Is Crystal Palace Breakfast Worth It

[keishashadow]

My family would rather sleep in and eat an early lunch @ 11:00 a.m. than get up for any breakfast @ WDW, let alone a character one that "eats up" so much time. Since I'm a Donald Fan, I prefer the CM dinner buffet.

But, I'm thinking that on a non-EMH a.m. day, the 8:00 a.m. (or similar ADR) would be a great way to enter the park early, snap a few pictures of the castle etc., grab a quick bite & see the Characters.

After we're done dining, my ulterior motive is to get a jump on the line to Space Mt. Am I assumming correctly or do you get waylaid y CMs outside the restaurant?

My family, if they do eat breakfast, only are interested in bacon, ham & fruit. Me, I luv the little,mickey waffles Can anyone verify if they're usually on the buffet? Thanks.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Actually, they were Pooh waffles. And there was plenty of bacon and fresh fruit. We had the same intention, had a ps for 8:10, figured we'd be done by the time the park opened and head straight to Fantasyland to ride Dumbo. Well, we arrived about 10 mins late because of the wait for the bus at Pop, then waited another 10 minutes to actually be seated. We were done our breakfast and had to wait just for Pooh to come around to our table so the kids could get autographs, so we didn't get out before 9:00. The food was good, but I probably wouldn't do this breakfast again. I was just a little disappointed with the characters taking so long to visit.

 

[keishashadow]

Actually, they were Pooh waffles. And there was plenty of bacon and fresh fruit. We had the same intention, had a ps for 8:10, figured we'd be done by the time the park opened and head straight to Fantasyland to ride Dumbo. Well, we arrived about 10 mins late because of the wait for the bus at Pop, then waited another 10 minutes to actually be seated. We were done our breakfast and had to wait just for Pooh to come around to our table so the kids could get autographs, so we didn't get out before 9:00. The food was good, but I probably wouldn't do this breakfast again. I was just a little disappointed with the characters taking so long to visit.

I'm sure Pooh will be just as tasty as Mickey! It's my understanding that if you have a dining ADR, you enter thru a "special" turnstile. I've seen it posted that even if you have a 8:00 a.m. ADR, they don't allow you into the park until 8:00 a.m. Do you know if this is true?

I'm worried about the Characters taking a long time to circulate too, don't care when it's dinner and we're not in a hurry. Hope you got to ride Dumbo w/o too long of a wait.

 

[kitty2kidz]

I have the same plan!!! Does anyone know where you are held up to wait for the rope drop for park opening (assuming you are done with breakfast!). Is it near the hub by the castle?? and is it ahead of the general park crowd who didnt have breakfast??

 

[i like stitch]

I have the same plan!!! Does anyone know where you are held up to wait for the rope drop for park opening (assuming you are done with breakfast!). Is it near the hub by the castle?? and is it ahead of the general park crowd who didnt have breakfast??

I'd like to know, too! We'll be there in a month!

 

[MinnieM21]

There are ropes blocking off each land. After you're done with breakfast, you can stand behind the rope blocking off any of the lands. You do not need to wait outside of the restaurant. Does that make sense?

Basically you can walk around Main Street, talk pictures in front of the castle, and wait at the entrances to the different lands until the park opens.

The Crystal Palace is at the end of Main Street on the left side. It's near Adventureland.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I would say it is worth it ! I love it and I do it at least one time everytime we go . Sometimes 2 times because it is just that much fun and I think the food is better at breakfast

 

[Forever a Princess]

We really like the CP.

Beautiful place.
Good food.

There's nothing like walking down Mainstreet first thing in the morning with an unobstructed view of the castle. Great photo op!!!

 

[keishashadow]

Is the earliest ADR 8:00/8:10 a.m.? I've read that you cannot gain entrance to the park prior to 8:00 a.m. Can anyone verify this?

I know it'll take me at least 15 minutes to walk (not run) to CP - I do so hate that early morning "running of the bulls" when the parks open, EMH or not.

 

[eatntae]

My girlfriend loves Pooh and friends, so for us it was totally worth it. Our ADR was for 8:15, but we were probably seated 8:10. Food was good, and our server was great. She even took pictures of us with the characters. While we had to wait awhile to get pictures with all the characters, it didn't bother us at all since we were still eating. It wasn't like we were finished with our food and just sitting there just to get the characters. We got out of the restaurant and into the park after 9 (maybe 9:10-9:15), and lines were still very short. The first ride we went on was Space Mountain, and we even took a detour to take pictures with Buzz and Stitch, so we didn't get to the ride until almost 9:30. The stand-by line for Space Mountain was only about 5 minutes. I'm sure it has a lot to do with value season, but that was our experience. We were not allowed in the park prior to 8:00am. We had to wait outside the turnstiles until 8, then they let us in. There was no special turnstile for us to go through. Oddly enough, the next morning was an EMH at MK, and they let us past the turnstiles before 8, but not into Main Street until 8.

 

[MinnieM21]

Is the earliest ADR 8:00/8:10 a.m.? I've read that you cannot gain entrance to the park prior to 8:00 a.m. Can anyone verify this?

I know it'll take me at least 15 minutes to walk (not run) to CP - I do so hate that early morning "running of the bulls" when the parks open, EMH or not.

