Crystal Palace impossible for child with ASD?

[ellataylor]

Hi,

We are heading to WDW next month and have an ADR for dinner at Crystal Palace. Our GD really wants to go here because she loves Pooh and friends but due to her ASD she becomes easily overwhelmed in loud noisy environments.

Looking at videos this restaurant seems to be the extreme of loud and chaotic! Are there any quieter area in the restaurant or have people been when it has been a little less noisy?

Thanks in advance.

 

[cruising spud]

My opinion, Crystal Palace is filled with families, so it is noisy, I wouldn't say "screaming noisy' though. And, again, in my opinion, there are tables that are farther back, against the walls that are a bit removed from the central hubbub. I think the problem might be getting one of those tables. I guess you could call reservations, explain the situation, and ask for a bit of an isolated table.

 

[Marthasor]

I feel Crystal Palace has become quite loud and chaotic over the years (and messy, too, quite honestly). I would consider getting the very first reservation of the day to be in there before the restaurant is completely filled and the buffet is destroyed. You can certainly ask for a "quieter" location in the restaurant (if that even exists) when you check in at the podium, but there are zero guarantees. Plus, the staff cannot control the behavior of other guests so you will have no clue if the families around you are loud or chaotic. If your GD loves Pooh and Friends and needs a quieter location and interaction, consider visiting Pooh and Piglet at their meeting location in the UK pavilion in EP. They meet in Christopher Robin's room in the back of the pavilion. The room is adorable and she will get a short, private, quieter meeting with them. You will just need to check meeting times on the MDE app.

 

[sponica]

Pooh and Piglet at their meeting location in the UK pavilion in EP. They meet in Christopher Robin's room in the back of the pavilion. The room is adorable and she will get a short, private, quieter meeting with them.

I'm so glad they moved Pooh back into this M&G area. It was one of my favorites and it was so out of the way, there was never a line. We stumbled into it accidentally one visit in 2013.

 

[adam.r.thomas]

We were there a few weeks ago; both my kids have some noise/stimulation issues, though not ASD. They did ok, but I could tell by the end of the meal, they were a bit wiped. I'd agree with the above point about hitting Pooh in the UK in Epcot - we got Pooh and Eeyore and it was quiet, personal, and such a good experience.

 

[Susi]

I agree with Marthasor to meet Pooh in Epcot in the UK pavilion. It's tucked away and if there's a line and you have an extra person you can walk your GD to the other side of the pavilion.

 

[ellataylor]

Thanks you for all your helpful responses!

I did see the spot in Epcot last visit but it wasn’t open at the time. I will definitely check out the times for GD, it’s sounds perfect for her!

I wonder how they would be if we went into Crystal Palace and were seated, we would quickly see if it were too much for her and then we could decide to leave. Anyone know if they would waive the cancellation charge in this instance?

I know we are possibly taking up a sought after ADR but I always see people asking for a walk up table, so maybe would be acceptable.

 

[sponica]

Thanks you for all your helpful responses!

I did see the spot in Epcot last visit but it wasn’t open at the time. I will definitely check out the times for GD, it’s sounds perfect for her!

I wonder how they would be if we went into Crystal Palace and were seated, we would quickly see if it were too much for her and then we could decide to leave. Anyone know if they would waive the cancellation charge in this instance?

I know we are possibly taking up a sought after ADR but I always see people asking for a walk up table, so maybe would be acceptable.

99 times out of 100 showing up at the hostess stand counts as keeping the reservation.

If you can get the first seating of the day it might not be as chaotic, most people try to avoid using that time for eating because lines are lower.

 

[nursejackie]

Ear defenders and/or ipad with headphones helped us. Waiting for characters to reach our table was the biggest challenge! The ipad helped and we positioned him with the characters behind so they just 'appeared' rather than him getting frustrated with seeing the characters but not being his turn. We've done many character breakfasts and always returned until he grew up.

