Early entry without ADRs

[bleeps]

We make a point every trip to have an 8 a.m. ADR at Crystal Palace, and we have regularly done 8 a.m. breakfasts (location has moved) at AK.

What's varied is the CMs at the turnstyles -- sometimes with a clipboard and list to check us off, sometimes asking us for our reservation #, sometimes just wanting to hear that we're there for a breakfast ADR.

What's never varied, in our experience (at both parks) has been the number of CMs on Main Street or on the paths at AK whose purpose always seemed to be to make sure guest were doing what they were supposed to do -- pausing for a photo or two, but otherwise heading on to the restaurant. We have seen CMs asking people who seemed to be lingering at the castle what they were doing/where they were headed. By 8:45 a.m. you would have people done with breakfast who would be lining up at the ropes, so that wouldn't cause any concern.

So I really don't think this is a loop hole of any kind. I think there ARE CMs posted in the parks making sure people aren't strolling around for an hour before rope drop.

Best bet indeed is to make and use a wonderful early morning breakfast ADR and enjoy!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I always thought the Magic Kingdom had specific gates for those with early ADR's that they are supposed to line up at and can only go through once their names have been checked off a list?

 

[mom2rtk]

I always thought the Magic Kingdom had specific gates for those with early ADR's that they are supposed to line up at and can only go through once their names have been checked off a list?

There IS a special gate. And they ARE supposed to check you off, but it sounds like they've been a little lax on occasion......

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

There IS a special gate. And they ARE supposed to check you off, but it sounds like they've been a little lax on occasion......

Well if that's true then it sounds very disappointing.

 

[smallfri1112]

I plan on making a ressie at the CP for breakfast when I go next year. I've never been and the idea of characters hanging out with me is wicked cool! Anyway, I'm going to make the ressie as early as possible so I can see what the park looks like empty pretty much empty, and to get a quick pic in front of the castle. But I promise, I will keep my ressie.

 

[mom2rtk]

I plan on making a ressie at the CP for breakfast when I go next year. I've never been and the idea of characters hanging out with me is wicked cool! Anyway, I'm going to make the ressie as early as possible so I can see what the park looks like empty pretty much empty, and to get a quick pic in front of the castle. But I promise, I will keep my ressie.

Well, if you want to be done for rope drop, make it as early as possible. My theory is if you want it as empty as possible, then go around 8:15 or 8:30. There's usually a bit of a rush when it first opens with all the 8:05's who have been lining up outside waiting for them to start letting the early ADR people in..........

 

[jkstewart1800]

a few posts back someone mentioned overhearing a lady who had made ADRs at CP for 6 7 8pm... What she probably didn't know is that Disney will pick and ADR to keep and cancel the other ones. A few years back I ask a CM about this and they explained it to us.

Quick question: where is this early entry entrance at MK we ACTUALLY DO have a ADR for 8:05 at CP...

I had no idea there was a separate enterance....

 

[mickaholic4077]

If a person uses the name of a dfferent person in the party and uses a different phone number,then unfortunately they can get 3 different reservations for 3 different times without Disney knowing about it.

 

[mom2rtk]

a few posts back someone mentioned overhearing a lady who had made ADRs at CP for 6 7 8pm... What she probably didn't know is that Disney will pick and ADR to keep and cancel the other ones. A few years back I ask a CM about this and they explained it to us.

Quick question: where is this early entry entrance at MK we ACTUALLY DO have a ADR for 8:05 at CP...



I had no idea there was a separate enterance....

All the way to the right as you walk up to the entrance. There should be a sign up.

 

[mom2rtk]

If a person uses the name of a dfferent person in the party and uses a different phone number,then unfortunately they can get 3 different reservations for 3 different times without Disney knowing about it.

Yes, but It's a bit harder than it used to be though. Now if you call in WITHOUT a resort reservation, they will not reserve without an address to tie that phone number to. So I suppose you could use someone else's phone number and address, but ONLY after 90 days out. To access 90 + 10 (to get the hard to get ADR's) it MUST be tied to your resort reservation.

