P&J's opening

TheBigErn

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
With parks opening as early as 6am, why doesn't P&J's open earlier than 7:30am? Other resorts have quick serves that open at 6am. Anyone else find this a problem when trying to get to early rope drops? And we are not a family that eats in the cabin or room.
 
Had the same problem at SSR. Nothing open till 7:00. Asked at the front desk and was told some bean pusher higher up decided it wasn't feasible to be open that early. That's my translation of course.
Seems they need to re-evaluate since parks are opening at 6:00 now. I did hear that Beach Club is open at 6:00 for coffee and such.
 
When we did the big family trip a couple years back in the Cabins the first morning my brother picked me up early in his golf cart. We grabbed our resort mugs and headed to get some coffee. We were surprised they were not open. One of the CM's came to the door as we were walking away and said they were not open yet but asked what we needed. She said they had just brewed a fresh pot and took our mugs and filled them for us and gave us sugar etc in a box.

I know it's the campground but it would be nice if they at least had coffee available early.
 


I'll ask the dumb question....

The cabins have a full kitchen (fridge, microwave, oven, coffee). And a nice sitting area (if the table and chairs ever come up in auction, I will get a set).

Most of us campers in campsites have our stoves/burners/ovens with us. Or folks use the cabin amenities (which include these things). Several online vendors can deliver groceries. Thus you have the MEANS and you have the WAYS.

Not sure what the issue is here for the OP. :confused3

I'm all for free enterprise and capitalism. Maybe P&J won't, on their customer analysis, have enough folks come in too early to buy a sausage and biscuit plus OJ. There may be a FEW people like the OP (who discards having a fridge and stove/oven/micro/coffee) and want to pay a premium for a grab-and-go breakfast. That does not a business-case-make.

If I am one of the few customers who can't float the business case, I am okay with that. I run that same equation through my head every meal (cost/availbility/means of a meal versus the convenience/speed/expense) in the parks. It's an all-the-time consideration.

TL;DR: I'd like to hear why the OP can't manage breakfast at their cabin/site. I don't eat in my room either: I have breakfast at my site. My breakfast nook is my campsite which is a wonderful breakfast in the big outdoors.

Bama Ed
 
Last edited:
We were headed to the first guided 4 hour fishing trip of the day. Stayed in a cabin with the full dining plan, so we brought/bought no food. We wanted breakfast before the trip at 8am, had to check in early. We were starved by noon.
 
I'll ask the dumb question....

The cabins have a full kitchen (fridge, microwave, oven, coffee). And a nice sitting area (if the table and chairs ever come up in auction, I will get a set).

Most of us campers in campsites have our stoves/burners/ovens with us. Or folks use the cabin amenities (which include these things). Several online vendors can deliver groceries. Thus you have the MEANS and you have the WAYS.

Not sure what the issue is here for the OP. :confused3

I'm all for free enterprise and capitalism. Maybe P&J won't, on their customer analysis, have enough folks come in too early to buy a sausage and biscuit plus OJ. There may be a FEW people like the OP (who discards having a fridge and stove/oven/micro/coffee) and want to pay a premium for a grab-and-go breakfast. That does not a business-case-make.

If I am one of the few customers who can't float the business case, I am okay with that. I run that same equation through my head every meal (cost/availbility/means of a meal versus the convenience/speed/expense) in the parks. It's an all-the-time consideration.

TL;DR: I'd like to hear why the OP can't manage breakfast at their cabin/site. I don't eat in my room either: I have breakfast at my site. My breakfast nook is my campsite which is a wonderful breakfast in the big outdoors.

Bama Ed
When we go on vacation, we go on vacation. My wife doesn't want to cook/make meals. We aren't camping. We are staying in a cabin simply because we have wanted to try a cabin. That's the issue.
 


When we go on vacation, we go on vacation. My wife doesn't want to cook/make meals. We aren't camping. We are staying in a cabin simply because we have wanted to try a cabin. That's the issue.

Have to say I'm with you there - we do a lot of camping and I love to cook then and at home. But, on vacation at Disney (even though we are in our motorhome with a full kitchen) other than making coffee, we don't take any time to cook. Dh & I enjoy being on the go and trying out the various restaurants and eating again at our favorites.

Everyone has their way of enjoying vacations and for some it means fixing most meals even at FW. Whatever brings the relaxing satisfaction of vacation is the right way for each family. Would be nice to have QS available to those that begin their day early, even though it doesn't apply to us. :-)
 
When we go on vacation, we go on vacation. My wife doesn't want to cook/make meals. We aren't camping. We are staying in a cabin simply because we have wanted to try a cabin. That's the issue.

