Garden Grill and will I make Soarin?

[Nicnic]

Hi.

We've got a reservation for GG at 0820. We're staying at the BC so hope to be at IG 8am.

Do you think we will be able to have breakfast and make it to Soarin for 9am.

Do they let people into the parks early so we may encounter a few there already?

Thank you.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Get to IG at 7:45am and GG should seat you early.

 

[Barbydoll8]

Don't count on seating early. We had the first ADR for GG and we couldn't even get in the park until 15 before our ADR from the International Gateway entrance. We arrived early to our ADR and still were not seated early. Anything can happen.
I think it will be tight but you can do it. I'd let your server know you have a 9 am FP.

 

[Lisa F]

Don't count on seating early. We had the first ADR for GG and we couldn't even get in the park until 15 before our ADR from the International Gateway entrance. We arrived early to our ADR and still were not seated early. Anything can happen.
I think it will be tight but you can do it. I'd let your server know you have a 9 am FP.

You don't have to say anything of the kind to your server. They ALL know people there during the PPO times are interested in getting to Soarin' as early as possible.

I would do as advised above and get there as early as possible and they will seat you in the order you check in even if your ADR is later. They are only seating maybe 1/4 - 1/3 of the restaurant at most during the entire PPO hours. It's not like later in the day when you have to wait for a table to come available... they do space it slightly but pretty much seat people one after the other. You CAN let your server know you'd like to make it to soarin' before the crowds and they will make it so (ours asked us about it so we didn't think he was rushing us). You can get the check taken care of early, because the restaurant is mostly empty you will see all of the characters for as long as you (reasonably) want without feeling rushed and you will have plenty of time to stuff yourself silly on the yummy breakfast, and be out of there by 8:45. We got to stay on Soarin' twice because when we "landed" the RD crowds hadn't arrived yet. it was awesome.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Don't count on seating early. We had the first ADR for GG and we couldn't even get in the park until 15 before our ADR from the International Gateway entrance. We arrived early to our ADR and still were not seated early. Anything can happen.
I think it will be tight but you can do it. I'd let your server know you have a 9 am FP.

If you were the first ADR there wasn't a way to be seated early. OP has an 8:20am ADR.

Both times I've had GG I've been seated early (PPO and a dinner). Of course there are no guarantees, but the restaurant will open at promptly at 8am. The earlier you're there, the better.

 

[Barbydoll8]

If you were the first ADR there wasn't a way to be seated early. OP has an 8:20am ADR.

Both times I've had GG I've been seated early (PPO and a dinner). Of course there are no guarantees, but the restaurant will open at promptly at 8am. The earlier you're there, the better.

Yes I understand that but there were many people with us at the same ADR that got seated before us. I'm just stating there is no promise of early seating just because you show up early.

 

[rg35]

The OP didn't say they have FP for Soarin at 9am, which some are assuming.

It sounds like they just want to make it at RD.

If they had an FP there would really be no rush since they'd have an hour to use it.

 

[StephenM84]

This is my plan Memorial Day Weekend.

I've done this before with Akershus and Frozen. My biggest helping factor was as soon as we sat down we explained that we wanted to be out of the restaurant by 8:45 and we would like our check now that way we control when we walk out. I've never had an issue with this.

 

[pattyw]

We've done a PPO ADR(8:20) there and were seated upon arrival, had a leisurely breakfast, saw all the characters, and were at Soarin' before the rope droppers.

 

[Dayzy]

We had an 8:20 ADR and when the gates opened we booked it to GG. We were the 3rd party there and were seated right away. We left at 8:40ish, went right downstairs and rode Soarin' twice. The only problem I see is that IG is farther away than the main gate, so it will take you longer to get there than other people.

 

[Nicnic]

Thank you, we will give it a go and get there as early as possible. DH can't walk very fast so they hopefully will let us in before 8!

We don't have a FP hence why we wanted to get there as early as poss, we've used it for TT. Even a 20 min wait is ok for us.

Thanks again. X

 

[nkereina]

If you were the first ADR there wasn't a way to be seated early. OP has an 8:20am ADR.

To my knowledge, the first ADR of the day is 8:05am so at best, OP will be able to sit down 15 minutes early. We've had an 8:20 ADR before, arrived around 8, and were let in and seated with everyone else who had 8:05am ADRs, 8:15 ADRs, 8:20 ADRs. In other words, anyone around that time will likely all be let in and be seated around the same time when the restaurant opens.

As for Soarin, don't rush. The park usually opens shortly before 9am anyhow and from recent reports, you can get to Soarin shortly after rope drop and the lines are not what they used to be. Capacity has increased so lines have decreased. You'll have a 10 second walk from the restaurant, so I think you'll be fine if you finish up normally without rushing.

 

[SaintsManiac]

To my knowledge, the first ADR of the day is 8:05am so at best, OP will be able to sit down 15 minutes early. We've had an 8:20 ADR before, arrived around 8, and were let in and seated with everyone else who had 8:05am ADRs, 8:15 ADRs, 8:20 ADRs. In other words, anyone around that time will likely all be let in and be seated around the same time when the restaurant opens.

As for Soarin, don't rush. The park usually opens shortly before 9am anyhow and from recent reports, you can get to Soarin shortly after rope drop and the lines are not what they used to be. Capacity has increased so lines have decreased. You'll have a 10 second walk from the restaurant, so I think you'll be fine if you finish up normally without rushing.

Yes, that is basically what I was implying...

 

[nkereina]

Yes, that is basically what I was implying...

Yes, just furthering the point. Wasn't disagreeing!