Chef Mickey's OR Crystal Palace??

[Rachel0922]

We've never eaten at either of these restaurants but are planning to hit one for breakfast while we are there later this year. Any opinions on which is better?? Food is obviously important so comments on that would be appreciated but character interaction for the kids (DS 11 and DD 3) is just as important. Thanks!

 

[SarahKate]

We went to both on our trip in February. We did Chef Mickey's for a dinner and Crystal Palace for a breakfast. They were both great experiences - it was normal buffet food at both places - nothing that WOWed me, but it was very acceptable. Chef Mickey's seemed to be a little more chaotic, and we missed a character interaction - but got to interact w/ Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, etc. As for the interactions, I'd say we enjoyed Crystal Palace SLIGHTLY more.....where we were seated it just didn't seem as crowded and the characters came through on more than one occasion and seemed to spend quite a bit of time with us. I think you should do BOTH of them if that's your interest - but definitely do one dinner and one breakfast, not both dinner/breakfast, etc.

 

[mybgirl]

HI If you can do both , MICKEY AT ONE AND POOH AND FRENIDS the other


My DS loved them both when he was 6 years old , and now 8 years old , This year we will be doing both for breakfast . DINNER was also very good at both.


have a great trip


mary

 

[pigget74]

For us it would be Crystal Palace hands down and no questions asked. It is our fav. breakfast event. We always try to go here the next to last or the last day of our stay.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We have never been disappointed with breakfast at CP. In fact, it's on my family's "must do" list for every trip. Dh and I even go without the kids. I love the food, we never feel rushed, and the character interaction is excellent. If you go, be sure to have a one of the doughnut-like fried french toast "things" for me. I'm craving one right now.

That being said, we were very, very disappointed with our Christmas morning brunch at CM. The food was terrible, the character interaction brief, and we felt very rushed even though they were accepting walk-ups that morning (very surprising but also telling). CM was such a dud that I don't think we'll be going back for a re-try any time soon. There are too many other good/fun places to dine.

 

[wic0721]

We've done both restaurants for breakfast, both are buffets and the food is pretty good! My DD was actually chosen as Chef of the Day at CP last year!

The only differences between the two is that Crystal Palace has Pooh and Tigger..etc, and Chef Mickey's has Mickey, Minnie, Goofy..etc! So I would choose which ever one has the characters you're more interested in. Or as my DD would say "I can't choose...can we do both???"

Hope you have a great vacation!

 

[GretchGraham]

I can't be much help because we always do a breakfast at both. We enjoy both places and the year we tried to cut one out I thought the kids would come to blows fighting over which one we went to.

 

[ShannonN]

Have to agree and say do both if you can . We had dinner at CM and CP a few weeks ago. CP food was slightly better than CM but, CM interaction with the kidos was somewhat better than CP. DS loved them both . Have a fun and safe trip!!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

If you're only going to do one, pick the one with the characters you like better.
The kids usually outgrow the Pooh set before the Mickey set also.

CM's they are a bit more playful.
CP Tigger is on the playful side, but the rest pretty much can't get away with that and stay in character.

The food is good most of the time at both.

.

 

[byoung]

CP get's are vote.

 

[indigoxtreme]

We ate at CP in February for dinner and it was wonderful. This time it was just my DH and me celebrating our anniv. The CM's were all great and the characters all made a point to stop by. They would point to the heart on the table and clap for us. The food was wonderful.

Our heart at CP that the CM's did for us

 

[mdhkitten]

I've done both for breakfast and if I had to choose one it would be Chef Mickey's because I like those characters better and because they take a group photo of you before you are seated which you have the opportunity to buy (I always do!), so that can be a nice keepsake!

 

[Kimi313]

We love both CP and CM, in fact with DD 15 we still do both. CM for dinner and CP for lunch. CM is more of a loud party and CP is more organized choas(sp?). I would concider what atmosphere your children would like best and what characters they would rather see. I find both sets of these characters grow with the children. They were great with DD when she was 3 and they are great with her now. Food wise I think they are about even, it is good buffet food. We have done breakfast at both in the past and if my memory serves me they are about the same. With all that said here's a tip: if you do breakfast at CP, make your adr as soon as possible and get it for first seating at 8:00 or 8:15ish. This way you check in with the CM at the MK gate, they will check your name and let you right in - avoiding the crowded lines and the rush down main street. Next after you are in there are very very few people on the street, just those going to breakfast so you can take advantage of this and take picture along the way practically all by yourself! It is wonderful!

 

[Cookie Princess]

We will be doing both this year, but if we could only do one; it would be CP. That deep fried puffed french toast alone is worth the trip. The cheesy potatoes are delish, and DS proclaimed that the bacon was the best he had ever eaten. This kid eats a ton of bacon! He asked if we would be going back again this year.

 

[disneybride2007]

We have done both and Chef Mickey's will never be on our list again. Our ds7 doesn't like it and has requested that we don't eat there anymore. On the other hand, Crystal Palace is wonderful. We love the character interaction and the food is great for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. On our last vacation, we had ressies at Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch, we went to the check-in counter and told them that we wanted to cancel, then we left and went to Crystal Palace, instead.

 

[HRPro]

Hi

Just returned my 5yo DD wanted to eat at both places, I booked brunch (late sitting) at CMs, the food is good, not thrilled with service, only saw our waitress to get drink order and give me the bill. Characters are Mickey and Friends. Goofy stays in a central locations and Mickey, Minnie, Chip & Dale circulate the room.

We did CP for lunch on the last day. Food was great, service was great, characters were great. We will definately include CP on each trip. Characters circulate the room and they even have a parade with the Kids.

As a different option we also ate at Ohana for breakfast and the Princess Breakfast at EPCOT, both were also great experiences.

Have a great trip and hope this helped.

 

[kbmag1]

The food is very good at either place, but the character interaction at Chef Mickey's is much better. It's quite lively and loud, and kids love it.