Crystal Palace question

[fivefordisney]

I have not been to WDW in years! Now my DH, DDs (6 and 9) and DS (2) are embarking on our first family trip to WDW. When I was a girl, my family camped in FW and we always ate at the Crystal Palace before going to the MK. We would eat before the park opened and enter through an entrance over a little bridge. It was so fun and felt like we didn't really have to wait in line.

Fast forward to 2005 and I know WDW is larger and moves at a much faster pace. Can we still eat at the Crystal Palace without reservations? Are the meals all now "character meals"?
I am a bit worried about trying to do a breakfast there and still being able to get into the park early enough to avoid the really long lines. (My DDs will be fine; my two and a half year old son is the unknown. He is like a person with multiple personality disorder. He is fine shopping/running errand one day, a wild man the next! LOL)

I am trying to balance what I remember WDW to be with what the reality is!!!

Thanks for your input!

 

[helenk]

You really need reservations, anytime we have gone the people walking up without reservations really had a long wait.It is a character breakfast with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet. There is a nice selection of food and we enjoy eating breakfast there.
Since the parks generally open at 9:00 except for the early EMH, you can make a reservation for say 8:00 and be done and ahead of the crowd at 9:00 when the park opens.
We like going later, generally we go on an early EMH morning, go on the rides and then go from breakfast at 10:00.
The restaurant was just refurbished about a year ago, and it very nice.

 

[fivefordisney]

You really need reservations, anytime we have gone the people walking up without reservations really had a long wait.It is a character breakfast with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet. There is a nice selection of food and we enjoy eating breakfast there.
Since the parks generally open at 9:00 except for the early EMH, you can make a reservation for say 8:00 and be done and ahead of the crowd at 9:00 when the park opens.
We like going later, generally we go on an early EMH morning, go on the rides and then go from breakfast at 10:00.
The restaurant was just refurbished about a year ago, and it very nice.

Thanks for the info. As I remember it years ago, it wasn't a character breakfast so I am so happy you responded! I don't have too much hope that we will get ADRs as we are leaving Aug 20! I will try though!
Anything for my kids' first trip!

Thanks again!

 

[crabmeal]

We'vw always had ressies and one morning the check in line was very long.

 

[disneydreamerinny]

Even with ADR's the waits can be really long.
We have been twice with ADR's and both times had to wait about an hour to get in.
But that doesnt stop us from going again this year. I just love that place.

 

[fivefordisney]

Even with ADR's the waits can be really long.
We have been twice with ADR's and both times had to wait about an hour to get in.
But that doesnt stop us from going again this year. I just love that place.

What time do you usually go?

 

[helenk]

I've never waited an hour with reservations, even last year during the summer with 7 people in our party we only had about a 15 minute wait.
If you go first thing in the morning you should not have much of a wait at all.

 

[VistaLeigh'smommy]

After you finish your meal can you just stay in the park? That sounds like a wonderful way to get a head start! I have been there for dinner and it was amazing! I am not a fan of the characters, but the food was great!

(it was the first time that I had red velvet cake, maybe that's why I love it so much!!!)

 

[sherry8253]

Thanks for the info. As I remember it years ago, it wasn't a character breakfast so I am so happy you responded! I don't have too much hope that we will get ADRs as we are leaving Aug 20! I will try though!
Anything for my kids' first trip!

Thanks again!

Good luck in getting your ADR for CP for breakfast. We always do an early morning breakfast at CP and never wait for more than 5 minutes with ADR to be seating. It is our favorite breakfast at Disney. I loved the puffed french toast and my DH likes the breakfast lasagna. If you can't get ADR before you leave, don't give up. Check when you get there. We have had luck calling one or two nights before we wanted to dine and have gotten a few hard to get reservations that way. Hope your family has a great trip and don't forget to do dining reviews when you get back home. Here is some pixie dust to help with your ADR.

 

[heatherfeather24]

After you finish your meal can you just stay in the park? That sounds like a wonderful way to get a head start! I have been there for dinner and it was amazing! I am not a fan of the characters, but the food was great!

(it was the first time that I had red velvet cake, maybe that's why I love it so much!!!)

You need to have a ticket into the park to eat at the restaurant. If you have an early ressie on a non EMH day, you bring your confirmation number with your ticket so that they let you in early.

 

[VistaLeigh'smommy]

Yeah, I figured it would be the same as CRT, I ate there and we had to do the same.. but we had later ressie,
I guess what I mean is, if you have an 8:00 ressie and finish early do you just kinda wander on Main Street until the park opens, or do you have to head out? By the time we finished at CRT the park was open!

 

[fivefordisney]

I got reservations for the Crystal Palace for next Sunday! I can't believe it!

Thanks for all your help!

 

[psar]

It's a great breakfast. Be sure to have some breakfast lasagne! Also give Pooh a big hug - he's a former student of mine

 

[fivefordisney]

It's a great breakfast. Be sure to have some breakfast lasagne! Also give Pooh a big hug - he's a former student of mine

I absolutely will do that! I am a reading specialist and former first grade and sixth grade teacher. I love to see my students as they grow. It is alarming to see my former first graders going off to college--and graduating college. I don't feel like I am aging as fast as they are!! LOL

Thanks for your input!