Hello, Stacie! Thanks for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
I am delighted to hear that you will be dining with the princesses at
Ariel’s Grotto during your upcoming trip! This is such a fun and magical meal for any princess, big or small. Since your dining reservation is for right when the park opens, there are few different ways it could work. First, plan on being at the gates early, perhaps around 8:30 a.m. or earlier. Then if they open the gates right at 9:00 a.m., you can walk directly to the restaurant and be there within five minutes.
Sometimes, they let Guests into the park a little before the official opening time, but hold them at ropes stationed at various places in the park until the park opens. So, if you are let in early, take a right at the end of Buena Vista Street and loop around to the rope near The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. From there, you will have no problem walking directly to Ariel’s Grotto at rope drop to make your 9:00 a.m. reservation.
Another option is to find a Cast Member at the gates that is there to check people in for breakfast reservations. When available, these Cast Members are usually stationed to the far right or left of the entrance and have a list of people with
dining reservations. They will ensure that you arrive on time for your breakfast.
Since operating procedures can change daily, I wanted to make sure you knew the different scenarios you could possibly encounter. But rest assured, you will have a wonderful meal with Ariel and her regal friends no matter which way you get there!
-Linda M