How does EE work for Disneyland & eating breakfast in the park??

[misscampbells]

Hey there again,
Sorry to ask so many questions. But I will be going to Disneyland in February and will be going to there or CA on Mon, Tues, Thursday (and maybe a wednesday). I know that on Mon, Tues an Thursday the park has early entry and I will be staying at the Paradise Pier so I think I should be able to get in each EE day. My question are: How early is it? If I want to eat breakfast in the park, how early are the restaurant open? Does CA have early entry at all? I have heard the the Carnation Cafe has a good breakfast as well as the River Terrace (?) , and so I thought it would be fun to try them out. Also, anyone know how early the restaurants in the hotels open or in Downtown Disney?

Hope this makes sense,
Thanks,
Kathy

 

[crazymomof 4]

We got to the gates about a 1/2 hour early for EE. I don't know about the restaurants. You can get into the CAP through GC entrance being that you are staying at the PP 1/2 before opening any of the days you are there. The only ride open will be Soarin' and the shops will be open.

 

[misscampbells]

So is EE entry only 1/2 hour before opening to the general public? So if they are opening at 9am, EE would get me in at 8:30? Just wondering because I have heard 1/2 hour to one hour early and am trying to get this figured out.
Also, how are the lines at the monorail at early entry? Or do you enter by the front gates?

Kathy

 

[Michelle2]

OK, here is my scoop on the whole early entry...of course this was in September, and I do not know if they changed anything for 2006.

As far as our situation went, EE was 1 hour before official opening. So if the park opened at 10, EE was at 9 (this was in the slow season.)
I do not know about CA's EE. We only took advantage of Disneyland's. As far as restaraunts in the park goes, they are only open if the parks are open. I think only a few are open for Early Entry, and they are NOT open before the park opens like in WDW. That made me sad because I like to eat breakfast without sacrificing my early ride time! I know that the ones at the hotel (I think DLH) are open an hour before the park opens. But depending on how EE is, I would definitely check the official schedules and operating hours to make sure!!!

And when it comes to getting to EE, I think it all depends on your independance...I like walking to the front gates, so that I can get there when I want to be there. If you take the monorail for early entry, it does not leave the station until the park has officially opened for early entry. I like to be there earlier than that. I did not even see the first monorail to the park go by until I was already rounding the corner of the Matterhorn. And the monorail lets you off in Tomorrowland and not at the main gates like WDW. That might make a difference too.
If you want to hit the Tomorrowland rides first, then maybe that is a good way to go. I just never did that because I knew I could get anywhere faster than if I took the monorail over. This is just my preferences though. I really take advantage of Early Entry!

 

[doodlebug]

So do you get EE if you are staying at one of the Disney Properties automatically???