Driving to AK for 8 am Breakfastasaurus--is the parking lot open?

[Enna]

When I made the ressies, the CM told me to drive or take a cab, that the bus would not get me there in time for our ADR.

On this board, I've read that the parking lot will not be open early enough for me to make it to an 8 am ADR.

Has anyone been there recently, and can clue me in on the real situation?

 

[willis37862]

also interested

 

[MickeyNicki]

me too!

 

[estnh]

When I made the ressies, the CM told me to drive or take a cab, that the bus would not get me there in time for our ADR.

On this board, I've read that the parking lot will not be open early enough for me to make it to an 8 am ADR.

Has anyone been there recently, and can clue me in on the real situation?

DO NOT DRIVE!!! We do Donalds every year and typically do an 8AM ADR. The resort busses are running in plenty of time to get you there. For example, last April we were at POR. We went to the bus stop around 7:10, and a AK bus came about five minutes later. We were at AK in plenty of time for our 8AM seating. Note: On the way in on the bus, we saw lines of cars stopped at the gate, waiting to get in. No way would we have made it if we drove!

I don't know why, but Disney reservations people seem to give this misinformation constantly. There is always available Disney transportation to any of their character breakfasts before park opening!

 

[NC State]

We drove to our 8:00 am ADR and yes, we did have to wait for the gate to open. When the gate open, we parked very close to the park. Once we entered the park, we told the CM that we had an 8:00 am ADR and they let us go right in, no problem.

 

[aubriee]

The dining CMs either don't know or choose to not acknowledge the early morning character dining buses. If you arrive at the AK bus stop 45 min-1 hour prior to your ADR a bus will be there to pick you up. Every trip I make several early ADRs in order to get into the parks early and have never had a problem with the buses not coming by. For our trip in Sept we have an 8:00am ADR at Chef Mickey's and an 8:20am ADR at Donald's Breakfastosaurus, plus we plan to get to Konas by 8:00 one morning using the early morning character dining bus to MK. Jan '06 I had an 8:00am ADR at 'Ohannas and the early morning character bus to MK asked where we wanted to go. When I told him 'Ohannas he said he'd have to drop the people off at MK first for their early breakfasts, but then would take me and my GD to front door of the Poly, which he did. May '05 I had three early morning tours and the CM who booked them was aware of the early morning character breakfast buses and told me to use them which I did. I've never once been late to an early am ADR. On the other hand, if you try to drive to the AK that early I don't believe the parking lot is open yet, so you may be late.

Just FYI: if you get an ADR for Rainforest Cafe at 5:00pm or later the dining CMs will also tell you that you won't be able to get back to your resort because the buses stop running 2 hours after park closing. However a bus marked 'Special' does come around and pick people up that are at the Rainforest Cafe. As you come out of the RFC a CM will be there with a radio and ask where you need to go. I also used this bus back in May '05 and Dec '05.

 

[Enna]

We drove to our 8:00 am ADR and yes, we did have to wait for the gate to open. When the gate open, we parked very close to the park. Once we entered the park, we told the CM that we had an 8:00 am ADR and they let us go right in, no problem.

Were you late for your ADR?

Do you happen to recall what time the parking lot opened?

 

[NC State]

I remember the gate opened at 7:55 am; when we parked and walked up to the park gate they were calling for the all ADRs for breakfast. It didn't matter if you had a 8:00 or 8:30 am ADR, we all walked to the restaurant together. Once at the restaurant they then took your name and time, then they called you by your ADR. We didn't have any problems and it was during free dinning it was busy.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We took the bus from POR at 7.20 for an 8am ressie and were plenty early. Chill and enjoy the early morning ride.