CRT at 9am opening - Do we get in early?

[Wellington2011]

Hi,
We're staying at the Poly and I had the choice between an 8am and 9am CRT reservation. I chose the 9am because we will be arriving very early the day before and I think the extra hour of sleep is needed with the 3 little kids. How early will they let us into the MK if we have a 9am at CRT and the park opens at 9am? My goal is to try to take a few low crowd photos before opening, not as concerned with getting into ride lines. We'll be taking our time at CRT.
Thanks!

 

[Tuvalu]

All guests are allowed into the park an hour before official opening time. Guests are allowed to shop on Main Street and remain in the hub area until the short Welcome ceremony on the castle stage which opens the rest of the park.

The days of "low crowd" MK morning pics are gone.

 

[Wellington2011]

All guests are allowed into the park an hour before official opening time. Guests are allowed to shop on Main Street and remain in the hub area until the short Welcome ceremony on the castle stage which opens the rest of the park.

The days of "low crowd" MK morning pics are gone.

When did that change? There's no advantage to pre opening reservations anymore?

 

[Tuvalu]

When did that change? There's no advantage to pre opening reservations anymore?

A few months ago. For safety reasons Disney did not want those huge crowds gathered in front of the train station before the park opened.

Those with pre-opening breakfast ADRs now check in with a cast member here:

 

[Wellington2011]

Oh no!! Well, there goes any question about that. What a bummer. Thanks for sharing. I think I'll just cancel in this case. Doesn't letting everyone in before opening just cause the same crowds earlier?

 

[Tuvalu]

The crowds are dispersed over a larger area (Main Street and the hub) so that when the "rope" officially drops there is not a sea of people shoulder-to-shoulder rushing down Main Street towards attractions. Guests are able to wait outside the entrance to each land and it is less chaotic when the park opens. It "feels" like there are less people there.

I'm not sure there are more guests arriving earlier (since they can't ride anything prior to 9 am).

The process makes it much easier to get through the turnstiles. This was taken around 8:45 am a few weeks ago (the height of spring break):

 

[Worldlover71]

I believe there is still a line at the turnstiles for those with breakfast reservations at 8am. They are still allowed in a little early so they can get to their restaurant by 8am. Can someone confirm this?

 

[DisAl]

All guests are allowed into the park an hour before official opening time. Guests are allowed to shop on Main Street and remain in the hub area until the short Welcome ceremony on the castle stage which opens the rest of the park.

The days of "low crowd" MK morning pics are gone.

My best low crowd photo. As you said, it will be next to impossible to get one like this now. I used to tell people I had just rented the whole park for the day.

 

[21stamps]

I vote for sleeping in.

My best low crowd photo. As you said, it will be next to impossible to get one like this now. I used to tell people I had just rented the whole park for the day. View attachment 201960

That's an amazing photo!!! Looks like you were the first one there!

 

[DisAl]

I vote for sleeping in.







That's an amazing photo!!! Looks like you were the first one there!

That one was made when I was in the park early for the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour. This was in 2003, before they had the early breakfasts. There was about a thirty minute period between all the maintenance CMs disappearing and the park opening. Just pure luck that we were in the station at the perfect time. (There is one guy at a trash can on the left about half way down Main Street.)

 

[drizgirl]

That one was made when I was in the park early for the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour. This was in 2003, before they had the early breakfasts. There was about a thirty minute period between all the maintenance CMs disappearing and the park opening. Just pure luck that we were in the station at the perfect time. (There is one guy at a trash can on the left about half way down Main Street.)

I actually think they were doing early breakfasts in 2003. I know we did one in 2004 and I had been hearing about it for a while before we got that chance.