 

[goofy4tink]

It seems to be lately...We were there last April and had a pre-park opening BBB appointment...we walked right through the gate allocated for early entry with nary a soul checking any names or confirmation numbers. We could have walked through with no other intent then getting into the internal ropes first...






They do not notice nor stop you at MK. When my DD and DW was at their BBB appointment, my boys and I wandered around and ended up waiting at the Tomorrowland Rope for the drop - and as a result were ahead of the crowd from the front of the park. The CM's were not the least bit surprised to have guests already waiting there at 8:45...and there are certainly no CM"s who are on security detail trying to find out why you are there.

In fact, there are half a dozen Photopass photogs who are ready and waiting for the early guest getting the empty park pictures!

It's an un-closed loophole at MK...and it is a good one - but I wouldn't make an ADR and skip it - bad Disney karma and all that.

I can only speak to my own experiences. The last time I had a pre-park opening ADR, I had to stop at the turnstile and they checked my name off their list. That is my experience. They did notice me, they did stop me.
Obviously there have been some changes. And that makes me more than a bit irritated. That means that just about anyone can now enter the park, at any time they wish to..they just have to walk through that turnstile. Nope, doesn't seem quite right to me.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyDad]

Well if that's true then it sounds very disappointing.

I don't understand why it matters? There is no real detriment to your vacation and I would imagine .000001% of guests know this fact and sneak in for no other reason then to see an empty park. No harm, no foul.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't understand why it matters? There is no real detriment to your vacation and I would imagine .000001% of guests know this fact and sneak in for no other reason then to see an empty park. No harm, no foul.

I completely understand why it matters. Everyone needs to be following the SAME set of rules. The people standing in the regular park entry want to race back to Dumbo, or BTMRR or whatever they enjoy and get in line first JUST as much as the deadbeat sneaking in the early entry gate with no ADR....

 

[disneyjunkie]

I completely understand why it matters. Everyone needs to be following the SAME set of rules. The people standing in the regular park entry want to race back to Dumbo, or BTMRR or whatever they enjoy and get in line first JUST as much as the deadbeat sneaking in the early entry gate with no ADR....

 

[sunnyday123]

I don't think they are - they just realized that it was a loophole that OTHER people prolly DO take advantage of.....

But you are taking a reservation away from someone who might have really wanted it....not nice or fair.

p.s. what is "prolly"?

 

[mickaholic4077]

But you are taking a reservation away from someone who might have really wanted it....not nice or fair.

p.s. what is "prolly"?

So many people on here don't know the word is spelled "Probably",NOT prolly that I don't bother with it. Just like the word is or,NOT ORE(ore is a metal).

 

[disneyjunkie]

So many people on here don't know the word is spelled "Probably",NOT prolly that I don't bother with it. Just like the word is or,NOT ORE(ore is a metal).

People use ore for or on purpose???? Why??

 

[Robo]

Believe it or not, "prolly" is a legitimate (if such things CAN be legitimate) internet abbreviation for "probably."

It's established common-usage shorthand like LOL and TIA, etc.

(But, yes, it looks to many like a misspelling, for sure.)

 

[FirstTimeDisneyDad]

I completely understand why it matters. Everyone needs to be following the SAME set of rules. The people standing in the regular park entry want to race back to Dumbo, or BTMRR or whatever they enjoy and get in line first JUST as much as the deadbeat sneaking in the early entry gate with no ADR....

If the CM's aren't taking the names or confirm numbers, then the rules have changed - at least for that day, right?

I'm not advocating it, but it certainly is not worth this much debate. It's so insignificant - even if they do beat you to Dumbo...

 

[mom2rtk]

If the CM's aren't taking the names or confirm numbers, then the rules have changed - at least for that day, right?

I'm not advocating it, but it certainly is not worth this much debate. It's so insignificant - even if they do beat you to Dumbo...

NOPE. If it's insignificant if someone beats you to something, then YOU should not be in such a hurry to beat everyone else in.

And the staff not checking your number that day does NOT constitute a change in policy. The sign clearly says that entrance is for people with early morning breakfast reservations.

I guess rules are only for us poor schmucks who follow them??????