Character Breakfasts...1900 Park Fair or Crystal Palace?

[Soupermom]

Has anyone been to both? Which do you prefer? I'm planning for DH, DD11 (who wants to see Tigger!), DS 8, and DM (who LOVES Mary Poppins). We'll be staying at ASMu, Pop, or CSR...is it difficult/lengthy to get to GF for 1900 PF? Can we make late breakfast ressies for both of these...so it's more like lunch and less crowded? (I've read on these boards that's the way to go!) What's the latest ressie you can make? Any other suggestions you can give regarding these two? We're not going until next March, so I've got time to plan. TIA!!!

 

[dixipixi]

Hi!

We have eaten breakfast at 1900 and dinner at Crystal Palace. We thought both were wonderful!!!

Actually, I think 1900 was the best breakfast we had the entire trip, but I love Mary Poppins and the atmosphere at the GF just made everything feel extra special to me!!

The Crystal Palace was one of our favorite meals. The food was excellent, the wait staff very attentive, and the character interaction was some of the best we had at any character meal.

When we had breakfast at 1900, we were staying at the CBR and it was not a difficult commute at all. We just caught the bus to the MK and then hopped the monorail to the GF.

Hope this helps you out.

 

[Robundrh2o]

Crystal Palace, hands down the best Character breakfast in the park. We tried Chef Mickeys and wasn't impressed, 1900 Park Fare was better, but my DD loves Pooh and Tigger so we may be a little biased. The buffet was better than Chef Mickeys and the Character interaction was awesome. This is a must do on every trip.

 

[savs]

My family votes for Crystal Palace. We have to do this one every trip we make to Disney.

When we were at 1900 park Fare several years ago it was the Pooh Characters, but I heard now it is princesses....which may make it more worth it. We just thought the whole atmosphere was better at the Crystal Palace.

 

[paslea_pooh]

We did the Crystal Palace in 98 with Pooh , Tigger and Eeyore. This time around we wanted to do the Breakfast with Mary Poppins at 1900 Park Fare. We lucked out - Mary Poppins was outside the restaurant taking pictures with the Penguin and inside was Pooh, Tigger, Mad Hatter and Alice In Wonderland. My kids were thrilled and I felt like I had hid the Character Breakfast Jackpot. The breakfast at 1900 Park Fare was very good and the servers are extremely nice, at least ours was. We had a great time. When you call for your ps ask about 1900 Park Fare and the possibility of seeing all the ones we saw, I'm not sure if it was a fluke or it's like that everyday?

Alida

 

[mimif1]

We've been to both and vote 1900 Park Fare hands down for us! In fact it was the best character interaction for our whole trip. We also do the latest breakfast seating available. At Crystal Palace the restaurant stayed crowded the whole time because they have characters at lunch too. Since there wasn't a lunch at Park Fare, we had all the characters to ourselves almost the whole time we were eating!! This was in August too! It still is one of our favorite Disney memories!

 

[rt2dz]

Our experience at Crystal Palace last September was way less than stellar. We had PS at 10:10, showed at 9:40, were seated at 11:15. 80% of the buffet was closed down. The food left really was just scraps and tasted absolutely awful. We were practically sitting on the laps of the people next to us. We never saw Pooh. We barely saw the others, expect Piglet who is only in the lobby and you stand in line to see. The service was beyond dismal--it took over 20 minutes to get our drinks, never got a refill, had to ask other servers for flatware & napkins. When we complained, all we got was an "OK, can you pay your check now?". This was the worst dining experience I have ever had anywhere. And I'm actually making it sound better than it was.

We had to cancel 1900 Park Fair due to hurricane Jeanne. However, when I made PS for 1900 Park Fair this upcoming May, the CM went over the characters for breakfast--Mary Poppins, Pooh, Alice, Mad Hatter & I can't remeber the other one or two.

 

[Daisy'sMom]

Can we make late breakfast ressies for both of these...so it's more like lunch and less crowded? (I've read on these boards that's the way to go!) What's the latest ressie you can make?

That's actually what I've got planned. Our ressies are for 10:30a, which was the latest time available. They serve til 11a so we plan to fill up and consider it lunch too. And it's just going to be my DH and I. I LOVE Mary Poppins so we're doing this our first morning before the rest of the family arrives.

 

[Soupermom]

Hmmm...maybe we'll do both! Is 10:30 the latest seating for both? Do you have time to hit MK before arriving for breakfast, or is that too much to ask? How early do you need to be there, if you might have to wait anyway? Can we show up 5-10 minutes early and be fine? We'll be going in March, does this make a difference for service, etc?

 

[beth_cam]

I booked 1900 park fare for 11:00 I was told that was the latest seating. I didnt even think about the possibility of not enough/variety of food still out. (I know you were referring to the other restraunt but still..) anyone else had an 11:00?

 

[Soupermom]

Hmmm...another thought...How early can you book a breakfast at Crystal Palace? Before the MK opens so you can be the first into the park? Great photo op! Won't be able to ride Space Mt. after breakfast though.

 

[rt2dz]

Yes, you can book PS before the park opens. I think the restruants open at 8:00 and first PS is at 8:05. But don't forget to bring your PS# with you or you won't be allowed into the park. And I've heard, at least with Donald's (not sure about in MK), that you need to take a bus that runs specifically for character meals--reg. transportation isn't up & running yet.

 

[jenr812]

The characters are there for dinner at 1900 Park Faire, right? I read it's Cindy and Mary Poppins there.

 

[beth_cam]

yes it is cinderella at dinner (I guess mary poppins too but I wasnt told that when I called they said just cinderella, have read it is + mary poppins) the breakfast is mary poppins, alice in wonderland, pooh. I couldnt get a dinner ps when I rebooked so I went ahad and got a breakfast figuring I had lots more opportunity to see cinderella other places than Mary Poppins didnt realize at the time they both might be at dinner.

 

[paslea_pooh]

The food was Great. Plenty of food and they had people making specialty omelettes. It was alot less crowded than when we did the Crystal Palace a few years ago.

Alida

 

[Princess Mommy]

Been to both & we LOVE the food at dinner in 1900 Pk Faire (dinner is just Cindy & co), and LOVE breakfast & dinner in Crystal Palace. WE have done late b'fast seatings in CP and have had no problems.

 

[jenr812]

Thanks for the answers I am so excited!!!

 

[Georgieut]

Hmmm...another thought...How early can you book a breakfast at Crystal Palace? Before the MK opens so you can be the first into the park? Great photo op! Won't be able to ride Space Mt. after breakfast though.

Hey I booked lunch at 11:35 at Crystal Palace on June 3rd. Chef Mickeys at 7:20am for breakfast on the 5th to just let you know what I'm doing.

 

[cwnhokie]

We have 8:30 PS at Crystal Palace. Is there a special place that you catch the special bus? I read last night that the monorail wouldn't be running yet and on this thread that their is a special bus.

 

[gary4jenn]

We were told the buses run an hour before the park opens but I think it was even earlier than that. Call your hotel and ask them- that's what I did. I'm sure it won't be a problem to get there.