We just returned from a great weekend at Disney. We live in Florida so we go about about every 6-8 weeks. We always go to a few character meals which are the highlight of our visits for our 3 year old twins. I think we have been to all of the character meals over the last year. Our girls love Tigger and Pooh so I figured that we should eat at the Crystal Palace on this trip (along with 1900 Park Fare--Cinderella, and Liberty Tree Tavern). The Crystal palace was by far the worst character meal we have been to. The food was actually quite good although the kids buffet only had mac'n'cheese and chicken fingers. I clearly remembered mini hot dogs from a prior visit but not this time.
We were seated without too much of a wait. We ate our entire meal including two trips to the dessert bar without a visit from any of the 4 characters. In fact ,75 minutes passed without a character coming anywhere near our section of the restaurant. After an hour, I asked our waiter if something was wrong. He went to ask the character handlers what was wrong---he really didn't get an answer. We noticed that Tigger ad Piglet kept visiting the same 4-5 tables and actually spent about 15 minutes at one particular table. Then just as we were hoping that they would head in the direction of our section....they went on break!!!! Other people in our forgotten about section began to complain to the hostesses who seemed to be very frustrated as well. I then got up and went over to one of the handlers who replied "You must have had at least one of the characters by now....I just got back from my lunch" .
I then asked to speak to the manager. She assured me that this was not a typical experience and she offered us a breakfast the next day. When i explained that we were leaving after lunch she finally took my girls over to each of the four characters for a picture. The handlers seemed quite bothered by this.
We will never go back. We will stick with Chef Mickey's, Garden Grill, and 1900 Park Fare. Another parent at another table told me he had the same experience last time he was there (and sat at our exact table).
I am now thinking of reporting this meal experience to guest services so that perhaps someone else doesn't have to go through the same thing!! Especially for that kind of money!!!!
We were seated without too much of a wait. We ate our entire meal including two trips to the dessert bar without a visit from any of the 4 characters. In fact ,75 minutes passed without a character coming anywhere near our section of the restaurant. After an hour, I asked our waiter if something was wrong. He went to ask the character handlers what was wrong---he really didn't get an answer. We noticed that Tigger ad Piglet kept visiting the same 4-5 tables and actually spent about 15 minutes at one particular table. Then just as we were hoping that they would head in the direction of our section....they went on break!!!! Other people in our forgotten about section began to complain to the hostesses who seemed to be very frustrated as well. I then got up and went over to one of the handlers who replied "You must have had at least one of the characters by now....I just got back from my lunch" .
I then asked to speak to the manager. She assured me that this was not a typical experience and she offered us a breakfast the next day. When i explained that we were leaving after lunch she finally took my girls over to each of the four characters for a picture. The handlers seemed quite bothered by this.
We will never go back. We will stick with Chef Mickey's, Garden Grill, and 1900 Park Fare. Another parent at another table told me he had the same experience last time he was there (and sat at our exact table).
I am now thinking of reporting this meal experience to guest services so that perhaps someone else doesn't have to go through the same thing!! Especially for that kind of money!!!!
We spent xmas 2005 at Disney. We absolutely enjoyed the food at the CP above all other character meals that week but the characters were everywhere but our table. There was a long line for piglet at the doors as we were leaving so we waited but when it got to be our turn the handler was rude to us and said we should sit at our tbles for characters when I explained we were leaving as we had been here for 2 hours at our table she rudely said well be on your way then..RUDE....nothing was said to the people in front or behind us. So im thinking for the $$$$ whats the deal here?
