In park dining before park opens?

[Disneykidz]

Dining reservations will need to be made six months out, yet park schedule won't be available yet. We wanted to take advantage of this option at MK or maybe AK on our trip in September. Is it safe to assume the parks won't open until 9, so an 8 a.m. reservation would qualify? Does anyone know how to find park opening hours for September 2007?

 

[pinocchio2004]

Try this for September 2007 hours. I am looking too! Kinda just guessing at this point!
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/sep07.cfm?requesttimeout=1000

 

[Disneykidz]

Thanks!
It does look like 9 am openings. There are busses to get from Pop in time for an 8 a.m. ADR, right?

 

[pinocchio2004]

I think the buses start running an hour before the scheduled park opening. You might have to get a cab if you have no car.

 

[Hopefully]

There are early monring buses to take folks to their morning ADR's
I think you will be fine.

 

[Disneykidz]

I thought there is an early character meal bus that can be arranged. Anyone know if this is still true? This will be our first time w/o a car, which also presented it own problems, as sometimes the parking lot doesn't open early enough!!!

 

[Disneykidz]

If I'd have waited a moment I'd have seen your response before I posted!

 

[angwill]

There are busses from the Disney resorts that pick up early for all the parks since they all have breakfast restaurants. I have been to several 8am seatings. No need to arrange a bus either they come every day.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We've never had a problem getting to our ADR's on time BUT I read a tip years ago that if you want to be there for 8AM then be at the bus station at 6:55. I believe the buses leave the garage or TTC at 7AM so if you want to be on the first bus then be there for 7AM, otherwise, it can take another 20 -30 minutes for the second bus, add on some stops and the walk you could be cutting it close.

 

[ChrisMouse]

Does being at the bus stop at 6:55 allow for empty park/castle pictures BEFORE an 8:05am breakfast? Just wondering if I'll be able to take those coveted photos before we eat...

 

[MaryKatesMom]

They won't let you in before 8AM (at least last month but I think that changes with the weather). But even with everyone who made early reservations being let in at the same time is it still very empty and the light is very good.

I have some great pictures from a couple of years ago back when the girls would let me dres them.

You won't get into any of the lands only as far as the bridges and the castle but it is still worth getting up early.

 

[BabyPiglet]

You actually don't need to make them exactly 6 months out. We waited and changed our ADR's A LOT from March to September, we even changed some while we were at WDW.

 

[pinocchio2004]

Here's what it says on the Disneyworld website:


1. Stop by one of the many convenient pick-up points throughout Walt Disney World® Resort and, usually within minutes, your ride will arrive ready to transport you throughout the Resort.
2. Enjoy travel within Walt Disney World® Resort from one hour prior to Theme Park opening up to one hour after Park closing. And for our late-night Downtown Disney® Guests, motor coaches operate until three in the morning.
3. Enjoy the variety! The various pick-up points throughout Walt Disney World® Resort offer different modes of transportation — motor coach, monorail and water launch — giving you and your family the opportunity to see the Resort in a unique way.

For more information within Walt Disney World® Resort, visit our Transportation FAQ.

 

[Disneykidz]

You actually don't need to make them exactly 6 months out. We waited and changed our ADR's A LOT from March to September, we even changed some while we were at WDW.

You were lucky. I've read lots of people's posts that saying that ADR's go fast when free dining is offered. Maybe that's more for "popular" time slots. I'm not going to chance it, and will be making ressies as soon as I'm allowed, just in case and so we at least have a starting point--changing later if needed and as permits.

I'm not worried about the early bus anymore. I'm more worried that the free dining won't be offered for value resorts now, based on what I read on another thread. The poster said that it might be offered just at moderates and deluxes. If that's the case, we won't need ADR's at all, as I don't think we'll be able to afford table service restaurants.

Oh please, WDW, offer FD for the value resorts!!!!!!!!

 

[angwill]

Every time we have had first breakfast and in various parks they do not let you in till right before the first breakfast time. You will be able to get an almost empty picture of the parks because there is always someone hurrying for no good reason when they let you in.

Like baby piglet said I would not worry about ADR's we have gone for free dining every year and never even started making our ADR's till at the earliest April when the offers came out and the first year it was May. We have never had problems getting ADR's the only time we had to work around the hours available was about changes we made 1 month before our trip. The only things that will book up fast are the common dinning hours and certain restaurants. Chef Mickey's and Le Cellier come to mind and 6 to 7pm reservations. With that said even waiting till after free dining came out last year I got Le Cellier at 6:40 exactly what I wanted.

Last year it was the same way with people urging people to get their ADR's before they were sure free dining would come out. I will admit it worried me too that I might not get what I wanted because every one else was already calling in their ADR's without reservations. I waited because I would not have gone without the free dining and I was ready to take what was restuarants and times were left and just be flexable. I figured I never had a problem the two previous years. I got exactly what restaurants and times I wanted even after waiting.

I also let others panic me that they would not be offering free dining because they had so many other offers going and they had bounce back free dining at the end of 06. I was also told I would need to book my trip before free dining and then have them add it to my reservation when it came out or I wouldn't get the resort I wanted. I learned my lesson last year not to let others worries affect me. lol

 

[BabyPiglet]

You were lucky. I've read lots of people's posts that saying that ADR's go fast when free dining is offered. Maybe that's more for "popular" time slots. I'm not going to chance it, and will be making ressies as soon as I'm allowed, just in case and so we at least have a starting point--changing later if needed and as permits.

I'm not worried about the early bus anymore. I'm more worried that the free dining won't be offered for value resorts now, based on what I read on another thread. The poster said that it might be offered just at moderates and deluxes. If that's the case, we won't need ADR's at all, as I don't think we'll be able to afford table service restaurants.