Well as I said there aren't many people who have that issue considering the ways and means. We did have a person a few years ago complain that when they came back from Extra Magic Hours (evening) at 2am that nothing was open. And I know when I've headed to the start line on Disney Marathon mornings at 330am that nothing is open (thousands of people like me, and supporters, headed out WAY early).

The other relevant point is P&J's Takeout uses the Trails End kitchen which is Table Service so it's not a question of opening just P&J's early, you're asking them to essentially open TE also.

Personally I'm of the opinion that the Fort has upped its game with the expanded menu P&J now carries (compared to 2-3 years ago) and the Food Truck option that's at the Fort from lunchtime on. Even the main pool snack bar installed outside refillable mug dispensers. It's much better off than it was.

Guess your options are skip breakfast, grab a bite at the park you chose to visit early, or get a meal the day before and stash it in the fridge. But at least you'll probably get to ride lots of stuff before the rest of the morning crowd shows up.

Bama Ed
 
When we go on vacation, we go on vacation. My wife doesn't want to cook/make meals. We aren't camping. We are staying in a cabin simply because we have wanted to try a cabin. That's the issue.

Disney is a vacation for us also, we don't cook unless we get back late, or if its a "Fort Day". Coffee and toast/muffins/pastry however are not cooking in my book, if we have a rare early start, we get by with the quick stuff until food is available at the parks. When we are just camping, I love dutch oven cooking over the campfire:thumbsup2
 
While our Disney stays are usually DVC, the amenities available to us are the same...full kitchen, etc. While we never “cook”, we do keep cereal, milk, fruit, water and other drinks, snacks, etc. out to take with us and to have something for a bite without having to leave the room to get it. I can understand not cooking (or wanting to cook) on vacation (we don’t do that either), but it doesn’t seem too terribly much to have some non prep type stuff for morning (cereal and fruit, coffee in the room, etc) to get by until dining areas open. Now, if you are wanting to be up with a full hot breakfast before the opening hours ...we’ll, guess you are right... out of luck....
 
Well as I said there aren't many people who have that issue considering the ways and means. We did have a person a few years ago complain that when they came back from Extra Magic Hours (evening) at 2am that nothing was open. And I know when I've headed to the start line on Disney Marathon mornings at 330am that nothing is open (thousands of people like me, and supporters, headed out WAY early).

The other relevant point is P&J's Takeout uses the Trails End kitchen which is Table Service so it's not a question of opening just P&J's early, you're asking them to essentially open TE also.

Personally I'm of the opinion that the Fort has upped its game with the expanded menu P&J now carries (compared to 2-3 years ago) and the Food Truck option that's at the Fort from lunchtime on. Even the main pool snack bar installed outside refillable mug dispensers. It's much better off than it was.

Guess your options are skip breakfast, grab a bite at the park you chose to visit early, or get a meal the day before and stash it in the fridge. But at least you'll probably get to ride lots of stuff before the rest of the morning crowd shows up.

Bama Ed
However, many other resorts have QS breakfast that open as early as 6am-6:30am including Roaring Fork at WL, Riverside Mill at POR, and Chip N Dales at Saratoga Springs. So it can be done.
 
Everyone does it different. We have instant oatmeal, doughnuts, etc in the camper for breakfast, coffee is made when we get up, I can't stand WDW coffee, well maybe with 8 sugar packages and a couple of cream packages, if we are in the parks, we just eat there, as far as cooking, we usually bring stuff premade from home, Personally, I'm not spending $50 for a steak at WDW when we buy it at home, from the producer for $3.80 a pound. Makes my Ribeye taste extra good. I'm with Team Bradfield on the camping cooking, love to dutch oven cook. They would have to weigh, how many are going to eat at 6 am, is it profitable to open at 6 am, and I thinking at the Fort with most people eating at their campsite or cabin, it would cost them more to open at 6 am then to open later.
 
It would be one thing if it was simply pastries and coffee, but PJ's is practically a full fledged restaurant within itself now. It kind of was before hand, but even more items have been added to the menu within the last couple of years.

That being said, they'd rather wait until 7:30am when there is more likely to be more activity to sell everything. I do not know how many times I've been on the bus earlier than 7 only to watch the sunrise, not go to the parks, only to be reminded that nothing is open yet and not a single soul with me on the bus.

