FEA and Breakfast at Akershus

[RedWhiteandBlugold]

Kind of an expensive breakfast to rush through, no?

That's my point. We're there to enjoy the breakfast, so no point in rushing through it, even though I'm sure it will be causing me line anxiety

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Is it going to be rushed or unrealistic to plan on getting out of Ak breakfast by RD? I was thinking an hour was plenty of time, but maybe I'm wrong?

I'm not sure; I've never had breakfast at Akershus before. I would think the key is to be at the front of the ADR line-up. Usually they let in everyone who has reservations before a specific time, so you want to get seated in the first wave to catch the first princess's rounds and pay your check right away so you aren't waiting for your server to circle back to you.

I expect that some people are going to pay the no-show fee or scarf down breakfast to run to the line. But, I'm hoping it'll still be better than trying to run at RD.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

I'm a bit surprised they don't have an Akershus + M&G dining package. Full pay-ahead like CRT...Seems like a missed money-sucking option.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Perhaps but this is the strategy that other people I know who went to WDW used for M&G and rides as well. I know one family who used the dad as a placeholder for rides - he would get in line for a ride while the mom and daughter did a different ride and then once they caught up with him he'd move to the next one. I think that's a bit rude. We only plan to do it for one M&G which I'm hoping won't be utter pandemonium when it opens.

Speaking as a Dad, I would say that this is NOT a good idea. Sounds like Dad is nothing more than a mule! Let me guess, he also gets to carry the backpack through the park all day while Mom texts him instructions on which line to go stand on next. No Ma'am. I don't think so. Around here everyone carries their own water and we will stand in line and be miserable together, as a family!

 

[Nancyg56]

I"m not too worried about the FEA since it seems easy to fastpass (I've been practicing on the system 30 days out for June which is typically higher crowd than when we're going in Dec) and I've been able to snag them no issues. I am worried about the M&G. If there is only one wish she has for the trip it is to meet Anna and Elsa. We are going to do a PPO Akershus reservation and what will likely happen is DH will eat, get in line, and I will stay at AK so that DD can meet the princesses at breakfast, and we will join him later in the line. I feel like its a bit rude doing that but I assume it's a common strategy for lines?

I realize that you posted that you were just asking, but once you arrive and you see the placeholders in line, and tehn the awkward line jumping....you will understand why folks here responded the way they did. In 2012 I took my DGD to the NFL and stood in line with her for ETWB. There was a little family in front of us who was waiting for Mom....Princess extrordinaire....who needed morning coffee and plenty of primping time before joining the rest of us unwashed masses. It was not pretty. For the most part, we all let her hop through the line to join her troup, but I believe it was because we all were so tired of hearing about Mommy that we did nto want anyone else to suffer this obnoxious family.

Having someone hold your spot in line and "joining them" isn't common, because it's considered rude as hell.

Yes. This is nto common stategy, but it is a stategy for some folks.

So...only doing it once, for probably the most popular M&G, that every other little kid there wants to enjoy, makes it ok? What makes your family so super special? If my family sat down for breakfast together and then went to the line together and waited fairly together...and then saw you and your daughters line jump after having enjoyed a casual breakfast - yep, like someone else posted, that's RUDE. AS. HELL.

I think that that people do nto realize that "doing this just once" times thousands is a lot of just once exceptions.

That's my point. We're there to enjoy the breakfast, so no point in rushing through it, even though I'm sure it will be causing me line anxiety

I did that one time when we were enjoying breakfast at TH in DAK. I really regret pushing my family to eat so we could beat feet to the safari. This day half of our group ended up taking off early because of how rotten the they felt. Some bug or something was going around and a day that started off fine went downhill on a sled. This was the last good meal a few enjoyed for a few days. I will never rush out again ever.

 

[Mintycake]

I'm a bit surprised they don't have an Akershus + M&G dining package. Full pay-ahead like CRT...Seems like a missed money-sucking option.

It may come in the future. I'm surprised too they haven't done a frozen version of early morning magic. Maybe they are waiting for everything to open and get running first to see if it would be successful?

 

[Nancyg56]

It may come in the future. I'm surprised too they haven't done a frozen version of early morning magic. Maybe they are waiting for everything to open and get running first to see if it would be successful?

I would book that EMM event in a heartbeat. I bet my family would all pony up and pay for it if I took one for the team and brought the two princesses and let the rest of them sleep in.

 

[Laura's Dad]

Are you going to have two adults at the breakfast? If so you can have one adult settle the bill while the other takes the kids to line up for whatever you choose. We have done this at the MK several times in order for my daughter to wake up Tinkerbell at Tinkerbell's Treasures before she became a Meet and Greet character.

