Crystal palace & RD

[voleball]

I have the Cristal Palace ADR @ 8:15am and have a couple of questions.

If we show up around 8:00 at the restaurant, can we get in early, like 8am?

Will we have enough time at the restaurant to enjoy charactors? We want to make the RD and ride Dumbo, but also we don't want to leave too early from such a nice experience at the CP.

If you've gone through this, would you share your experience/suggestions?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I think it all depends. We had a 8:15 and I think they let us (all the people waiting for early breakfasts) at around 8am. I took LOTS of photos and we finally checked in and went in almost immediately at around 8:15. We did not rush, but almost thought we would miss a couple of the characters, they did the parade after we had only seen 2 of them and I was watching the clock at that point.

BUT, we did get out on time, almost exactly at 9am, but my FIL was in the bathroom so we were about 5-10 minutes late in Fantasyland. It REALLY was not a big deal! We were already there, in the park and not far so it didn't have any effect on our day. I wouldn't worry if you are a few minutes late and you might even get out by RD if the characters come around in a timely matter!

 

[Keri]

We had an 8:15 ADR and my FIL had an 8:05. We were in the park a little before 8, took a few pictures on Main Street and then got to the restaurant & checked in. They opened the doors, the characters came out & waved, and then they started calling names. We were probably the 9th or 10th family called (and they graciously put our 6 +2 together at one table). We got out about 9:30 I think, so we missed rope drop, but we had 3 young children to feed and take pictures of, plus it was hard for ME to eat with all of that. And then on top of that we had a confusing payment (some on DDP, some not, etc) It's definitely possible to be faster than we were!!

 

[M&Mmum]

We did CP twice this past trip. One time our ressie was for 8:05 and the other 8:15. We were allowed in just before 8 and had a nice walk down Main Street with very few people. stopping to take photos. We were seated and had all the characters come by before RP. Both days we had time to get photos taken in front of the castle with no other people in sight. We even managed to make it in time to wake up Tink. I can't say enough good things about having this early reservation.

 

[familyS]

To save time at the end of our meal, we pay as soon as we speak with the wait person. Since we are a family of 4, we just pay the tip in cash at the end of the meal, and we are out of there

 

[voleball]

Thanks all.

FamilyS, that's a great tip!