Crystal Palace, Garden Grill...?

[LegoMom3]

We are going to splurge on one character meal on our next trip (money's tight...one is all I can swing!). Had been thinking breakfast at Crystal Palace, or else lunch at Garden Grill. I know the Pooh characters visit CP, but I've also heard it can be so busy and noisy that it's not much of an experience. Who tends to go to GG?...is it a good lunch? I love The Land in general so GG is appealing to me. Then again, I love Pooh!
My kids are all boys, and will be 9, 6, and 4 when we go.

Thanks in advance!

 

[bizzybee]

We are going to splurge on one character meal on our next trip (money's tight...one is all I can swing!). Had been thinking breakfast at Crystal Palace, or else lunch at Garden Grill. I know the Pooh characters visit CP, but I've also heard it can be so busy and noisy that it's not much of an experience. Who tends to go to GG?...is it a good lunch? I love The Land in general so GG is appealing to me. Then again, I love Pooh!
My kids are all boys, and will be 9, 6, and 4 when we go.

Thanks in advance!

Hi I am new here and thought I would share my experiences at both places with you.
I have done Crystal Palace many times since I have a dd who is the biggest pooh fan. We even had her second birthday there which was just great! It can get a bit noisy but if you go for breakfast try to get the earliest seating available. I always like to go on a NON early entry day(before park opening) its not crowded and food is very fresh. I just love the breakfast at Crystal Palace. Lunch and dinner I found to be a bit more hectic. Just try getting the earliest breakfast seating and it shouldn't be too crazy. I must add characters are great here -piglets adorable.
I did garden grill for dinner but never lunch. I don't care for the food here but we are a bit picky so it could be just us. I did enjoy the scenery and characters but still Crystal palace by far is the best in my opinion.

 

[klj27]

I've never eaten at Crystal Palace so I cannot compare the two. I do LOVE The Garden Grill. The atmosphere was very private and it gave us a lot of one on one time with the characters. The food would not be something I would order if we were out, but it was very enjoyable. (I am very picky. I do not eat much meat and did not think to order a vegetarian meal, but the catfish and sides were great.) We will definately be going back there on our next trip.

 

[lotte]

You might take a look at the character breakfast at Donalds at the Animal Kingdom. We have done them all, and we really like Donalds the best for character interaction. Donalds features the old Disney standbys--Donald, Goofy, Mickey, Chip and Dale, etc.

We didn't care for the Crystal Palace--it is so big and so busy that the character interaction is spotty. Also, at least as far as breakfast goes, we found the food at Donalds to be much better.

Donalds is much less hectic, and the characters have more time to spend with the kids at each table.

 

[sharon78]

We had an 8.05 ps at CP it was great nice and quiet and the character interaction was great they spent loads of time with us

We also went to the GG for the ice cream social which was a great way to see the characters and have some interaction with out spending to many $$
the ice cream was wonderful very yummy..but we didnt manage to eat it all you get quite a lot,its also makes it a great way to have a break in the late afternoon and to recharge the energy levels with some sugar intake

 

[LegoMom3]

We also went to the GG for the ice cream social which was a great way to see the characters and have some interaction with out spending to many $$
the ice cream was wonderful very yummy..but we didnt manage to eat it all you get quite a lot,its also makes it a great way to have a break in the late afternoon and to recharge the energy levels with some sugar intake

Ooh...I forgot about the ice cream thing! Do you need PS for that? That way I could do two character "meals!"

 

[mommystieg]

We LOVE CP and the breakfast at CP is our absolute favorite!! The character interaction has always been great no matter which meal we choose. I also recommend trying to get the first seating on a non-EMH day; it is so cooool walking down Main Street before the park opens. There are lots of great photo ops and you have a head start getting to the rides. We ate breakfast at CP last year and were able to do lots of stuff in Fantasyland before it got too crowded.

 

[lovepooh]

We absolutely LOVE breakfast at CP. We have never had any problem with character interactions or found it too noisy. We have been to GG but it is not our favorite. I would like to know more about the ice cream social. I am not familiar with it.

 

[sharon78]

I phoned for a ps on the ICS i was lucky enough to get 3pm which is the first one,its a great time to get.
It really is worth while, some of my favorite photos are of the ICS,we saw Mickey,Chip&Dale and Pluto they were all dressed up "country" style again we got alot of interaction with them,we stayed about 45 mins,im not sure how to post a photo on a thread yet,but i'll go and put some on the DIS Photo gallery for you to have a look at.

 

[sharon78]

YEAH i done it
Photos of the Ice Cream Social are on the Pictures/Video gallery(epcot) for anyone who would like a look.

 

[LegoMom3]

YEAH i done it
Photos of the Ice Cream Social are on the Pictures/Video gallery(epcot) for anyone who would like a look.

I can't find them! I went to the Pictures/Video link at the top of the DIS page; then to Epcot. Where within that?? Didn't see it under "Future World."
Am I in the right place?!

 

[LegoMom3]

Found them! What cute pictures...looks like a great time!

Thanks!

 

[sharon78]

Let me know what you decide

 

[LegoMom3]

I've got to go for both ideas!! I absolutely love Pooh & co. so a CP breakfast is very appealing. But that sundae in your pic looks soooo yummy!...it's huge!! Wow. We can certainly swing both the CP breakfast and a GG ice cream social...kids will love it!
Thanks again!

 

[westjones]

I really enjoyed the ice cream social. It was our first character 'meal'. It makes a nice break in the middle of the day.

Here's what it says about it on Mousesavers.com:

http://www.mousesavers.com/meals.html#icecreamsocial

Least Expensive Character "Meal" at Walt Disney World

Well, okay, it's not really a meal. It's even better, as far as I'm concerned -- ice cream! Every afternoon at 3:00 (and in high season, also at 3:15) there is an "Ice Cream Social" at the revolving Garden Grill restaurant in The Land at Epcot. The price is $6.99 plus tax and tip per person (same price for kids). You get to enjoy a massive and delicious ice cream sundae while Mickey and friends visit the tables and interact with the guests. It's a great way to get out of the heat and relax in the mid-afternoon. Priority Seating through (407) WDW-DINE is highly recommended. (By the way, if you inquire in advance, a diabetic/sugar-free version is available.)

Please note: in order to accommodate the completion of the nearby Soarin' attraction, The Land will be closed until 3/31/05, so the Ice Cream Social will not be available until after that date.

 

[sharon78]

I've also now put on some of our photos of The Crystal Palace Breakfast

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

I called to try to get the Ice Cream Social for dates in mid-May and was told that because the Land was closed for refurb that the social was not being offered until after July 7. I was so sad I am hoping that someone tells me that I was misinformed and to try again? Otherwise I will just be envious of those of you going after July 7th (and you can be envious of me for getting a trip in May!)

 

[klj27]

A friend of mine who works there said that they should be reopening in June. I am hoping that they are not taking ps's right now in case they don't open, but will open up ps seating times when they can be certain of a reopening date. Keep checking back... I will be doing the same.

 

[jenr812]

I called to try to get the Ice Cream Social for dates in mid-May and was told that because the Land was closed for refurb that the social was not being offered until after July 7. I was so sad I am hoping that someone tells me that I was misinformed and to try again? Otherwise I will just be envious of those of you going after July 7th (and you can be envious of me for getting a trip in May!)

We leave the 8th! I hope they don't push it back any further!!