Crystal Palace -No more Pooh Bear??

[Debbie6221]

A friend told me that he heard on 2 pod-casts that they might be eliminating character meals at CP? Anyone heard anything about this?

 

[ChrisFL]

Its just a rumor right now, wdwradio.com had posted it in this past weeks broadcast.

 

[MJMcBride]

considering the popularity of this particular character breakfast, it does seem an unlikely cut. In fact, when cutting corners, it would seem to me that character breakfasts would be low on the list. They are quite popular yet not costly really.

 

[billwendy]

Yeah - I wonder how many people would really go there for breakfast without the characters being there????

 

[Luv2Roam]

I have not heard. However who would have thought they would get rid of them at LTT too?

 

[Debbie6221]

They didn't officially get rid of them at LTT did they??

My cousin and I were talking about how they might be looking to make it something fine dining since there really isn't anything super fancy in the park.

I agree it would make no sense.

 

[Another Voice]

They are quite popular yet not costly really.

Disney Dining Plans.

A food facilty with fuzzies is more expensive (even if by pennies a person) than a facility without fuzzies.

And that's just about where Disney's thinking stops these days.

 

[TDC Nala]

LTT is official - their dinner will not be a character meal starting January 5.

 

[MJMcBride]

Disney Dining Plans.

A food facilty with fuzzies is more expensive (even if by pennies a person) than a facility without fuzzies.

And that's just about where Disney's thinking stops these days.

believe me I hate the dining plans. They don't help the consumer and they are ruining some good disney meals

however, it seems to me that that this is the last place they would look. Cutting Fantasmic to 2 nights a week save a lot more money than cancelling all of the character meals. It really is pennies

 

[Jason71]

There are a relatively limited number of table-service locations in MK, so I imagine they will fill up no matter (especially with the dining plan). If all the character meals are at resorts, it spreads guests around a bit more, and keeps those otherwise half-empty restaurants full. From a purely economic standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. From a customer satisfaction standpoint, it seems idiotic.

 

[goalie5hole]

I wouldn't bring my family there if they cut characters. Just another reason to not eat at a Disney restaurant for me. And the only way Disney stops making these types of cuts is to (I know it's hard) stop patronizing the restaurants.

 

[DC7800]

I wouldn't bring my family there if they cut characters. Just another reason to not eat at a Disney restaurant for me. And the only way Disney stops making these types of cuts is to (I know it's hard) stop patronizing the restaurants.

While you might not, not every Magic Kingdom guest is looking for a character meal - especially not every (table-service) meal they eat. There are more than enough people who would actually prefer (or don't care either way, or who would at least dine anyway) the restaurant without the character interaction to fill the Crystal Palace's tables. That doesn't in any way excuse removing the Crystal Place characters, primarily just to save a few measly cents (and there are already non-character options, soon to include the nearby Liberty Tree Tavern), but it also doesn't mean the restaurant cannot be a success without Pooh being present.

 

[ChrisFL]

While you might not, not every Magic Kingdom guest is looking for a character meal - especially not every (table-service) meal they eat. There are more than enough people who would actually prefer (or don't care either way, or who would at least dine anyway) the restaurant without the character interaction to fill the Crystal Palace's tables. That doesn't in any way excuse removing the Crystal Place characters, primarily just to save a few measly cents (and there are already non-character options, soon to include the nearby Liberty Tree Tavern), but it also doesn't mean the restaurant cannot be a success without Pooh being present.

Agreed, especially bothersome is the princess meals at Restaurant Akershus (Norway)...they can't have at least lunch without it being all princesses all the time? I mean it used to be one of my favorite places to eat and relax, now it isn't the same.

 

[DisneyFanGuy]

I had heard rumors that they are reconsidering the LTT reduction due to ADR shifts. My family of mostly adults still enjoys the character meals a couple of times during our trips, but admittedly think that we would like another non-character option at the MK. I wish that the LTT would keep their current status quo and that the MK had another full service restaurant choice that was character free.

I understand Management's conflict. We linger probably 1/2 hour longer at a character meal, and they can't turn the tables as fast. So they lose money.....sort of. The flip side is that we probably eat an additional full service meal during our week that we might skip for fast food.....just to get a little character action in.

So if they cut more meals, then our family would lose one of our annual traditions. But we would still go and still eat. But we would miss just a small sprinkle of magic.

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

I had heard rumors that they are reconsidering the LTT reduction due to ADR shifts. My family of mostly adults still enjoys the character meals a couple of times during our trips, but admittedly think that we would like another non-character option at the MK. I wish that the LTT would keep their current status quo and that the MK had another full service restaurant choice that was character free.

I guess they're realizing that a lot people (myself included) go to LTT for the characters more than for the food. IMHO, unless they keep the characters, lower the price, or improve the food, their will most likely be fewer people eating at LTT for dinner.

I understand Management's conflict. We linger probably 1/2 hour longer at a character meal, and they can't turn the tables as fast. So they lose money.....sort of. The flip side is that we probably eat an additional full service meal during our week that we might skip for fast food.....just to get a little character action in.

Exactly. On my last few trips, I have averaged about 3-4 TS meals, all character meals. Based on the cut to LTT & the (RUMORED) cut to Crystal Palace, I would have eaten 1-2 TS meals.

In my case, I go to Crystal Palace 2-3 times per trip (usually breakfast and dinner). If there are no Pooh characters there, then I may go for 1 breakfast & that's it. Yes, they may not be able to turn my table as quickly with characters, but then I visit the Crystal Palace 1-2 additional times BECAUSE of the characters.

 

[chicagoshannon]

That was the one place I was going to take DD on our trip in 2010. But I wouldn't blame them. I mean it hasn't always been a character meal. I remember when my great uncles used to just go there in the middle of the day for coffee and people watch.

I'm sure a lot of people will like if they take the characters away.

 

[rkwells]

Hmmmmmmmmm, makes me wonder if Mickey and Minnie will end up over at Crystal Palace???

 

[gymnastgirlflips]

I hope they dont get rid of Pooh! Or any other character dinings... I mean, its part of the experience. It doesn't cost much either... and the kids have a better time sitting there. My family has been going to the Crystal Palace every visit, and even if we aren't watching Pooh Bear anymore, we still like visting old memories. I never heard this rumor before, are they going to get rid of other character meals soon too? I hope not.

 

[disneyin2008]

Do the rumors give a date for this possible loss? We've got reservations for the first morning of our trip (tradition, get there early and have the first walk up Main Street almost to ourselves). We also have late lunch the day of MVMCP there, we've never done lunch but thought it would be fun.

If Pooh ain't there, neither am I!

 

[dzorn]

Unless they change the price to reflect the lower value without characters it will probably be off our list. Now that we have DVC breakfast is easier in the room but would enjoy the restaurants for the characters. I nixed cape may from our plans when they lost Chip & Dale for Donald. I like Donald for only 3 characters I'll go elsewhere or eat in the room or if we have a vehicle offsite. LTT food was OK but I will not pay the same price without characters.

Denise in MI