Dinner at Chef Mickey's at 5:15 or Crystal Palace at 7:45?

[Sheilby]

Dinner at Chef Mickey's at 5:15 or Crystal Palace at 7:45? Which would you do?

We haven't eaten at either place. We are going to MK that morning and then probably taking a break for the afternoon before going back to the park for dinner and the evening so both locations work well.

MK is closing at 9:00PM that night and there is no MSEP. We really want to see Wishes since that will be our only chance to see them in the park (we will most likely see Holiday Wishes from the Poly Beach a few days before).

Obviously we will be cutting it close with the CP reservation at 7:45, but it is not during a busy day so we might be seated near our time, and I can always send the kids outside to see the fireworks with my husband or one of the grandparents (as long as they don't miss it I'm fine). Can you see the fireworks decently from outside the Crystal Palace?

The other character meals we have are breakfast at Ohana and dinner at Garden Grill so we will see some of the classic characters then.

I've heard some really bad things about Chef Mickey's, but I know my boys would like to eat in the Contemporary, plus we will have PP+. The timing might not be the best because it wouldn't give us much of an afternoon break before getting back (we are staying at OKW). My boys will be 13, 10 and almost 7 when we go. The 13 year old is a great sport and has no issues about dining with characters being babyish. The 10 year old enjoys everything about life and will totally go along with the whole character thing.

I'd love to get either place at 6-6:30, but that isn't happening this late in the game.

What would you choose and why?

Thanks.

 

[Disneylover99]

I've eaten at both places and love both buffets. I would choose CM's instead of CP because of the reservation time. We are early eaters, especially with young kids.

 

[scootch]

We may be in the minority, but we really love Chef Mickey's atmosphere. We hit it year after year, even twice once year when we had free dining. Have only done CP once for dinner and once for breakfast, both times the characters were so slow coming around. One night (in NOv) we froze in there, all the table around us over and over asked for them to turn up the heat as cold air was coming out of the runs... but the manager did nothing.

 

[BenbowInn]

We actually enjoy Chef Mickeys and don't care for Crystal Palace.

I'd go with Chef Mickeys to get an earlier meal. Disney restaurants are so hit or miss that the earlier the better.

 

[Sheilby]

Thanks for your input guys.

 

[MSSANDRA]

CM vote too. Your boys will enjoy the character and atmosphere more and the food is pretty much equal. There is no way to enjoy a relaxed meal with a 7:45 ADR and be out for wishes. When you pay that much for a character meal, you want to enjoy it!!!!

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Yeah really is a no brainer...Chef Mickey's

Even if the CP time was the same it would be Chef Mickey's The CP ressie is too late. Plus how do you do Winnie and friends over the FAB 5??? The food quality and selection is about the same. (honestly maybe aslight edge to CP, but only a slight edge)

Have a great trip

 

[Sheilby]

Yeah really is a no brainer...Chef Mickey's

Even if the CP time was the same it would be Chef Mickey's The CP ressie is too late. Plus how do you do Winnie and friends over the FAB 5??? The food quality and selection is about the same. (honestly maybe aslight edge to CP, but only a slight edge)

Have a great trip

Thanks. I thought since I had Garden Grill dinner and Ohana breakfast that it might be Mickey overload. Plus I thought that 5:15 would be too early and not give us enough of a midday break. However, it seems you guys are overwhelmingly for Chef Mickey.

 

[wdwrich]

Although I'm not a big fan of the food at CM, I agree with previous posters that the earlier CM time would be best. Also, your boys will love eating in a restaurant with the monorails gliding overhead.

 

[katt789]

I personally would vote for chef mickeys. Having a 7:45 Adr is really pushing it at CP. though they are more than okay having you run outside to watch, the view isnt great.

I did CM's this past trip for dinner & absolutely loved it! The food was all great, hot & fresh! Compared to the later dinner I did at CP it definitely won

 

[Sheilby]

I don't think I ever asked a question before where all the people voted the same way.

 

[SuzieN]

Well I will be the one vote for CP then!! Although I have never been to CM, I love CP and MUCH prefer to eat later while at WDW. Are you on the dining plan? I find that it is so much food that I need to space meals faaaarrrr apart so I am not walking around in a food coma all day. Also, you do already have some Mickey meals planned so why not give Pooh a chance?! Crystal Palace is really a lovely place.

