Pre-opening ADR and rope drop

[crusoe2]

We have an 8:15 breakfast ADR at Crystal Palace - park is supposed to open at 9. Will there be a rope drop at the gateway into each land? And do you think we will have to rush through our meal to make it to rope drop? I'd love to be at the front of the pack but I hate to pay so much for breakfast and then rush thru it.

Oh, I was also wondering - how early they will let us into the park for our ADR?

 

[jjsdad]

They usually let you into the park 15 minutes before the first ADR time. There will be a rope at the entrances to the lands from the hub, ie tomorrow land, adventure and fantasy. No ceremony, just a rope with a few cm's who will let you go once the park opens. We have done it and love it, you will be first on dumbo if you want!

That being said, you do kinda have to rush, but not over the top. If you want to do this check in early and hope they seat you with the first wave of seatings. Ask for your check right when you sit down and pay for it while eating that way you can get up and go when you are ready. If you find that at 8:55 you aren't ready to leave breakfast then just relax and finish up, it won't be the end of the world. Make sure you get some photos in front of the castle before you sit down for breakfast as well!

 

[crusoe2]

Oh, good tips. I was wondering if we might be able to get seated a little early but I hadn't thought about asking for the check right away. Thanks.

 

[catne]

We found that the inside-the-park rope drop at the Lands is actually a few minutes after official opening time...was explained to us they wait just a couple of minutes later to allow the people at the entrance a few extra minutes to "catch up" (though they don't actually wait for the front-entrance crowd to get there.) Last May it was about 9:05 when they dropped the rope in Fantasyland. We were still in the first group of people on Peter Pan (literal walk-on, no pause to load) Dumbo just barely had a line when we came off Peter Pan (at about 9:10) and the people from the front entrance were really just beginning to arrive in Fantasyland at that point.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Definitely get there a little early and give yourself some time to take those photos with the castle when there aren't many people about. Last time we had breakfast there (actually the only time) we checked in and before we had a chance to take many pictures they were already calling for us. I can't remember if it was before our ADR or not.

I also seem to remember that there was at least one PP photographer taking pix in front/by the castle. We got a few from him.

If you want to meet all the characters it does take awhile. They have their set rotation. When we went I believe we missed one of them. Can't remember who but then since DD was 9 (it was her birthday) she wasn't that interested in Pooh and his friends. They've never really been her favs.

Looking back at the photos we entered MK about 8:20, took last castle picture at 8:31, were seated and visited by Tigger at 8:36, Piglet @ 8:49, Pooh at 9:12 and we skipped Eeyore. We were leaving by 9:27.

Here's one of my castle shots.