Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace

[courtney881]

I have a reservation for Chef Mickey's on our Magic Kingdom day and was wondering if it would be better to do an 8:05 Crystal Palace reservation instead. I have 2 people in my group that have never been to Disney and thought it would be cool for them to see the park empty. But at the same time, Chef Mickey's is well.....Chef Mickey's.... What would you do?

 

[jnsolomon]

Tough call, but I would choose Chef Mickey's. To me, seeing the park empty is something that is more special to repeat visitors than "rookies".

 

[twohokies]

Doesn't it depend on the character preferences? My kids have not talked once since our 12/08 trip about Crystal Palace but I constantly hear about Chef Mickey's.

 

[crabbygal902]

I'd choose CP so that you are in the park at RD.

 

[tfoster]

I'd definitely pick Crystal Palace. Being in the park before opening was one of our best experiences during our trip last December. We don't read or watch Winnie the Pooh, but my kids still loved the characters. We've been to CP quite a few times and the food has always been great. We've been to CM once and both the food and service were absolutely terrible. I don't think I'll ever go back there. You might want to look at O'hana too. We thought the breakfast experience there was great and we'd go back in a heartbeat.

 

[*ThinkTink*]

I would choose Crystal Palace or Cinderella's Royal Table over Chef Mickey's any day of the week. Plus, they are at MK, most convenient!

 

[Irish_Mike]

Crystal Palace!

We went our past trip and the food was delicious, the service great, and me? I love Pooh

Plus, we got a bunch of good pictures on Main Street cause we got in early, meaning all the CM were free.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Crystal Palace

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

In my experience, CP food is superior to CM. I've been to Chef Mickey's 3 times for breakfast and the food has never been more than mediocre. CP on the other hand is delicious!

I like the characters at both but Chef Mickeys really can't be beat for having the "main" characters. I think there is a bit of a more fun atmosphere at CM too.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Crystal Palace for sure! Just more magical, and it's nice to be at MK for rope drop. Plus, in my experience, the food is better. However, if you want to see Mickey & friends, and don't care about rope drop or an empty MK, then I'd go with Chef Mickey's. The food is still good, just not AS good. And it really is a classic

 

[The 4 "Quay"balleros]

CP And the food was a little bit better!

 

[asdfghjkl13]

Food wise I would go with Crystal Palace, but both are good!

 

[DaniB]

Crystal Palace!

As 1st timers I offered my kids the choice of Crystal Palace or O'hana's. I really wanted to see Lilo & Stitch. To my surprise, they choose CP - even though they do not watch or read Winnie the Pooh.

It turned out to be a great choice!!! We all loved being in MK early, CP is beautiful, the food good, and the character interaction great!

 

[ntsammy5]

Doesn't it depend on the character preferences?

Yup. Depends on who you want to see.

You wouldn't go to either of these places for the food alone!

 

[karen l]

Definitely CP. Food is much better there. Atmosphere & service are great too.
My DS loves the made to order pancakes.

 

[billybobblockhead]

Either of those work for our family. Never done CM for breakfast, only for supper. Have done CP for both breakfast and supper. We've also never had a problem with the service or food at either place. However, if you want an option to see Mickey, I think he is also at the Tusker House in AK, or at least he was the last time we had a reservation there.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We find food and service better at CP but the characters at CM were better. We have amazing pictures from there. It did take us a long time to dine there, way over an hour and you do have to get back to the MK so factor that into the picture too.

 

[skysmom99]

We had a fabulous time at CP when we were there earlier this month. I adore Pooh so I fully admit that this was my choice, not the kids. The older kids loved it as did the adults. My youngest, however, hid under the table under the characters were gone.

 

[djo]

My vote is for Crystal Palace. Food was very good.

 

[courtney881]

Thanks soo much for all of the input. We have reservations at Tusker House for breakfast on our AK day so it does make sense to see some different characters. All of the input about food really hit home too. I had breakfast at Chef Mickey's on my last trip and while it was fun, the food was just okay. So I think I will change the reservation to CP.
Thanks again!!!!