Getting to Early Character Breakfasts

[UBSHANG]

Is anyone familiar with the transportation available to those resort guests who are arriving before the parks open for Character Meal priority seating? Disney has provided rather inconsistent responses to this question. And several Guest Services workers were either completely unfamiliar with the transportation system, or were unable to verify the advice of others.

Disney informed me that I would have to pay for a taxi between WL and MK in order to arrive in time for our 8:05 AM Crystal Palace Character Breakfast, since buses and boats only operate one hour before the 9:00 AM park opening. However, I found it difficult to believe that Disney would make early dining reservations available, without providing a way for guests to get to their destinations.

Because WL only offers a direct boat service to MK and not a bus, another rather time consuming suggestion was to take a bus from WL to the TTC, then wait in line to board a MK Monorail along with the enormous throngs of non-resort parking lot crowds just entering the park. This poor advice was still given in light of the previous disclosure that buses begin running at 8:00 AM.

A third unconfirmed alternative is that buses are available as early as 7:00 AM for the specific purpose of transporting resort guests to their early priority seating, but they travel on a somewhat limited early schedule, and may or may not get you to your restaurant on time.

At this point, I don’t know if any or all of these transportation schedules are accurate.

 

[dudspizza]

We had an 8:05 PS at Cinderella's Round Table. We took the boat from WL to the MK. We caught it at 7:30. Got to the MK with plenty of time. It was on an early entry day, but I want to say that the boats start running early.

Maybe Chip and Dale Express can help you further.

Duds

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

First off, I will give you my number one golden rule of transportation...

"NEVER TRUST BUS INFORMATION FROM ANYONE UNLESS THEY ARE WEARING PURPLE PANTS."

It sounds silly, but it's so true. (And, for what its worth, I just got home from my wonderful 12hr new years eve shift, and am still wearing my purple pants! lol)

From the Wilderness Lodge, you have a few options.

First, board the bus marked "TRAN/TICKET CTR" from bus stop number 1. This bus will take you to the Transportation & Ticket Center from which you can catch the Resort Monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Both the bus and the monorail start service around 7:00am (actual arrival time may vary.) Now, if you tell the driver you are going to the Crystal Palace for breakfast, they MIGHT be able to take you directly. The TTC bus is a fixed route, with set departure times, so they might not have the ability to, but it never hurts to mention it.

The second option is to take the boat to the Contemporary, and then walk to the MK. The boat starts service between 6:45-7:00am. (once again, actual arrival times may vary.)


*****FOR ALL NON-MK RESORTS*****
For all non-MK resorts, buses to the MK for the purpose of MK & MK resort area breakfasts will start between 6:30am-6:45am. Actual arrival times may vary by location.

 

[diswedwish]

Tyler and don't worry Before our first early character breakfast attempts I worried; you don't need to, disney transportation will get you there on time!

 

[Beca]

I was trying to do a search for some threads, but this is the only one I could find.

I remember reading that people who had their OWN car were being turned away at the parking gate if they wanted to get in for an early bfast at CRT. Does anyone know anything about this? We have an 8:10AM ressie, and we are staying at OKW. We were going to drive to MK, but I don't want to be turned away and get there late. Does anyone have experience with this?

TIA,



Beca

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

TTC opens at 7:00am. As long as you have your confirmation number (front desk can print it for you) then you will be allowed to go in.

 

[Beca]

TTC opens at 7:00am. As long as you have your confirmation number (front desk can print it for you) then you will be allowed to go in.

Thank you for your answer, but the problem I have heard of is people being turned away from the parking lot before they get to TTC. Have you heard of this?



Beca

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The TTC is unmanned until 7:00, so there would be no one to turn them away. After 7:00, it's manned by Parking, and is open for business.

 

[FLA05]

Just the question I was looking for...

We have two early bfasts....8:00 on a non-EMH at Animal Kingdom and 8:05 at CP on a non-EMH. We are staying at the French Quarter and it looks like busses won't be an option (or maybe/hopefully I'm wrong?? Person on phone told me busses would start until 8:15 on the days in question.

Can we drive? How would this work? Sorry to ask so many questions, but I am travelling with smaller children on my own and need things to work as smoothly as possible

Appreciate any help!

 

[betterlatethannever]

Just the question I was looking for...

We have two early bfasts....8:00 on a non-EMH at Animal Kingdom and 8:05 at CP on a non-EMH. We are staying at the French Quarter and it looks like busses won't be an option (or maybe/hopefully I'm wrong?? Person on phone told me busses would start until 8:15 on the days in question.

Can we drive? How would this work? Sorry to ask so many questions, but I am travelling with smaller children on my own and need things to work as smoothly as possible

Appreciate any help!

There will be busses starting at 7 am. Here is a link to a thread by Tyler who drives the busses.

Ed

 

[lisareniff]

I remember reading that people who had their OWN car were being turned away at the parking gate if they wanted to get in for an early bfast at CRT. Does anyone know anything about this? We have an 8:10AM ressie, and we are staying at OKW. We were going to drive to MK, but I don't want to be turned away and get there late. Does anyone have experience with this?

Hey Beca, We drove to MK twice last trip with great experiences. We had an 8:30 PS at CP on a non-EMH day. We parked with no problem in the first row! No tram needed! The second day we drove to MK EMH. Again, the parking lot was empty - first row! The rest of the resort guests must have been taking Disney Trans. The expresss monorail was not in service yet so stops were made at the poly and GF. The resort mono did get full by the GF on EMH day. Not having the tram on the way out was nice!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Just the question I was looking for...

We have two early bfasts....8:00 on a non-EMH at Animal Kingdom and 8:05 at CP on a non-EMH. We are staying at the French Quarter and it looks like busses won't be an option (or maybe/hopefully I'm wrong?? Person on phone told me busses would start until 8:15 on the days in question.

Never believe what they tell you on the phone. Buses WILL be running for all character breakfasts. Just be out at the appropriate bus stop 45 minutes prior to your seating time, and a bus will arrive within 15 minutes to take you there.

 

[justhat]

Tyler, how often do the special character breakfast buses run? We have an 8:05 ps at Cindy's on 4/19 and we'll be staying at AKL. I wouldn't want to wait for a bus at 7:20 and find out that the character breakfast bus came at 7:15 and I missed it. I am assuming there would be more than one, but since the only time I ever had a ps this early we were at a monorail resort I really have no idea.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Buses will run every 15 minutes, give or take.

The general rule of thumb is to be out at your bus stop 45 minutes prior to your seating time. This will allow for 15 minutes wait time for the bus if you had just missed it, 15 minutes travel time, and 15 minutes for walk time or connection time, if needed.

 

[justhat]

Thanks Tyler!