Early entry without ADRs

[disneyjunkie]

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...

If it's so insignificant, why are people bothering to do it?

 

[goofy4tink]

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.

But it is a detriment to someone's vacation. They have played by the rules so to speak. But there are those who have 'cheated' and are now hanging around the park, without any right to do so. Does it infringe on my vacation if those without party passes stay for the party??? Even if they aren't allowed to eat, shop or ride?? Sure it does. Same as non-resort guests being able to remain in the park for EMHs now....sure, they aren't allowed to ride, but they clog up the park. It makes for more people there, but people who really shouldn't be there.
I would imagine that if I were trying to get a photo of my family, in front of the Castle, with no one else around, on my way to my Crystal Palace seating, and a family trotted up, who had no ADRs, but wanted to check out the empty park, and then stood in back of my family so as to get their shot without anyone else in their photo..yes, that would be detrimental to my experience. A vacation ruiner??? Of course not.
But everyone should be playing by the same rules. I resent the fact that I have taken the time to make an early ADR in order to enjoy the empty park, but others are free to just walk in and do their thing, with no ADR. Sorry if that bothers anyone.
Disney used to have a policy in place. It would make sense to make it in place 100% of the time...that's only fair.

There seems to be way too much of the 'squeaky wheel gets the grease' mentality at WDW lately. I have known of guests walking up to a restaurant podium, with no ADR made, but telling the CM they do have one. And then they berate the CM for the restaurant's losing the ADR. So, in order to make the guest happy, the CM gave that person a seating within 20 mins. Or the guest who says he has an ADR at a resort restaurant but only wants to park there in order to access the park more easily. Or the guest who feels they can just walk into the park before it opens....those with ADRs get to do it, why not him?? The list goes on and on. But, Disney wants happy guests, so those who gripe and complain get their way, while those of us who play by the rules have to put up with it.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyDad]

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??????

I guess I'll just take my different perspective and sulk away - as I am clearly not correct in your idealistic eyes.

For the record - I didn't do this on my one visit to WDW, don't plan on doing it in the future - but I'm not going to get all that concerned when it happens...if Disney cared about it, they would ensure that it is stopped. After all...t's Disney's park, so it's their rules - not yours.

 

[mom2rtk]

But it is a detriment to someone's vacation. They have played by the rules so to speak. But there are those who have 'cheated' and are now hanging around the park, without any right to do so. Does it infringe on my vacation if those without party passes stay for the party??? Even if they aren't allowed to eat, shop or ride?? Sure it does. Same as non-resort guests being able to remain in the park for EMHs now....sure, they aren't allowed to ride, but they clog up the park. It makes for more people there, but people who really shouldn't be there.
I would imagine that if I were trying to get a photo of my family, in front of the Castle, with no one else around, on my way to my Crystal Palace seating, and a family trotted up, who had no ADRs, but wanted to check out the empty park, and then stood in back of my family so as to get their shot without anyone else in their photo..yes, that would be detrimental to my experience. A vacation ruiner??? Of course not.
But everyone should be playing by the same rules. I resent the fact that I have taken the time to make an early ADR in order to enjoy the empty park, but others are free to just walk in and do their thing, with no ADR. Sorry if that bothers anyone.
Disney used to have a policy in place. It would make sense to make it in place 100% of the time...that's only fair.

There seems to be way too much of the 'squeaky wheel gets the grease' mentality at WDW lately. I have known of guests walking up to a restaurant podium, with no ADR made, but telling the CM they do have one. And then they berate the CM for the restaurant's losing the ADR. So, in order to make the guest happy, the CM gave that person a seating within 20 mins. Or the guest who says he has an ADR at a resort restaurant but only wants to park there in order to access the park more easily. Or the guest who feels they can just walk into the park before it opens....those with ADRs get to do it, why not him?? The list goes on and on. But, Disney wants happy guests, so those who gripe and complain get their way, while those of us who play by the rules have to put up with it.

Well put!

Ture character is revealed when no one is looking.........

