Opinion Wanted: Pre-Park Opening Breakfast Reservations...

[coolingjupiter]

So we have a quick trip coming up in September and I have been trying to make pre-park opening reservations for breakfast to help maximize our time in the parks. Two out of our three days will start off in Epcot and I have been trying to make 8:00AM reservations at Garden Grill. For the Sunday, I have an 8:15...however, I'm thinking of cancelling it because it might not be early enough to get through breakfast and get a head start on some of the tier 1 attractions and also, we are planning on doing Food & Wine for lunch and Be Our Guest for dinner...too much food with a big breakfast as well! For the Monday, I keep trying for reservations at 8:00AM, but the earliest I could book is 9:20, which is obviously not helpful. My real question is everyone's opinion on breakfast at Hollywood & Vine. After trying for about a week, I was able to get 8:00AM reservations there for the Tuesday (our last day, which is a shortened day as our flight out is at 4:00). However, after booking it, I looked into it and it's a Disney, Jr. Play and Dine. We are a party of three adults who really don't care that much about characters, especially not Doc McStuffins. Is it worth it to go to this reservation just for earlier access to Toy Story Land? Or should we just go for regular park opening? Without the reservation, we were going to rope drop Flying Saucers and Toy Story Mania; we have fast passes for Slinky Dog, Hollywood Tower of Terror, and Rock'n'Rollercoaster. With the reservation, we would probably still do the same, just maybe get more of a head start and possibly go on Slinky twice that day!

Either way, I'm going to continue to try for Garden Grill on the Monday...maybe things will open up as we get closer. I just wish I thought of this 180 days ago!

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Robo]

For Epcot, ignore your Garden Grill ADR time and show up at GG by 8AM.

 

[Magical2017]

Is your DHS day on a day where they have 7am EMH?

 

[coolingjupiter]

Is your DHS day on a day where they have 7am EMH?

Not according to the website, no. It's a regular park opening.

 

[KenHutch]

A lot of people on this board know I hate H&V but some friends went there recently for preopening breakfast and said at that hour everything was fresh and hot and while not being great it was OK and being 3 adults you can probably eat quickly and be in position to hit a ride or two before the park fills up. I use these breakfasts almost like a 4th fastpass. We have to eat anyways so I schedule a preopening breakfast and can almost always get in 1 or 2 rides (depending on the park) and save those fast passes for a bit later in the day.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

H&V gives you basically no jump on crowds for TSL. If you wanted Jedi Training, it's useful, but for TSL, you will be behind rope drop.

 

[coolingjupiter]

H&V gives you basically no jump on crowds for TSL. If you wanted Jedi Training, it's useful, but for TSL, you will be behind rope drop.

Good to know!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Save yourself. Do RD at DHS. 3 adults+H&V food+Disney Jr. characters sounds like a very bad start to a WDW day, IMHO.

 

[Hopefully]

Skip H &V. You already have a very short day as you should be heading to the airport by 1

 

[coolingjupiter]

Skip H &V. You already have a very short day as you should be heading to the airport by 1

We are leaving right after our Slinky Dog FastPass, which starts at 1:15. I read online that we can arrive 5 minutes early, which we will do. We are checking our luggage at the resort (I've called to confirm that we can do this) and then taking an Uber right from Hollywood Studios. Hopefully this all works out...or I can get an earlier time somehow by refreshing!

But I do think I will cancel my H&V reservation. Don't know if it's worth it, especially if it won't help us get a head start on TSL.

 

[stace1214]

Definitely show up at GG at 8, regardless if you have an 8:15. You'll get seated straight away. We had an 8:25, walked in at 8 and were on Soarin' at 8:50. If you want to sign up for Jedi Training, H&V PPO is great, but it truly will give you no jump in getting ahead of the crowds. That being said, we had an 8am ressie there so we could get a jump on signing up for Jedi Training and really loved our breakfast. I would absolutely eat there again for that reason alone.