Help with Kona and Crystal Palace decisions

[donaldsgal]

Okay, here's the thing.

We changed our plans to go to MK on the 22nd - we originally were getting in late that day, but we have now changed our plans to arrive very early in the day. Thus, we need dinner. We want to do MK that night for Wishes and Spectro.

We had Crystal Palace reserved for breakfast on Monday the 24th at 8:05. We've eaten here for dinner and really liked it. We've never had it for breakfast and want to try that. Another big draw is that we'd get in (maybe?) earlier than park opening given our ADR is for 8:05. Part of the appeal of that is getting a shot of the castle with few people in the picture.

Our thought was to add Kona for dinner Saturday night. I read good things about Kona for breakfast and dinner.

Here are my questions:

1) Is having a CP ADR for 8:05 likely to get us into the park a bit early so we can get a good shot? And is the breakfast there good? I really like having character-shaped waffles, and my mom loves Eeyore, so we want to do it either for dinner or breakfast. Would you keep it for breakfast or swap it for dinner?

2) Is Kona a good choice for dinner? Would you choose Kona for breakfast or dinner if you had to choose? We could swap the CP breakfast for a Kona breakfast, but that then removes the attractive chance to get into the park a wee bit before opening.

I'd appreciate feedback on this. When we get down to it, I always end up making some change but I freak out a bit because I want it to be "perfect". We've never tried Kona, and DSis really liked CP for dinner. I'm just torn. Help please!

 

[kato0627]

We have done them both for both meals. I would stick to CP for Breakfast and Kona for dinner. CP will not be as crowded at 8am as it will be at dinner time. Kone is REALY good for dinner. They have a few dishes I really enjoy.
Their shrimp/scallop dish is good. Their apps are great!! Bread and speciality butter is delicious. I would really keep Kona as a dinner place.
ENJOY

 

[solferino]

Kona was one of our best dinners when we were there last month. I was really disappointed with the CP dinner. I'm not a breakfast person so I can't comment on what the breakfast is like, but based on what the dinner was like, even if I changed and started liking breakfast I probably wouldn't go.

 

[marlynnp]

We just did that yesterday ~ great choices! Make sure to try Pooh's puffed French toast at the kids station!

 

[lynninpa]

Kona for dinner and CP for B-fast! As long as there are not AM EMH on the day you plan an 8:05 am B-fast at CP, you will get into MK early for wonderful photo ops! We found the service, the atmosphere and the character interaction to be great! And the food was pretty good, too! Also enjoyed Kona Cafe for dinner.

 

[KatMark]

Stick with Crystal Palace for breakfast. And here are character waffles:

 

[donaldsgal]

Just a quick question - will I still get in a bit early if the park is opening at 8? This will be during spring break week, when the MK opens at 8 AM (won't be an EMH day - I avoid those). Thanks!

 

[NJDISMOM]

During our Aug trip last year, we did all 3, Kona for dinner and CP for both Bfast (at 8:05am) and dinner. We really enjoyed all 3! Kona had a great menu for dinner, it was the first request from my boys for this trip. We thought the food at CP was great for both dinner and bfast. It was wonderful to be in the park with almost no one around. THey have a special entry gate for character bfast ADRs and we did get pics in front of the castle.

We are also going at Easter this year (Mar 22-29) and have a dinner ADR at Kona for Mar 22! I've been trying and trying to get a dinner at CP, but no luck yet! This was a trip I just planned in January, so I'm lucky I got the ADRs I did. If you want Kona for dinner on the 22nd, you should try to book ASAP!

 

[becca011906]

I'm wondering if you are going to be able to get these other ADR this late??? being easter week it's going to be crazy and many of the ADR could be gone, i had trouble picking up our last ADR for the week and 1/2 before easter at Kona and wouldn't have gotten it had i not seen someone on the boards here cancaled for the day i wanted and i was able to swoop in and get it on the same day she cancelled it... Good luck!!! We are planing on CP b'fast and Kona for dinner.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Kona for Dinner, is a big thumbs up! I had lunch there yesterday and have done dinner in the past, never had a bad meal. Love it!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I really love breakfast at CP. If the park opens at 8:00 I don't think they will let you early. Could you do breakfast later so you could do a few rides before the park gets too crowded?

 

[billnang]

We really like CP for and early in park breakfast, and enjoyed Kona for dinner too!!
We are going to try CP for dinner this time. I hope it is as good as breakfast was there!!!

