Club 33: go for lunch (buffet) or dinner?

[TigerB]

We have the once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Club 33

We have the choice of either going for lunch or dinner and the difference in the cost is not a factor. Would you recommend going for either lunch or dinner? We will have our 2 children in tow, but they are very well behaved and know how to properly act in a restaurant. We know the lunch buffet is not the 'traditional buffet' anymore but have heard there is still some buffet to pick from at lunch.

Thoughts and/or opinions? Please share!

 

[Malcon10t]

This really is hard, but with kids, I would do lunch (in fact, I would try for a Sunday lunch, when Mickey and Pluto visit.)

Lunch is a buffet for your appetizers/salads, a plated entree, and then a dessert buffet. Expect too spend at least 2 hours. Because it is a buffet, the kids can get up to move around (walk to the buffet and back.) We take my nieces and they really enjoy it. But they are used to really long business type meals.

Dinner is usually 3 hours seated. It is very hard for children. In all the dinners I have done, I don't remember seeing very many children.

 

[TigerB]

Thank you so much for your opinion! It is highly valuable to me and hopefully others!

 

[cal a marie]

Personally, I would choose to go to dinner. If I had the amazing opportunity to go, I know that I would want it to be the best experience that I could make it. I do realize that for the buffet the children can walk around and that at dinner, the kids may get antsy. However, I stick with my decision because for one thing, because it is a buffet (and an expensive one at that), I would definitely gorge myself until I'm bursting like Oogie, and I wouldn't want to ride any rides for a while after that. Plus at dinner time, you can dress up and take a picture while looking incredibly dapper.

Enjoy the club ^_^

 

[Pesky]

Agreed. The lunch there is fabulous and with the "pick your own" option of the buffet, it's usually more enticing and entertaining for the kids.

 

[Malcon10t]

Agreed. The lunch there is fabulous and with the "pick your own" option of the buffet, it's usually more enticing and entertaining for the kids.

The lunch buffet is really nice. The lobster, crab claws, and shrimp are my favs. They always have an incredible soup. The breads and variety of oils for dipping are really nice. They have a very interesting variety of oils. And all the salads are excellent.

If you want to see some pictures, a friend who went with us a few trips did a review, complete with pictures. They also did a dinner review here.

 

[blynn]

We have been to both lunch and dinner, and I would recommend lunch. There is a greater variety of choice because of the buffet appetizers, salads, and soup, and the dessert buffet. We enjoyed both lunch and dinner, but if I could choose only one, I would definitely choose lunch. Also, their fresh fruit punch is incredible!

 

[Malcon10t]

Every chance we have to go, I have to debate, lunch or dinner... But if I only had one, after much thought and self arguing, I agree, lunch. My kids prefer lunch, for the variety. (Note - My "kids" are 22-26.)

And the fruit punch is really worth trying. It is incredible! (My son orders it extra grenadine. It is really tasty!)

 

[DizMe]

I agree with lunch! I love both, and thought I would like dinner better, but I actually prefer lunch. If you want, you can schedule a later lunch--I think we had 2:00 or something like that once--and it sort of rolls into dinner

I love the dessert buffet and choosing things from the salad/seafood/cheese buffet. I love the tiny cups of soup and the soup is always delicious.

Dinner is very nice as well, but I think it's nicer when you can enjoy it with other adults without the kids along. I say that because there is nothing like sitting with other adults, enjoying your wine or whatever and taking as much time to converse and enjoy the atmosphere as you want. I got to go once when we finished dinner past the time the park was open so we were escorted out to the main gates through an empty park--it was very cool. I'm not sure kids would appreciate a long, late dinner like that!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I would do lunch with the kids in tow, little more less formal or relaxed atmosphere. I wish they had the seafood at night along with the main course but trust me, I feel privledged.

Jack

 

[munchkinsmom]

If it was a date night, definitely dinner would be a way to go. Love doing dinner there with my DH!

With kids in tow, lunch is better. If you could swing a Sunday lunch, the club includes a glass of champagne for the adults, and Disney characters stop by to say hello (great photo op for the kids and family). We had Mickey and Pluto stop by the last time we were there.

Have fun!

 

[CMHusband]

Late dinner and you can watch Fantasmic from the balcony

 

[Malcon10t]

Late dinner and you can watch Fantasmic from the balcony

There really is no decent view of Fantasmic! Due to the HUGE trees. We frequently do late dinners and you can see the fire on the water, but no decent view of the stage or of the floats, etc. it does make nice background music for dinner.

 

[Mama Who]

As much as I hope to manage dinner sometime, we have really enjoyed lunch on our visits and I agree that it's probably a better choice with kids. My kid was *able* to sit quietly for 3 hours at a fancy meal but it would not have been fun for him. I think your kids will have a better time at lunch.

 

[Jessica_of_FL]

... I would try for a Sunday lunch, when Mickey and Pluto visit...

I didn't know that they had a special Sunday brunch! Good to know! {filing that away in my Club 33 knowledge bank}

 

[Malcon10t]

Here is a view of Fantasmic! from the balcony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jAnRJ_eaZro

 

[Disneyluvr2]

Another vote for lunch, especially with little ones. You can't beat that dessert buffet!!! I'll be there next Saturday to fill up on tasty treats!

 

[BMICKEY]

Our friends first visit to Club 33 was the champagne brunch on Sunday that includes the characters. You get to go to the soup/salad/bread buffet first, then order off the menu for your main entree then the FABULOUS dessert buffet for the finale...

On our first visit, our friends were able to accompany us again (thanks to my fairy godfater) for lunch but it was on a Tuesday. They said the food was just as good but they missed the champagne and especially missed the characters.

I would think lunch is a better choice if you are short on time. You can wear whatever you wore into the park - we wore nice capris and blouses and the men wore shorts and button down shirts (except no flip flops and tank tops) and then enjoy the rest of your day. We took about 2 1/2 hours for lunch soaking it all in and taking a ton of pictures - especially since all the doors to the balcony were open and it was goregous outside!

If you do dinner, you will have to cut your day short, go get gussied up then come back to dinner and depending on what time your reservation is, you may be done for the day since you probably won't want to visit the park in your nice clothes (i.e. uncomfortable "cute" shoes).

Either way you will LOVE your experience!

 

[pixiedust1216]

I would definitely suggest lunch if you have kids. I agree with the others who suggested doing it on a Sunday if you can because of the characters. And yes, the dress code is more lax at lunch. The appetizer buffet is fabulous, as well as the dessert buffet. Yum!!

 

[limace]

The menus from Allears are from 2009. Any idea what the current price is? Is Sunday brunch the same price as lunch? I think we may get to go using one of my husband's old SoCal college friends .