Ohana or Crystal Palace Breakfast buffet....which one???

[3sweetpeas]

Our family loves breakfast so we'd like to do one breakfast buffet in March. We've not been to any of the buffets for breakfast. We'll be at Magic Kingdom that day so either would work logistically right? Sooo...what are the differences and which do you prefer? Thanks for any help!

 

[ArcEntropy]

Our family loves breakfast so we'd like to do one breakfast buffet in March. We've not been to any of the buffets for breakfast. We'll be at Magic Kingdom that day so either would work logistically right? Sooo...what are the differences and which do you prefer? Thanks for any help!

IMHO ... when my family went 08/2009, we were on the DDP and did a character breakfast (almost) every morning. The best was Tusker House (with immediate access to the safari afterwards ), followed by Crystal Palace. For a buffet, I thought the food was good and the Pooh character interaction was great. I know Ohanas has a loyal following and things could have changed quite a bit in two years (food wise), but I thought the restaurant felt 'tired', 'worn' & 'rundown'. (It really could use a good refurbishment.) Since then, I've heard that a new head chef has taken control, and it could be better. It sounds like you want a 'Character Buffet', but if you want to eat at the Poly, I can highly recommend Kona. It was great.

ArcEntropy

 

[cbg1027]

'Ohana is not a buffet, it's served family style, so the selection is much smaller. You get bread, assorted fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, potatoes, and Mickey waffles. The food was just ok. Th character interaction was great.

I like CP much better. It's my favorite breakfast at Disney. The food is great, especially the Cinnamon Puffed French Toast. There is much more selection, and everything is always hot and fresh. Character interaction has always been good. And you'll get more park time by going to CP. Try to book and early reservation for 8:05 for you can walk down an almost empty Main Street! It's a great experience to be able to enter the park before official opening time. Great photo op!

 

[3sweetpeas]

It sounds like you want a 'Character Buffet', but if you want to eat at the Poly, I can highly recommend Kona. It was great.

ArcEntropy

We're going to Kona another morning. Thanks for the input! It is helpful.

 

[3sweetpeas]

'Ohana is not a buffet, it's served family style, so the selection is much smaller. You get bread, assorted fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, potatoes, and Mickey waffles. The food was just ok. Th character interaction was great.

I like CP much better. It's my favorite breakfast at Disney. The food is great, especially the Cinnamon Puffed French Toast. There is much more selection, and everything is always hot and fresh. Character interaction has always been good. And you'll get more park time by going to CP. Try to book and early reservation for 8:05 for you can walk down an almost empty Main Street! It's a great experience to be able to enter the park before official opening time. Great photo op!

You bring up such a good point. I was going to book for about 10:30 so that we wouldn't have to eat again til dinner but now I'm confused. The early entry is so tempting...

 

[summerlady]

I agree with the 8:05 CP breakfast: the food was very good, character interaction was terrific, and nothing beats walking right down the middle of Main Street. Plus, after breakfast, which took approx. an hour, you get a jump on already being in the park.

October 17, 2011

 

[plutosgirl]

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice! But I loved Ohana's breakfast last year and we are doing it again. The character interaction was much better, the breakfast they served family style was very good & it was just more relaxed than Crystal Palace...we really enjoyed it!

Crystal Palace has a nice buffet selection but it is louder, you may get stuck sitting right next to another table on the bench seat that runs along the walls of the dining room (last time we got stuck next to this horrible family with a bratty little boy, a father with horrible language & a mom who didn't care what her 4 year old did the whole time). Was not one of our best experiences there! But other times it was okay!

 

[Disney Spaz]

We have done both and I would do CP hands down over Ohana's for breakfast. Now if you asked about dinner my answer would be reversed. CP is the one must do every trip for our family. We get in at 8:05am and feel like we have the park to ourselves for awhile. It really is awesome.

 

[3sweetpeas]

The best was Tusker House (with immediate access to the safari afterwards ), followed by Crystal Palace.

ArcEntropy

If we aren't necessarily adventurous eaters, would we still like Tusker House? I keep reading that it is really good. What made it stand out for you?

 

[shannonstar]

CP is always on our list. With Ohana's one time was enough.

 

[Hooked On The Mouse]

I would say both, we love them both and they are must-dos for us every trip. If you MUST choose, then yes early entry to the park via Crystal Palace ressie is amazing, and the meal is a true buffet with more options. As others have said, Ohana is family style and while you wouldn't go hungry, the breakfast is pretty standard. We love Ohana for the great views we always seem to get, also it seems roomier to me than most character restaurants, with more space between chairs and tables. A little thing I know, but at WDW having a little more room between you and others can seem like a luxury. I agree with another poster that Crystal Palace seems louder and more crowded to me.

 

[sydneysmom]

If we aren't necessarily adventurous eaters, would we still like Tusker House? I keep reading that it is really good. What made it stand out for you?

I just wanted to juump in and second Tusker House. It was our favorite. we had 8:05 am adr's and it was totally quiet in the park. We got some gorgeous pictures. The character interaction was fantastic. The food was VERY good. ( probably the best buffet at Disney) and don't worry, you don't need to be adventurous. I think they start serving more adventurous foods at lunch and dinner. But breakfast was pretty much normal. They did have a frittata that was SOOOOOO good. It's worth going just for the juice ! it's THAT good !! It's just a ton of fun.

As for Crystal Palace, we absolutely LOVED it. (have not been to Ohana's for breakfast yet though... we had to cancel because our DD was terrified of Stitch from the Stitch ride...we ruined her! ) But Crystal Palace was alot of fun. When we went, it looked almost exactly like the picture someone posted above.....QUIET !! you can get the Photopass Photogs to get nice pics in front of the castle with no one else around. It's magical being in the park before it opens. My vote would be Tusker House one day and Crystal Palace another.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Definitely Crystal Palace and pre-park opening if you can get it. We've done pretty much every character meal experience at WDW and Crystal Palace is a must do every trip. Conversely, Tusker House is the one we'd never do again. BTW - we did like 'Ohana breakfast...great characters, atmospher and service, but the food wasn't very good when we went.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I would go with Crystal Palace! We tried it for breakfast for the first time this past trip and really enjoyed it. We had an 8:10 ADR and were one of two parties at the front of the rope when they let us in. It was so cool to see Main Street completely empty!

We tried 'Ohana several years ago but didn't love it. I don't like eggs, so I was limited in selection. I just like having more options than eggs, waffles and sausage.

We have eaten at Tusker House twice and have also enjoyed that one. We are by no means "adventurous eaters" but we definitely leave there stuffed. Lots of variety there.

I am also of the opinion that I'd rather have an early breakfast because once we start touring, I don't want to stop to eat a big meal. I'd rather snack through lunch and eat a nice dinner around 5:00-5:30.

 

[tlenzendorf]

Crystal Palace! Great selection and Pooh's Puffed French Toast

Food pics from our past trip: