Tara,
Hello fellow Hoosier, and thanks for asking your question to planDisney!
You are going to love breakfast at
The Crystal Palace! Please tell Winnie the Pooh that I said hi, OK?
Your travel time will not be as bad as you think. Let's add it up.
To begin, the walk from
Disney's Contemporary Resort to the turnstiles of the
Magic Kingdom is a mere 1/2 mile (3/4 km). That is about a 10-minute walk for most people.
Now during that walk, you do go through security. But this is security just for those walking over from your resort, so it will not be as crowded as the security area for folks unloading at the bus depot. Plus, security now allows you to walk through the scanners, with bag checks only coming as needed. So, this could add anywhere from 5 minutes down to nothing. But for safety's sake, let's add 5 minutes.
Next, you have to get into the park. Time to get in can vary, but since your dining reservation is for even
before the
Early Theme Park Entry begins, you should be able to get checked in via a representative of the restaurant somewhat quickly. They will have a sign and are typically located on the right side of the turnstiles as you face the park, which is the side closest to where you are walking from the resort. Even though you should be able to get into the park in just a few minutes, let's assume 10 minutes, just to be safe.
Finally, once in the park, you have to walk to the restaurant. The walk from there is not even 1/5 of a mile (1/4 km), so the walk should only take you 5 minutes.
Time for some math!OK, let's add it up. It looks like 30 minutes in all, and they do ask you to be there 15 minutes before your reservation. So, if you get on your way from the hotel around 7:30 am, I expect that you will get there with plenty of time. If I had to guess, you will only need about 20 minutes, but why take the chance, right?
BONUS TIP #1When you approach the theme park turnstiles, don't just get into whatever lines you see. Those are early planners, getting in line extra early for rope drop. There should be ample signage for not only early theme park entry but for the dining reservation guests. If you don't see it right away, ask a cast member. This will help you avoid unnecessary waiting in lines.
BONUS TIP #2Let us just say that you end up getting into the park with more time to spare than anticipated.
What should you do? Arriving in the park ahead of even the Early Entry crowd gives you a rare, and valuable opportunity to get some great pictures in front of Cinderella Castle. Imagine a family keepsake that is free of the bustling crowds in the background. Priceless.
Please feel free to
write me back directly if you have any follow-up questions.
Have a Magical Vacation!Doug