Ques. about dining and park opening/closing

[uhdwsso]

Hi. Have a silly little ques. about meals and park closing times. Do you have to be done with your meal and out of a park when it closes? For example, AK closes at 6:00 daily but say we'd like to make a dinner reservation at one of the restaurants at 5:30. We certainly wouldn't be able to finish our meal in a half hour. Could I also make the reservation at 6:00? Obviously trying to enjoy the park as long as possible.

What about in the mornings? Can I make an 8:00 reservation by taking advantage of the early magic hours or do they not let you into the parks until 8:00?

Trying to see how long I have in the parks.

Thanks!

 

[wcpamotm]

You may take what time to finish your meal that you would normally take, regardless of when your reservation is for. And you will have a quiet, peaceful park to walk through on your way out when dinner is over!

The restaurant reservation system will warn you that you need to have resort guest identification if you make a reservation that begins during evening EMH. But restaurants in the parks that serve sit-down breakfasts start up before the parks open. I myself have an 8:10 reservation at Crystal Palace for my next trip, even though MK doesn't open until 9.

Don't know how AM EMH affects restaurant schedules.

 

[snykymom]

We had dinner one night at Bistro de Paris in Epcot. We had a table from which we could watch the higher fireworks during Illuminations. Afterwards, we had dessert & coffee. There was no indication that the park had closed, we weren't made to feel rushed or anything. They refilled our coffee as many times as we liked. When we left the restaurant, we realized that Epcot was closed. We went out International Gateway (walking through a deserted park was cool!), and the boat had already stopped running! Walked to the Boardwalk area and caught a cab from Beach Club. Lovely evening, no issues.

 

[RBrooksC]

One should view the parks like your neighborhood mall. People may enter the mall early to "mall walk" or stay late if there is a movie theater or restaurant there open after official mall closing.

I am looking forward to getting into Epcot for the Princess breakfast while we are there. Our ADR for Ashkersus is 8 AM.

 

[Hopefully]

One should view the parks like your neighborhood mall. People may enter the mall early to "mall walk" or stay late if there is a movie theater or restaurant there open after official mall closing.

I am looking forward to getting into Epcot for the Princess breakfast while we are there. Our ADR for Ashkersus is 8 AM.

This is only partially true.
Yes you can get in the park before official opening, but ONLY if you have an ADR for a park restaurant. You can not get in early, like at a Mall to Mall walk, without an ADR.
Many in park restaurants have ADR's available around 8 AM, even though park opening is at 9. It is a great way to experience an almost empty park, get great pictures, enjoy a meal, and be ready to experience the rides and attractions right at opening. These are very popular ADR's for these reasons. So if an early morning ADR interests you, you should plan on making that ADR right at the 180 day mark.
We have also eaten in Epcot late a couple of times. We were never rushed and also walked through an empty park once we finished our meal. It was neat.
Enjoy

 

[1craftymama]

This is only partially true.
Yes you can get in the park before official opening, but ONLY if you have an ADR for a park restaurant. You can not get in early, like at a Mall to Mall walk, without an ADR.
Many in park restaurants have ADR's available around 8 AM, even though park opening is at 9. It is a great way to experience an almost empty park, get great pictures, enjoy a meal, and be ready to experience the rides and attractions right at opening. These are very popular ADR's for these reasons. So if an early morning ADR interests you, you should plan on making that ADR right at the 180 day mark.
We have also eaten in Epcot late a couple of times. We were never rushed and also walked through an empty park once we finished our meal. It was neat.
Enjoy

My family and I have Princess breakfast reservations at Cinderella's Royal Table at 9am. Will we be able to get in the park before the park opens and will we be able to get a stroller rental? I am worried we won't make our reservation if the park opens at 9am and we have a reservation at that time.