Are there long lines at these buffets?

[Picabo]

We're planning on several buffets (mostly due to having a 2 and 3 yr old - no wait for food, tons of selections since they tend to be picky, 2 yr old still free, etc). BUT I've read that sometimes there can be huge lines just to get your food. Is this true with ALL buffets at DW or just select ones and select meal times?

Here's what we plan to do -

Crystal Palace (lunch)
1900 PF (dinner)
Chef Mickey (bkfst)
Akershus (bkfst)

Are there better TIMES to try to get at any of these places to avoid waiting in long lines just to get to the food? Do any of them move better than others or any one that we should AVOID?

THANKS!!

 

[princessmom29]

I have never heard of or seen long lines at the buffets. We did 1900 Park fare for thanksgiving dinner last year and even then there was not more than mabye a minute or two wait at the most at the buffet.

 

[Steelersfan]

We just ate at all of these.

If you didn't see it, here is my food review with pics that might help you.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2215054

As for the wait times it seems like it just depends on luck that day.

Here's what we found:

In 07 we hit Chef Mickey's as it opened for dinner. Although the place wasn't full, the line was really bad as they sat several groups then everyone rushed the buffet. People were acting like they were goingto run out of food. They also acted like they had a better excuse than the next guy to cut the line... father is too old, kids too young, etc. I look at it like you have to wait in line regardless of your reasons or you have chaos, which you had that day.

Last month we hit it at 6:35 for din and found we had a long wait to get in but the line wasn't bad at all. The salad part was a little slow, mainly because some people felt compelled to just walk in front of you if they wanted cheese or fruit for example. That kind of thing really held up the line. It wasn't as bad at that time though.

Akershus is no problem. The cold part is a little slow because people don't help their kids get the food. they just allow a 4 year old to take as long as they want even if they hold up the line and make a mess. Here you can just kind of watch the lines and go up when it slows because they bring your main meal on a platter.

We hit 1900 Park Fare at 4:30 or so when it opened and it wasn't too bad. It is kind of weird because they have the buffet kind of set up in sections so in all fairness it is kind of tough to know where lines are forming. It was OK and fast though at that time.

We usually have Crystal Palace breakfast but had the earliest lunch this time. They have two sides to the line so with the exception of the salad part, it was very fast.

With two little kids I would take both of them up and quickly get them some food. Both adults can just take one child. You can leave your stuff at the table. Nobody will mess with it because nobody knows when you might be coming back.

Get their food then take turns going up. It gets a little tricky with the characters coming around because you don't want to be getting food and miss one, but it is very clear when they are coming and it is easy to time.

I found it is just much easier to get a little on your plate and make more trips. You can just skip a part of the line that is slow. For example, if there is somebody trying to fill a plate or just poking around, just pass them and quickly grab something then go back up later.

Our daughter is 5 but still can't really get her food too efficiently at a buffet so my wife would balance both plates while I grabbed my food quickly. I'd go set mine down at the table then go back up and help her finish my daughters plate and go sit down with my daughter whilemy wife finished her plate. If I missed something I just went back up, like I said before. My plan was to just get something then go help.

It takes an hour at these places to see the characters anyways so you have time.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I think you will be ok...there are 2 sides to each buffet that serve the same food so it tends to move pretty smoothly

 

[GBBTomorrow]

We had lunch a couple of weeks ago at Crystal Palace and were really shocked by how long the lines were. Our ADR was right at opening time, so maybe that was the problem.

Another strange thing was that there seemed to be just one giant line (on each side) to go all the way through from salad to hot dishes. In the past, I've seen those as separate lines. I felt guilty to just go up to hot dishes after having salad, because it felt like cutting the line. I'm not sure what the "correct" protocol is for that.

It was a great lunch, but the lines were often all the way to the door of the restaurant. Maybe avoid ADR's right at opening time?

 

[Pirate Me]

I have never experienced long lines at any of the buffets we've been to. The line moves pretty quickly, especially since there are two identical sides of the buffet that offer the same items.

 

[MariDisney]

I have eaten at many many WDW buffets and have never waited more than a minute or two. I will say that at Tusker House and Cape May Cafe people tend to get in what seems to be the beginning of the line, when really you could start at any section of the buffet at these places. That can tend to cause a little back up, but nothing terrible.

 

[Picabo]

We just ate at all of these.

If you didn't see it, here is my food review with pics that might help you.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2215054

As for the wait times it seems like it just depends on luck that day.

Here's what we found:

In 07 we hit Chef Mickey's as it opened for dinner. Although the place wasn't full, the line was really bad as they sat several groups then everyone rushed the buffet. People were acting like they were goingto run out of food. They also acted like they had a better excuse than the next guy to cut the line... father is too old, kids too young, etc. I look at it like you have to wait in line regardless of your reasons or you have chaos, which you had that day.

Last month we hit it at 6:35 for din and found we had a long wait to get in but the line wasn't bad at all. The salad part was a little slow, mainly because some people felt compelled to just walk in front of you if they wanted cheese or fruit for example. That kind of thing really held up the line. It wasn't as bad at that time though.

Akershus is no problem. The cold part is a little slow because people don't help their kids get the food. they just allow a 4 year old to take as long as they want even if they hold up the line and make a mess. Here you can just kind of watch the lines and go up when it slows because they bring your main meal on a platter.

We hit 1900 Park Fare at 4:30 or so when it opened and it wasn't too bad. It is kind of weird because they have the buffet kind of set up in sections so in all fairness it is kind of tough to know where lines are forming. It was OK and fast though at that time.

We usually have Crystal Palace breakfast but had the earliest lunch this time. They have two sides to the line so with the exception of the salad part, it was very fast.

With two little kids I would take both of them up and quickly get them some food. Both adults can just take one child. You can leave your stuff at the table. Nobody will mess with it because nobody knows when you might be coming back.

Get their food then take turns going up. It gets a little tricky with the characters coming around because you don't want to be getting food and miss one, but it is very clear when they are coming and it is easy to time.

I found it is just much easier to get a little on your plate and make more trips. You can just skip a part of the line that is slow. For example, if there is somebody trying to fill a plate or just poking around, just pass them and quickly grab something then go back up later.

Our daughter is 5 but still can't really get her food too efficiently at a buffet so my wife would balance both plates while I grabbed my food quickly. I'd go set mine down at the table then go back up and help her finish my daughters plate and go sit down with my daughter whilemy wife finished her plate. If I missed something I just went back up, like I said before. My plan was to just get something then go help.

It takes an hour at these places to see the characters anyways so you have time.

I'll check out your link! THANKS!

And thanks to everyone for your imput. Sounds like it could just be luck of the draw so I'm not going to worry myself about it! THANKS again!