Question for those who do early ADRs in parks

[2manydaves]

We've never done an early breakfast ADR at a park, because I always feel like we are wasting good early park time in a restaurant. (Like multiple no-wait rides on Splash Mountain!) However, on our next trip we are thinking about an 8:10 breakfast at CP on a MNSSHP day when the park closes at 7:00. How long will a CP breakfast take? Will it take much more than an hour? We want to get the most out of the day since the park will be closing early.

I really like the idea of being in the park before it opens. The way op's describe it, it sounds totally awesome.

 

[mmtska]

The best advice for early breakfasts that I have read is to ask for the check at the beginning of the meal. That way, when you're ready to go, you're already done! We'll be trying this this year, and I'm hoping it's a great piece of advice lol

 

[MisterGoofy1]

The best advice for early breakfasts that I have read is to ask for the check at the beginning of the meal. That way, when you're ready to go, you're already done! We'll be trying this this year, and I'm hoping it's a great piece of advice lol

This is an excellent piece of advice. We do this on a routine basis and it cuts down waiting for the check at the end.

 

[shawnh199]

We did CP a couple of weeks ago. We had 805 ressies but were not seated until closer to 810 (be sure to check in at the podium as soon as you get there). We only got to see 2 of the characters, but we had finished our food long before, and meeting Rapunzel was a must do. I sent my husband out first as I got the girls and our things together. We were in front of the rope drop crowd as we headed for Tangled (except for those crazy people who ran from the front!)

So, if you want to meet all 4 Pooh characters, you may or may not get done by rope drop. (Our first time eating at CP, we had met all the characters and finished our food by 845am, but didn't take care of our check early on - VERY IMPORTANT - and missed Rope Drop by 5 minutes. That being said - we only had a 10 minute wait (or less) for Dumbo by the time we got back to Fantasyland.

If you don't care about meeting all the characters, you can definitely make RD, especially if you are seated early enough - the crowds in the buffet lines get longer as they seat more parties.

Have fun!

 

[TCRAIG]

We always book Crystal Palace for Late Breakfast - show up at the park as early as it opens - pick a 'Land' and go to to 2-3 attractions we want to see before the crowds arrive (like Adventure Land Pirates and Jungle Cruise) - then head back to CP for a nice leisurly Breakfast. Works great for us every time.

 

[Agri]

I've done both methods listed here - before opening ADR and late breakfast ADR.

I much prefer the earlier ADR if I can get in as close to the first reservation time as possible. I ask for the check as soon as we are seated and pay as soon as I can. We don't really care if we see all the characters, so we just eat and get out. Take us about 15-30 minutes and we still have plenty of time to walk in the park before it officially opens. Unless its already really really hot outside, people will tend to go to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland first, which leaves plenty of time for multiple rides on SM and BTMRR before moving on to HM and the rest of the park.

Conversely, we've done 10:00a.m. ADR and done Frontierland and Liberty Square first, head to Adventureland and then eat.

I think either way works equally well on the average Disney day, allowing for a more flexible day. If you have slow eaters, someone can always run to get FPs while you eat the later breakfast.

 

[djp0630]

Last year we got a reservation for 8:05 at CP. We were done in 45 minutes after seeing all the characters and some twice. We got out of there right at rope drop, ran to Dumbo, only 5 minute wait, got a FP for Peter Pan and rode Snow White, then headed to meet the Fairies in Toontown by 9:45. I'd make sure to be there right at 8:00 and check in, that way you are seated on time. It gets pretty crowded even at that time.

 

[Belle's Castle]

I have a question...We have ADR at 8:05 for CP and MK opens at 9:00. We are staying at AKL so the bus ride is longer than to other parks. I was thinking that we should be waiting for a bus around 7:15ish...BUT will they run that early? I thought they started 1 hour before the park opens so that would be 8. Am I correct or will they be running at around 7????

 

[ncc1701]

I have a question...We have ADR at 8:05 for CP and MK opens at 9:00. We are staying at AKL so the bus ride is longer than to other parks. I was thinking that we should be waiting for a bus around 7:15ish...BUT will they run that early? I thought they started 1 hour before the park opens so that would be 8. Am I correct or will they be running at around 7????

They ran that early from POFQ our last 2 trips.Check with guest services at AKL and let them know about your early ADR.We had 8:05/8:20 ADRs at CP on 9:00am MK days.The bus from POFQ ran about every 20 mins. or so starting around 7:00 for people going to the park for breakfast

 

[2manydaves]

Thanks for the info, everyone. We now have an 8:10 at CP -- we'll be sure to be there by 8:00.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

When we went back in December - we had an 8:20a at Crystal Palace- were seated early (around 8:10) and were out of there shortly after 9. We probably would have been out of there right at 9 if I didn't spill my drink all over DD2 and then have her spill OJ on herself after we cleaned her up. If anything- we felt it gave us an advantage. We were already in the park and up by the castle while most people were still making their way up Main Street. We had a similar experience in AK w/Tusker House. While I hated the breakfast- it got us to to Everest and the Safari before most people made there way to that part of the park.

 

[djp0630]

I have a question...We have ADR at 8:05 for CP and MK opens at 9:00. We are staying at AKL so the bus ride is longer than to other parks. I was thinking that we should be waiting for a bus around 7:15ish...BUT will they run that early? I thought they started 1 hour before the park opens so that would be 8. Am I correct or will they be running at around 7????

Yes, I think the buses start around 7AM. However, the buses run less frequently. When we had an 8:05 breakfast, we planned to be at the bus stop an hour before the breakfast, so 7:05. We stayed at the Beach Club and it came after 10 minutes, so we were really early. But better early than late. We were the only people on the bus to AK, it was pretty neat.