Crystal Palace twice??

[ToyStoryBo]

I don't like to eat at the same restaurant twice in one trip because there are soo many places to try....

However, I had planned on CP for dinner the night we'll be attending MVMCP because it just makes sense to eat in the park prior to the party.

After reading all the rave reviews and seeing the breakfast menu, I would like to eat breakfast there also. We are on the DDP and would pay for it OOP. We will be there for 9 days and the only TS breakfast we are planning at this point is Tusker House on our AK day (because I want to maximize our credits by eating dinners).

So, is it worth paying OOP for?? As you can see, we have a large family, so we're talking about $100+ for breakfast (which sounds crazy to me, esp since we're not going for characters). But we really enjoy eating out breakfast foods since we rarely do...

Opinions, please!! FYI....we would be doing the CP breakfast on our last full day and would most likely do an early ressie before park opening.

 

[bitohoney]

Idk if it's worth paying OOP but it's ok to eat there for breakfast and lunch or dinner. We are eating there for bkfst (just to get in early) and for lunch (different days) but we are on the DxDP. I'm so excited about getting in MK early!

 

[skier_pete]

WE have done both...the breakfast is decent, but I don't think it is anything special. (There's a few unique breakfast items including the breakfast lasagna.) We like the food CP a lot, but I would never, ever, ever eat there twice in one trip. The high price and repeating the same (somewhat mediocre) character interaction would totally turn me off from that idea.

 

[wolf29]

If you aren't going for the Characters I doubt I'd pay OOP for any Character Meal.

 

[bleeps]

We often eat at CP twice during a given trip -- breakfast and then a dinner. The issue is that there aren't that many TS choices in MK (we've tried 'em all). We do really like the breakfast choices here, to be honest, and although we generally try to avoid buffets, we've found the dinner choices to be decent.

 

[2Tiggies]

CP is our traditional "twice in a trip" restaurant. I really like the breakfast there. DD loves the lunch, but I think that has something to do with the self serve icecream at the dessert station ...

As a previous poster said, there is nothing unique on the buffet, but I feel the general quality and variety is really good. However we do go for the characters as part of the package so I dont mind paying for it. As an OOP character meal, it is one of those on the lower price scale. You need to look at the other TS options (not many) in the MK and decide which you prefer, then see if that suits your budget.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Agree with other posters. Isn't really worthy of eating there twice in one trip but we have done it and would probably do it again because of wish to eat in MK and lack of decent eating places for our family there.

same characters at both meals, prefer breakfast food to dinner but choice at both is wide and ok quality too.

wish WDW would either return LTT to character or introduce another buffet somewhere at MK.

 

[clanmcculloch]

If I was paying extra money to attend MVMCP, I don't think I'd want to use up some of my party time at a TS meal, any TS meal. I'd personally opt for a CS dinner or maybe a very late lunch/very early dinner at a resort (maybe Chef Mickey) before heading over to MK. This would be after having slept in that morning and lounging around the pool for a while. These ticketed events seem very expensive to me to not maximize my time and be fully energized for the evening.

 

[hildarumpole]

We didn't think the CP breakfast was any better than other character breakfast. They are all o.k. They each have standard breakfast fare with a few unique items to each location. IMO, those unique items aren't worth the extra expense OOP if you're not that interested in the characters. That's especially true if you've already met them at a previous meal.

 

[ToyStoryBo]

If I was paying extra money to attend MVMCP, I don't think I'd want to use up some of my party time at a TS meal, any TS meal. I'd personally opt for a CS dinner or maybe a very late lunch/very early dinner at a resort (maybe Chef Mickey) before heading over to MK. This would be after having slept in that morning and lounging around the pool for a while. These ticketed events seem very expensive to me to not maximize my time and be fully energized for the evening.

I know what you are saying....but we were going to eat dinner at 4:30 since we can enter the park at 4. "We" don't want to get the party started too early since we'll have a 2 yr old. I want to make sure we catch the last parade and stay as late as we can.

But you gave me the idea to eat a late lunch somewhere else, which is what I think we'll do.... I was trying to minimize travel that day so the kids aren't worn out, but it's "kids choice" day, so I don't know what they'll choose to do. Thanks for the idea...glad I asked!

 

[squirrel]

Are you planning on getting a ADR before the park opens?

That would be the only way I would want to pay out of pocket for a meal.

I have eaten at CP twice during both trips. The first trip we had a lunch and a dinner, the second trip we had dinner and breakfast.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

If the MVMCP is the same as 2009, you can get into MK with just the party ticket at 4pm. The castle lighting ceremony is at 6:30pm so we hope to be done dinner by then.

We enjoyed Crystal Palace very much for lunch and dinner. I think the food is VERY good for a buffet and the location is perfect, very close to the Castle. Crystal Palace and the other MK restaurants (Tony's, Plaza, Liberty Tree) all start serving dinner around 4 or 4:30pm so you could certainly finish before the party events start.

We especially like Crystal Palace for in-park meals. We do mostly all table service and it is easy to pull kids away from fun rides and attractions to go to Crystal Palace... not so easy for more boring restaurants in the park.

We will plan to have dinner at Crystal Palace around 5:00 one night before the party. We will go to Ohana (Polynesian Resort) another night before the party if we can get a 5pm reservation (when Ohana first opens for dinner). This worked well for us at the MNSSHP Halloween Party in 2009, we were done Ohana and had time to finish putting on our costumes and took the MK Ferry boat from the Transportation and Ticket Center in time for the party.

Have Fun!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

If you really want to eat at a TS the night of the MVMCP, then I would eat at the Plaza (love the food and desserts) and pay OOP for that meal. Then I would schedule a breakfast at CP before the park opens and use the credit for that.

 

[ToyStoryBo]

If you really want to eat at a TS the night of the MVMCP, then I would eat at the Plaza (love the food and desserts) and pay OOP for that meal. Then I would schedule a breakfast at CP before the park opens and use the credit for that.

I will go check out the menu for the Plaza right now!!

And I think I will use the credit for CP before park opening.....either do as you suggested and pay OOP for the Plaza, or just skip a TS that day.