Alpe Di Suisi Driving and related questions can someone clarify

I can not answer your question about driving up to catch the sunrise as we do not drive there, but I can tell you that I have seen people take horse carriage rides from both Compatsch and Mont Seuc. i would ask at the TI about pre-arranging.

Thanks Laurel.
From what I can gather from websites it is possible it is 2 different services for the horse carriages but hard to tell.

The Seiseralm site and information office seems to exclude Ortisei/St. Christina which are considered part of Val Gardena.
Seiseralm seems to offer carriage rides from Compatch and Val Gardena from a stable in Monte Pana from which I believe they reach the Alpe Di Suisi.
Cannot tell if these are connected in some way or completely separate but sent 2 emails one to stable in Monte Pana and one to the Seiseralm tourist information email.

Possible to ride a mountain bike from Ortisei to Alpe Di Suisi?
Our hotel has free use of their mountain bikes and even electric bikes so this may end up a better way for me to reach Alpe Di Suisi if I want to after hours of the lift than driving a car?
I assume if reaching it is via cable car it is very steep and probably not bike able unless expert level?
http://www.seiser-alm.it/en/leisure-activities/mountain-biking-and-cycling/mtb-tour-to-monte-piz/
Above link talks about a trail for bikes or I assume walking, I would not need to do the circular route just up and then either down the same way or if I can bike to the Ortisei lift I can take the lift down when it first opens with the bike (I know they permit this for a 5 euro fee)
Even if I need to walk some steep inclines with the bike unable to ride up, it may be a better option than driving each way.

We took mountain bikes on the cablecar from Ortesei up to Alpe I'd Siusi. It is easy ( and free).

http://www.seiseralm-seilbahn.com/eng/bike.htm

It is wonderful riding up there!

Lola, thought there was a 5 euro fee for bike, but good to know they are free on this lift.
Curious though, having taken that lift did the route from Ortisei to Alpe Di Suisi look like something you could ride a bike up?
The trail in my previous post seems to be the best option just not sure how realistic it is especially in pre-dawn light.

Taking the bike on the lift is of interest but does not help me access the area outside of lift hours. If I biked up I could take the lift down after it opens for the morning.

We were in Ortisei in May, before a lot was open. I don't have specific answers to your questions, but we were able to take the gondola up to Alpe di Suisi (Mont Seuc). There is about a half mile descent on a easy switchback trail to get down to the meadow. We passed horses grazing, alpacas, and miniature horses along the way.
As for the pony rides, there were a few pony carts waiting for visitors at the gondola station while we were there, but it's possible they could be booked more during the summer, if reservations are possible.
Our hotel told us there is a trail that leads back down to Ortisei, but it is steep in some places and would take a few hours.
We didn't try any of the things you are contemplating, but I imagine it would be easier driving to Siusi Seis than taking a mountain bike, especially at that hour of the morning. We did drive on some of the same roads you would use, and at an early hour it would be a challenge on a bike.
Our hotel recommended eating lunch here: www.sanon.it, one of the huts on the meadow. There's a large deck, a swing set, and good food. Once you walk down to the meadow, it's about a 35 minute walk in the direction of Sanon. Also, the pony carts go by there.
Your hotel might be able to give you some of the specific information you are looking for, or you might see if you can call the Tourist Information Office. We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon when the rest of the town was closed (off season) and they were very helpful.

Thanks VA, your recommendation of Sanon for lunch sounds like a great one, my 3 year old daughter will appreciate the swing set and deck.
The Seceda side has a similar option, the Rifugio Troier with a little petting zoo and swing set I anticipated going to another day with her.
She is why I was interested in the Horse Carriage ride as an alternative to walking/hiking after taking the lift to Alpe Di Suisi

The whole sunrise idea is not something I have to do, just something I wanted to plan out if I get there and feel inspired one early morning I will have a plan that would work. I like to have maps and the like all printed out in advance.
This would be a solo effort while my wife and daughter sleep in.
Really more to get that low level fog in the valley that occurs at those early hours than the actual sun rising over the horizon which is likely hidden by a mountain anyway. I am worried by 8:30 - 9 AM when I can get there with the lift that early morning fog is gone.
I really wanted to get to Seceda for sunrise but that seems a much more difficult task, Alpe Di Suisi at least with a car is doable, though far from convenient.

The mountain bike route, half the distance (10km instead of 22.6 km) which is what got me thinking if bikeable via the route linked maybe a one way uphill bike ride of 10km is better than 2 one way car rides of 22.6 km each but if for expert level bicyclist that bike up mountain passes / steep gravel/dirt switchbacks in the Dolomites than that is beyond my abilities. Never rode an electric bike but imagine those are more for paved riding than a traditional mountain bike.

I may just wait 'til I get there and talk it over with the tourist information center and the hotel.
I do look forward to bike riding on the Alpe Di Suisi at some point during our stay, seems a perfect way to see this valley ; may have to be during normal lift hours though.

Turns out the bike is not free on the lift; the chart says it costs €3.50. The statement that it is "free" on the page I linked must have something lost in translation. But it is well worth doing. I would not want to ride up, at least not where the cablecar goes up---it is 1000 meters of ascent. I can do that hiking, but would not want to do iton a mountain bike trail. ( The route they describe in your link seems to take a different path, much less steep I would guess).

Not sure I am helping but I will tell ou a favorite Alpe di Siusi outing we do every trip, winter or summer:

• Take first lift from Ortisei to Mont Seus (8:00 or 8:30?)

• Hike across the Alpe di Siusi heading toward the resort Icaro on Monte Piz then on to Compatsch. Map here.

• Take the lift down to Siusi and the bus back to Ortisei

This is not difficult but we take much of a day with a stop for coffee at Icaro and lunch at Compatsch. Often the early AM we are quite alone and yes, we've had that lovely fog that lifts as the sun comes on strong. We've been up in July when it's been 44 degrees at Mont Seuc, and also in July whent he day starts warm at about 60-65. (Those days end HOT!)

Thanks Laurel
Great to know taking the first lift times up you were usually still there before the layer of fog burns off.
Without that fog or some interesting sky (usually sunrise/sunset) I won't be able to get any pictures of the quality I want in Alpe Di Suisi.

I believe both lifts from Ortisei (Alpe Di Suisi and Seceda) both open at 8:30 AM
Seceda honestly I think even the shots in mid day sun are quite amazing, which is almost unheard of.
Plan on dedicating a day to exploring each side but since I will have the pass may make a couple of quick additional trips up to each just to check it out / get a quick photo in different conditions.

Wife and daughter might prefer I go solo at 8:30 and come back to get them to go back up around 10 AM when the air is not as chilly.

Would love the walk you are describing but not sure wife and daughter will be game so any hikes will more likely be of no more than 1 hour.