 

[Mr_P_Bear]

I guess I'll just take my different perspective and sulk away - as I am clearly not correct in your idealistic eyes.

For the record - I didn't do this on my one visit to WDW, don't plan on doing it in the future - but I'm not going to get all that concerned when it happens...if Disney cared about it, they would ensure that it is stopped. After all...t's Disney's park, so it's their rules - not yours.

There is nothing wrong with being an idealist. Being an idealist is looking at the world and seeing how everything could work for the greater good if everyone did what they are meant to do.

Choosing to believe that they do not really mean the rule if they don't enforce the rule every time is the same thing as believing that it is okay to speed because the police don't pull over everyone that does so.

Falsifying ADRs, purposefully not keepting ADRs and/or bullying yourself through the gates comes at the expense of someone else, to either another park goer who can't get an early ADR now or by causing emotional duress to the poor gate attendant who is just trying to do their job.

While I am not insinuating that you yourself were planning on engaging in this sort of behavior, I still think that it is important to clearly state that it is WRONG and no amount of rationalization will change that.

/rant over

 

[Tinker74]

You know ...Iam afraid Iam guilty of this!...But in my defense it was my first disney trip back in 2006 and did not know what I was doing!

It was My DS's 13th birthday and he really wanted his hair done at the barber shop on main street for some reason..He had noticed a boy with this done earlier in the week....His parents told us they had lined up for 90 minutes to get this done!...They advised we went straight to the barber shop at rope drop.

Well on my DS's birthday..we planned a quick barbers visit followed by breakfast at the main street bakery....When we arrived at about 8.45am...we noticed one line of people being let into the park...it said breakfast line....So we got in it as we were having breakfast on main street we thought it was OK...we walked in and strolled over to the barber shop and sat outside...we were the only ones there!

At rope drop....a whole hoard of people came running to the barber shop...but were first in line. It was only when I found the dis that I realised the breakfast line was for CP and CRT...We still laugh about that!

 

[wilde_oscar]

You looking for a way to cheat the system and that is wrong in my opinion. But good luck to you

really? you think having a discussion about early entry is cheating the system? disney is a big company, they can hold their own. So what if someone gets into the park a little early, nothing is open anyway.

We've been many times where we have early reservations before the park opens, sometimes they check your name off a list, sometimes they don't. Regardless, how many families do you think are going to get up early to get to the parks to enter early to "cheat the system"? It is a great chance to get a pic in front of the castle with no one on main street. And there ya go, that is what ya get if ya "cheat the system" because nothing else is open and operating. And if you do wonder into the park early, you miss the show at rope drop.

Take advantage of those that have gone before and their knowledge... that is what this forum exits to do, along with advertising for a travel agency. Is your knowing how to use fast pass cheating the system? is knowing that getting to the parks early means you can get more done and seen before lunch than you can the rest of the day cheating the system?

 

[jworkkul]

If you've booked an early morning breakfast at the Tusker House for Donald's breakfast you will not be able to get into the other side of the park. They have it roped off and there are CM's at the rope. There is a special entrance to AK for the breakfast and no one is allowed into that entrance if they do not have a reservation. There will be CM's along the pathway leading to the Tusker House but, rest assured, there will also be CM's along the way leading you to the right place. Even if you don't have a reservation and trying to get into the park early, a CM will question you why you are standing where you are.

 

[Disneyadore]

But it is a detriment to someone's vacation. They have played by the rules so to speak. But there are those who have 'cheated' and are now hanging around the park, without any right to do so. Does it infringe on my vacation if those without party passes stay for the party??? Even if they aren't allowed to eat, shop or ride?? Sure it does. Same as non-resort guests being able to remain in the park for EMHs now....sure, they aren't allowed to ride, but they clog up the park. It makes for more people there, but people who really shouldn't be there.
I would imagine that if I were trying to get a photo of my family, in front of the Castle, with no one else around, on my way to my Crystal Palace seating, and a family trotted up, who had no ADRs, but wanted to check out the empty park, and then stood in back of my family so as to get their shot without anyone else in their photo..yes, that would be detrimental to my experience. A vacation ruiner??? Of course not.
But everyone should be playing by the same rules. I resent the fact that I have taken the time to make an early ADR in order to enjoy the empty park, but others are free to just walk in and do their thing, with no ADR. Sorry if that bothers anyone.
Disney used to have a policy in place. It would make sense to make it in place 100% of the time...that's only fair.

