Crystal Palace Ressie Strategy?

[trspohr]

Ok, so I booked a breakfast ressie at Crystal Palace on our first MK day. The park soesn't open until 9:00, and I have a ressie for 8:00. Will I be out in enough time for park opening? I mean, if we leave before 9:00 will they make us go back for Rope Drop? I am hoping to be finished and be out promptly at 9, but you never know with 4 children. Also, I had to book 2 tables of 3. Has anyone ever done this? It is the first ressie of the morning, so I am hoping they will seat us together, or at one table. Anyhow, help is always appreciated! Thanks. DisneyWorld at Christmas!!

 

[zulaya]

If you have 2 tables, they most likely will seat you at 2 tables. If there was a single table available at the time you reserved, you would have been able to reserve it. There are probably plenty of parties of 6 with the same 8am ressie. So while you can ask to be seated together, they'll try to accomodate, but they may not be able to guarantee it.

We always eat at CP on the first ressie of the day at 8:05am. We are usually out the door before 9am and in line by Adventurelands rope before it drops. But we are a family of 4 and my kids are older...as in they inhale food because they are constantly eating. Your family may be different.

 

[winkers]

I don't think you should have a problem being out in time. We are a family of 6 and had an 8:15 adr. We were out by about 10 till 9. Of course we hurried a little more than usual, but it wasn't bad. Plus I loved getting into MK early and taking pictures in front of the castle without other people in the background!

 

[trspohr]

If you have 2 tables, they most likely will seat you at 2 tables. If there was a single table available at the time you reserved, you would have been able to reserve it. There are probably plenty of parties of 6 with the same 8am ressie. So while you can ask to be seated together, they'll try to accomodate, but they may not be able to guarantee it.

We always eat at CP on the first ressie of the day at 8:05am. We are usually out the door before 9am and in line by Adventurelands rope before it drops. But we are a family of 4 and my kids are older...as in they inhale food because they are constantly eating. Your family may be different.

Thanks for the advice. I will keep calling and see if I can snag a ressie for 6. The CM said they would try to accomodate, but you never can tell. I don't mind being seated at two tables, but I would like to be next to one another. We will see I guess. Thanks again.

 

[rie'smom]

No problem getting out. We did it 2x on our last trip. My daughter and niece were thrilled to be first on Splash Mountain.

 

[corgi_monster]

One way to make sure that you are out of CP in time for openning is to pay as soon as you get there. I am not certain, but I believe that all beverages (even if you get coffee and juice) are included in the price. So, no matter what you get, you will know the exact price of your meal as soon as you are seated and you can pay at that time.

CP is really busy and you might have to wait a few minutes before the server can ring you up. But at 8:50am, a few minutes can be a long time to wait! If you pay as soon as you sit down and order your drinks, you can feel free to leave anytime you need to.

 

[sfbank]

We have never had problems getting out for rope drop. We do breakfast twice at the Magic Kingdom and always switch. One day at the Castle and one day at Crystal Palace. As said before, it is great getting pictures of an empty Magic Kingdom. It is so neat walking on an uncrowded Main Street!!! We do this every trip to get a jump start!

 

[mmccan]

We always do an early CP breakfast each trip. It is great to get in early and take pics on main street before the crowd arrives. We have gotten some really good pictures of the kids this way. Also we are usually done around 9 and are in the first group of people to hit the rides. Last trip we took our time at breakfast, (my 2 year old had to see Pooh one more time) and we were not out until about 9:15 and were still in the first group of people to get to fantasyland.

 

[trspohr]

We always do an early CP breakfast each trip. It is great to get in early and take pics on main street before the crowd arrives. We have gotten some really good pictures of the kids this way. Also we are usually done around 9 and are in the first group of people to hit the rides. Last trip we took our time at breakfast, (my 2 year old had to see Pooh one more time) and we were not out until about 9:15 and were still in the first group of people to get to fantasyland.

Ok, thanks for all the GREAT advice. I have another question. We will need to rent a stroller. Is it possible to rent one BEFORE we head over to CP, or do we have to wait until the official park opening time?

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Ok, thanks for all the GREAT advice. I have another question. We will need to rent a stroller. Is it possible to rent one BEFORE we head over to CP, or do we have to wait until the official park opening time?

You can rent it before you head over to CP. I'm mad that I did last time, because the kids were so tired, they wouldn't get out of the stroller for the pictures on empty main street and I was having a heart attack about it.

 

[trspohr]

You can rent it before you head over to CP. I'm mad that I did last time, because the kids were so tired, they wouldn't get out of the stroller for the pictures on empty main street and I was having a heart attack about it.

That is too funny! I probably would have been having a coronary as well. I will definitely plan on getting one before hand. NOw if I could only round up 1 table for 6, rather than 2 tables of three, I would be set!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

That is too funny! I probably would have been having a coronary as well. I will definitely plan on getting one before hand. NOw if I could only round up 1 table for 6, rather than 2 tables of three, I would be set!

That was MY meltdown day. I was telling/yelling at the kids that "mommy didn't wake up at 5a, 180 days ago to get b-fast reservations at CRT for you all to sit in the stroller. Get out now, and take a look at how cool this place looks with no people in it and start having fun" DH was looking at me like I lost it and I probably did

 

[trspohr]

Ok, just thought of something else. Are the tables pretty close together? I wouldn't mind two tables if they were next to one anotehr. My older children would probably like it more. Any ideas?

 

[3for Me]

Not in any way trying to dispute what the other poster said, but twice we have been told two tables and both times they were able to accomodate. That said, neither time was at CP. I think it will all work out and they will do the best they can for you - don't worry!

 

[trspohr]

Not in any way trying to dispute what the other poster said, but twice we have been told two tables and both times they were able to accomodate. That said, neither time was at CP. I think it will all work out and they will do the best they can for you - don't worry!

Thanks for your two cents. I am hoping because we do have the first ressie of the morning, it will work out. I am a worrier by nature though, but thanks for trying to ease my mind!

 

[burberryplaid]

I just wanted to add, if you want to meet all 4 characters, you may not make it to rope drop.

When we were there in September, we had the first available ADR and we were one of the first to be seated. Piglet came through first, then Pooh. They then did an activity. Tigger came through, and then Piglet again. Eeyore is DH's favorite, so even though we were done eating, we couldn't leave without seeing Eeyore. We didn't get out of CP until quarter past 9..no rope drop for us.

Just be aware of that if your kids are insisting on meeting everyone at this time.