Buffet Lines

[buzz1fan]

How are the buffet lines at WDW. We are thinking of going to a few character breakfasts, and have 2 small kids,and dont want to have to wait along time. We have never eaten at a buffet at Disney, (In the real world, we dont eat them either). My wonders is should I just try Family Styles, which is very limited for choices. I have been to Ohanas and it was good, i was hoping on seeing more characters this time.

 

[Pumbaa_]

The restaurants at Disney that are beffets are considered by Disney to be TS. Some are sold out months in advance (Chef Mickey's)

If you are interested in ANY TS at Disney, we recommend you make an ADR

have fun!

 

[buzz1fan]

Oh, I mean are the buffets crowded in lines and waiting for your food, we would have ADR's.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

In our experience, the lines move very quickly. And we have a lot of experience!!!

 

[Ladybugsy]

We do alot of buffets because my dh just likes them. I've only waited, or thought the wait was not worth it at Cape May for dinner. But then, I don't think they have a very good set up there. Mind you, this was during the free dining promotion when everything was SOLD OUT. I won't do Cape May for dinner again, but every other buffet was fine as far as wait time. For reference, we've done Boma, Crystal Palace, Biergarten, Cape May, and Trail's End. I really don't think it would be a problem for you. Now if you just don't like buffets in general, think about giving Boma a try. They have little 'pods' that you go to. Very cool setup there, and great food. Ask to meet Chef TJ

 

[Hopefully]

What Pumba is trying to tell you is that you need to make ADR's for Table Service meals NOW. Folks can start making ADR's 90 days in advance. If you wait too long you won't be able to get your choice ADR's
Have a Great Trip

 

[catne]

Just a word of warning...yes, you can have some very, very long waits in line at Disney buffets. For instance, if you get the first seating at any buffet, everyone's checked in within 10 minutes of each other so they're all heading to the buffet together in one big clump-- that happened to us at Cape May Cafe. It was o.k. after that first big clump cuz of course after the first plate, people were going back at different times. But at Boma last September, every "pod" had long, long lines the whole time while we were there. I'd estimate it was a good 5-10 minute wait in line to get to each different pod. So crowded & so busy we didn't even try to get to some pods. Crazy busy, crazy loud, crazy crowded.

And as far as waiting to get in, even with ADRs you can have long waits to get in. When we went to Chef Mickey's for breakfast in January, we had an early seating (7:30 a.m.) which was what we wanted. We waited maybe 5 minutes after checking in to get seated. However, when we came out 45 minutes later, there were probably 100 people waiting to be seated, and the CM was telling people at the check-in it would be a 60 minute wait to be seated (no ADR) Heard a guy telling his wife they would have a 30 minute wait to be seated & she wasn't very happy about it because that would be 20 minutes past their reservation time. So there were pretty good wait times with or without ADRs - and it was an incredibly slow time while we were there (Husband took pictures of Fantasyland an hour after the park opened -- there's no one in the pictures -- no one! We rode Snow White, came out, no one in line. Same with Pooh. Six people in line at Peter Pan...)

 

[jenseib]

We always have gone in March and really never had any waites at the buffets. Just walked up and got what we wanted. I have never found a really bi group up there either, but maybe they go while I'm eating. LOL!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Everything moves quick in the buffet lines

 

[Jaymie]

We've never really noticed much wait at all. We've eaten at Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare (we had a bit of a wait for dessert only), Crystal Palace, Trail's End & Biergarten. I do really like the family style, because I don't ever have to worry about missing a caracter, because I'm up getting food.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

We do alot of buffets because my dh just likes them. I've only waited, or thought the wait was not worth it at Cape May for dinner. But then, I don't think they have a very good set up there. Mind you, this was during the free dining promotion when everything was SOLD OUT. I won't do Cape May for dinner again, but every other buffet was fine as far as wait time. For reference, we've done Boma, Crystal Palace, Biergarten, Cape May, and Trail's End. I really don't think it would be a problem for you. Now if you just don't like buffets in general, think about giving Boma a try. They have little 'pods' that you go to. Very cool setup there, and great food. Ask to meet Chef TJ

I agree about Cape May! We did the dinner buffet and it was just a cluster!! It is not set up well at all.