 

[bashuck]

I don't think it's really a common strategy. I could be wrong, but i don't recall seeing much of this. FWIW, if you feel like it's a bit rude, then it probably is...

I don't see it as rude to be replaced in line. The day we hit the BBB and wanted as many princess photos as possible we FP'd 3 at MK and got the rest with all 3 of us waiting in lines together. But when we went to Epcot to get them at their periodic M&Gs I would wait (after getting a beer) and then they would replace me in line and I'd go on to the next one. So I didn't get to see the interactions but the point was the pictures. It is true that me, individually was replaced by 2 people, DW & DD6 but to the person who got in second in line at Mulan and thought "after this guy gets his picture taken with Mulan it will be our turn" they need to worry about their analysis skills more so than the fact they are now 3rd in line. I feel fine being replaced by a single kid.

 

[Ruth B]

I would hope that by getting to Epcot for 7:45 you could be seated in the first wave of family's. Pay your bill on arrival. Enjoy breakfast and princess and you would still be in a good position for not a ridiculous wait. We are doing 8 am in oct with our 3 year old and as long as we are not waiting hours that's fine.she could probably do with a slight break between princess anyway! Enjoy it!

 

[megster1123]

I don't see it as rude to be replaced in line. The day we hit the BBB and wanted as many princess photos as possible we FP'd 3 at MK and got the rest with all 3 of us waiting in lines together. But when we went to Epcot to get them at their periodic M&Gs I would wait (after getting a beer) and then they would replace me in line and I'd go on to the next one. So I didn't get to see the interactions but the point was the pictures. It is true that me, individually was replaced by 2 people, DW & DD6 but to the person who got in second in line at Mulan and thought "after this guy gets his picture taken with Mulan it will be our turn" they need to worry about their analysis skills more so than the fact they are now 3rd in line. I feel fine being replaced by a single kid.

That's essentially the same situation that was being debated, you're just trying to justify it a little differently. It's still very rude to do that. What's the harm in waiting fairly together like everyone else does whose kids want as many photos as possible?

 

[bashuck]

That's essentially the same situation that was being debated, you're just trying to justify it a little differently. It's still very rude to do that. What's the harm in waiting fairly together like everyone else does whose kids want as many photos as possible?

Yes that is what is being debated. That is why I typed it up. I believe it is ok to do every day (not just BBB), I'm just not prepared to miss out on her interactions with them on a normal basis. Of the things you can describe as rude (manipulating rider swap to gain FP/extra MB for extra FP/dining reservations when you don't intend to eat to get into the park early/walking extra fast at rope drop taking advantage of one's fitness relative to people with strollers/age constraints) I'd put this last on the list. Would it be different to you if a 12 year old just took my place instead of my daughter and wife?

 

[megster1123]

Yes that is what is being debated. That is why I typed it up. I believe it is ok to do every day (not just BBB), I'm just not prepared to miss out on her interactions with them on a normal basis. Of the things you can describe as rude (manipulating rider swap to gain FP/extra MB for extra FP/dining reservations when you don't intend to eat to get into the park early/walking extra fast at rope drop taking advantage of one's fitness relative to people with strollers/age constraints) I'd put this last on the list. Would it be different to you if a 12 year old just took my place instead of my daughter and wife?

No...it wouldn't be different, using someone as a placeholder in line so others in your party don't have to wait is rude.

 

[bashuck]

No...it wouldn't be different, using someone as a placeholder in line so others in your party don't have to wait is rude.

Clearly not going to persuade the other. And I'm against having someone in the party take an open table at a QS while the other goes and places the order even though it is common practice. You ignored the 'relative' aspect in my prior post. How do you feel about the other things?

 

[megster1123]

Clearly not going to persuade the other. And I'm against having someone in the party take an open table at a QS while the other goes and places the order even though it is common practice. You ignored the 'relative' aspect in my prior post. How do you feel about the other things?

I think the one is bit of a stretch honestly. To fault someone for waking fast/running at RD? Sure with my husband in an ECV and me pushing two kids in a stroller it's not possible for us to make the RD dash. But I'm not going to fault those who do. Everyone, to a point, has advantages over other people naturally.
But manipulating rider swap, using extra magic bands, making a PPO ADR with no intention of even showing up...I think those things are abuse of the system. Yes, the system has loopholes, but that doesn't mean it's ok to shortcut. IMO it's a matter of doing what's right versus what the loophole allows.