Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace?

[vtwep]

Hi All,

We want to do one character breakfast on our next trip. Last time we did Hollywood and Vine with Jo Jo and Little Einsteins and had a blast. This time around we are stuck deciding between Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. Here are my thoughts:

Location: if we hit Chef Mickey's, that would most likely get us to MK a bit latter than rope drop. May or not be a huge deal? If we hit Crystal Palace, we'll already be in the park when finished, plus we get to enter the park with minimal crowds and traffic which could be kind of neat.

Food: seems to me that the food buffets would be similar - not sure if there is a real difference here?

Characters: again, a toss up. My DD4 has watched both Pooh and Friends (and Pooh movies) and also has watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I'm not sure she has a preference either way, and I have no way of knowing which (if either) she'll be into by the time of the trip.

Do any of you have any things that would make you lean one way or the other? We are staying at GF if that makes any difference.

I'll look forward to your replies/suggestions!

Thanks.

 

[D&DDisney]

We loved Chef Mickey. We had ressies early (7:30am) so we had the characters all to ourselves for a while. That was great!
Either way, I'd suggest very early ressies. Can get in and out and have characters all to yourself.

 

[Surfingstitch]

I think the food is the same. Depends on how far you want to travel after eating breakfast. It also depends on which characters you think you will like better.

 

[dbenlee]

We prefer Crystal Palace over Chef Mickey. Another plus to it is that if you can get an 8:00am ADR, you can get through the gates before rope drop and get some really nice pictures of the Castle without a lot of people in your picture.

 

[Tiggerlover48]

We have done CP the last 3 times and have loved it each and everytime. But I'm also a Pooh and Tigger lover!!!! My DS8 has just requested that we try CM for breakfast our next trip. I'm a little sad, I won't get my Tigger fix, but I think it will be OK. We've eaten at CM for dinner a couple times and the food was good. The only complaint I had was Donald smelled really bad!!!! m I think he needed a good bath!! You could see the look on my face as my husband took our picture - I was trying to hold my breath so I didn't have to smell him!!!

 

[cd&kids]

We like Crystal Palace a little better because you are already in the park. Plus, the omlette station where you can get an omlette any way you want is a plus.
But, we absolutely love Chef Mickey's. It's one of those places that "just says Disney" and we have never missed it on any trip.
Have fun no matter what you choose!

 

[septbaby]

We did CM's for a late bfast aka brunch. Maybe hit MK for either rope drop or EMH and spend a couple of hours then take a break back for bfast. Might be a good move with a 4yo.

Our 5yo boy loved CM's and still talks about it 9 months later. The atmosphere and the characters rock at CM (Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck...we didn't notice any "aroma" ). Who am I kidding, I loved Chef Mickey's too. I also had some pre trip fun with my nephew telling him that Mickey had invited us to his restaurant when we got to Disney, made him feel even more special when we arrived.

By the way it's optional to purchase, but they take a group photo before seating you at Chef Mickey's.

We're trying CP for lunch this trip and CM's for dinner.

 

[Magical_Karma]

CM would be our choice! We love them both, but there is something special about getting Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto all at one place! Plus they just ROCK while you're there! IMHO the "parade" at CP is kinda cheesy. But I say that with an 11 and 12 year old (who aren't too good to wave their napkins in the air, but aren't wild about parading around the restaurant - go figure)!

 

[jacksmom]

Chef Mickeys is our family favorite!

 

[dawgfan]

We have done both. The kids and adults prefer Chef Mickeys. Kids asked to go back again next year for a our third trip to Chef Mickeys. When offered the Crystal Palace they turned it down flat every time.

 

[vtwep]

I was misguided - I thought Chef Mickey's was Mickey, Goofy, Chip, & Dale? I must have misread that somewhere. If it's Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto...that may just be the tie-breaker for us. Is that the "cast" for every breakfast sitting at Chef Mickey's?

Thanks for ALL the replies! Much appreciated.

 

[Tam1067]

I was misguided - I thought Chef Mickey's was Mickey, Goofy, Chip, & Dale? I must have misread that somewhere. If it's Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto...that may just be the tie-breaker for us. Is that the "cast" for every breakfast sitting at Chef Mickey's?

Thanks for ALL the replies! Much appreciated.

Chip 'n' Dale used to be at Chef Mickey's, but since last year I think it was, they have not been there, which stinks if you ask me.

 

[septbaby]

The fab 5 are just that. Chip & Dale are at the Garden Grill in Epcot. I loved that Donald is at CM's as he is a rare character to find.

We also saw a lot of C&D in Fantasyland in MK.

 

[Angies1274]

We LOVED Chef Mickey's and plan to go back again next year!!! Crystal Palace was nice because you got into the park early and main street was empty so we got some wonderful pictures of the castle. I love Pooh characters and the food was good but unfortunately the service wasn't and the buffet was such a long walk from where we were seated. Chef Mickey's was great!! Great service/character interaction. My boys can't wait to go back!!!! Oh...and when we went characters were Mickey,Minnie,Goofy,Pluto and Donald.

 

[vtwep]

You all have me leaning to Chef Mickey's for several reasons, but the main reason is the character list. We're a Pooh family too, but we did run into them last year and got some great photos in MK. We never saw Pluto, Goofy, or Donald and the line for Minnie was too long. We did meet Mickey though.

So, I guess we'll hit Chef Mickey's. It will also give us a chance to see the Contemporary which we've only seen "driving through" on the monorail.

Thanks for the replies and info!

 

[insoin]

If you have any other openings, why not try the other for a lunch/dinner on a different day. That way you get both

I loved CM last year, and will be doing CP this year for breakfast. I want to get in early and get some photos of an empty Main Street USA and the castle.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I've done both, but only for dinner. We loved CM characters, but found CP characters to just be ok. Food was better at CP as far as variety, but quality of food excellent at both. If being in MK at rope drop is very important, then I would do CP, but if the actual meal is more important, I'd choose CM.

 

[tomu570]

It's always been a family tradition to start all our WDW vacations at CP. The family photos on an empty Main Street in the morning are priceless and the puffed French toast is the best. Later we'll go to CM for dinner because you can't beat the character meet & greet. Although dinner at the CM buffet is barely tolerable, the kids really love the the characters so the DW and I take one for the team.

 

[pruesmom]

We have done them both and are doing them again in Sept. We like Chef Mickey's better but probably because my daughter likes the characters there. Since you're staying at the GF they are both easy access to you. Early ressies in the MK make for some GREAT pictures too. Good Luck.