Do i really need to keep checking or be happy with what i have?

[akayf]

We have an 8:15 ADR at Crystal Palace on one of our MK days. I've moved it several times(from 8:40 to 8:25 and finally 8:15). I keep checking and hoping that an 8:05 ADR will open up but I'm almost at the 30 day mark and I don't have very high hopes at this point. Is 10 minutes worth it? Would you keep checking? What time will they let us enter the park? I've never had a pre park opening ADR before.

 

[JuliePoppins]

We recently had an 8:05am breakfast, and were let into the park at 7:35am. People in front of us had a 9:15am and were let in, so go for the 8:15am. Once you get into the park, look for one of the Main Street vehicles parked right as you enter, and ask for a ride. If there isn't one parked, just wait a few and look to see if one happens to be on their return trip down Main Street. They will take you down Main Street, maybe stop at the Castle for pictures, and then drop you as close in the hub to Crystal Palace as they can. Magical experience!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I think you will be just fine with your 8:15, since the restaurant is just opening for the day 10 minutes really doesn't make much difference. Have a great trip

 

[princesslover]

We recently had an 8:05am breakfast, and were let into the park at 7:35am. People in front of us had a 9:15am and were let in, so go for the 8:15am. Once you get into the park, look for one of the Main Street vehicles parked right as you enter, and ask for a ride. If there isn't one parked, just wait a few and look to see if one happens to be on their return trip down Main Street. They will take you down Main Street, maybe stop at the Castle for pictures, and then drop you as close in the hub to Crystal Palace as they can. Magical experience!

That is interesting. We currently have a 9:20 ADR, and I'd like to try to check in a bit earlier in case we can get seated earlier (it's a slow time period) and also have a chance to get a photo on Main St. I'm going to keep checking for an earlier time though. I'm curious... did the CM at the turnstile ask for reservation times? When we went in 2009, we had an 8:10 ADR and I don't remember anyone asking us for anything but my memory may be failing me.

To the OP, I definitely would not sweat it. I would check in at 8:00. From what I understand, it is first come first served, and they don't always go by your exact reservation time at CP. Have fun!

 

[gtpoohbear]

8:15 is better anyway, you should be able to get in with the first group (a little before 8), then you won't be rushed and can take your time enjoying a not-crowded Main Street and get some pictures in front of the Castle before you check in for breakfast. As long as you don't take too terribly long eating, you will still be done by the time the park opens. We've done a pre-park opening there twice and I intentionally made it for 8:15-8:20, it worked great. Enjoy!!

 

[Franrose]

TBH, I don't like to go to much earlier than 8.30 for these kinds of ADRs. I wanted an early one for Crystal Palace last visit. The earliest we could get was 8.35 and I was a little bit disappointed I couldn't go earlier, but it turned out to be the best decision ever. We arrived just before 8am and spent a full half an hour wandering up Mainstreet while it was absolutely dead. We took photos with statues (etc) including photopass photos as the photogs were about, peered in at window dressings, took notice of things we'd never had the time or opportunity to take notice of before - it was magical and one of the experiences I cannot wait to redo next trip! Very few other people seemed to be taking the time to do this - meandering, looking - they were just heading straight to their booking.

If getting out by rope drop is your aim, then that might change things - but don't let the five or ten minutes worry you, just eat fast ha ha. If experiencing the Magic Kingdom in a way that you just can't do when the park is open is your aim, then give yourself lots of time to do that

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

It's funny, I was just wondering this myself. We have an 8:50am ADR at CP, and I saw today one open up for 8:30am. I thought about switching to it. I think I've decided against because I thought it would give us more time to get pictures and look around before actually checking in. What does everyone think?

I was thinking getting at the MK at around 8am, hoping to get let in around then, walk around looking and taking pictures at various points, then at around 8:35 checking in for our ADR. Does that sound like a good plan? I've heard to checkin about 15 minutes before time. Thanks!

 

[princesslover]

It's funny, I was just wondering this myself. We have an 8:50am ADR at CP, and I saw today one open up for 8:30am. I thought about switching to it. I think I've decided against because I thought it would give us more time to get pictures and look around before actually checking in. What does everyone think?

I was thinking getting at the MK at around 8am, hoping to get let in around then, walk around looking and taking pictures at various points, then at around 8:35 checking in for our ADR. Does that sound like a good plan? I've heard to checkin about 15 minutes before time. Thanks!

I think it depends on what your priorities are. If your priority is to take your time enjoying Main St and taking photos, keep the later one. You could always check in earlier and sometimes get seated earlier. However, you may sacrifice touring time.

I just moved ours from 8:55 to 8:30 because I'd like to be done eating a little closer to RD and 8:55 was too late - we wouldn't be done eating until 10:00 which seems like to much "prime" park time. I'm hoping to arrive and get in around 8:00, and that will still give us 30 minutes to walk to our reservation at 8:30. Then we will still be out by 9:30, seems like the best of both worlds.

 

[melissafox18]

I did the same thing you did on our last trip and the earliest I got was 8:25 am. We got there about 20 minutes early, spent some time on Main Street, got some unobstructed photos of the castle and it was amazing to have quiet before everything opened.

We weren't asked our reservation time, we were just asked where our reservation was and that was about it. I expected to get the third degree since we were going in early. We were there during a slow time (post spring break).

As 2 adults and a buffet, we ate pretty quickly and didn't really care much about the character meet and greet. We did CP for breakfast (which DH loves) and for the early entry into MK. We were done with breakfast before rope drop and hopped right onto space mountain with about a 5 minute wait