What's up with Crystal Palace?

[sbrotherton]

For the second trip in a row we were disappointed in the character interaction at Crystal Palace. We went in September 2008 and just returned last week. Eeyore and Tigger were fine, but Pooh apparently was having a rough day and so was Piglet. Normally, I am fairly understanding of this kind of thing, but what blows my mind is that it was the same two characters that were also really short and dismissive with my kid.

Now I've seen my kid be challenging and a downright terror, but I promise that was not the case on either trip so I don't think it was my kid as much as it was their demeanor or mood.

Aside: Do you imagine they have a bulletin board of all time worst kids like the post office has criminals?

Anyone else run into this?

 

[catne]

how bad would a kid have to be to get "posted" in the character lounge, lol. Seriously, though, I wonder if it really just depends on the crowds/time of day? Also, I think Pooh always seems to spend less time at tables -- he's the most popular, so every table wants to see him/get pics. We were there Saturday May 22 for breakfast at 8:05...really low crowds and lots of character time, even with all-adult tables like ours - but Tigger & Eeyore did spend more time clowning around at our table than Pooh did. Pooh pretty much just posed for pictures & moved on.

 

[Ariel on Land]

When we went last spring, I was pretty bummed about the amount of time spent as well. My boys had just turned two and LOVE Pooh and all his friends. They were SO incredibly excited watching them walk around the restaurant they didn't eat at all! But then when the characters got there- all they did was pose for a pic and leave. I mean, I don't think my kids cared, they were still too young, but after being at the Garden Grill and having the Chipmunks play games and Mickey coming around and giving each a hug, then even letting them get out of their high chairs so they could come up to him.... The Pooh friends were definitely a let down for mom. Thankfully, we did get better interaction at the meet and greet in AK.... but still...

I really didn't want to eat there again this time b/c I don't think the food's all that great and the characters were so brief, but DH insisted-- he said if the boys are THAT excited.... so we'll be going back. Hope it's better.

 

[fenrir58]

I was just there on May 17th and they all seemed fine, and I was at an all-adult table. I think they need you to initiate the interactions sometimes though.
I mentioned this in another link where I brought my Pooh doll from when I was little to breakfast at the CP and Pooh first gestured like "HAND HIM TO ME!!!" and once I handed him the Pooh, he hugged it then pointed to its shirt, then his shirt, because mine had "Pooh" embroidered on him. I told him my Pooh was a little bit forgetful so he needed his name on his shirt and Pooh pointed at his head. Piglet showed me his autograph on something like he was proud of his penmanship(sp?). I told he he did an awesome job and pretended to act all bashful.
everyone has a bad day I guess

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

How was the food? My husband loves the salmon there...hope its still good.

 

[bluejasmine]

Character interaction was the only thing we liked at CP, we thought the food was horrible.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I'm just curious besides a photo and an autograph what do people expect from characters

 

[catne]

I'm just curious besides a photo and an autograph what do people expect from characters

in our experience, about 50% of the time, the characters do some sort of extra interaction with people...maybe a little dance with a toddler, pointing at similar clothing worn by people (like mentioned in some posts above.) Some characters "flirt" (Goofy kissed my hand in LTT one year), others "tease" (Chip & Dale pretending to steal our dessert). That's what people are looking for, especially if they've experienced the higher level of interaction before AND expecially if they have kids that are really into the characters.

We've always been fine with just pictures...and now that we're always a table of adults, we often just wave at the characters to indicate pictures are not needed (figure that give them more time with the little ones at the next table.)

 

[catne]

How was the food? My husband loves the salmon there...hope its still good.

DD & her friend enjoyed the dinner there last year...we just had breakfast there a couple of weeks ago & enjoyed it. Here's the link to my review of breakfast, with pictures, it you want more details:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36858192&posted=1#post36858192

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

DD & her friend enjoyed the dinner there last year...we just had breakfast there a couple of weeks ago & enjoyed it. Here's the link to my review of breakfast, with pictures, it you want more details:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36858192&posted=1#post36858192

Thank you

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

I'm just curious besides a photo and an autograph what do people expect from characters

In LTT, Goofy played sword fight with my son (wished my husband got it video but forgot b/c he got so involve with the sword fight). In CRT Jasmine danced with my son and all the princesses kissed his checks. In 1900 Park Fare, Cinderella danced with him in the middle of the room for one song then the step sisters came over to him and joke around that he needs to dance with them but he told them no...he only likes Cinderella...he was 3 at that time. 1900 Park Fare breakfast when Pooh came over to our table and my son had Cars lighting stuff...he played with him for 5 mins and afterwards Mad Hatter played hide and seek with him. At Epcot, Chip and Dale played hide and seek and Goofy playing around. Epcot it was in England...it was Pooh, Eeyore and Tiger (my husband got it in video...it was 5 mins of play...Eeyore acting shy, Pooh coming over to me and dance and Tiger bouncing around my son so he would bounce around. Then MK at Mickey House, the handler asked if today was my son actually birthday and my son said yes so he said ok...we went to a room and Mickey was by himself and my son spend 15 mins...on same day Darby danced with him

 

[Disney owl]

Sorry to hear this hope things have picked up by Sept when we visit

 

[#1hoosierfan]

We were just there on Sunday, June 20th. We had a GREAT experience. I had an Eeyore shirt on, and he made a big deal about that. Piglet spent a lot of time at our table. Piglet let my youngest ds "feed" him, and he pretended to kiss and hug all over my mom. Pooh and Tigger were just as wonderful. I thought the food was good (although I was too excited to eat much. ) My dh also loved the salmon. We had an 8:05 ressie, and it was our first morning in the parks. PERFECT start. It will now become our new tradition.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

We were just there on Sunday, June 20th. We had a GREAT experience. I had an Eeyore shirt on, and he made a big deal about that. Piglet spent a lot of time at our table. Piglet let my youngest ds "feed" him, and he pretended to kiss and hug all over my mom. Pooh and Tigger were just as wonderful. I thought the food was good (although I was too excited to eat much. ) My dh also loved the salmon. We had an 8:05 ressie, and it was our first morning in the parks. PERFECT start. It will now become our new tradition.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My son can't wait to go to CP (we have breakfast and dinner reservation). Its one of his favorite place to see his favorite characters and he likes the food there too.

 

[Kellybelly777]

I think it depends when you go and how many people are there. CP is a signifigantly (sorry for my awful spelling ) large place and there being only four characters at the breakfast it's pretty important they get to everyone to the best of their abilities.

My family went last July and had a good experiance. Since my sister and I are both teenagers, we weren't interested in the characters too much, but we still felt they were all very sweet and welcoming. Another setback are the people who really insist characters stay at their table longer than others. There was a couple in their mid-fifties with no kids who literally had Tigger sitting down at their table to look at pictures of their grandchild for fifteen minutes. You could tell the poor guy was really trying to get away but they would grab him everytime he stood up. There was also parents of young kids yelling across the restaurant for characters to get off of their scheduled course to specifically spend time with their child. At a point you really have to stop and say "whose fault is it, the characters or the customers? We were just completly shocked at some adults behavior.

I have to say, someone said they didn't like the food but personally I really enjoyed both the breakfast and dinner buffets.