There seems to be way too much of the 'squeaky wheel gets the grease' mentality at WDW lately. I have known of guests walking up to a restaurant podium, with no ADR made, but telling the CM they do have one. And then they berate the CM for the restaurant's losing the ADR. So, in order to make the guest happy, the CM gave that person a seating within 20 mins. Or the guest who says he has an ADR at a resort restaurant but only wants to park there in order to access the park more easily. Or the guest who feels they can just walk into the park before it opens....those with ADRs get to do it, why not him?? The list goes on and on. But, Disney wants happy guests, so those who gripe and complain get their way, while those of us who play by the rules have to put up with it.

I'm just waiting for any one to ask if it's possible to sneak in a tent and have a "sleep over" in the parks because they like to take dark pictures.

 

[zstyles]

Just got back from visiting all parks..

Had an early ADR at MK - They checked out name and ticket at the gate.

Had an early ADR at Animal Kingdom, Checked name and ticket at gate they turned away a couple who's name was not on the list.

Also while we were walking in you can only really go so far into animal kingdom there are CM's and ropes blocking access to bridges at the ANK

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

But it is a detriment to someone's vacation. They have played by the rules so to speak. But there are those who have 'cheated' and are now hanging around the park, without any right to do so. Does it infringe on my vacation if those without party passes stay for the party??? Even if they aren't allowed to eat, shop or ride?? Sure it does. Same as non-resort guests being able to remain in the park for EMHs now....sure, they aren't allowed to ride, but they clog up the park. It makes for more people there, but people who really shouldn't be there.
I would imagine that if I were trying to get a photo of my family, in front of the Castle, with no one else around, on my way to my Crystal Palace seating, and a family trotted up, who had no ADRs, but wanted to check out the empty park, and then stood in back of my family so as to get their shot without anyone else in their photo..yes, that would be detrimental to my experience. A vacation ruiner??? Of course not.
But everyone should be playing by the same rules. I resent the fact that I have taken the time to make an early ADR in order to enjoy the empty park, but others are free to just walk in and do their thing, with no ADR. Sorry if that bothers anyone.
Disney used to have a policy in place. It would make sense to make it in place 100% of the time...that's only fair.

There seems to be way too much of the 'squeaky wheel gets the grease' mentality at WDW lately. I have known of guests walking up to a restaurant podium, with no ADR made, but telling the CM they do have one. And then they berate the CM for the restaurant's losing the ADR. So, in order to make the guest happy, the CM gave that person a seating within 20 mins. Or the guest who says he has an ADR at a resort restaurant but only wants to park there in order to access the park more easily. Or the guest who feels they can just walk into the park before it opens....those with ADRs get to do it, why not him?? The list goes on and on. But, Disney wants happy guests, so those who gripe and complain get their way, while those of us who play by the rules have to put up with it.

I agree 100% with what everything you said and I remember in August 2007 I saw a guest lying at the Contemporary to get a beter room without any proof, so it's almost like when someone lies and at restaurant and they claim they lost their ADR.

