Meal Planning... How Long?/Early for ADR?

[sunb75]

How long do you typically give yourself for a meal? I know there about 7,000 variables, but just looking for an estimate. Buffet? Table Dining?

For breakfast at Crystal Palace, our ADR is at 8:35. How early could we be there and get seated? Just wondering if this time is a good one or if we should cancel it and eat breakfast in the room so we don't have to wait in lines later in the day?

 

[Robo]

1- How long do you typically give yourself for a meal? I know there about 7,000 variables, but just looking for an estimate. Buffet? Table Dining?

For breakfast at Crystal Palace, our ADR is at 8:35.

2- How early could we be there and get seated?

3- Just wondering if this time is a good one or if we should cancel it and eat breakfast in the room so we don't have to wait in lines later in the day?

1- Figure 60-90 minutes, rule of thumb.

2- You should be able to enter MK about 8AM, or so.

3- It's a nice breakfast and the characters can be fun for Pooh fans.
Otherwise, I'd forgo the meal (especially as late an ADR as 8:35) and
just eat/snack at the resort earlier, or in the park after you've ridden the
attractions at THE most-favorable time to do so… first thing in the morning (first hour or two) after opening.

 

[gonnago]

I usually plan on at least 1&1/2 to 2 hours for character buffet meals from the time of the ADR because it could be a wait still to be seated and then a wait to see all the characters.We just got back from a week and our 2 character meals took about 2 hrs from adr time till we left the restaurant because we had to wait to be seated.

It depends on what time park opening is and what you would like to accomplish early in the morning as to whether you should cancel.I know we were there before opening each morning and were able to get alot accomplished between the 8 am opening until the crowds really started rolling in around 12 and stand by lines started backing up. If you plan on getting alot done in Fantasyland early you need to be there at opening for short wait times.Hope this helps.And have a great trip!

 

[NavyDad]

How long do you typically give yourself for a meal? I know there about 7,000 variables, but just looking for an estimate. Buffet? Table Dining?

For breakfast at Crystal Palace, our ADR is at 8:35. How early could we be there and get seated? Just wondering if this time is a good one or if we should cancel it and eat breakfast in the room so we don't have to wait in lines later in the day?

Typically about 90 minutes for most meals.

You can eat a good breakfast at CP and see most of the character in about 35 minutes. As posted in another thread the biggest time saver at CP is asking for your check at the very begining.

If you want a lot of character interaction and photo ops with each character at least once then you should plan on 60-75 minutes here. That would put you in line for your first ride closer to 10 AM which would put you behind the curve.

If you have already seen these characters and/or are not worried about getting quality time with each 35-45 is very do-able. This would put you in line for your first ride before 9:30 which should be just fine....

My family has outgrown these characters but we love this breakfast and the location is great so we book it every trip. Hope that helps.....

Have fun!

 

[sunb75]

Typically about 90 minutes for most meals.

You can eat a good breakfast at CP and see most of the character in about 35 minutes. As posted in another thread the biggest time saver at CP is asking for your check at the very begining.

If you want a lot of character interaction and photo ops with each character at least once then you should plan on 60-75 minutes here. That would put you in line for your first ride closer to 10 AM which would put you behind the curve.

If you have already seen these characters and/or are not worried about getting quality time with each 35-45 is very do-able. This would put you in line for your first ride before 9:30 which should be just fine....

My family has outgrown these characters but we love this breakfast and the location is great so we book it every trip. Hope that helps.....

Have fun!

Thanks so much! My kids are 12 and 15 and while the 15 year old just wants FOOD, the 12 year old has a young heart so I think she would enjoy it

 

[NavyDad]

Something I forgot to mention....

In all of our pre rope-drop booking at CP we were seated before our reservation time. I'm guessing that was because we were there early and they didn't need to wait for anyone to finish.

On one of our trips we had a 8:15 or 8:20 reservation and they took us in at about 8:05 with a big group of other families. It was actually pretty cool the way they did it with all the staff at the doors welcoming families in as their names were called. The porch area was very crowded but they did a great job of getting every one in and seated in a very orderly fashion.

 

[GillianP1301]

Most of our character buffet meals (including CP) were around 1 hour from the time we're seated. That's allowing for time to wait on all characters to do at least one round and eating at a leisurely pace. We always check in about 10 - 15 minutes early and rarely have to wait much past our ADR time.

I like the idea of asking for the bill and settling things early in the meal, I'm going to have to remember that. In most cases, I could probably save at least 5 - 10 minutes on the wait at the end of the meal for the payment process.

 

[NavyDad]

Thanks so much! My kids are 12 and 15 and while the 15 year old just wants FOOD, the 12 year old has a young heart so I think she would enjoy it

Our kids:

DS 15
DD 11
DD 8

DS15 is all about the food. He would eat here 3 meals a day if they served breakfast foods all day

DD11 really enjoys the food here for breakfast. She is entering that pre-teen "cool" phase and pretends she is not interestd in the characters but I think she enjoys them.

DD8 loves the kids buffet here and LOVES the characters. We have pics with her with Piglet, Eyore, Tigger and Pooh from almost every trip.

DW and I love the omlet station. DW likes to sneak some kind of French Toast thing from the kids buffet when no one is looking

The last trip (35 minutes) we only missed 1 character and got pics with the rest.

2nd Trip (90 minutes) we saw all characters twice and got tons of pics.

Side note - we have tried CP for dinner and will not go back again. Dinner buffet is one of the worst TS meals on property IMO.