EE or Rope Drop with an ADR at the Castle?

[leebee]

We're trying to decide which breakfast at the Castle to "keep." Poor communication (DD made a reservation, not knowing that I was making the reservation...) so we now have 2 breakfast reservations, one at 8 and one at 9, and need to cancel one. Which would you keep? Early entry is scheduled for 8:30 with rope drop at 9. The Little Guy (7yo) has never been to Disney before. Do we keep the 8am and hope they are done and in the park by 8:45 to get some of EE and then rope drop, or do we keep the 9am and use the benefits of EE to get on some of the more challenging, longer wait-time rides (Peter Pan, Pooh... don't think we'll get Mine Train for EE- or should we do that for EE)? I haven't taken a kid to Disney in decades and am feeling a little rusty about all this!

Also, if EE is at 8:30, what time do they start letting us in to the park?

 

[Dave006]

Poor communication (DD made a reservation, not knowing that I was making the reservation...) so we now have 2 breakfast reservations, one at 8 and one at 9, and need to cancel one. Which would you keep? Early entry is scheduled for 8:30 with rope drop at 9. The Little Guy (7yo) has never been to Disney before.

I will be blunt here: Why do you think a 7 year old boy or girl would want to spend 1+ hour at the CRT breakfast vs their first chance to ride Fantasy land rides with lower crowds?

Will you be visiting MK on multiple days where you might take advantage of EE and have the full 30 minutes advanced lead lead to hit attractions with little or no wait?

I would suggest cancelling both CRT reservations and maybe consider a Crystal Palace lunch with Pooh and friends.

Dav

 

[DWillowBay]

I have to agree with the PP. There is no way that you'll be done and out of CRT by 8:45...and why would you want to be if you're paying such a high price. Even a 9am breakfast will cut much time out of your day. Your little one can meet Princesses right there in Fantasyland (Cinderella, Rapunzel, etc are all at Fairytale Hall) , but missing EE leaves all of you at a disadvantage for rides in that lines will be long by the time you get out of CRT. I'd skip it altogether and schedule a mid-day break.

 

[leebee]

Definitely not skipping CRT. Little Guy has no interest in Pooh characters at all, but adores the princesses and is excited over having the chance to have breakfast in the castle with them. He and DD (who is his stepmom) are busily planning what they are going to wear; this has been an incredible bonding experience for them. TBH, we are not early entry people and I haven't done a rope drop in over 20 years, which is why I was asking which would be more advantageous, EE or rope drop, as it's been a long while since I've been in a park before 10 or 11am.

 

[Dug720]

I'd probably lean toward keeping the earlier one. No, they won't be able to take advantage of EE, but how amenable would he truly be to stopping riding to go to breakfast - even if he does want to eat with the princesses? Most kids I know would NOT want to stop riding things once they started.

 

[Narcoossee11]

If CRT is that important, I agree, forget about early hours.
Go to the 8:00 reservation. CRT is too expensive and important for the group.