Breakfast blues and Wishes Dessert Party

[steviethegreat]

So, I have a trip coming up in 67(!!!) days. I'm taking my best friend and she's never ever been to Disney before. Color me super honored! I'm trying to make the trip as easy as possible, but since we (only) have six days to do and see it all, I'm trying to get our ADRs nailed down.

I know we're DEFINITELY eating at Boma because it's in our hotel and it's amazing. I think I ate three helpings of the french toast bread pudding in September. (That is likely where the extra 20 pounds came from post trip, lbh.)

I have had reservations for The Wave's breakfast in the past two trips and I've canceled both times. First time because a) my dad was too lazy to get up early and b) because my dad 'drank' all of the money for food. He didn't realize how expensive food was (or drinks), so he kind of...drank it all the first two days. After that, we very carefully chose where we were going from then one.

Last trip, my mom ate like a bird because she was sick. She didn't want to get up early to go to breakfast. So we cancelled all but Boma. (Which was my favorite. I could probably eat there forever.)

So! I've been reading up on breakfasts on property and trying to make good decisions since I'm making sure we hit rope drop every morning except the 30th, since we're switching over from Universal that morning. (Though, we're switching EARLY. Because that morning is Dapper Days and we're going to hit MK first so A can see the MK castle and then hightail it over to Epcot, because we're crazy. )

I would like your opinion on The Wave, Crystal Palace, and Captain's Grille for breakfast. I managed to get a 9am reservation for CP, which I'm hoping to bump up earlier and earlier so we get in (and out) before park opening. I know the puffed french toast and potatoes and etc are supposed to be really good. We're mid to late 20s, so the characters are cute, but I'm moreso after the food and the early entry.

Is CP as good as Disneyfoodblog says it is? Is this a 'can miss' or a 'can't miss'?

Based on the reviews for The Wave and Captain's Grille via the Disneyfoodblog, I've added them both as reservations so A and I are eating breakfast early, snacking for lunch, and grabbing dinner late.

Additionally, how do you feel about the Wishes dessert party? I've heard people say it's great for the value and people say it's really not. I was hoping for Illuminations, but it's not listed anymore for some reason. Is this something I should pay extra for since neither of us has seen Wishes or should we just try to find space at the end of the day to do that? I'm torn.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Raeven]

CP is so good and cute! We're going again this trip. We ate at Captain's Grille the first trip and it was just blah. I think they're redoing the restaurant so maybe that's why. Never done The Wave breakfast though. I like the menu for CP better and I don't remember if you had other character meals planned but it'll be fun for a first timer to go there.

The dessert party seemed more worth it when the tables were assigned but now it seems like more of a hassle. You'll have a great view just about anywhere that's probably better than the dessert party. I always want to do one because it's cute but it doesn't seem worth it. The Illuminations one did sound cool I wonder what they're doing there.

 

[disneyvoice]

Crystal Palace is one of our favorites! We have breakfast there every trip. My 15 year old son and his two other teen guy friends went there on their own and surprisingly they all LOVED the interaction with the characters (I thought they would be too cool for it!). I actually think the character interaction at CP is fun for all ages - it's Winnie the Pooh and friends, what's not to love?

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I'm a big fan of the buffet breakfasts at The Wave and at Captain's Grille. Crystal Palace food was OK, but I can take it or leave it. I haven't done any dessert parties, because I just can't see spending the cost of two or three dinners, just to get dessert (even with preferred viewing).

 

[steviethegreat]

CP is so good and cute! We're going again this trip. We ate at Captain's Grille the first trip and it was just blah. I think they're redoing the restaurant so maybe that's why. Never done The Wave breakfast though. I like the menu for CP better and I don't remember if you had other character meals planned but it'll be fun for a first timer to go there.

I wanted to go last trip, but we decided that a character meal just wasn't our thing. But my friend will probably really like it, so I figured it'd be easier doing it with her. (She keeps describing herself as having the excitement of a two-year-old child. So. We'll see.) I read reviews for Captain's Grille and it SOUNDED good, but I just wasn't sure. We might end up trying it anyway, unless a bunch of people talk against it. I didn't even know about it until recently. The Wave also had great reviews, it's supposedly one of the best breakfasts at Disney World? I have four breakfasts for our six days, so ... I'm sure we'll end up knocking one of them off in favor of sleeping or something.

The dessert party seemed more worth it when the tables were assigned but now it seems like more of a hassle. You'll have a great view just about anywhere that's probably better than the dessert party. I always want to do one because it's cute but it doesn't seem worth it. The Illuminations one did sound cool I wonder what they're doing there.

See, I went to a wedding dessert party reception thing and it was AWESOME. I mean, the desserts weren't worth $60 a person, but we were right next to the Yorkshire Fish shop thing and we had sundaes and cake pops and when the thing started, it was really neat. I was focused on my friends, so I got a little distracted, but I thought it was really nice. We HAD seats, so I'm not sure if Illuminations is still like that or not. I think I was largely attracted to Wishes because I was PRETTY sure they had chocolate covered strawberries and I could probably eat my weight in those right now for some reason.

Crystal Palace is one of our favorites! We have breakfast there every trip. My 15 year old son and his two other teen guy friends went there on their own and surprisingly they all LOVED the interaction with the characters (I thought they would be too cool for it!). I actually think the character interaction at CP is fun for all ages - it's Winnie the Pooh and friends, what's not to love?

That's great to know! I love the Winne the Pooh gang, but I was also worried about the food. There were two things coming up a lot that people really liked (the breakfast lasagna and the puffed french toast) so I wasn't sure if it was worth it for those two things and the characters. It's good to know that your younger teens really enjoyed it! I imagine we will, too, then!

I'm a big fan of the buffet breakfasts at The Wave and at Captain's Grille. Crystal Palace food was OK, but I can take it or leave it. I haven't done any dessert parties, because I just can't see spending the cost of two or three dinners, just to get dessert (even with preferred viewing).

What did you like about the Captain's Grille specifically, if you don't mind me asking? And what didn't you like about Crystal Palace? As for the dessert party, it's more like one dinner for us at this point, since we don't eat like this at home very often and might as well enjoy it. But that's a fair assessment either way. It is expensive for dessert.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

What did you like about the Captain's Grille specifically, if you don't mind me asking? And what didn't you like about Crystal Palace?

At Captain's Grille I like the bananas foster Mickey waffles, the frittatas, and the nautical décor. Not sure what their new décor will look like after they remodel it, but it looks like the OP will have a chance to go before the changes. There wasn't anything bad at Crystal Palace, but I didn't find it extra special either; for me it was OK.

 

[steviethegreat]

At Captain's Grille I like the bananas foster Mickey waffles, the frittatas, and the nautical décor. Not sure what their new décor will look like after they remodel it, but it looks like the OP will have a chance to go before the changes. There wasn't anything bad at Crystal Palace, but I didn't find it extra special either; for me it was OK.

I was definitely eyeing up the bananas foster sauce in the reviews I've read. And the decor can't hurt either! I didn't even realize it was going to be refurbished, so we're getting in right under the wire, I suppose! I'll keep the reservation then. It'll be a nice start before we go to Hollywood Studios, I think. Thank you so much for your input.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

You're welcome! Enjoy your breakfasts.