7 Disney World Restaurant Reservations That Can Get You Into the Parks an Hour Before Everyone Else

May 15, 2017

Be Our Guest

We here at Disney Addicts are asked quite a lot about our top Tips and Tricks when it comes to visiting Walt Disney World and today we’re sharing one that consistently ranks at the top of our list – Early Morning Dining Reservations. Did you know that there are a handful of Walt Disney World theme park restaurants that offer advanced dining reservations that happen an hour before park opening even on the days that don’t have Extra Magic Hours? So why would you want to have breakfast at Disney at 8am? Here’s why

Imagine arriving at your theme park before the massive lines of people and not having to wait in the large crowds that assemble right before opening.
Go right to the head of the line and enter the park through a special dining reservation entrance.
Enjoy your walk through a less crowded theme park
Stop and pose for pictures without huge crowds and lines
Enjoy a delicious Disney breakfast and chances are you’ll be finished before the park officially opens
Head on over to your favorite attraction and and be among the first in line

What’s not to love? There are a handful of Walt Disney World theme park restaurants that start seating guests from 8am. These coveted early morning ADRs are a favorite with Disney regulars who see a clear benefit of early park entry. To help you take advantage of this extra little dining perk, here’s a list of 7 restaurants at Walt Disney World where you can dine early.

1. Be Our Guest – Magic Kingdom (pictured) – This early morning dining location is an absolute must-do for my family every time we visit the parks. Not only are the surroundings of The Beast’s Castle magical way to start your Magic Kingdom day but for those on a Disney Dining Plan, this restaurant only counts as 1 Quick Service Credit. That being said, they still take advanced dining reservations so it is essential that you make your reservations as far out as possible. A fun technological treat at Be Our Guest is that you can actually order your food on-line in advance. Guests can make selections at home using the My Disney Experience app and when you arrive for meal, your order “magically” shows up at your table. For those lucky enough to get an 8am reservation, because there aren’t any characters this meal won’t take you as long as the other’s meaning you’re in a great position to line-up early for some of your favorite New-Fantasyland Attractions. Under the Sea, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Enchanted Tales with Belle are just some of the rides you’ll find close by.

2. Cinderella’s Royal Table – Magic Kingdom – There are few things more magical then spending your Magic Kingdom morning meeting some of your favorite Disney princesses and having your breakfast in the ornate surroundings of the restaurant inside Cinderella’s Castle. Cinderella’s Royal Table does open up for breakfast starting at 8 am, making it the perfect place to stop and get some beautiful pictures of the castle before dining on amazing dishes like Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast and Beef Tenderloin and Egg. The Castle’s central location also means that its easy to get to any land to enjoy your first attraction of the day or take in the Welcome Show from the Castle Stage. . Guests should note that breakfast here can set you back $35 – 59 per adult or two Table Service dining credits for those on the Disney Dining Plan.

3. The Crystal Palace – Magic Kingdom – This is the perfect early morning dining option for small-fries. Start your morning off in this beautiful Victorian-themed glasshouse while spending some quality time with Winnie the Pooh and friends. The buffet on offer during breakfast is brimming with favorites including a make-your-own omelette station, fresh baked pastries as well as pancakes and everyone’s favorite- Mickey Waffles! The Crystal Palace’s location at the top of Main Street make it a beautiful morning walk and a convenient location to head on over to your favorite Frontierland and Adventureland attractions. Dining here will set guests back $35 – $59 per adult or 1 Table Service dining credit for those on the Disney dining plan.

4. Hollywood & Vine – Disney’s Hollywood Studios – One of my favorite Disney secrets for families looking to sign up little ones for Jedi Training Academy is to nab an 8 am reservation to Disney Jr. Play ‘n’ Dine which takes place each morning at Hollywood & Vine. Not only will you get to enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet, meet some of your favorite Disney Jr. friends like Jake and Doc McStuffins but you’re also in very close proximity to Jedi Training sign-ups. For those with 8am reservations, this means that you can head over and get ready to sign up prior to the park opening at 9am. Its a pretty stress-free way to start your Hollywood Studios day. Dining here is $35 – $59 per adult or 1 Table Service dining credit.

5.Tusker House – Disney’s Animal Kingdom – With the excitement around the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar starting to reach fever pitch, this early morning ADR just got slightly more important. This is another restaurant that ranks right up there with my family’s favorite Disney character dining experiences. At this buffet you can expect to find a delightful combination of traditional breakfast items coupled with some more delightful and exotic dishes from around the globe including the Jungle Juice which is definitely worth a try. Safari, Mickey, Donald, Minnie, Daisy and Goofy are also on hand to great guests. When you finish, your Harambe Marketplace location means that its easy to head on over to enjoy the new rides and attractions at Pandora or be among the first to say good-morning to the animals at the Kiliminjaro Safaris. Dining here is $15 – $34 for adult or 1 table service dining credit.

6. The Garden Grill – Epcot – I think that the Garden Grill is probably the most consistently underrated character dining experience that Disney World has to offer. Give it a chance and I’m confident that you’ll be delightfully surprised by the experience at the rotating restaurant. Not only do your surroundings change as you dine (the restaurant shares the scenes from the Living with the Land attraction) but you’ll be treated to delightful skillets of breakfast classics including our family favorite the Sticky Buns Bake. Mickey and pals will also be there to say good morning as the restaurant moves. Its location at Future World’s Land Pavilion mean that once you’re done feasting you are a short trip down to the ground floor to get in line for Soarin’. Dining here will set you back $15 – $39 per adult or 1 Table Service Dining Credit.

7. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Epcot – A worthy substitute for princess dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table, this Norway Pavilion eatery is perfect for Frozen lovers. Score an early morning dining reservation at Akershus and not only will you be able to enjoy a combination of Continental breakfast buffet and sizzling skillets of breakfast food brought directly to your table but you’ll also be able to meet some of your favorite Disney friends including Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, and Cinderella. And though everyone’s favorite sisters from Arendelle don’t make an appearance at the breakfast, their Epcot Meet and Greet location is housed just next door as is the wildly popular Frozen Ever After attraction. For those dining close to the 8am mark, this means you should be able to line-up for some Frozen-filled fun before Epcot starts to welcome the heaving masses! Dining here will run $35 -$59 per adult or 1 Table Service credit.

Hopefully there are early morning options here bound to tickle your taste-buds. Guests should note however that most early morning dining options are usually the first to be swapped up by frequent Disney visitors who are “in-the-know” so booking early is absolutely essential.

I also get asked regularly about whether or not guests relying on Disney transportation will be able to get buses to the park this early. The answer is YES! Disney is used to accommodating these early morning diners. Buses should start leaving your resort from 7:00 – 7:15 am. Try to be there around this time to ensure that you’re able to arrive to your theme park of choice well on-time.

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