Question: AK soft opening

[birdie31]

So I have a question...
My last visit was in 2012 and AK opened at 9am, but there was a soft opening and we were on rides at 8:30am. This year, AK opens at 8am. Is it likely to also have a soft opening when it opens that early or is it usually reserved for a 9am opening. Trying to decide if I should cancel an 8:05 breakfast reservation to take advantage of fewer people in the park.....

 

[Master Yoda]

From what I am told, park operations can open early if everything is ready on pretty much any day. From what I have personally seen, they tend to do it when there is a large crowd gathering at the entrance. It was a pretty common occurrence during Star Wars Weekends at the Studios.

They will frequently open the turnstiles a little early, but they will stop you before you get on attractions.

If I had to put money on it, I would expect and 8:00 AM opening and not something earlier. I would still be prepared and get there at 7:30, but expect to get in at 8:00.

As to skipping breakfast, I would. People on vacation tend to sleep in. I have found that very few will get up at 6:30 AM to get to an 8:00 AM park opening. If you are willing to do that, you can have the run of the part typically until around 10:00 AM. This is especially important at AK where the animals tend to be more active in the morning.

 

[KCheatle]

I think breakfast reservations are an early-riser's worst enemy at Disney world! This last time, we only had 1 bfast reservation, and it was at Crystal Palace at 8:15 (park opened at 9). That ended up being great because we got to take pictures in the park with no one there! But, otherwise, we have routinely been disappointed with the amount of time we lose at a bfast reservation when there is no one in the park! I think we'll do crystal palace again this trip because we did enjoy being in the park early adn it didn't talk long to meet the characters and be on your way. But, otherwise, we'll stick to Dinner reservations.