Changed park hours - ADR dilemma!

[ravenwing]

Hi,

Just as I thought I had everything organised, I have just noticed that the park hours for Magic Kingdom in October have been changed, now opening at 0800 as standard. My dilemma is that I had carefully planned our first day as a fairly leisurely, take our time sort of day - we've never been before so I thought it would be nice to start with a Crystal Palace breakfast before the park opens and then just mosey around on the rides after that.

So with the park now open at 8, our ADR is 8.10 and seems a bit daft . Our fastpasses will still be fine, but the plan to ride some things without fastpasses when queues are quiet straight after opening has probably been scuppered. I just don't think I have the energy to come up with a better alternative now!

[Guest]

I don't believe an 8:10 for Crystal Palace would offer much advantage in terms of access to rides even if the hours were not changed. You would still not be let through to the ride areas until same time as everyone else. It is BoG and CRT that offers the early ride advantages.

So if you are happy with your current arrangement, not particularly looking to reorganise and looking forward to CP, I would just stick with it.

[sha9]

Originally Posted by Bridgetx

I don't believe an 8:10 for Crystal Palace would offer much advantage in terms of access to rides even if the hours were not changed. You would still not be let through to the ride areas until same time as everyone else. It is BoG and CRT that offers the early ride advantages.

So if you are happy with your current arrangement, not particularly looking to reorganise and looking forward to CP, I would just stick with it.

See more...

I agree about the pre park opening benefits. CP doesn't offer any anyway.
As Bridgetx says, it really is up to you whether you leave it as is. Personally I'd cancel as people seldom go to a park for an 8am opening and it'll most likely be relatively quiet. You can then go somewhere for either a late breakfast or early lunch when the park starts to fill.
Just my opinion and what I would do in that circumstance.

[AliceCooper9]

You are getting there extremely early so you don't want to waste those golden hours. I would change to CP late breakfast or lunch.

[Bobbins]

Originally Posted by sha9

Personally I'd cancel as people seldom go to a park for an 8am opening and it'll most likely be relatively quiet.

See more...

We went last Oct/Nov when MK was opening at 8AM - in fact we did an EMH and got there for 7AM opening. The first hour was ridiculous - there was basically no-one in the park, and it didn't change much until getting towards 9AM.

I assume most people didn't realise it opened early, although I don't think there was very much notice of the schedule change last year.

[sha9]

Originally Posted by Bobbins

We went last Oct/Nov when MK was opening at 8AM - in fact we did an EMH and got there for 7AM opening. The first hour was ridiculous - there was basically no-one in the park, and it didn't change much until getting towards 9AM.

I assume most people didn't realise it opened early, although I don't think there was very much notice of the schedule change last year.

See more...

Could be. I also suspect many are like us and plan to go for opening at 8am or EMH but end up arriving nearly an hour after we planned .

[Bobbins]

Originally Posted by sha9

Could be. I also suspect many are like us and plan to go for opening at 8am or EMH but end up arriving nearly an hour after we planned .

See more...

It did feel a bit odd getting up at 5.30AM - and we're really not morning people! It was great though - still pitch dark at 7AM and it felt surreal. We rode 7DMT until we got bored of it!

[ravenwing]

Thanks for all the replies

We weren't really treating it as a way of stealing a march on rope-drop, it was just a more relaxing way of spending the hour before park opening than standing with the masses. Then maybe heading for the rides just after the biggest crowd had past.

But now we'll be an hour behind. I've checked if there are any bookings available on our other MK days but nothing. If I cancel we'll not likely head there at all, as it doesn't really make sense with our other plans. So the way I see it, I either stick with it because it will still be a nice way to kick off our first time there, or cancel and gain an extra hour but miss the experience of our kids eating with the characters. And we won't see Eeyore or Piglet anywhere else I think.

Mmmmmm decisions! Does anyone know if all the rides will open at 8, or do they stick with a sort of EMH schedule? I think I saw that the character meets don't start until 9.

Thanks again x

[Mexy02]

If you want to do it and had a plan then do it. It's your holiday. Unless it's a weekend it should be ok in October. It gets busier towards Halloween . Go and have a great time and see your kids faces meeting the CP characters

[Guest]

Originally Posted by ravenwing

Thanks for all the replies

We weren't really treating it as a way of stealing a march on rope-drop, it was just a more relaxing way of spending the hour before park opening than standing with the masses. Then maybe heading for the rides just after the biggest crowd had past.

But now we'll be an hour behind. I've checked if there are any bookings available on our other MK days but nothing. If I cancel we'll not likely head there at all, as it doesn't really make sense with our other plans. So the way I see it, I either stick with it because it will still be a nice way to kick off our first time there, or cancel and gain an extra hour but miss the experience of our kids eating with the characters. And we won't see Eeyore or Piglet anywhere else I think.

Mmmmmm decisions! Does anyone know if all the rides will open at 8, or do they stick with a sort of EMH schedule? I think I saw that the character meets don't start until 9.

Thanks again x

See more...

Well if you were not thinking that it would be a means to get into queues early, then nothing has changed. So just do it.