Will we make it? A&E to GF

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

My 60 day FP+ window opened this morning, and after some effort I got FP+ for Anna and Elsa!

I had to book 4 FP+'s individually, rather than as a group, so my FP+ windows open at 12, 12:15, 12:30, 12:40. Theoretically, this is not a problem as we can all go in together at 12:40. HOWEVER, we have a reservation at the Garden View Tea Room in the Grand Floridian at 1:05.

About how long does the FP+ line for A&E take? 30 minutes, maybe? Is there a grace period for arriving for a dining reservation? If we go in all together at 12:40, I don't see how we can possibly make it, unless that FP+ line is quicker than I think it is.

Plan B is for us to split up, and 2 go in at 12:15, then head to the GF and get the table, while the other 2 go in at 12:40 and meet us at the GF as soon as they are done.

Thoughts? Is this even remotely possible?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

As for a grace period that is up to the restaurant. I've heard of some allowing about 15 minutes. Don't know anything specific about Garden View.

If you can send somebody ahead that would be best, although they will not seat you until everyone is present...but at least they would know that you intend to honor the reservation.

 

[MeanestMomEver]

Wow, that is really tight timing.

You could get through the FP very quickly or it could really drag on. You never know how long the families ahead of you will take to do photos, autographs, etc.

I'm thinking of your travel time. 5-10 minutes or more just to get out of FTH, through the park and to the monorail ramp. Once there, 0-10 minutes or possibly more to wait for a monorail, then ride the loop around, stopping all the way. Isn't Grand Floridan the last stop on the return trip? Then a few minutes to get to the Tea Room.

How old are your kids? Are strollers involved?

Personally, for my family, I would have been concerned that the stress of trying to rush small children to the reservation would not have been worth the Tea experience for them and I would have kept looking for a later time or different experience. However, that's just me and knowing my own and my family members' abilities to have to hurry and be stressed back in the day when my girls were young. I'm not making any assumptions about your family and what works for you.

Good luck!

 

[AngiTN]

You should be able to enter the line for A&E 5 min early, so at 12:35. Still going to be pretty tight to make it to GF by 1:05. Tight to the point of not possible. Remember, you can't run out of the park.

I guess moving the ADR up a little bit is not possible?

 

[mom2rtk]

Sounds too stressful for my taste. It's going to take a while just to get out of the park and to the monorail. Then mid-day you might have to wait a bit for the monorail. If it's running...... will the monorail still be on its reduced schedule?

I'd reschedule the tea room if you can.

Or at the very least, keep watching for individual slots to open to move those later A/E times slightly earlier.

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

Thanks everyone. I think you are confirming my fears...

The kids are 10 and 8, so no strollers, but we have grandma with us. Grandma's good, and she can move quickly, but I don't want to make her miserable and stressed.

I tried, and will keep trying, to move the tea reservation. No luck so far, for any other day or time.

And I had not even considered the monorail reduced schedule. ACK! I need to go figure out what those dates are and see if we are impacted.

Maybe Plan B would be best. If half of us show up at the GF on time, I can't imagine they wouldn't honor the reservation... right?

 

[jrjankowski8]

Keep trying to move everyone to an earlier time slot. With persistence you should be able to get everyone together. I was able to this May. Just keep trying the system and you may get lucky.

 

[harleys mom]

Don't forget the boat from Mk to GF is a possibility...

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks everyone. I think you are confirming my fears...

The kids are 10 and 8, so no strollers, but we have grandma with us. Grandma's good, and she can move quickly, but I don't want to make her miserable and stressed.

I tried, and will keep trying, to move the tea reservation. No luck so far, for any other day or time.

And I had not even considered the monorail reduced schedule. ACK! I need to go figure out what those dates are and see if we are impacted.

Maybe Plan B would be best. If half of us show up at the GF on time, I can't imagine they wouldn't honor the reservation... right?

Have you looked at the later times for A&E? Now that they meet till just about park closing I have found late slots even at 30 days out.

 

[Kimosabe]

Different but related issue - I have seen where Garden View Tea Room is closed for refurb from 6/30 to 8/29 (with tea parties being held at Citricos in the meantime). If trying to run to this reservation, just wanted to make sure you were sprinting to the right place!

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

Different but related issue - I have seen where Garden View Tea Room is closed for refurb from 6/30 to 8/29 (with tea parties being held at Citricos in the meantime). If trying to run to this reservation, just wanted to make sure you were sprinting to the right place!

Wait. What? We aren't doing the Perfectly Princess Tea Party... just the regular afternoon tea. Ugh.

Ok. Just called Disney, and all the teas are being held in Citricos instead. Thanks for mentioning that! I totally would have gone to the wrong place!

 

[mom2rtk]

Wait. What? We aren't doing the Perfectly Princess Tea Party... just the regular afternoon tea. Ugh.

Ok. Just called Disney, and all the teas are being held in Citricos instead. Thanks for mentioning that! I totally would have gone to the wrong place!

So if you run late, just tell them you didn't know about the change. Be sure to act all indignant.

 

[jenniferma]

I wouldn't try this-- I think your timeline is too tight. Can you move your tea to another day on your trip?

good luck!

 

[asta]

I think this is too tight. The monorail makes stops at the Contemporary, TTC and Polynesian before getting to the GF. I haven't timed it recently but with all of those stops you could be looking at 20-30 minutes travel time. The boat launch has a shorter travel time but you may have to wait longer for a boat than for the monorail.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

I'm convinced. This is just too tight and too stressful. I'm going to rearrange our park days and try and get the tea on a different day. I want the kids to ENJOY seeing A&E and not have everyone all stressed and hurried through the experience. Thanks everyone!

 

[PixieMama]

This may be a different case for a special event type thing like the Tea, but for "regular" ADRs I know you're given a 15 minute window after the time of your ADR. If you show up later than 15 minutes, your ADR isn't canceled, you will still be seated but the restaurant is going to start seating others and will have to "work you in".

 

[MeanestMomEver]

I'm convinced. This is just too tight and too stressful. I'm going to rearrange our park days and try and get the tea on a different day. I want the kids to ENJOY seeing A&E and not have everyone all stressed and hurried through the experience. Thanks everyone!

I think that's a good way to look at it. Also, since you won't be tempted to split up, mom and grandma both get to enjoy watching both girls experience the princesses together and you can get group and individual photos! And the girls will have this shared experience to enjoy.

Also, A and E are the current big deal princesses! Where tea parties are always around, even at American Girl Place or as a Girl Scout event, for example. If you don't get it rebooked this trip, you have a great reason to book another trip!

Still, I hope you have good luck finding a Tea! My daughters would have loved that.