Vote! Chef Mickey or Crystal Palace?

[GinnyBear's_mom]

I liked both Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace, but like so many others have said the food at Crystal Palace is waaaaay better. The decor is much nicer at CP and it seemed a quieter where at CM it felt like you were eating in a train station (well, I guess you sort of are!) with all of the echos. The character interaction is great at both. If you really want a meal with Mickey, try less popular places than CM and you might be able to get an ADR- the Cape May Cafe at Beach Club and Tusker House in Animal Kingdom.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

CP has much better food. My son loves eating at CP and seeing Pooh and friends but he does like CM b/c of Mickey and friends but we did not like the food.

 

[momof2cutegirls]

We've only been to CM but thinking of trying CP this next trip...have heard the breakfast, location and atmosphere are what make it so great. Do they have the make-your-own-omelet station at CP? Or is 1900 Park Faire the only one with that? Trying to decide between CP and that for breakfast as my girls would much prefer Alice & Mary Poppins over Pooh.

 

[DW2010]

We're still deciding on CP, but will choose it over CM. I haven't heard many great things about CM...enough to make me not want to eat there unfortunately. And DD has really shown a interest to not only princesses, but Mickey, Goofy etc. She also likes Pooh so I think we'll be ok .

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Chef Mickey's because of the atmosphere, seeing the fab 5 Disney characters and I think their food offerings are very good.

 

[KatMark]

We're still deciding on CP, but will choose it over CM. I haven't heard many great things about CM...enough to make me not want to eat there unfortunately. And DD has really shown a interest to not only princesses, but Mickey, Goofy etc. She also likes Pooh so I think we'll be ok .

You can also find Goofy (along with Minnie & Donald) at Cape May Cafe's character breakfast. Cape May is our second favorite character meal after Crystal Palace (with breakfast only at Chef Mickey's being a distant third).

 

[Jamoky]

I have eaten at both and like the whimsical meals at Crystal Palace a bit better. Its a great way to get sigs from all the Winnie the Pooh Characters and if you book an early breakfast you can get into MK early.


Chef Mickeys is also nice though, and its a guaranteed visit with THE MOUSE. Its a very lively atmosphere.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

The food at Crystal Palace is a little better, but we like the characters better at Chef Mickey's.

 

[arielmomma]

While my family enjoys both places, the food is better at Crystal Palace. The building is prettier too. The character interaction is about the same.

 

[danjoan14]

We've only been to CM but thinking of trying CP this next trip...have heard the breakfast, location and atmosphere are what make it so great. Do they have the make-your-own-omelet station at CP? Or is 1900 Park Faire the only one with that? Trying to decide between CP and that for breakfast as my girls would much prefer Alice & Mary Poppins over Pooh.

Yes, CP does have the made-to-order-omelet/eggs station. That's why my DW loves CP. We'ver never been to CM. I'm thinking about trying it during our next trip in August. I've made ADR's to both CP and CM. My DS is more of a Mickey character fan. I know that DW won't like CM without the made-to-order eggs. Breakfast is her favorite!

 

[baby1disney]

If your DD has her heart set on Mickey, you could always try for the Garden Grill or Donald's Safari Breakfast... someone correct me if this is wrong, but I think Mickey is at both of these.

We did the Donald breakfast last trip and I think that only Minnie is there with him..not Mickey. But I could be wrong. I LOOOOVE Minnie so I may not have been paying much attention. LOL!! Garden Grill does have Mickey, Chip and Dale..Pluto..and someone else.

But to the OP..the food at CP is AWESOME!!!!! I've never eaten at CM...but from what I've heard and read..CP is definitely better!!! PLus...my DS and DN(disney nephew) looove the fact that they can get up and march around the restaurant with the characters!!! That's probably the best part about it!!! PLUUUSSSSS...the FOOODD!!! I wanna go there now just thinkin about it!!!

 

[PictureJumpr]

Nobody has mentioned the nirvana which is Crystal Palace's Puffed French Toast.

Not to mention I just like the atmosphere so, so, so much better at CP.

