Advice For Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace, & Akershus?

[Tia1977]

We're taking DD on a surprise mini 14th bday trip in Aug. While I've read mixed (bad) reviews, like any obligatory parent (we've never done these & DD of course wants to); we're doing them. Lunch at Crystal Palace & Akershus, and dinner at Chef Mickeys. Bc anything to give them magic right? Since short trip, we wanted her to have the character experience w/o the wait of M&G's. I realize this is a subjective question, but any advice on food items that are actually good (or at least not terrible)? Any advice for the character interaction? For the two that offer adult beverages, any advice on drinks not so syrupy sweet to hurt the teeth that only have a drop of alcohol so they can be labeled such? (Just in case food is so bad & places so chaotic I might want one to soothe nerves/wash it down with) Oh, and any feedback on if you were pleased with the bakery that delivers cakes to Chef Mickeys? (It's her bday night dinner and we're ordering a Mickey Head cake ).

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We actually like Akershus for lunch and dinner. I know people rave about breakfast, but we were one and done with that. I will say that we typically only go to Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's for breakfast as we're not fans of the dinner food. Crystal Palace wasn't awful ... not great, but not awful...and I left full. Chef Mickey's dinner was a different story. I wouldn't have traded the experience for the world as it was my kids' first time meeting Mickey, but let's just say I gorged myself at breakfast the next morning to make up for the hunger from dinner. I have heard things have improved some, but everyone is so different and they may just be OK with what we didn't like. I don't think I've had cocktails at Akershus or Chef Mickey's, but there are usually a handful of options and if it's like drinks we've ordered at 1900 PF, you could always ask them for something standard that any bartender could make (i.e. a non-signature cocktail) if you're afraid of something too sweet. Although, I've never run into that issue with resort cocktails...Epcot can be an issue...but they usually put more care into the drinks and the balance at the resorts (and they're often more potent!).

As for cakes, while we've never ordered the Mickey head, we've ordered a number of cakes from the Contemporary bakery and we're usually very pleased.

 

[Tia1977]

Thank you so much for your feedback!!!

 

[slbgnb]

I do these 3 almost every trip and love all 3 of them. Having said that I actually do all of them for breakfast only. Akershus is awesome for breakfast. I don't care for buffets at dinner, but for breakfast all 3 are great in my opinion.

 

[tinkerbell1112]

I hope she has a wonderful birthday. We've NEVER had a bad food experience at Akershus. It's actually one of my DH's favorites

 

[Shelbizzles]

We went to Akershus for dinner on our last trip. 3 adults. Myself, my husband and my sister in law and we loved it! The food was great and we throughly enjoyed the characters

 

[SabresFan]

My wife is a picky eater and a health nut, and she insists on Crystal Palace lunch twice on each trip, and also once at Akershus for lunch or dinner. The characters are just an added bonus for her. So I wouldn't be worried about the food - we've always enjoyed it.

 

[Delphinidae]

We have done Crystal Palace and Akershus for lunch, and loved them both. They were two of our favorites. We had WONDERFUL character interactions at both places, and neither one were chaotic or stressful at all.

Enjoyed everything we ate at CP. It isn't really any different food than you will find at many buffets, but it was all hot and fresh tasting and yummy. Akershus is of course a bit different, and my kids were hesitant about some of the food, but we all enjoyed it. The fruits and cheese and salmon especially.

We are planning on trying them both for breakfast on this upcoming visit. Have not been to Chef Mickey's or ordered alcohol at either so I can't help there. Have a great trip!

 

[Shanti]

We're taking DD on a surprise mini 14th bday trip in Aug. While I've read mixed (bad) reviews, like any obligatory parent (we've never done these & DD of course wants to); we're doing them. Lunch at Crystal Palace & Akershus, and dinner at Chef Mickeys. Bc anything to give them magic right? Since short trip, we wanted her to have the character experience w/o the wait of M&G's. I realize this is a subjective question, but any advice on food items that are actually good (or at least not terrible)? Any advice for the character interaction? For the two that offer adult beverages, any advice on drinks not so syrupy sweet to hurt the teeth that only have a drop of alcohol so they can be labeled such? (Just in case food is so bad & places so chaotic I might want one to soothe nerves/wash it down with) Oh, and any feedback on if you were pleased with the bakery that delivers cakes to Chef Mickeys? (It's her bday night dinner and we're ordering a Mickey Head cake ).

