Epcot breakfast then Soarin'

[PFHite]

We have breakfast scheduled at Garden Grill at 8 a.m. on 12/24. My hope was to eat and get to Soarin' to beat the crowds since the schedule park opening is 9 a.m. What are the chances the park has an unofficial earlier opening and my plans are thwarted?

 

[Robo]

We have breakfast scheduled at Garden Grill at 8 a.m. on 12/24. My hope was to eat and get to Soarin' to beat the crowds since the schedule park opening is 9 a.m. What are the chances the park has an unofficial earlier opening and my plans are thwarted?

You won't beat the crowd.

Guests have been being admitted at 8:30AM.

 

[heyitsnicolelee]

I don't think there is a whole lot worth FP+ in Epcot, so I would secure on just in case.

 

[NH-to-FL]

What Robo said.... We were at Epcot on Monday. They opened the tapstiles at 8:30am and then held those of us headed to Soarin' at a rope across the walkway through Innoventions until 8:50am. When they dropped that rope the CMs walked the crowd into the Land. I would not count on finishing your character breakfast before the crowd arrives. Especially on a day of high attendance when there is a risk they might open early.

 

[jpeden]

My wife and I had an 8:15AM Garden Grill breakfast on November 28th. They let us into EPCOT about 7:45AM and they sat us at Garden Grill around 8:05. We were done with breakfast around 8:40 (and we did see all the characters) and we were the VERY first people in line for Soarin' that day. We actually came about two minutes away from having a completely private ride on Soarin', but as they were getting ready to load, another family came down the line and so that didn't happen (but we were the only people back in the loading bays for about five minutes). I noticed at Garden Grill stuff moves at a fast pace so it's possible to get in and out of there if you don't spend a bunch of time with the characters. Not saying that it works for everyone, but it worked for us.

 

[Hopefully]

We have breakfast scheduled at Garden Grill at 8 a.m. on 12/24. My hope was to eat and get to Soarin' to beat the crowds since the schedule park opening is 9 a.m. What are the chances the park has an unofficial earlier opening and my plans are thwarted?

I would say that it is nearly certain Epcot will open early on 12/24 given prior years history

 

[ilovevacation]

We have garden grill tomorrow at 8. We were hoping for the same thing. We were at epcot for rope drop earlier in the week and they held us back until 9, so I am hopeful that we can get in soarin with minimal wait. We ate at h.s. also on this trip with hopes of getting on tsm but they let everyone early and had an hour wait at 850, then it broke down, taking about throwing a wrench in my touring plans

 

[Wendydagny]

We ate at Garden Grill at 8:05 on 11/20 and easily were done by 8:45 or so, and could have easily been in the first load on Soarin if my dd weren't scared of heights.

 

[Robo]

We ate at Garden Grill at 8:05 on 11/20 and easily were done by 8:45 or so, and could have easily been in the first load on Soarin if my dd weren't scared of heights.

Unlikely to be that way on Christmas Eve, as is the OP's date.

 

[PFHite]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I told my family about the input on this board and we decided to go ahead and keep the ADR and see what happens. We want to try the breakfast, plus we have a second day at Epcot on 12/27 w/ a FP for Soarin' that day, so if we miss out on 12/24 it's not too bad. Honestly, we'll be in Disney World on Christmas Eve. Even if super crowded, tough to complain.

 

[bare necessities]

We just did this and even though we didn't 'beat the crowds' to Soarin the line still was not that bad with fastpasses. 5 minutes with fastpass at the most. The standby line was 45 minutes by 9am.

 

[jpeden]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I told my family about the input on this board and we decided to go ahead and keep the ADR and see what happens. We want to try the breakfast...

The breakfast was actually quite good. Ours was a bit pricey because we had the Candlelight Processional Package, but at the standard value of $29.99/adult, it's reasonably priced for an in-park character breakfast at Disney World. It was well worth it to be able to get into EPCOT early, knock out Soarin' and be able to ride Test Track stand-by.

 

[mumumouse]

We have breakfast scheduled at Garden Grill at 8 a.m. on 12/24. My hope was to eat and get to Soarin' to beat the crowds since the schedule park opening is 9 a.m. What are the chances the park has an unofficial earlier opening and my plans are thwarted?

I have just done the same thing, only my reservation is for 8:25. Surely there is some advantage to this???
My only concern is eating right before going on Soarin'? Is that a bad idea?

 

[mumumouse]

I have gone to Disney many, many times, but as I get older, I have started to forget the dates/start times for among other things ADRs

Heck I am even having a hard time navigating this site!

Didn't Disney used to send us emails letting us know 180 days out, make your dining reservations?!

I missed the starting day!

 

[AliceIn]

We had an 8:15 reservation at Garden Grill, food is served almost immediately. We had time to see all the characters and we were the very first load of folks on Soarin'. This was in July, and it was fantastic. We arrived at GG right at 8 to check in, and they did let us in a few minutes earlier than 8:15.

 

[Robo]

My only concern is eating right before going on Soarin'? Is that a bad idea?

For most guests, Soarin' is not a "motion sickness" ride.
But, if someone in your party is acutely susceptible to motion sickness, then riding ANYTHING right after eating
might be of concern to that guest.