Crystal Palace Breakfast Walk-Up?

[TiggerKing]

I was wondering if anyone could post their experience of doing CP as a walk-up for breakfast. This is the one thing I messed up on when doing our ADRs. DW is an Eeyore fan, above all else, and I cannot get an ADR for the week of 11/30, so I was thinking about doing it as a walk-up one morning. So, here are my questions for those of you that have done this:

1. What time did you arrive?
2. How long did you have to wait?

It is just two of us, and I know that my mileage may vary, but just wanted to get some opinions/experiences! TIA!

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

Crystal Palace is very popular. Everytime we have eaten there we have had an ADR. Not sure how much success you will have getting in walk up. Have you considered dinner at Crystal Palace. I see you are going the week of 11/30. We have dinner reservations for CP on December 1st at 6p right before the MVMCP. They still have the characters for dinner. If possible, as an alternative you could eat at Cape May Buffet if you are looking for a character breakfast specifically.

 

[Hootch]

I usually have one of the longer waits for a table at CP when I have an ADR.

I'll give you the same advice I give everyone else - keep trying. I messed up on my date for a CM breakfast this past summer. I was eventually able to find one on the right date after a few tries.

The online system makes it simple to check and using the date range option makes it even easier. Just remember it checks about an hour on each side of the time you requested.

 

[djp0630]

I think it's doubtful. We had a reservation for 8:10 and got there around 8:05 and the patio already had people waiting! We only had to wait 5 minutes, but that was right when it opened. The patio was packed when we left at 9AM. I've heard lots of bad stories about people waiting 40 minutes after their ADR that I think it's doubtful for a walk-up. I would keep trying to get an ADR! Good luck!

 

[GovieMom]

We had to wait one hour past our (off-peak) ADR time at Crystal Palace. That is one restaurant I wouldn't recommend anyone trying for a walk-up, sorry.

 

[TiggerKing]

Thanks for the information and suggestions. I will keep trying and see what happens as we go through the next couple of weeks. Maybe something will open up!

 

[scard192]

We had a 11:50AM ADR on 9/21 during free dining and CP was taking walkups for lunch that day. Might be worth a try if you can't get an ADR.

 

[castleofmist]

A couple years ago DH and I walked-up to CP for breakfast at about 10:00 a.m. IIRC, we waited about 45 mins. to an hour to be seated.

 

[Tinker Pam]

Don't give up, keep trying. I will be there the same week as you and kept calling and just last Friday I managed to get a 815 breakfast there.
I tried on line and it showed no availability but tried calling and was able to get in.

 

[mjf2wdw]

Crystal Palace is very difficult without an adr You might want to try 1900 park fare in grand floridian, It is a good character buffet.

 

[crocnzen]

We walked up and didn't wait at all on November 8. It was right after the opening ceremony, we were just strolling down main street, decided to give it a try and we were not the only ones, several families walked up and were seated right away. I say it's certainly worth a try, but of course have a back up. Good Luck

 

[mmtska]

I would keep trying-check online and call every day if you have to. Since your wife is an Eeyore fan-and the reason you want to go to the CP I believe-going to another restaurant won't help. Also, try lunch or dinner. The food is really good for dinner!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Here's the problem you're running into: you're trying to eat where the Disney travel pros want to eat during a peak pro travel time. While the parks probably won't be that crowded, you're going to have a much higher percentage of the crowd coming from people who are Disney experts. Your best bet for a meal there would be for a Linner slot -- late lunch/early dinner. Try looking for an ADR around 3pm.

 

[DaParkers]

Crystal Palace is very popular. Everytime we have eaten there we have had an ADR. Not sure how much success you will have getting in walk up. Have you considered dinner at Crystal Palace. I see you are going the week of 11/30. We have dinner reservations for CP on December 1st at 6p right before the MVMCP. They still have the characters for dinner. If possible, as an alternative you could eat at Cape May Buffet if you are looking for a character breakfast specifically.

As of this morning, there were NO character dining reservations available on WDW property except for Hollywood and Vine on 11/30. I was told this by a CM.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'd probably give it a try. I'd get there around 7:30 or so. What's the worst that can happen? If they say no, you'll be among the first in the park that day.

We were there last December WITH an ADR and I was a little perturbed. I was waiting to check in behind a group trying to get in as walk-ups. Turns out the were seated before we were.... and we waited a long time to be seated. I think we had 8:10 ADR's and didn't make it out into the park til after 9:30.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I always wait almost 1 hour with an ADR!

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

I always wait almost 1 hour with an ADR!

Wow I guess we have had good luck. We usually get to the restaraunt about 5 minutes before our ADR time and usually don't have to wait more than 10-15 minutes when having an ADR.

 

[Microcell]

We have been there five years in a row with no more than a 10 minute wait with ADR's.

Four out of the five years we decided we wanted to eat there again during our trip and have walked up twice and called the morning of twice.

This was during free dining... so you know they were booked mostly!

On the walk up days we waited like 30 minutes for one, and 10 for the other.

Good luck!