Crystal Palace
  • On Sep 9, 2025
    Lisa from PA Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    If we get a restaurant reservation before the park opens and we are done dining before the park officially opens do we need to leave the park and get back into the line and wait to enter the park again?

    Welcome to planDisney, Lisa! It looks like you'll be visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth at the start of the holiday season! With so much to see and do at the theme parks and resorts, this is my favorite time of year to visit! 

    Lisa, reserving an early morning breakfast is the most magical way to start your Disney day! If you have a reservation inside one of the theme parks before the park officially opens, you will not have to leave the park and re-enter should you finish your meal early. All four theme parks do open select attractions and experiences to on-site guests for Early Theme Park Entry 30 minutes before official opening time. Generally, the turnstiles to the park will open about 15-30 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry officially begins. If you are a guest with a confirmed dining reservation or a confirmed Disney Resort hotel reservation, you'll be sent to verify your reservation to gain access to select areas of the parks ahead of guests who do not have these types of reservations. However, once you are in the park, you will not be asked to leave.

    Lisa, remember that park hours often fluctuate as your dates get closer, so be sure to keep an eye on the Park Hours and Events Calendar ahead of your visit to verify opening times and plan your day! Early mornings are a great way to ensure a little extra time for attractions or meals, but I always recommend planning ahead and arriving early to allow yourself plenty of extra time to navigate getting through security, tapping into the park, and confirming your reservation with Cast Members. 

    I hope this helps, Lisa, and I hope you have a magical meal and a magical vacation! I noticed that your advance dining reservation window opens next week, so if you're still deciding where you'd like to dine on your trip, my top picks for in-park breakfast dining are Garden Grill Restaurant in EPCOT and The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. During your visit, you can also check out Minnie's Holiday Dine, a special holiday-themed character breakfast at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios!

    Lisa, if you have any other vacation planning questions, come see us again here at planDisney! We'll save you a spot at the table!

    Bon Appetit,
    Alison
thumbnail image for Alison

Meet the Panelist: Alison, Louisiana

I'm Alison - a wife, mom, and teacher from New Orleans, LA. My first childhood visit to the Walt Disney World Resort sparked a lifelong love of this magical place, and I still find magic in both the new and nostalgic on each visit! I understand the changing dynamics of planning a practically perfect vacation; no matter how large your group is or what your interests are, I look forward to helping you create magical memories and discover unique experiences to make them even more enchanting! Learn More About Alison

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