We have enjoyed all three restaurants. Keep an open mind and don't let others' negativity keep you from trying and enjoying something new.

 

[Pmlocke]

I agree with Shanti. I have eaten at all three and have always found the experiance to be wonderful. The food was always great and the interaction with the characters is priceless. Go and find out for yourself.

 

[jrmasm]

I do not recall ever being impressed with a lunch or dinner buffet at Disney. I'd stick with breakfast and pick Crystal Palace over the other two.

 

[erosenst]

DD is 12. Her favorite breakfast place with characters is Tusker House - and I tend to agree. Some things there that aren't on 'every other buffet'. Not sure you want to/can get it - but to throw that out there.

The lunch/dinner at Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's is...totally fine if you're only expecting totally fine at best . Pretty sure CP still has peel and eat shrimp at lunch, a few good salads, etc. The character interaction there is always great, and the layout of the restaurant helps. For interaction - the characters LOVE to see themselves. If she's doing an autograph book, have her put a sticker of each character on a page, with a blank adjacent page for them to sign. If she has (small) stuffed animals of the characters, take the 'right' ones that day.

Have fun!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We ate dinner at all 3 the first week of May. CP was fine which was a big improvement from last time for us. It kind of is what it is. Akershus, definitely try the brown cheese. It has a caramel flavor. I had the meatballs. They were not what I was expecting (very dense) but still good. Hubby had salmon and said it was good. CM was better than I expected. But the quality of the food items varied considerably. I would suggest trying a little of everything that looks interesting and go back for what's good. The California rolls were terrible but the beef was good. Luckily there was a lot to choose from. Ak and CM had the standard Disney drink menu. I'm partial to sangria myself and they seemed pretty typical.

We found all of them to be chaotic and stressful this time around. It's really hard to get the kids food and us food with constant character interruptions and then your fumbling for cameras and autograph books. At Ak they didn't always come the same direction. CP was least stressful for us but that may just have been better seating because we could see them coming a while ahead of time. But this is the nature of character meals. We'll be cutting back on those next time.

 

[JerseyJanice]

You won't be able to order any adult beverages at the Crystal Palace. MK rules. The Outer Rim Lounge services Chef Mickey. Drinks are the usual drinks you find at many Disney restaurants and pool bars. I've never been to Akershus so I can't comment on the food or drink there.

At both Chef Mickey and Crystal Palace, be sure to get some meat at the carving station. If they are featuring prime rib or flank steak that night, you're in luck. Both are great, and be sure to get some horseradish sauce and/or veal demi glacé.

The Parmesan mashed potatoes at CM are out of this world. And definitely check out the soups. Both places do a fine job with soups, especially cream soups like tomato bisque or sweet white onion.

Years ago, Chef Mickey had a fantastic dessert selection. It seems like they cut back a little every year on the variety and quality. I was quite disappointed last time, but regardless, there is still soft serve ice cream.

Happy birthday to your DD!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Years ago, Chef Mickey had a fantastic dessert selection. It seems like they cut back a little every year on the variety and quality. I was quite disappointed last time, but regardless, there is still soft serve ice cream.

Having never gone before (so not having years ago to compare it to), CM definitely had the best dessert selection of any of the buffets we went to. It's still impressive compared to other Disney places, if not to its past.

 

[isabellea]

Akershus lunch is pretty good and I am super picky. CM brunch was really bad and I never been to CP for lunch (we always go for breakfast pre-park opening and it's good).

 

[Mom2Stitch]

If DS is with us CM is a must do for dinner on our first night-great way to say hi to the characters and kick off your vacation. He's now 21 and still insists on it. Food is ok, I always find something I want to eat. The mashed potatoes are worth it and I like some of the salad offerings along with the carved meats. Characters here sometimes see hurried to me.

CP is our go to breakfast, especially PPO. Have done lunch and dinner and it wasn't for us. We enjoy the characters here, but go for the food and PPO advantage. If we miss one and are ready to get going, we just go because sometimes they can be slow here.

Akershus we have done lunch and DH loved it, he says for the food but I'm sure pretty princesses making over my "handsome prince" didn't hurt his feelings at all . We did this lunch as part of our first trip without DS- I wanted to have a Princess meet and greet trip finally. I was not disappointed at all! Having my picture with Belle in her beautiful yellow gown was worth the trip all alone. We are going back this fall.