 

[Susi]

Ear defenders and/or ipad with headphones helped us. Waiting for characters to reach our table was the biggest challenge! The ipad helped and we positioned him with the characters behind so they just 'appeared' rather than him getting frustrated with seeing the characters but not being his turn. We've done many character breakfasts and always returned until he grew up.

Great idea of positioning him so the characters just appear instead of seeing them with others and getting frustrated when it's not his turn. You can't start the mental clock if you don't see them Wish I would have thought of that.

 

[tetera]

.

 

[HopperFan]

We had a good experience with breakfast at Crystal Palace earlier this year (child with ASD). We did the first seating of the day and they sat us over in a quieter side area next to a window. The characters all came very quickly, and it took until the end of our meal for all of the tables around us to be filled. It was a very calm and pleasant experience overall.

I think this is the best advice. Be the first to check in and ask for a quiet location away or buffered from the "masses". I wish I had done this. Not only was the atmosphere chaotic but we found that the families around us where not keeping their children in their seats, giving us no buffer space, so it was way overwhelming.

We have done better with Cape May breakfast, Garden Grill or Storybook Dining at Artist Point. CRT was fine but cost is too much now.

 

[elvispursley]

Ear defenders and/or ipad with headphones helped us. Waiting for characters to reach our table was the biggest challenge! The ipad helped and we positioned him with the characters behind so they just 'appeared' rather than him getting frustrated with seeing the characters but not being his turn. We've done many character breakfasts and always returned until he grew up.

This!!! I think many restaurants could be noisy and chaotic, especially any places with characters. I think the worst for me was Chef Mickey’s. That was a one and done for us when my kids were little. It’s just to loud with that open concourse

 

[Brob2132]

Ultimately, you know your child best (of course), but I would go in expecting noisy and loud. First reservation of the day as others have said will minimize as much as possible. Tricky thing with ASD is it’s such a broad spectrum, it’s impossible to give accurate advice.

 

[rdaky]

I agree with others who have suggested to reserve the absolute first seating of the day.

I do not have ASD, but when we went recently I found it to be overhwhelming and incredibly loud, tables are very close together, kids not staying in their seats, people squeezing by tables for more plates, kids running back and forth with plates of food with no adult with them. It was a lot.

 

[bruceluigi]

I agree with others who have suggested to reserve the absolute first seating of the day.

Yeah, me too

 

[Dulcee]

Lots of great advice here. We have avoided character buffets with our kids since our oldest’s ASD symptoms became more pronounced. While the chaos isn’t enough to trigger a meltdown it does raise his overall sensory levels to the point that we felt like we were setting ourselves up for a meltdown earlier in the day because of it.

We have found some plated character meals a little easier to manage and sometimes attempt those.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

We've done Crystal Palace with both our ASD boys and they were okay. We did sit over to the far right by a window so it may have been a little less chaotic over that way. If you are doing it for her to meet the characters then definitely meet them out in the parks because I always feel like the interactions at character meals are rushed and a little chaotic because everyone around you is eating food and theirs table and food in your pictures. Lol.

Definitely not Pooh Bear and friends but if you want a little less chaotic character meal you could check out Garden Grill at Epcot. The restaurant itself rotates very very very slowly while you are eating but they bring the food to your table so its a little less chaotic all around.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

To me as an adult it's loud and chaotic and has only gotten louder every visit. Depending on how noise effects your child it may be too much. I can stand outdoor crowds like NYE no problem but loud stores and restaurants indoors are more challenging.

 

[ellataylor]

Thank you, such amazingly helpful advice!

We are past our 60 day ADR day so we were only able to get a table for 8.25am. I’m hoping the restaurant will still be relatively quiet. GD is just really fixated on going here now, whenever anyone asks her what she is most excited for it’s this.

Kind of wish we hadn’t spoken about it but hopefully with the helpful tips from here, her iPad, and ear defenders she will still have fun.