.

Main Street is blissfully empty of people, so great photo opportunities are there for the taking.

I don't recall if many of the shops and stuff were open; don't think so since the only people they were letting through the gates were folks with Crystal Palace ADR's.

We went through around 7:30am so we could take the leisurely stroll up the street and take pictures. It was really nice.

While you may miss actual 'rope-drop' because you're still eating, its nice to be right inside the park and close to the castle that early; the crowds are still very low and you can easily do some of the more popular rides with little wait. (as long as its not an EMH morning).

 

[Terk-1]

Did this on my last trip and have an 8:05am booked for this coming trip. It's great to get into the Magic Kingdom while Main Street is pretty empty. I don't think there was anything but the Crystal Palace open when I went. None of the attractions are open, but you will be closer to the rope drop, if you are finished eating before 9am.

 

[Steelersfan]

I'm pretty sure the parks have a turnstile open just for people with reservations to eat.

We never went into an unopened park but I bet it would be awesome! We did get to go into the world showcase for a 9:30 breakfast at Akershaus. It was kind of surreal, but neat.

It makes you wish you could literally have a whole park that empty if just for one day!

 

[mskayjay]

I am so jealous! I would love to be able to be in there to do photos...... I would just wander and soak it all in!!!!! *sigh* I mean seriously....think about the pics near the castle you can get of your family without others in the background......

 

[Microcell]

I didn't know you could get there as early as 730!!! It might be worth a 7:15 cab ride to get there around 7:30!!!

Thanks!

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

We had early breakfast ressies at CP once. It was fun to walk down a deserted Main Street. It happened to be a rainy morning when we went as well making for a great picture of us all in our yellow Mickey ponchos. It was a little confusing getting onto Main Street and finding the right CM who would let us through to walk down to the CP but once we got through that it was fine.

 

[freesone]

We have had early ADR's at the CP. I don't remember anything being open on Main St., but it is cool to have it almost empty while you are walking towards the hub. They do have the ropes up in the hub so that you don't go to any of the lands before their official opening time for the day.

 

[dpuck1998]

We do this almost every trip. This trip we got in early for BBB at 8:30. It is nice to take photos, etc. and we were at rope drop for tomorrowland and got to be the first family on Buzz Lightyear! Nothing is open and the lands are roped off, but its a great experiance.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We ate there a few years back and loved walking down Main Street with no one. I actually made sure to stop and look at things that I couldn't do with a crowd. Believe it or not I never knew there was a statue of Roy Disney on a bench with Minnie until that time.

I have an ADR for our upcoming trip at 8:15. We love CP for the food and character interaction. The worse part of it all is to figure out what part of the park to do first.

 

[sk!mom]

We've done this several times for CRT breakfasts. Most recently a couple of weeks ago. Those are some of the best pics. Just us with no one around.

It's also a benefit if your breakfast time allows you to be out and in the park ahead of the crowd. We've been out of CRT and into Fantasyland ahead of the masses several times. We did breakfast at AK this trip, as well, and were among the first at EE.

 

[sherreis]

We have ADR for 8:05 our last morning of our trip and I am so excited about being able to walk down Main Street without bumping into people and to have our family pic in front of the castle without lots of people in it as well.

Are there any photopass photographers on Main Street that early?

 

[dpuck1998]

Are there any photopass photographers on Main Street that early?

YES!!

 

[DISNEY1975]

Got an ADR July 3rd for Crystal Palace at about 8:00am a full hour before MK officially opens and all

I was just wondering, is anything open other than main street? I assume the rides wont open till 9am (I know its not EMH in the morning that day). But will shops on Main Street or anything like that be open?

I assume we just chill at Crystal till near 9am and then make for Tomorrowland (for Space)

By the time you finish dining, pay you bill etc...it will probably be close to 9:00am. You wont be waiting too long, if any time at all.

 

[Stephanie VanMeter]

It will certainly take you the full time to eat, the food is great! We did this meal on June 9th and it was great. We were on the bus by 7:45 for our 8:10 ADR and as we were pulling out of Pop I turned to ask my 16 year old DS if he had his ticket. His reply was NO. Yikes. I just knew that one of us would have to get back on the bus and be late, extremely late for breakfast. When we got off the bus we headed to guest relations and they made him another ticket within minutes. I love this breakfast and it is definitely a must do!!