It would take a little bit of time before anyone would be at the dock in order to ride the boats over to MK, or Contemp to ride monorail.

That being said there is just not enough of a demand to justify firing up that kitchen and making all that food with the limited people that may, or may not show and potentially waste food. You could argue, "well you do not have to have hot food, just pastries and coffee". However that will just open up the potential for complaints due to them not having the full menu. Even if they had a menu explicitly showing only pastries and coffee guests would still complain.

I'm sure a lot of people take the boats, but more so, people take the buses, the "minnie" vans, or drive to the parks. It might be more justified perhaps if it was near the buses / parking lot, but it is not.
 
It would be one thing if it was simply pastries and coffee, but PJ's is practically a full fledged restaurant within itself now. It kind of was before hand, but even more items have been added to the menu within the last couple of years.

That being said, they'd rather wait until 7:30am when there is more likely to be more activity to sell everything. I do not know how many times I've been on the bus earlier than 7 only to watch the sunrise, not go to the parks, only to be reminded that nothing is open yet and not a single soul with me on the bus.

It would take a little bit of time before anyone would be at the dock in order to ride the boats over to MK, or Contemp to ride monorail.

That being said there is just not enough of a demand to justify firing up that kitchen and making all that food with the limited people that may, or may not show and potentially waste food. You could argue, "well you do not have to have hot food, just pastries and coffee". However that will just open up the potential for complaints due to them not having the full menu. Even if they had a menu explicitly showing only pastries and coffee guests would still complain.

I'm sure a lot of people take the boats, but more so, people take the buses, the "minnie" vans, or drive to the parks. It might be more justified perhaps if it was near the buses / parking lot, but it is not.
What's the difference at Wilderness Lodge QS that opens at 6am?
 
I'll ask the dumb question....

The cabins have a full kitchen (fridge, microwave, oven, coffee). And a nice sitting area (if the table and chairs ever come up in auction, I will get a set).....................

My kitchen in the RV is open 24/7. Plus my ESPRESSO and coffee is always the best. DW and I are on MSC Seaside heading for Miami right now at 4AM as I type so I made ESPRESSO in our cabin before going to bed. ( Have Nespresso in cabin) A cold Espresso is better than NO Espresso.

When we go on vacation, we go on vacation. My wife doesn't want to cook/make meals. We aren't camping. We are staying in a cabin simply because we have wanted to try a cabin. That's the issue.

Last month on Oceania Insignia I had Laundry Service available or W/D Self serve. I did our laundry just like at FW with W/D in motorhome. Before our MH I used the CS W/Ds. I do all the cooking and being on vacation doesn't stop that unless facilities are not available like at this moment on the Seaside but chef graciously made my own Curry mixture from list of ingredients I gave him.

As is said, "Whatever Floats Your Boat" but I can understand the frustration many have with nothing being available in the early AM.
 
What's the difference at Wilderness Lodge QS that opens at 6am?
Fort Wilderness is 2/3 campsites and the rest are full kitchen cabins. Not really comparable to the resort style rooms at the lodge. At the lodge guests need onsite food services. Not so at the campground. You could stay all week and never set foot in PJ’s. If the customer volume was there at 6:30 am believe me Disney would have it open at 6:30.
 
However, many other resorts have QS breakfast that open as early as 6am-6:30am including Roaring Fork at WL, Riverside Mill at POR, and Chip N Dales at Saratoga Springs. So it can be done.
Yes. It CAN be done. The point being made here is there isn’t the need or demand for it to be done here v
What's the difference at Wilderness Lodge QS that opens at 6am?
WL is primarily hotel rooms without kitchen fracilities
 
Fort Wilderness is 2/3 campsites and the rest are full kitchen cabins. Not really comparable to the resort style rooms at the lodge. At the lodge guests need onsite food services. Not so at the campground. You could stay all week and never set foot in PJ’s. If the customer volume was there at 6:30 am believe me Disney would have it open at 6:30.

Exactly.

Not only that, but as I stated in my previous statement at the end, @TheBigErn. Other than lack of demand, I have a feeling a lot of it also has to do with location. A hotel like the WL is almost like a "hub" compared to FW. It's an easy walk to QS at the WL and technically where you are you could even be hitting it on the way to the bus, boats, the "minnie" van, or your car to go to the parks. However, unless you happen to be going to the boats, you would definitely not be hitting it on the way to the parks and would be going way out of your way to go to PJ's for breakfast compared to a guest getting QS at WL.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!






Top