Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's?

[eeyore29]

Our next trip will be either the first or second week of May 2006. We're kinda leaning toward the second week to avoid Grad Nites. We usually do one character meal on our trips and we're not real fancy eaters so American-fare is good for us. DH has left the location up to me, and I just can't decide between the Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's. I'm an Eeyore fan (guess the name gave it away!) and DH would like to dine with Goofy. It's not a deal-breaker; he wouldn't mind the Hundred-Acre friends and I'd certainly enjoy Mickey and the gang. We may just go with Crystal Palace since it's more convenient. Is it relatively easy to get to Chef Mickey's; could we take the monorail or should we just walk over? I've read thru the menus and both places seem ok by our tastes. So the choices are breakfast at Chef Mickey's OR breakfast/lunch at Crystal Palace...

 

[Hanover]

It wasn't on your poll but I'd do CP for dinner

 

[nluvwithmickey]

As much as I love the beautiful setting of CP, I much prefer the characters at CM's. We had breakfast at CP and dinner at CM, and although CM's can get noisy, I just love Mickey, and Chip n Dale, Winnie is just o.k. for me.

 

[hockeygirl]

I loved Chef Mickey's so much more than Crystal Palace. When we went to CP, the characters didn't really come by us unless we asked, and the CM said it was because we didn't have any kids with us, which I thought was ridiculous. Anyhow, at Chef Mickey's the characters were great!! My vote is for Chef Mickey's!!

 

[heidiboo]

It may depend on what sort of experience you want. We find Crystal Palace to be much quieter and relaxing when we go. We always have done breakfast and go the end of August. Chef Mickey's on the other hand is VERY loud!!! We have only done breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Good luck!

 

[Crazy Kanga]

I would go with CP. I love the breakfast there and it is much easier to start your day in the park there.

 

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

It wasn't on your poll but I'd do CP for dinner

ITA, best character meal we've had so far was CP for dinner.

 

[DreaminDisney]

I voted CP breakfast. I wasn't impressed with Chef Mickey's.
But before I'd go back to either for breakfast, I'd go to CP dinner

Have a nice vacation

 

[Rae&familyxmas05]

If you can do both go for it. Had breakfast at CM loved it, and had Christmas dinner at CP loved it.

 

[cyndibelle]

breakfast at chef mickeys is awesome...the song they sing...they get you involved and all the characters..oh and the food is really really good too..they have this breakfast lasagna that is the best....love it..

 

[cocodog]

Without a doubt-- Crystal palace !

 

[jtlover]

IMO Chef Mickeys does not have the same atmosphere as at the CP.

 

[eeyore29]

We're not really considering dinner because the menus are a little too fancy-shmancy for me. The breakfast & lunch menus are right up my alley. I'm really surprised that CP is "winning;" I really thought it'd be the other way around.
For those of you who've been to CM, is it easy to find? We've never been to the Contemporary (just thru it once on the monorail), is it easy to find in the hotel once you're there? Would you recommend walking or taking the monorail? I'm a flat-footer and the walking in parks is enough for me so even if it's only a 90-second monorail ride vs. a 10-minute walk I'd go with the monorail. Let me know what you all think...it's been over a year since our last visit & I don't remember the layout, or how close to MK it is. Thank you all!

 

[3NTN4WDW]

We love CP breakfast. Good food, service and the characters, especially Piglet are super!

 

[daisyduck123]

My vote is for Chef Mickey's...but I've only had dinners there.

 

[Savin4Disney]

We loved CP for breakfast! Even my 14 year son got into the characters. All the Characters treated him the same as if he was a little kid wanting pictures and autographs.

We are going back!

 

[Soarin' Rocks]

We enjoyed breakfast at both Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's and lunch at Crystal Palace, so you can't go wrong with whatever you decide to do. My favorite meal was breakfast at Crystal Palace. Good food, good waitress and great character interaction...plus I love the Pooh characters!

 

[eeyore29]

Would you recommend walking or taking the monorail to CM?

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

I enjoyed taking the monorail to CM. For one thing it just adds to the magic. I love making the loop and watching the view. CM is a very fun place to dine. It is fun seeing the monorails pass through and the characters just make it so festive!

 

[eeyore29]

I've been leaning toward CP (unless the rumors of the Toy Story character meal come true by the time we travel!), mostly for the convenience of it being right in MK. And according to the poll many would agree, which surprises me. I really thought CM would win by a landslide, and I thought DISers would convince me that CM is the ONLY way to go and change my mind for me! That's ok - Eeyore and friends are fine by me - now I just gotta decide on breakfast or lunch.

Then again, if I had some pixie dust, maybe I can convince DH that TWO character meals is a better idea and then we can do CP & CM!!!

Thank you all so much for your input!