For the earlier poster wrestling with CP-vs-1900PF, I like both but personally prefer CP. Pooh does appear at both, though.

Just to clarify for the folks who may be reading and considering Garden Grill - this is only open for dinner.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

While I like the characters equally at both restaurants, I've been to Chef Mickey's multiple times (dinner and breakfast) and have always been happy. I've been to Crystal Palace once, and the service was bad. Our server didn't remove a single plate or refill our drinks once. Also, we thought the atmosphere was a bit too gaudy and the food was only so-so.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

CM is the only place I've eaten at WDW that I found some of the food nearly inedible. For dinner it was bad. (Breakfast a number of years ago was a bit better) The only redeeming aspect was that the character interaction was good and the waitress was really nice (I didn't really complain about the bad steak to her.)

Add to that, the music is kind of annoying. If you're only there for dinner it may seem fine. But if you stay at CR, the "CeleBrate! CeleBrate! CleleBrate! Have a good time!" over and over again gets rather tiresome, at least to me.

I will say though, the food quality at all the character meals seems to have droppped off considerably. Last year we though 1900PF was very good, this year it was very mediocre. Breakfast at 1900PF was disapointing, to say the least.

I haven't done CP in several trips. On my last visit the character interaction was rushed, but the food was reasonably good.

My next trip, I'll probably take a break from character meals until the economy improves and DIsney starts paying attention to food quality again.

 

[Planogirl]

I picked the Crystal Palace mainly because the food is way better and the location is excellent. Chef Mickey's is fun enough but I didn't like the buffet and the characters were hard to see.

Besides I'm biased since I love Tigger.

 

[djp0630]

Both are great! DD3 loved Chef Mickey's, she was jumping up and down from excitement seeing the characters (and we had done other character meals). However, we loved Crystal Palace breakfast!! In May we are doing Crystal Palace again (actually twice, breakfast & dinner) and not doing Chef Mickey's since it's not convenient. We stayed at BLT and did Chef Mickey's twice (dinner & breakfast), but we are staying at BCV and don't want to leave the parks to do it again. You could always do another Mickey meal...'Ohana breakfast, Tusker House breakfast, Garden Grill, or Cape May Cafe (no Mickey, but Minnie) and do Crystal Palace.

 

[EpcotBelle]

I didn't vote because I can't choose! We have been to both, and love both. DH is not big into crowd participation so he would probably pick CP over CM. Personally I don't think you'll be disappointed with either of them. It is nice though to be in the park and not have to walk from the Contemp when you are done, although i will say my group has older kids and no one minds the 10 minute walk. I'm just jealous that you get to go to them at all! Enjoy.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Nobody has mentioned the nirvana which is Crystal Palace's Puffed French Toast.

One person's nirvana is another person's ...

Personally, the thing I most look for in a breakfast buffet is fresh fruit and good coffee! Both seem to in short supply at WDW these days...

 

[Pembo]

We took DD when she was just under 3. She loved Pooh and the gang more than Mickey...I'm not sure why. Before our trip she knew who Mickey was but Pooh was the character she loved the most.

We've eaten at both CM and CP...food wise they were the same. I liked the atmosphere at CP better.

 

[cassie58]

We've done CM for dinner and CP for brft. CM was fine - it was our 1st meal, 1st nt, 1st trip as a way to get right into the spirit on arrival day, so it was great for the kids - food was okay. We love CP for brft. - as mentioned food is great, espec. chef making omelettes to order as well as Mickey shaped pancakes(w/c.c. if you like!) Character interaction is great - the kids can join in a parade, and the building is beautiful - glass domes let in lots of light and you can see the castle out the window. As PP mentioned, if you get there early, you can get great castle photos, and are already in the park ready to start your day. We also did the latest brft. last time on EMH am, so we got a lot done, then took a break for brft.

I agree that Tusker House brft. in AK is another good option for Mickey & gang. We tried that on last trip - food was great, and it's neat to see them in Safari gear. You're also right next to the Safari ride, so can hop right on after early brft, or go to brft after your ride.

cassie58
11/08-ASMo & Timeshare
8/09-CSR