The first ADR is at 8:05am and CMs start to let those with breakfast ADRS in to the Magic Kingdom at 8:05am. There is a seperate entrance for those people who have breakfast reservations, it's on the right side.
Don't worry you won't have to run to get to the Crystal Palace. The CMs at the Crystal Palace know that those with breakfast reservations were let in at 8:05am. When we had an 8:05am reservation, everyone was just walking slowly to the restaurant. There was no rush at all.

 

[Clare D]

Thnaks for the tip that the line is on the right. When I booked my ADR for the CP I didn't know that it was the EMH that morning. At least I know I won't have to fight through the crowds at the turnstiles to get in.

 

[goofy4tink]

This is what we do.....we go to MK on an EMH morning. But, rather than have a really early PS (ADR) we get a late seating for breakfast...around 10:30 or so. It's usually the last seating block. That way we have killed two meals with one ADR! We've toured the park since 8 and are now ready for a break, as the numbers of people get bigger. Then we leave MK after eating and head to a different park. We have been many times so we seldom spend more than 3-4 hours in a park at any one time at this point, but do love to eat at some of the park restaurants!!! And I used to think that the food at the later seatings might not be as good as the earlier seatings...that has not been an issue so far. It has been just as plentiful and fresh as when we had early meals. And we did not ever feel rushed to finish and leave...in fact there were still a ton of people eating when we left our late seatings!!

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks for all the info

Still confused as to procedure "getting to" the CP. Once you're admitted to the MK, can you linger for some photos on Main Street, etc. or are you being led to the CP by a CM (hurrying you along)?

Thanks again.

 

[Merandab4]

Thanks for all the info

Still confused as to procedure "getting to" the CP. Once you're admitted to the MK, can you linger for some photos on Main Street, etc. or are you being led to the CP by a CM (hurrying you along)?

Thanks again.

*Bumping*

I would like toknow this too.

If you would like the experience of walking on main street and getting some good pictures before the park opens, it is better to make an ADR then to go for EMH, correct?

Is CP and CRT the only MK restaurants that offer breakfast before the park opens. I thought I read somewhere that the Plaza offered breakfast too.
Also, what is the earliest the restaurants open. When you are done with your breakfast, can you linger around Main Street till the park actually opens?
Can you arrive earlier then your ADR and linger arouns Main Street, or do the Cast members only let you in at certain times depending on when your ADR is.
Also will we get a confirmation or something to show the CM to let them know we have an ADR.

Sorry for all the questions. Some may have been answered and I missed them.

 

[Chicago526]

CP lover here!

They will let you into MK at 8, no earlier. Don't worry about your PS time, CP knows they don't let in people earlier, so they won't give your PS away if you're a few minutes "late". You have the free run of Main Street, so if you want to take your time and take pictures, have at it. Once you get to CP, you will have to wait 5 to 10 minutes to be seated (unless you're one of the first ones who get there).

My DFi and I went last year, and we were seated by 8:15. With no kids, we didn't care if we missed Pooh and Friends, so we just went up for all the food we could eat whenever we wanted. We still saw and got pictures with all of the characters, and most came around 2 or 3 times each before we left. We paid our bill and walked out onto Main Street about 5 minutes prior to the rope drop, then we speed walked to Space Moutain.

I think CT and CRT are the only ones open for breakfasts. Tony's is open but only for groups (Magical Gatherings). I don't think Plaza is open for breakfast, unless that's something new. I think the earliest you can get a PS for is 8 AM, regardless of when the park opens.

 

[Brina]

We had a wonderful time. We had an 8am on a non EMH day. We got there before 8 and were let right it - what a wonderful stroll down mainstreet. The breakfast buffet is very, very good. The kids had a ball with the characters - tigger handed out instruments and led a parade around the dining room. Since it was the last day of our trip we did not rush right out, but we were still done by about 9:15.

 

[Merandab4]

Do the CM's at the front gate have anyway of knowing what time your ADR is for? Say I make an ADR for 9:00 am, but want to show up at 8:15 so I can have a leisurly walk down mainstreet and do some picture taking. Would this be allowed?

 

[Chicago526]

Do the CM's at the front gate have anyway of knowing what time your ADR is for? Say I make an ADR for 9:00 am, but want to show up at 8:15 so I can have a leisurly walk down mainstreet and do some picture taking. Would this be allowed?

I've never been asked to provide my confirmation number at either of the pre-open PS's I've made, so I think you'll be okay. But bring your number just incase, it could be that they do random spot checks. The worst that could hapen is that they don't let you in, and you spend 30 minutes hanging out front of the park before you could get in.

 

[kelleigh1]

This is what we do.....we go to MK on an EMH morning. But, rather than have a really early PS (ADR) we get a late seating for breakfast...around 10:30 or so. It's usually the last seating block. That way we have killed two meals with one ADR! We've toured the park since 8 and are now ready for a break, as the numbers of people get bigger. Then we leave MK after eating and head to a different park. We have been many times so we seldom spend more than 3-4 hours in a park at any one time at this point, but do love to eat at some of the park restaurants!!! And I used to think that the food at the later seatings might not be as good as the earlier seatings...that has not been an issue so far. It has been just as plentiful and fresh as when we had early meals. And we did not ever feel rushed to finish and leave...in fact there were still a ton of people eating when we left our late seatings!!

You answered my question before I even asked it. This is exactly what I was thinking of doing and had wondered if anyone had tried it. We want a later meal also and I figured that if we used EMH, we could get in some rides before eating and then enjoy a late morning meal.