I Got CRT. Now What?

[awdwnut]

Hello,

Using last years hours as guide, it looks like our ADR will be for forty minutes before the park opens. My questions are how early should I arrive, and is there a special line to get into the park early? Also, I would like to give all of my fellow DISers a big thanks for all the helpful information on how to get these most sought after of reservations!

Thanks Again,

AWDWNUT

 

[Ardenne]

I'd try to arrive an hour before your ADR, and go to the turnstiles on the far right and tell the CMs that you have a breakfast reservation at CRT. When I was there last week, they let all of us who had breakfast ressies in at 8am (park opened at 9.) They even ushered us in early on Wed. for a 9:35am CRT reservation, which was great because we got to the restaurant at 8:45 and were seated almost immediately -- and it wasn't nearly as busy then as it was by the time we left, which I think improved our experience a great deal That one was especially pleasant b/c we didn't have to hurry to our restaurant (our other breakfast ressie had been for 8:10am, so we felt we shouldn't waste any time getting there). We were able to take a leisurely stroll down a nearly-deserted Main Street, stop for pictures in front of the castle with absolutely no one else in sight, and in general enjoy a relaxed approach to our breakfast. Very, very enjoyable, and my pics from that are some of my favorite pics from the whole trip

 

[awdwnut]

Thanks Ardenne, I can't wait! I think I am more exited for us to get into the MK before it opens, than I am for the actual Breakfast!

 

[whacked]

If you're that early, I would suggest you spring for a cab to the park. It will save you a lot of stress.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

IMO a cab isn't necessary- just getting up a bit earlier. The buses do run early for character breakfast. We had 8:10am for CP and the park opened at 9am. We had no problems whatsoever getting there early and we were at CP signing in at 8am. I believe we were at the bus stop at about 7:20am and were on a bus at 7:30am... didn't take long to get there.

The only time we had to REALLY leave early were for breakfast at resorts- like GF or polynesian... now those were time consuming and I was awful glad we'd made later breakfast ADR's there!

 

[Ardenne]

We drove our own car the first breakfast morning, and took a bus the 2nd early-breakfast morning. Just ask at your resort's front desk -- they'll let you know what time the first bus leaves in the morning. That way if you know it's later than you're comfortable with, you can take your own transportation.

BTW, if you have kids with you, and you're going on the monorail early in the am, ask about letting them ride up front. There are so few people on the monorail that early it's much easier than it is later in the day My kids loved riding up front and getting copilots' licenses!

 

[DreaminDisney]

Congrats on getting CRT! Enjoy!

 

[MMPC123]

Please take a moment to consider the windows and where you are seated. I was just looking over my pictures from CRT at lunch this past week and I wish I had remembered to postion my girls a little better. The windows in the castle are beautiful! but.... the light coming thru can distort some of your pictures. I would have tried to face my girls and the princesses facing the windows for better shots. We had a side angle of light and many of the faces are distorted

We got much better pictures in Norway with the princesses but sadly no Aurora on our morning, Belle said that she was sleeping in

Have fun. The castle was one of my favorite places to eat!

 

[Ardenne]

When we were there, at least some of the princesses and their helpers were actually guiding guests to position themselves for the best pictures -- we were sort of in the middle, so it wasn't so much of a problem for us, but we heard and saw other guests being directed to come around the table for pictures, so the light from the windows would be behind the photographer instead of behind the subjects.

I was impressed that they were not only taking time to chat and really visit extensively with everyone, but even directing their photography for the best possible results

 

[awdwnut]

Wow, I never would of thought about seating the kids opposite the windows. Great idea, this will definitely score some points with the wife, as she is already talking about filling up a gig memory card of the girls at breakfast As for getting there, we are renting a car, so I will probably use that if there is not a bus leaving early enough. Thanks for all the great advise, and if there any more good hits out there, I would love to hear about them.

awdwnut

 

[eeyore45]

We took the bus from POR for our 8:05 am (Park opening at 9am) I was surprised how many people were there that early (7:30am!) they didnt let us in till just about 8am - and it was a mad dash... I told dh to relax, take pics, etc... no worries... but the people that were running unbelievable!! I forgot CP also has adr's at 8am!!

Afterwards dd Aurora crown broke so we decided to replace it at Tinks treasures - despicable dad day - one man literally picked up his dd and ran with another dad dragging his dd - we looked at each other in shock as we walked in to the dragging dad yelling at the CM the thrusting dad "won" first in line - the CM was trying to be patient saying each child would get a turn, but the dragging dad said "BUT you are rewarding THAT behavior" ummm EXCUSE me sir... your behavior was no better... imho!!