Getting into park before crowds - Strategies

[hopeful4fl]

Mickeys and Minnies,
I have seen threads of information on how to get into the park before others. One of consistent themes is getting a breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace at 8 (when park opens at 9). What I am not clear about is:

1> Are there are places in the park that can be booked like this?
2> Assuming Parks open at 9 am, what is the earliest b'fast ADR possible?
3> Assuming you have an 8 am ADR, what time will they let you "in" the park?
4> How does one prove they have an ADR? Is there a list?
5> How soon can you eat and get out into the park to enjoy it crowd free?
6> How easy/difficult is it to get ADR for this?
7>Do bus/monorail operate that early, or is taxi/car only?

Thanks to all who can provide input. As I said, there are bits and pieces of information all over, so thought I could consolidate it for my sanity and a handy place for others to refer.

 

[IrishNYC]

1. In MK you can eat pre-opening at Crystal Palace, Cinderella's Royal Table, or Be Our Guest
2. The earliest is 8 or 8:05 am
3. About 7:45
4. There is a list at the turnstile
5. You cannot roam the park before the park opens if you finish before it does.
6. Difficult but not impossible. I got an ADR for CRT at 8:10 about 70 days out. It was through persistent checking. I got an 8:30 for BOG on the day it opened for breakfast ADRs the other day. I can't get anything earlier, although I'll keep trying.
7. Yes, the buses operate that early.

 

[PSUGuy]

First, get a helicopter...

 

[luvsJack]

I haven't done an early ADR at Crystal Palace but I did at CRT. I assume it works the same. Our reservation was for 8:10, I think, but we went through the turnstiles at around 7:45. 8 am is the earliest.

Back then they didn't have a list, and I was told they would ask for the confirmation number but they did not, I would have it with you though because it makes sense that they would ask. I told them we had an ADR and they let us in. There was a special turnstile open for people with ADRs. Now it may be on your magic band or ticket like a FP.

We did ride the bus to MK but I don't remember how early we got on the bus.

We walked to the castle, taking pictures along the way. LOVED the MK early in the morning. We went straight in to the restaurant, ate, met the characters and were standing downstairs waiting to get into Fantasy Land at 9. We were the first ones on Peter Pan that morning. Wonderful feeling!! And after that we hurried to Space Mountain for a quick ride with no wait.

Of course CP is at a different point in the park but you would be able to get in Adventure Land for Pirates or in Frontier Land for Splash or BTMTR or to Haunted Mansion pretty much ahead of all those that enter the park at 9.

Unless something has changed, you won't be able to go into the park (other than to your restaurant) until 9.

 

[hopeful4fl]

Thanks all. Once you get inside the park and have breakfast, do they escort you out of the park to get back inside, or can you at least look around and take pics?
Just to be clear, I do not necessarily care how crowded it is, but having "no" crowds and being there is kinda magical to I.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

You don't get escorted out, but won't be able to wander the entire park. Sections will be roped off and you will only be allowed to go so far.

 

[hopeful4fl]

Awesome. Exactly what i was looking for. Thanks to all the forum members who contributed.

 

[DisneyLove2015]

We had an 8:10am res at CRT in August. We were let into the park around 7:45am. We were able to stop and take a few pictures in front of the castle with a completely empty background! We were the third family at CRT and we were sat basically at that time (waited 1 min for Cinderella pics). We were lucky and we were the first table for the princesses to visit (and our son really had no desire to chitchat with the princesses- only a quick picture) so we were out of there by 8:45. We were held at the rope in fantasy land and they dropped that rope right before the main gate crowd got there.