Early seating

[mikat]

Just a quick question - if you have 7:30am reservation at a buffet restaurant (Chef Mickey's, Ohana, Crystal Palace, etc) and you show up at 7:00, what do you think the chances are that you will be seated earlier (this is during free dining)? Are we just wasting our time showing up that extra 30-45 minutes early? I'm talking about Chef Mickey's in particular just want to make sure we are able to relax and not rush through our breakfast and see the characters before heading to RD at MK. I know there may not be a cut and dried answer for this - just wanted to see if anyone had experience with such a situation. TIA!

 

[DisGirl23]

As you said, there won't be a cut and dry answer to this so I'll just share my experiences with ADR's in general (during free dining).
Coral Reef, we got there about 25 minutes early, checked in, and were more than happy to just chill in the air conditioned area until our ADR. Within minutes of checking in, we were escorted to our table.
Whispering Canyon Cafe. Checked in 20 minutes early. Were seated right at our ADR time.
Sci-Fi. Checked in 15 minutes early. Was finally seated 30 minutes after our ADR time.
You never know but, since you're only talking about 30 minutes early, I don't see how it'll hurt. If anything, you'll be the first of your seating time and party size to be seated.

ETA: sorry, saw that you asked about buffets... 'Ohana... we got there about 20 minutes early. Waited about 10 minutes to be seated.

 

[ccgirl]

I did not have a successful experience. They tell you to check in 15 minutes in advance. I tried to check in 20 mins early at a few restaurants (Crystal Palace and LeCellier) and was told I was too early that I needed to come back in 5 minutes. I understand that because once you check in it becomes priority seating and there is no reason I should be seated before someone that has a reservation 15 minutes before me just because I checked in first.

 

[addiln]

we always show up about 15-20 minutes early and seem get either get seated right on time or a few minutes early. the only time this did not work was a crystals. this was for dinner and we ended up waiting about an hour past our reservation time.

 

[tobikaye]

You may also want to check that the 7:30 am reservation was not actually one of the first reservations of that particular restaurant, as I think Ohana actually is listed as opening at 7:30 am. Also, for Crystal Palace, they do not generally open until 8:00 am and then you have to get through the gates at MK so I am not sure how early they would let you through if you have the 8:00 am reservation.

 

[dancin Disney style]

You may also want to check that the 7:30 am reservation was not actually one of the first reservations of that particular restaurant, as I think Ohana actually is listed as opening at 7:30 am. Also, for Crystal Palace, they do not generally open until 8:00 am and then you have to get through the gates at MK so I am not sure how early they would let you through if you have the 8:00 am reservation.

That's what I was thinking as well. I know that at any of the in park restaurants the first ADR is 8:05am and they will not let you through the gates much before that.

 

[sydneysmom]

in the past I've gone to Sci-Fi early and like DisGirl23, we were seated 30 min after our ADR. ( and that wasn't the first time that happened at Sci-Fi) CRT and LeCellier....within minutes of checking in.

The only other one we have waited for is Coral Reef....and that's my fault because I request a table next to the aquarium and we gladly wait for that.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I've been hit and miss on checking in early. I've been to some places that stuck to that 15 minute check in time, such as Liberty Tree. With Ohana, we checked in about 20 minutes early and waited about 30. I think it just depends on the CM, the crowds, the timing, etc.

 

[cigar95]

The key in this case is that our OP would be checking in at CM right when they open. That improves your chances of being seated early, because at opening, they're often more concerned about getting people seated than worrying about exactly what time the reservation is for. Once you're allowed to check in, there's a good chance that you'll be put right into the seating queue.

But, as always, your experience may be different.

 

[mikat]

Thanks all. After posting I went back and checked, and CM is the only buffet restaurant on property open at 7:00 am. We have 7:30 ressies, so I think we're going to take the chance, take a taxi from the Poly, and try to get there closer to 7:00 and hopefully be seated earlier. All we lose is a bit of sleep time, and we'll be taking the kids back to the room for a nap that afternoon anyways.

 

[catne]

I think you will get seated early at Chef Mickey's...we had a 7:20 ADR there last year, and when we checked in at 7:10 we were seated immediately. We waited in line about 5 minutes to check in and both parties in front of us were walk-ups and were seated immediately, too. At 7:20, CM's was not even 1/2 full. By the time we left around 8:15, yes, it was full and huge crowd waiting. But that first 45 minutes -- no crowds, and plenty of empty tables. And before you take a taxi, you might check to see if the resort monorail is running...it might be running at 7:00. I'm pretty sure it was running that early when we ate at Chef Mickey's...people at the monorail resorts depend on it to hop to other monorail resorts for meals like Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana, and 1900 Park Fare in the A.M.--all popular character breakfasts.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can try. BUT....every single time I have arrived more than 15 prior to my ADR time, in the past 18 months (and that is a total of about 30 days in WDW), I have been told to return 15 mins before my time slot. Yes, even if I arrived there 20 mins early!!!
Our last time at CM's it took us 20 mins past our ADR time to get seated. It wasn't at opening though. It was for dinner. I would recommend getting there and trying to check in. You may be told to return in 15 mins. But, you may be able to get seated.
It shouldn't take more than an hour to eat and see the characters there, that early. The one thing you can do is to ask for your check when you sit down. That way you won't have to wait for the server to bring it to you after you finish eating. That has always taken way too much time in my experience.