Oh please, WDW, offer FD for the value resorts!!!!!!!!

They say that every year. People speculate every year. But Disney isn't going to change something like this that makes them money. I'm 99.9% they'll offer it to value resorts. (Haha, I'm sure a stranger telling you that doesn't make you feel any better) Also, they offered value resort free DDP to bounceback people.

And, honestly, we had no trouble for making lunch ADR's at noon, or dinner ADR's at 7. Prime dining times. I think people make it all out to be way more stressful than it is.

I learned my lesson last year not to let others worries affect me. lol

YES YES YES! Finally someone who agrees with me! Last year I read all about how I had to make ADR's exactly 180 days out, how I had to make a spreadsheet of my park schedule, how I had to confirm my ADR's. And to be honest, it all totally freaked me out! But then I went, and realized I worried all for nothing. We actually ended up doing more of a freestyle vacation even with all those ADR's and spreadsheets.

So just go, and see for yourself. That's what I tell everyone now!

 

[angwill]

BP, I really think you have to have been there and done that to understand what we are talking about. It's the mass hysteria stuff that hits the newbies and then they tell two friends and they tell two friends. lol They'll learn though. I just want to help be the voice of calm reason so they don't panic and cave to the peer pressure.

Even after having gone for free dining two years and then last year being the first year I kept up on the dis boards before they announced free dining I was kind of panicked too with all the stories and rumors so I know what they are feeling. I just thought how depressing it would be if it didn't happen and I had to cancel all my dining and hotel reservations. Would I be honest if they asked me why I was canceling? I am glad I listened to the voice of reason. There was one reservation that I tried to change about 2 or 3 weeks before leaving last year, after they made a EMH change, that I did have to call a few times to get the time frame I wanted (didn't want to miss the parade) but they did have later times if I was more flexable.

Did you do the EMH parks last year or avoid them? I avoided them so maybe that made getting ADR's a lot easier?

They say that every year. People speculate every year. But Disney isn't going to change something like this that makes them money. I'm 99.9% they'll offer it to value resorts. (Haha, I'm sure a stranger telling you that doesn't make you feel any better) Also, they offered value resort free DDP to bounceback people.

And, honestly, we had no trouble for making lunch ADR's at noon, or dinner ADR's at 7. Prime dining times. I think people make it all out to be way more stressful than it is.

YES YES YES! Finally someone who agrees with me! Last year I read all about how I had to make ADR's exactly 180 days out, how I had to make a spreadsheet of my park schedule, how I had to confirm my ADR's. And to be honest, it all totally freaked me out! But then I went, and realized I worried all for nothing. We actually ended up doing more of a freestyle vacation even with all those ADR's and spreadsheets.

So just go, and see for yourself. That's what I tell everyone now!

 

[magicalcouple]

We went to Donald's Safari Breakfast at AK in December. Our reservation was at 8:05 a.m. with a park opening time of 9. We left our resort by bus at 7:15 a.m. They wouldn't let us in the gate until 8:00 a.m. and checked our names off and had us stand single file to go. However, it was no problem and we walked up at 8:05. We were the first to be seated! I HIGHLY recommend early ressies!!!!

 

[Disneykidz]

Ok angwill and BabyPiglet...I get what you're saying....taking deep breaths...I'm calming down.

You know how it is. When you're spending so much on a vacation, even with all the hopeful discounts, you still want things to go smoothly.

Thanks for the voice of reason. Can I hold you to the FD for values?

 

[BabyPiglet]

Ok angwill and BabyPiglet...I get what you're saying....taking deep breaths...I'm calming down.

You know how it is. When you're spending so much on a vacation, even with all the hopeful discounts, you still want things to go smoothly.

Thanks for the voice of reason. Can I hold you to the FD for values?

Oh man, I agree. You should've heard the voices inside my head before we left. I was thinking I'd spend all this money and it wouldn't turn out magical. We'd get lost. We'd be late for all our ADR's and they'd kick us out. Oy, not of that happened btw.

Well I sure hope they come out with FD for the values, I'm counting on it!

BP, I really think you have to have been there and done that to understand what we are talking about. It's the mass hysteria stuff that hits the newbies and then they tell two friends and they tell two friends. lol They'll learn though. I just want to help be the voice of calm reason so they don't panic and cave to the peer pressure.

Even after having gone for free dining two years and then last year being the first year I kept up on the dis boards before they announced free dining I was kind of panicked too with all the stories and rumors so I know what they are feeling. I just thought how depressing it would be if it didn't happen and I had to cancel all my dining and hotel reservations. Would I be honest if they asked me why I was canceling? I am glad I listened to the voice of reason. There was one reservation that I tried to change about 2 or 3 weeks before leaving last year, after they made a EMH change, that I did have to call a few times to get the time frame I wanted (didn't want to miss the parade) but they did have later times if I was more flexable.

Did you do the EMH parks last year or avoid them? I avoided them so maybe that made getting ADR's a lot easier?

We only went to a few EMH's, mostly late night ones. (we overslept...a lot. Lol) and we didn't schedule many breakfasts because we're not really breakfast people. So we did sorta avoid them.

Also, we really enjoyed scheduling our TS for around 2-3. Because by then, we were all incredibly tired and melting into the pavement so having a nice dinner in the air conditioning really really helped get us going again. That's how I plan to schedule my ADR's this year. I swear if I hadn't had the TS in the middle of the day, I would have collapsed back in the room and slept for 3 days.

Oh and...actually. We dared the devil and a couple weeks before we left we decided to change our Le Cellier reservation to lunch. And we actually got exactly what we wanted!!!

So yep, that's what I say. Just go and see how it all turns out for yourself and your family, then you'll be a pro at it. Heh.