Anyway around 11:00 PM my dad and I were lined up at the lobby Concierge desk because he wanted to see a copy of our room bill up to that point. There was only one Cast Member working at that time and he was helping a guest trying to check-in. Anyway since this guest was yelling very loud we were able to hear everything he said and he demanded to be placed into a Tower Magic Kingdom View, however the Cast Member said when he typed his name into the computer it showed he had a Garden View reservation. The Cast Member also said there were no Magic Kingdom View rooms available that night, however this guest would be able to get one the next day. Well that was not good enough because the guest was told he would have a Magic Kingdom View, because someone had made his reservation for him. So the Cast Member asked to see his confirmation and the guest said he never had one since he did not make the reservation. Well after the Cast Member went back to the office a few times by a miracle they found him a Magic Kingdom View for that night and this guest never even thanked him for getting him into that room. I could not believe what I saw because it was clearly obvious this guest had lied their way to getting that specific room when they never should have got it to start with. Now once it our turn to ask him for the bill we said to him that we could not believe the way some people act and he agreed, but he wanted to make the guest happy even when the guest is wrong because they didn't want the situation getting a lot worse.

 

[Mirax]

I have not read all of the posts but I thought I should let everyone know, I was at AK in Feb as well. We had 2 cast members ask us for our ADR #. We even had to wait a few minutes before they would let us in the park because we were there early for our ressie.
So...... it must have been a fluke for the OP.


The breakfast was really great. I do have to say the only reason why we made the ressie is because we wanted to see Donald and he seems to be difficult to find in the parks.


Mirax

 

[Experiment_626]

I've seriously considered getting an early ADR for Crystal Palace primarily because I want those photos of the deserted hub and Main Street. And yes, I would use the ADR -- I do love me some breakfast buffet!

I'm curious -- if you make the earliest available ADR on a typical day, how much time would you reasonably have to shoot photos before you'd need to be at Crystal Palace, presuming you enter the park as soon as you're permitted to do so?

SSB

 

[kshattuck]

We booked our CP reservation for before park opening, based on all of the great comments from the DIS boards! I am really excited about walking down Main Street with my family and few others (relative term, I'm sure!) on our way to breakfast!

During a previous trip, we had an ADR at Akershus before WS opened, and it was really lovely and peaceful strolling over to Norway. They did check our name and reservation # on a list, though, so I am anticipating that MK will do the same.

From our experience with the early ADR in EPCOT, it is hard to imagine anyone making, then not using an early ADR, and having much to do, as they've got things pretty well roped off....and I'd think you'd be awfully conspicuous.

 

[disnee4mygirls]

Just got back from visiting all parks..

Had an early ADR at MK - They checked out name and ticket at the gate.

Had an early ADR at Animal Kingdom, Checked name and ticket at gate they turned away a couple who's name was not on the list.

Also while we were walking in you can only really go so far into animal kingdom there are CM's and ropes blocking access to bridges at the ANK

We had an ADR at AK as well and they checked our name as well but it wasn't on the list but they let us in and when we got to TH it was on their list. So, glad they didn't turn us away, we had a legit ressie......(luckily I had the number with me but they didn't ask for it)

 

[Tomh]

I would imagine that there are people who make ADR's for Crystal Palace just to get into MK before it opens, however I'm not convinced that practice is keeping anyone from getting an ADR. Let's face it, when it comes to milking every last penny out of your pockets, no one beats the mouse! I'm sure it didn't take Disney very long to figure out that X percentage of the ADR's made for Crystal Palace breakfast before park opening are a no show. Being Disney, I am also fairly certain that they then figured if they have room for 50 families at one time, and one out of every five bookings isn't going to show up, then they can safely book for 60 families at a time. Of course, that might mean that if everyone happens to show up for the 8:05 seating, you may have to wait an extra 15 to 20 minutes for your 8:30 seating, but Disney doesn't mind having you wait a little while to be seated, that is why they are ADR's, NOT real reservations. I seriously doubt that Disney is allowing perfectly good seats to stay empty. In the unlikely event that they do have empty seats, they will simply fill in with walk in's. Rest assured, if you are unable to get an ADR, it is because that dining room is going to be full.

