8.20am CRT early enough?

[Justkeepswimmin]

I've not been able to snag a 7.55 reservation for CRT but saw that 8.20am was available. My main reason for an early reservation was being able to ride some fantasyland rides before lines start building up, but do you think 8.20am is early enough for this or is our time in the restaurant likely to run over 9.00am?

chEARs in advance

 

[sxeensweet]

That leaves you only 40 min to get there, check in, take pictures with Cinderella, get seated, Eat, meet all princesses, and get out. That is rushing and not at all being able to enjoy the meal and experience. I would allow 1.5 hours at least at CRT. Absolute Minimum 1 hr! Sometimes you are not even seated right away either and can easily wait 15-30 min after your scheduled reservation. So even 7:55am would be pushing it but is more doable than the 8:20am reservation. 7:30-7:40am (if possible) is ideal if you want to be done by 9am.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

but do you think 8.20am is early enough for this or is our time in the restaurant likely to run over 9.00am?

If you're only planning on being in CRT for 40 minutes then I'd forget it - it will be a total waste of your time and money. A character meal is all about the experience, not chucking your breakfast down your throats as fast as you can.
I agree with @sxeensweet, allow a minimum of an hour

 

[Justkeepswimmin]

Lol so there will never be enough time ok thanks for the tip, I won't rush it as it will be my only chance to do it while the kids are young, we can always go back another day for the rides

 

[Figgy1]

What about trying to find a late breakfast? Snack rope drop and then eat brunch. That way you can get several rides done at RD. We got a coveted 8am at CP and just and I mean just made it out for RD and we were at CP by 7:45 and were quickly seated.

 

[Justkeepswimmin]

I'm excited about the idea of entering the park before rope drop, getting some nice shots of the castle and enjoying the "calm before the storm". I will still get this with an 8.20am reservation I hope? And go to rope drop on another day, we're likely MK to visit 2-3 times during the trip.

 

[Figgy1]

I'm excited about the idea of entering the park before rope drop, getting some nice shots of the castle and enjoying the "calm before the storm". I will still get this with an 8.20am reservation I hope? And go to rope drop on another day, we're likely MK to visit 2-3 times during the trip.

As long as you have at least one other morning for RD and one for the Welcome Show you'll be fine

 

[Tuvalu]

I'm excited about the idea of entering the park before rope drop, getting some nice shots of the castle and enjoying the "calm before the storm". I will still get this with an 8.20am reservation I hope? And go to rope drop on another day, we're likely MK to visit 2-3 times during the trip.

If the park opens at 9 am, you will be allowed in around 8 am for your ADR. If the park opens at 8 am (for EMH or an early change to accommodate expected crowds) an 8:20 am will not get you in early and you will have to enter the park with everyone else.

I don't believe there are any breakfast ADRs earlier than 8 am, except during peak times (Christmas and Easter).

 

[Rsj88]

If the park opens at 9 am, you will be allowed in around 8 am for your ADR. If the park opens at 8 am (for EMH or an early change to accommodate expected crowds) an 8:20 am will not get you in early and you will have to enter the park with everyone else.

I don't believe there are any breakfast ADRs earlier than 8 am, except during peak times (Christmas and Easter).

We got an ADR for CRT at 8:00 am. Do you know how early we will be able to enter? I am so excited!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

We got an ADR for CRT at 8:00 am. Do you know how early we will be able to enter? I am so exited!!!

They usually allow guests to enter between 7:40-7:45. When you arrive at MK, go to the far left side for the breakfast ADR line. A CM will scan your band for confirmation. Guests are held in this line until a CM gets the ok for them to enter the park.

 

[Figgy1]

They usually allow guests to enter between 7:40-7:45. When you arrive at MK, go to the far left side for the breakfast ADR line. A CM will scan your band for confirmation. Guests are held in this line until a CM gets the ok for them to enter the park.

^^^^^This we were at CP by 7:45 even with stopping to take pictures along MSUSA

 

[Rsj88]

Thank you!!!

 

[tglancy]

I love CRT. We did it for my wife's birthday a few trips ago, and it was so much fun. We have two boys, and all the princesses are great with them. We are going to try dinner there during our next trip, as we have only done breakfast the last two times.

We also saw someone get engaged there during our last trip. It was beautiful.

 

[righttrack]

Do CRT fully and don't rush! Use your FPs wisely and focus on things you can get on more quickly in the am. You're only going to have trouble with Peter Pan and Seven Dwarfs in Fantasyland at those times. The others shouldn't be too bad, though I've seen long waits for Pooh early for some inexplicable reason. I'd blast through the others and head over to Pirates, zip over to Buzz and use your FPs to Seven Dwarfs or Space Mountain or FP one and walk on the other of the "mountains" in Frontierland.

 

[KLeigh]

My friends and I had an 8:20am reservation for CRT last month. We were able to get in to the park early, got our picture taken in front of the castle, and make our way to the CRT hostess stand by 8:10. Invited into the castle 5 minutes later.

After meeting Cinderella, eating breakfast and meeting all the princesses (we were lucky that the first princess was almost to our table when we were seated), we were done and out the door by 9am. We didn't rush, and had plenty of time to take pictures - this included having our waitress bringing me the wrong dish, and waiting longer for my meal. Totally doable.

 

[Rsj88]

I love CRT. We did it for my wife's birthday a few trips ago, and it was so much fun. We have two boys, and all the princesses are great with them. We are going to try dinner there during our next trip, as we have only done breakfast the last two times.

We also saw someone get engaged there during our last trip. It was beautiful.

This is so good to hear! We have two boys too so I have been putting off doing CRT but I have always wanted to go so we are finally going this year I am really hoping they still enjoy it since it is just princesses.

 

[tglancy]

This is so good to hear! We have two boys too so I have been putting off doing CRT but I have always wanted to go so we are finally going this year I am really hoping they still enjoy it since it is just princesses.

It's great for my kids, because they are usually so outgoing but when these pretty girls come up, they just clam up and get totally shy. It's part of the fun. And they get a little sword and everything. The princesses do their best to flirt and try to bring them out of it.

 

[Justkeepswimmin]

That's so cute, it'll be interesting to see my sons reaction as he's normally very outgoing.

Would you recommend 8.00am or 8.20 in terms of getting in early and spending a few minutes taking photos before general admission? Does it make a difference? I was edging towards 8.20 because I assumed we would have more time to take photos *if* we were let in before 8.00am. But it does mean wasting 20 precious minutes of morning ride time when it's quieter x