Early Crystal Palace Reservation

[LoveDisneyDad]

Hi everyone,

We have booked a breakfast reservation for 830am on a day that the park opens at 900am. We are wondering how early they will let us in the park? Does it make more sense to change our reservation to 900am so that we can enjoy a little extra time in the park before it opens before we have to go for breakfast. We have never been to DW so any insight would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[5kidsmommy]

The earlier you have breakfast the better. If you are done eating before the park opens they will keep you at the hub but once the gates open they will let you go. If you go in to eat at the same time as park opening you will miss any early window you have. So I would either switch your reservation to as early as you can get it or make it a little later, like 10:30 and be there for rope drop and do a little before your breakfast.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

I agree with 5kidsmommy. We always have an 8:00am Crystal Palace reservation (our favourite, must do ADR) and our plan B is 10:30am. The 9:00-10:30am time is such a great time to get on the rides with lower crowds.

 

[Hopefully]

As the others have said, advice for a first timer. The single most important thing you can do to maximize your experience is be at the gates at Rope Drop. You can get more done in the first 2 hours before crowds build, than in the rest of the day. A 9 AM breakfast would eat way too much into prime touring time. I too, would try to schedule your breakfast for 8 or for about 10:30
Good Luck

 

[maxiesmom]

Change it to 10:00 or so if you can. Hit the park for rope drop, and get on as many rides as you can! Most rides will have little to no wait, so you can get quite a few in before you have breakfast.

 

[BlondeAppetit]

We had a 8:30am reservation on your last trip. We ate in about 40 mins and saw all of the characters. We got to enjoy and empty Main Street and when we left breakfast, we walked onto rides such as Pirates of the Car., Space Mountain, and more.

It was our best day in the parks.

I would keep it.

 

[BlondeAppetit]

We were able to get into the park as soon as we arrive at the gates. 8:10-ish.

 

[maxiesmom]

We had a 8:30am reservation on your last trip. We ate in about 40 mins and saw all of the characters. We got to enjoy and empty Main Street and when we left breakfast, we walked onto rides such as Pirates of the Car., Space Mountain, and more.

It was our best day in the parks.

I would keep it.

Wow, that is great timing! We have had many breakfasts at the Crystal Palace, and usually we have to wait a bit to be seated. And a few times we didn't get to see all of the characters before we were done eating.

 

[BelleBriarRose]

Does anyone know the earliest you can get a breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace? Would they let me have breakfast there at 8 AM so I'd have a full hour to enjoy breakfast before the park opens at 9?

 

[dbramer]

8:00 AM is the earliest ressie for CP.

 

[marchingstar]

We have booked a breakfast reservation for 830am on a day that the park opens at 900am. We are wondering how early they will let us in the park?

Thanks for asking this, LoveDisneyDad! I've tried to find info about my similar breakfast ADR (we have an 8:40), and I've found it difficult. The coveted spot is 8:00 when the MK opens at 9, but I think it can be quite hard to find. I'm hoping with an 8:40 we can enter the park at the same time as any breakfast ADR (8 at the latest), wander around/take photos for maybe 15 minutes, and then check in early. I'm not sure if we'll get seated early, but I'm hoping it'll work out. I don't mind missing the first few minutes of rope drop (we aren't planning on SDMT or A&E this morning...), but I don't want to lose too much park time either.

Also, if I were you I would definitely not change my breakfast to 9. That would mean losing a good deal of the lower morning crowds. When is your trip? I'll try to write about our 8:40 experience when we're back!

 

[LoveDisneyDad]

Thanks for all the replies. We were able to change our time to 8:15am so we will hopefully be done by 915am at the latest. We discussed a later breakfast but it will not work as we are with our two boys, 20 months and 5 and my five year old has a metabolic condition that requires him to eat relatively shortly after waking and we can't wait until later. He would need to eat at the hotel or en route and then wouldn't be hungry again for the crystal palace. We unfortunately have to be quite regimented with meal times for him which can make things a little tricky on vacation.

 

[BudgieMama]

Wow, that is great timing! We have had many breakfasts at the Crystal Palace, and usually we have to wait a bit to be seated. And a few times we didn't get to see all of the characters before we were done eating.

We had an 8.20am ADR, got let in before 8am with the other ADRs, got photos in front of the castle and by the Partners Statue, got to CP to check in and were seated by 8.15am They'd even decorated our table with Mickey confetti before we arrived. We were out the door, having seen everyone and eaten by 9.05am.

We were very lucky with being seated so quickly. At the time we were called, there were plenty of people with earlier ressies who got in after us.

 

[Elissajoy]

We had a 8:30am reservation on your last trip. We ate in about 40 mins and saw all of the characters. We got to enjoy and empty Main Street and when we left breakfast, we walked onto rides such as Pirates of the Car., Space Mountain, and more.

It was our best day in the parks.

I would keep it.

What time do you suggest we leave our hotel, CSR, to get to our "first ever" 8:30 breakfast reservation for Crystal Palace? Thanks.

 

[maxiesmom]

What time do you suggest we leave our hotel, CSR, to get to our "first ever" 8:30 breakfast reservation for Crystal Palace? Thanks.

Disney suggests 90 minutes ahead of time, if you are using their transportation. That is usually PLENTY of time. But I have been stuck in a traffic jam trying to get into MK before. All it takes is one car breaking down to cause a big back up.

 

[Elissajoy]

Thank you so much! Have a great vacation!

 

[dmancuso]

What is the earliest we can get thru the gates if we have an 8am reservation?

 

[Hopefully]

What is the earliest we can get thru the gates if we have an 8am reservation?

7:45

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

We are excited for our 8:05am reservation! Hoping for a couple of really great pics before a yummy breakfast and a 1/2 dozen rides on Dumbo and the carousel, lol. =)

 

[goofyintoronto]

Change it to 10:00 or so if you can. Hit the park for rope drop, and get on as many rides as you can! Most rides will have little to no wait, so you can get quite a few in before you have breakfast.

I agree with this. I'd change it to a 10am-10:30am reservation. That way at rope drop you'll be able to do a lot of the rides PLUS work up an appetite, then have 'brunch'.