crystal palace breakfast-question on getting to park preopening

[yankeeslover]

I have reservations at crystal palace at 8:10 am on a friday in august. i belive MK opens at 9:00am. from what i read, we can enter the park early and take pictures of main st? what time will they allow us into the park for a 8:10 reservation? and if the park opens at 9am, do we try to get out of the restaraunt by 9:00am to hightail to our favorite attraction before everyone else is let in? or do we have to wait till 9am to walk around anywhere?

 

[MSSANDRA]

You will be let in a little before your ADR (maybe 8ish) and a quick picture or two is certainly possible but you will not have a lot of extra time. I doubt you will be done before 9:00. Takes at least an hour most times to eat and see all the characters. If by chance you are out before 9:00, You will be stopped at a certain point until 9:00.

 

[Swissdog2010]

If you manage to finish your meal before 9, which i doubt, you'll be stopped at a rope at any of the entrances to the various 'lands'. The best you could do is take pictures of the caslte without a lot of people around. One interesting thing we did once was stand at teh head of mainstreet at the 'plaza' and watch the lead elements of the crowd flood in at the other end. Was kind of a neat thing to watch. Plus you can't hightail it when they drop the rope. A CM acts as a 'pacing pony' to prevent mad dashes to any of the attractions.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

When you get to the admission gates at MK there will be a line marked for those with character breakfsts and a CM with a list of names for those with reservations for that day. Yes, it is wonderful walking up main street with it quiet ad without lots of people!,

 

[wildcatfan]

It is certainly a great time to take photos in front of the castle. If I remember correctly, there was a photo pass person out once. It was nice to get photos before the crowd of people. Crystal Palace is a great choice. We loved it, the food and the atomsphere!

 

[North of Mouse]

We had 8:10 ressies at Crystal Palace also last time and we went 20min. early and were let in, no problems. I would suggest that you have your reservation # with you in case of any unforeseen problem. We were able to take our time walking and taking pictures and then made our way 5 min. before our ressie to CP and got in right away.

 

[jjsdad]

When you get to the admission gates at MK there will be a line marked for those with character breakfsts and a CM with a list of names for those with reservations for that day. Yes, it is wonderful walking up main street with it quiet ad without lots of people!,

Do they really check reservation numbers? I have done this breakfast 3 times and have never been asked for my reservation number at the gate nor have I ever seen them checking. I have always read to bring your res. number. I always wonder what is to stop someone from just saying they have a reservation to get in early and walk around.

Also, it is great to get out by 9 but nearly impossible from what we've found out. The only time we got out by 9 we had to skip seeing tigger. I would imagine if you sat up front by the windows in the room to the right when you first walk in you could pull it off since the characters start there and work the outside of the room then hit the center and finish up by the kitchen entrance. Our last trip we got a seat right next to the kitchen entrance and it took forever to see them all. One other thing I recommend is ask for the check right when you are seated since it is a buffet. You will be closed out before you are finished eating so when it's time to go you just get up and go. Good luck and have a blast!

 

[maxiesmom]

When you get to the admission gates at MK there will be a line marked for those with character breakfsts and a CM with a list of names for those with reservations for that day. Yes, it is wonderful walking up main street with it quiet ad without lots of people!,

Is the line usually to the left or right as you look at the Magic Kingdom?

 

[bonoriffic]

I've gone to Crystal Palace 3 times in the past 3 years, and never once been asked for any proof we actually had an ADR. They seem most strict at Hollywood Studios, and also the least efficient at getting people in early.

I strongly recommend getting there earlier than advised, as I've had an 8:25 ADR that we were seated for at 8:05. It is first come, first serve that early it seems.

I've also never not been out of breakfast before 9am. I'm not sure what people are doing that always takes them so long. It is buffet, your food service begins immediately. Your only delay is if you hit a bad cycle where a character is about to get to your table, you get the parade, and they go on break after. That can be a 20 minute death blow, but short of that we always get to see all the characters in 45 minutes tops.

Even if you have to miss 1 character, leave the restaurant no later than 8:55 as they let people in early often. You line up just beyond the castle and then proceed to Dumbo. Being on the 1st or 2nd ride of the day is a huge time saver even on very low attendance days.

 

[deserrai]

I've done the breakfast at CP once before park opening and they let us right in. No problem except finding the special entrance for ADR's. Being on Main Street without the hordes of people is amazing and you can get such nice photos.