That all being said, I agree that is not a nice way to get into the park early, and I would never do it, but the OP has made it abundantly clear she would never do so either. She was only saying that it occurred to her that it could be done, and she wondered how many people actually do.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would imagine that there are people who make ADR's for Crystal Palace just to get into MK before it opens, however I'm not convinced that practice is keeping anyone from getting an ADR. Let's face it, when it comes to milking every last penny out of your pockets, no one beats the mouse! I'm sure it didn't take Disney very long to figure out that X percentage of the ADR's made for Crystal Palace breakfast before park opening are a no show. Being Disney, I am also fairly certain that they then figured if they have room for 50 families at one time, and one out of every five bookings isn't going to show up, then they can safely book for 60 families at a time. Of course, that might mean that if everyone happens to show up for the 8:05 seating, you may have to wait an extra 15 to 20 minutes for your 8:30 seating, but Disney doesn't mind having you wait a little while to be seated, that is why they are ADR's, NOT real reservations. I seriously doubt that Disney is allowing perfectly good seats to stay empty. In the unlikely event that they do have empty seats, they will simply fill in with walk in's. Rest assured, if you are unable to get an ADR, it is because that dining room is going to be full.

That all being said, I agree that is not a nice way to get into the park early, and I would never do it, but the OP has made it abundantly clear she would never do so either. She was only saying that it occurred to her that it could be done, and she wondered how many people actually do.

No, they won't leave tables empty. But it WILL keep people from getting an ADR and being able to plan for a very special breakfast they might have been wanting for a very long time. Regardless of how many people show up, and how many they PLAN for not showing up, they STILL only allow so many ADR's, and eventually someone is going to call wanting an ADR with every intention of showing up, only to be disappointed if someone took one with no intention of doing so.

 

[Tomh]

No, they won't leave tables empty. But it WILL keep people from getting an ADR and being able to plan for a very special breakfast they might have been wanting for a very long time.

I'm a bit confused. If you agree that no tables will be left empty, then how is it that you think someone else could be seated to eat?

My contention is that Disney KNOWS a certain percentage of booking are going to be no shows, and the likely know that the percentage is a bit higher for breakfast before the park opens. Because of that, they overbook. That means that perhaps 10% of all guests getting that ADR are actually getting an ADR that doesn't exist, so when someone doesn't show up, one of the overbookings fills in. If you aren't able to get an ADR it's because the restaurant is going to be full, not because someone booked and didn't show up, because Disney already booked an extra ADR to make up for that family.

I'm not saying that it is right to make an ADR you aren't going to use, it isn't right, and I would NEVER do that. I have 8:05 ADR's for CP every day that we're going to be in MK. We will enjoy the photo opportunities, AND our breakfast. However, if I am unable to get the ADR I want, I am not going to blame it on someone that booked with no intention of showing up.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm a bit confused. If you agree that no tables will be left empty, then how is it that you think someone else could be seated to eat?

My contention is that Disney KNOWS a certain percentage of booking are going to be no shows, and the likely know that the percentage is a bit higher for breakfast before the park opens. Because of that, they overbook. That means that perhaps 10% of all guests getting that ADR are actually getting an ADR that doesn't exist, so when someone doesn't show up, one of the overbookings fills in. If you aren't able to get an ADR it's because the restaurant is going to be full, not because someone booked and didn't show up, because Disney already booked an extra ADR to make up for that family.

I'm not saying that it is right to make an ADR you aren't going to use, it isn't right, and I would NEVER do that. I have 8:05 ADR's for CP every day that we're going to be in MK. We will enjoy the photo opportunities, AND our breakfast. However, if I am unable to get the ADR I want, I am not going to blame it on someone that booked with no intention of showing up.

I'm just thinking of the poor person wanting the ADR calling every day hoping for an opening. The bottom line is there are only X amount of ADR's loaded every day. If 1 of those is taken by someone who isn't going to show up, that person will continue to call and get nothing but disappointment day after day.

Yes, they WILL fill that table with a walk up, but I'm inclined to think the person planning ahead for a special event should have more of a shot at it instead of a walk up.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Simple answer to what stops people from lying about reservations just to get in early.

ETHICS - What a bad lesson to teach you kids - lie to get in early.

Shame on those that do it.