Crystal Palace Breakfast before Rope Drop

kengquist

Mouseketeer
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Apr 14, 2016
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148
I have a Crystal Palace breakfast reservation for 8:10am before rope drop. How long does it usually take to get through a breakfast at Crystal Palace? I want to get out to the rides prior to 9:00.
 
We went last week and I think you would have a very hard time doing that. I think we were a solid 1.5 hours, although we did wait for Piglet to do a second tour and certainly didn't rush our meal. I personally wouldn't want to rush it, it was great and expensive so made sure my family knew we would not do rope drop that morning and crowds were still not too bad at about 10 ish when we were out.
 
I have a Crystal Palace breakfast reservation for 8:10am before rope drop. How long does it usually take to get through a breakfast at Crystal Palace? I want to get out to the rides prior to 9:00.

It all can depend on you. I would recommend that once you place the order to tell your server to go ahead and bring you the check so that you can leave when you are ready... They will not feel insulted, they are pretty use to this. It's fairly easy to eat at your pace and be out of there. The thing that may slow you down is that if you want to meet all the characters there is a chance you may not get the opportunity to see all of them in that time frame. We go every time we are at WDW and most of the time we can get it all done in that 45-50 minutes, but a couple of years ago we left without getting the chance to meet one of the characters.
 
We usually do Crystal Palace at an 8AM ADR and last year I think we were out of there by around 8:45-8:50AM. It was perfect timing bc my DS8 at the time wanted to meet Merida so we just headed to her line and waited. We were first in line when the gate opened to meet her.
 

It will be tough. You most likely won't get to see all the characters. If you are going to breakfast for the experience, you will need to slow down some. You probably won't get out into the park before 9 am.
 
It will be tough. You most likely won't get to see all the characters. If you are going to breakfast for the experience, you will need to slow down some. You probably won't get out into the park before 9 am.
If we're not concerned about characters, but rather just eating and getting out, is it possible to get out to the rides quickly? Before 9?
 
If we're not concerned about characters, but rather just eating and getting out, is it possible to get out to the rides quickly? Before 9?
You won't beat anyone into Fantasyland. The top droppers to Fantasyland start around 8:45. And there's no need to rush into Adventure/Frontierland the same way.

If you're trying to beat rope drop to Fantasyland, get a BOG PPO, order coffee and a cupcake, and motor out.
 
You won't beat anyone into Fantasyland. The top droppers to Fantasyland start around 8:45. And there's no need to rush into Adventure/Frontierland the same way.

If you're trying to beat rope drop to Fantasyland, get a BOG PPO, order coffee and a cupcake, and motor out.

This. Rope drop is normally at 8:45. And I have had many meals at the Crystal Palace, and I can't remember ever being seated on time. Usually there is a bit of a wait.

If your main goal is to be among the first on the rides, I would cancel the ADR. Just be to the Magic Kingdom by 8:15 am so you are at the head of the crowd. If you think you might like a hearty breakfast, make an ADR for 10 am or so.
 
If we're not concerned about characters, but rather just eating and getting out, is it possible to get out to the rides quickly? Before 9?

It's possible, but there will be cast members stationed at all the "spokes" to hold you back until the rope drop crowd arrives. It is possible that you can go around the back side of the castle like they route the BoG crowd, but it's hit or miss sometimes.
 
Crystal Palace pre opening has become our "thing". It's a great breakfast, beautiful place and Pooh friends are walking around. We take our time and we are done around 9:15-9:30 AM with an 8:00 am reservation. I recommend getting to the park by 7:30AM. They will go ahead and let you in with the reservation. Take your time walking down Main Street and taking pictures with NO or Few people in the background. It is an entirely different experience.

Put your name in as soon as you get there. They will seat you asap.

As others have said, if you are in a rush ask for the bill as soon as you get seated/get beverages. Then you can leave when you want. We found even leaving CP at 9:20ish the park was still fairly empty. Any ride besides A&E and 7DMT is a walk on at this time of the day. If you head anywhere in the park besides Fantasyland there will only be a few people around.
 
We've never had trouble getting done by 9am. In March we had an 8:10am ADR but were seated at 8:03am and were out of there by 8:40am and saw all the characters. We waited at Adventureland for them to lower the rope at 8:45am. We were the first passengers on the Jungle Cruise, we had to wait a couple minutes to fill the boat before we left!
 
I too have early ressie for CP, I decided that I would get fast pass for the things
I know we may have to wait for. And, I will not rush thru breakfast as this is
the only restaurant my DGS wants to eat at. So, we will take our time and not worry about Rope
Drop...
 
We too have a 8 reservation there in a few weeks. In the past it's been tough to get over to Fantasyland by 9 so we've planned 2 mornings at MK. The day we are dining at CP we plan to go straight to Adventureland/Frontierland which still should be relatively empty after 9...
 
We have a 8:25 a.m. at CP . . . what time would we be able to get in so that we could take some great pictures before our reservation? If we got there at 7:30 could we get in at 8:00?
 
Just to add on - if you're not looking to do the mine train first thing but things like peter pan, pooh etc, how are the lines by a half hour after rope drop if we do a PPO breakfast? We have a few days at MK and can manage what we do, just wondering if we did a leisurely early morning breakfast at MK where would it be best to go about a half hour after rope drop? We are also doing the christmas party, a pre-party MK day with dinner at HDDR, a non-party MK evening.
 
Just to add on - if you're not looking to do the mine train first thing but things like peter pan, pooh etc, how are the lines by a half hour after rope drop if we do a PPO breakfast? We have a few days at MK and can manage what we do, just wondering if we did a leisurely early morning breakfast at MK where would it be best to go about a half hour after rope drop? We are also doing the christmas party, a pre-party MK day with dinner at HDDR, a non-party MK evening.
Peter Pan gets long fast, because it's got limited throughput for riders.
 
As someone else mentioned, paying the bill right away will save you time. But man, Crystal Palace isn't a place that is conducive to rushing. You've got the fact that it's buffet, the fact that there are characters. It's going to be tough. If you're really concerned about getting to those rides, I'd keep searching daily for BOG reservations. It's counter/table service and you can order ahead online and the servings are smaller. Plus, no character distractions.
 
We've never had trouble getting done by 9am. In March we had an 8:10am ADR but were seated at 8:03am and were out of there by 8:40am and saw all the characters. We waited at Adventureland for them to lower the rope at 8:45am. We were the first passengers on the Jungle Cruise, we had to wait a couple minutes to fill the boat before we left!

This was our experience last September, for each of the two days that we had breakfast there (DW and DD love the Pooh characters, hence the two stops there last trip).

OP, when are you going? That might play a part in your being able to finish up earlier.
 












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