 

[donaldsgal]

I'm wondering if you are going to be able to get these other ADR this late??? being easter week it's going to be crazy and many of the ADR could be gone, i had trouble picking up our last ADR for the week and 1/2 before easter at Kona and wouldn't have gotten it had i not seen someone on the boards here cancaled for the day i wanted and i was able to swoop in and get it on the same day she cancelled it... Good luck!!! We are planing on CP b'fast and Kona for dinner.

I just made an ADR for Kona for dinner on March 22 of this year - the day before Easter - with multiple reservation times available, including our tried-and-true Disney dinner ADR time of 5:30! Pretty surprising, I agree, but it worked out! We didn't swich CP - we are keeping that for breakfast and we'll do Kona for breakfast in October.

I really love breakfast at CP. If the park opens at 8:00 I don't think they will let you early. Could you do breakfast later so you could do a few rides before the park gets too crowded?

That's a bummer, but oh well. I'll just be sure to arrive super early that day so I can be at the front of the pack waiting at the gate when we walk in, then pause and snap a picture in front of the castle before too many people get in my way. And since I hope to buy PhotoShop soon, I'll just erase them out!

During our Aug trip last year, we did all 3, Kona for dinner and CP for both Bfast (at 8:05am) and dinner. We really enjoyed all 3! Kona had a great menu for dinner, it was the first request from my boys for this trip. We thought the food at CP was great for both dinner and bfast. It was wonderful to be in the park with almost no one around. THey have a special entry gate for character bfast ADRs and we did get pics in front of the castle.

We are also going at Easter this year (Mar 22-29) and have a dinner ADR at Kona for Mar 22! I've been trying and trying to get a dinner at CP, but no luck yet! This was a trip I just planned in January, so I'm lucky I got the ADRs I did. If you want Kona for dinner on the 22nd, you should try to book ASAP!

Hey, those are our exact dates! How cool! And I did get the ADR for 5:30 that night at Kona, so if you're there at that time and see three plus-sized women with a gorgeous, dark-haired/dark-skinned two year old girl, come say hi!!!

By the way, when we were you there in August and got in early for your CP ADR, when was park opening? I'm hoping you say 8:00 so that I can look forward to also getting in early (since the park opening time will be 8:00 all that week and I'm not sure if we'll get in early for an 8:05 ADR). Seems to me if they want you to check in 10 minutes early, you can't do that if the park opens at 8 and you have to fight through the surge of people to even get INTO the park! Here's hoping!

 

[becca011906]

That's great that you got it!!! I was having trouble getting mine maybe b/c it was for 5 people, maybe they have a smaller # for parties bigger then they typical "4 top" ... oh well. glad you got it!!

 

[Family24]

We just got back from Disney February 2nd. Had a great time. Our family did the Crystal Palace at 8:05 and the got some great photos. It was great being there with very little amount of people. Our meal was very good. Our last night we ate at Kona as we had done two years ago. The food this time was really not that good. I think we hit them on an off night because I have only heard good reviews on Kona. I had the Mahi Mahi and it was not even warm. My husbands dinner was ok as was my sons. We will definitely go back as it was one of our best meals two years ago. Have a great trip!

 

[NJDISMOM]

donaldsgal,

I'm glad you got the ADR for Kona, you won't regret it! Ours is for 6:05, so I'll look for you! I'll be with the 2 teenage boys drooling over the desserts! Still trying to get my WPC switched to Crystal Palace for the next night, but no luck yet.

I just checked my spreadsheet from August and park opening was at 9am, so we were about 1 hr before park opening. I know we did get there a little early though, so maybe you'll have some "alone" time with the castle!

Where are you from in OH ? I'm originally from Chillicothe! Small world!

 

[donaldsgal]

donaldsgal,

I'm glad you got the ADR for Kona, you won't regret it! Ours is for 6:05, so I'll look for you! I'll be with the 2 teenage boys drooling over the desserts! Still trying to get my WPC switched to Crystal Palace for the next night, but no luck yet.

I just checked my spreadsheet from August and park opening was at 9am, so we were about 1 hr before park opening. I know we did get there a little early though, so maybe you'll have some "alone" time with the castle!

Where are you from in OH ? I'm originally from Chillicothe! Small world!

NJDISMOM,

I got some responses from the TGM forums (I'm a member) that they WILL let you in about 7:45-7:50 for an 8:05 ADR with an 8 AM opening. Boo-yah, baby!

That's awesome that our times will overlap. Come say hi for sure.

Here's us from a couple of years ago:

(my niece, sister, and mother)

(me and my niece)

I'm from Ashland, which is about halfway between Cleveland and Columbus on 71. My cousins live in Chillicothe now - it is a small world!

 

[BigMama]

Kona For Dinner And Crystal Palace For Breakfast! Enjoy!