We also did the Safari dinnre grand gathering last Oct. it was also a mess because everyone went up to the buffet at the same time.

Otherwise, the buffet lines seem to move pretty well overall.

 

[vicki_c]

That's so funny - I think all the Disney buffets are great - never any waiting - except for Cape May this past December! I didn't even enjoy it because the line set up was so bad - I actually missed part of the food (the clams!) due to the confusing line set up and had to send my DH back to get me some!

 

[jenseib]

We have Cape May for Breakfast this year. I hope it runs smooth for us! LOL!

 

[cajunprincess]

I've only had breakfast buffets before. This May I'm going to be trying 2 dinner buffets.

I've been to 1900 Park Fare, Cape May Cafe, and Crystal Palace for breakfast. I liked them all, but my favorite was Cape May. We had to wait FOREVER for the characters at Crystal Palace. If you don't care about the characters, then I would suggest Crystal Palace. I did not have any wait at Cape May. In fact, there was hardly anyone in line at the buffet and this was the last of May.

I've always enjoyed the breakfast buffets, so I can't wait to try them for dinner!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

We went during a busy time of year, but could always walk straight up to the food, help ourselves, and sit down. The buffets were very long, and had more than one place to get the same item, so you rarely waited more than a moment for a spoon or serving utensil that someone else was using.

Plus, since the kids are so occupied with the characters, they never wanted to be at the buffet for more than a second anyway!

 

[Pumbaa_]

got it! lol, i was thinking just walking up lol

If you go to Cape May, think of each side more as a station than a line. At least that is how it seemed to us

the clam/'seafood' side, the salad side, the dessert side and the hot entree side

have fun!!

 

[MickeyNicki]

The only buffet line that was busy was Cape May dinner...that was nuts and they didnt have a designated direction so people were all over the place. Now they have little ropes for each side so it is much easier.

Boma dinner was a bit hairy too...every one was just cutting in and out and the wait for the meat line was 20 people deep

 

[crisi]

Crystal Palace had really slow lines when we were there, and I missed most of the characters coming by the table.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We were there in July and did several buffets. Dinners were at Biergarten, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Fare, Boma. Breakfasts were at Chef Mickey's and Hollywood & Vine. For both breakfasts we had the first seating when they first opened. For dinners, we had ADRs anywhere between 5:30 and 6:15 but arrived very early and mainly got seated before ADR time except at 1900 Park Fare we got sat at 6PM, our ADR time.

As for buffet lines, Boma was definitely the longest wait, probably because you wait at each pod, like an above poster stated. The pod where you waited to get the prime rib was definitely the longest wait, but still not bad. I walked right up to the kids' buffet line at Boma to get my children's food which was the main concern, them not having to wait long to get their food. At Biergarten and Crystal Palace, there were 2 sides to the buffet that had the same exact food and our server told us that before we went up. This made the lines move quickly. At 1900 Park Fare it was different sections but it also moved quickly and this was a packed restaurant when we went.

So we do not have any problem doing buffets at WDW. We still only took about an hour for dinners, and less than that for breakfasts. We had an 8:05AM ADR at H & V for breakfast, and we were out of there at 8:45, yet did not feel rushed and my older son enjoyed the dancing and entertainment very much! Chef Mickey's breakfast also went very quickly despite the fact that there was a HUGE tour group (had to be 100 people, I swear!) that was right behind us in line! I thought the buffet line would be a nightmare but it moved very quickly!

 

[want2bamommy]

I've never noticed any waits at the buffets I've been too and my last trip was during a busy season (week of Christmas). We went to:

• Crystal Palace
• Chef Mickey's
• 1900 PF
• Akershus (Breakfast)