Crystal Palace: Late Breakfast or Early Lunch?

[jjohns]

For our last day at WDW, I have been thinking Crystal Palace would be a fun treat - we've never been and it's always been on my list.

Speaking to Dining, they tell me the last breakfast seating is at 10:30 and the first lunch seating is at 11:30. Question for the experienced ones...

Does the restaurant simply stay open for that whole period and diners leave when they're ready, or do they clear out the breakfast crowd down to the last person and then let the lunch crowd in?

If it simply stays open, do they keep the buffet stocked with breakfast fare after 10:30, or is it allowed to dwindle (thus encouraging those breakfast people to leave?)?

And, do the characters stay around for that whole time, or do they disappear between 10:30 and 11:30??

I guess I'm debating between trying to get a 10:30 breakfast seating or an 11:30 lunch. We are flying out later that day, so we probably need to be on the road by 1.

And, if it matters, this is going to be a Saturday (I know, Saturday in MK - YUCK - but I'm thinking/hoping by the time it is real bad we'll be sitting down for late breakfast/early lunch).

TIA, Jeff

 

[mommystieg]

We have eaten at CP for both breakfast and lunch and we LOVE it!! I don't really know the answer to your question but I think I read somewhere that the buffet is just gradually switched over from breakfast to lunch. I am sure someone else will be along soon to answer your question...

 

[eelderm1]

I have heard that CP is great , and if it is someone's birthday let them know ahead of time by calling and they will bring out a cupcake with a candle for the birthday girl/boy and sing Happy Birthday!

 

[NancyIL]

Which interests you more...breakfast food or lunch food? I've eaten both meals there and liked both.

 

[disneysteve]

I'm reasonably sure, though not 100%, that lunch is seperate from breakfast. I recall being there for early lunch and the place being empty while they prepared to seat people for lunch.

We avoid buffet breakfasts, especially character meals. We aren't huge breakfast eaters. A bowl of cereal, glass of juice, danish, etc. is plenty for us, so paying for a fancy buffet is a waste for us. We much prefer Crystal Palace for lunch as we find it to be a much better value. When in WDW, we usually make lunch our bigger meal since places like CP have the same food at lunch and dinner, but lower prices at lunch. Then we do counter service at dinner which doesn't up the price later in the day.

Steve

 

[tink2]

CP at lunch is great! We've eaten here several times and it is our favorite! We, too, make lunch our big meal- smaller breakfast and dinner. I think CP would be great for either, just depends on your preferences!

 

[3PRINCESSMOM]

I agree with one of the previous posts, pick which ever meal you prefer. You can't go wrong at CP for either meal. We did exactly what you're planning to do on our last trip. On our last day we checked out early and headed to MK. We got in a couple of great hours of touring and then ended our trip with a fabulous lunch at CP. Our 3 princesses were sad to leave, but the hugs from Pooh and Tigger really helped!

 

[wdwobsessed]

I would do the early lunch for a few reasons. #1 The food will not be as fresh if you take the last seating for a buffet meal. #2 Breakfast seems the most rushed meal as far as character interaction at the character buffets. #3 Having the early lunch will give you more time in the MK enjoying your last day!


wdwo

 

[Epcotgal8]

Keep in mind that this was a couple of years ago and it was just OUR experience. We had p.s. for breakfast at CP at 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday. It was crowded in the Mk that day and p.s. were backed up. We had about a 30 minute wait. The food was good but the characters and servers were rushed and they started to "run out" of breakfast dishes and the breakfast buffet was in the process of being switched out by the time we left. Based on our experience I would vote for an early lunch instead.