 

[smiths02]

3 Mickey Meals is a bit much IMHO, especially for older kids. Although Pooh is a little babyish. Could you keep CM and Ohana and switch Garden Grill to something else in Epcot?

 

[wiigirl]

I've eaten at both places and love both buffets. I would choose CM's instead of CP because of the reservation time. We are early eaters, especially with young kids.

 

[Sheilby]

Well I will be the one vote for CP then!! Although I have never been to CM, I love CP and MUCH prefer to eat later while at WDW. Are you on the dining plan? I find that it is so much food that I need to space meals faaaarrrr apart so I am not walking around in a food coma all day. Also, you do already have some Mickey meals planned so why not give Pooh a chance?! Crystal Palace is really a lovely place.

Sure, ruin our perfect record

If we went to dinner at 5:15 we would definitely skip lunch. I just wish that Wishes was a bit later that night because it would fit the later reservation better. Now that you said give Pooh a chance I have the song Give Peace a Chance playing in my head.

3 Mickey Meals is a bit much IMHO, especially for older kids. Although Pooh is a little babyish. Could you keep CM and Ohana and switch Garden Grill to something else in Epcot?

We are actually going to Garden Grill because the boys like the idea of a spinning restaurant and they liked Living with the Land last time, not because of Mickey. Does Mickey always show up there? I wasn't sure since I read something about Chip and Dale being the main characters and Mickey and Pluto usually making an appearance but not definite. We have 3 partial days in Epcot so we also have reservations at Chefs de France and and Coral Reef. We are trying to do all new restaurants this time (we were there for our 1st family trip in 2010).

The Ohana breakfast is more about Stitch for them. I was telling them about the Stitch Ride and they decided to watch all the Stitch movies and now they want to go. Yes, they are weird kids.

I originally had LTT for the date we are discussing, but it was a repeat from last time so when CP opened up I grabbed it the other day and dropped LLT but kept checking for an earlier time for CP. I was shocked when CM opened up so I grabbed it (not sure why it didn't automatically cancel CP) but I don't want to hold two reservations so I want to give one up. The time of CP is what is really throwing me, plus I want to get a lot of use out of our PP+.

Clearly Disney has made me insane, I blame Mickey.

 

[wdwrich]

Sure, ruin our perfect record

Clearly Disney has made me insane, I blame Mickey.

Welcome to the club!

 

[Sheilby]

Welcome to the club!

What's that old saying? I wouldn't want to be part of a club that would have me for a member

 

[wdwrich]

What's that old saying? I wouldn't want to be part of a club that would have me for a member

 

[sweetnjmom]

Late to this, but I'd pick Chef Mickey's for 2 reasons: the time is better (at least for my DS4, who prefers to eat early and go to bed around 8 PM) and for the characters--as much as I love Winnie the Pooh, etc., Mickey is KING.

I now regret not making a Chef Mickey's ADR (did Crystal Palace and Tusker House). I keep looking for cancellations. LOL

 

[Sheilby]

Late to this, but I'd pick Chef Mickey's for 2 reasons: the time is better (at least for my DS4, who prefers to eat early and go to bed around 8 PM) and for the characters--as much as I love Winnie the Pooh, etc., Mickey is KING.

I now regret not making a Chef Mickey's ADR (did Crystal Palace and Tusker House). I keep looking for cancellations. LOL

Ha, we always want what we don't have right?

We actually never eat that early IRL, but vacation schedules are so messed up in doesn't really matter. None of us are in bed by 8pm in my house, we all seem to have the night owl gene. I'm more concerned with the times for how they affect the other things we want to do (hang out at the resort, see wishes, etc.).

I was all set to give up the CP reservation because everyone here was right, it was cutting it too close to Wishes. I posted it on the cancellation thread and right after I did someone else posted they just got rid of a CP reservation at 7:15, so of course I grabbed that and got rid of the 7:45 one. Of course I'm back in the same boat now, just with a new time I can't believe I'm wasting so much time on this insignificant little thing.

What day are you looking for a CM reservation and do you want it for breakfast or lunch? I'd be happy to help you stalk the dining site, it seems to have become a pastime of mine.