Whispering Canyon Cafe or Chef Mickey's?

[AveryandLilysmom]

Trying to decide between the two. We're a party of 6, 4 adults and 2 young children (me, DH, mother, father, 2 year old and 10 month old). We're going to do Crystal Palace another day, is 2 character dining buffets overkill for children this young?

DH loves barbeque and Whispering Canyon Cafe sounds fun, just not sure if the kids are too young for it?

Thanks, thanks, thanks for replies!

 

[momofrrr]

We have done both and love them both. There are no characters at Whispering Canyon but it is still very lively and fun. At Chef Mickey's there is Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip, Dale and Pluto. (One time we even saw Stitch, but I think that was a bonus that day). The foods are very different. We like both the breakfast and dinner buffet at Chef Mickey's but only had breakfast at Whispering Canyon. Have a great trip!

 

[3boymthr]

This may sound like a crazy suggestion but I'd recommend booking ADRs for both. CM for breakfast and WCC for dinner then see how your kids react to the characters at Crystal Palace. That way if your kids don't react well to characters you can cancel the CM ADR and go to WCC for dinner. And if they do like them cancel the WCC ADR. Someone is always greatful for a last minute CM or WCC ADR.

If they like them then I'd say two character meals is not too many as it's a great way to meet the characters without standing in line. But, some kids don't react well to the characters and a meal spent with a screaming child is not pleasant. The people at the table next to us had an infant/toddler (about 1 yo maybe a little older). Every time a character came into view he'd start screaming - he got hysterical when the character got to their table. It kind of put damper on their meal and to be truthful ours too - it's not fun listening to a kid screech in your ear and the parents kept trying to cajole him into smiling for photos so the characters would linger and it would just progress. (BTW based on comments overheard this was not his first experience with the characters and was a typical reaction which just made the whole thing really over the top).

We did eat at both. We enjoyed WCC but my kids are definitely older and a more appropriate age for the silliness. Truthfully, I found it a pleasant place to eat even if you don't get crazy into the fun and games. They didn't get to crazy loud with it when we were there. Some singing, a pony ride and lots of ketchup. But except if you want ketchup participation is optional. We didn't participate in anything but the ketchup. The Disney Adults all had the skillet and found it to be really good. My kid's didn't get too into the games but still enjoyed their meal. They really liked just looking around the lodge.

We had dinner at CM not breakfast and I have to say that the food was completely inedible. I really wish I could have booked breakfast, but couldn't work it into our schedule.

 

[inkkognito]

We just ate at WC tonight and there was all sorts of stuff going on, but mostly aimed at kids a little older than yours. There was a stick horse race around the room, and the kids were all being recruited to bring tons of ketchup bottles to any table that asked for 'em (we even got some inadvertently!).

 

[KatMark]

Definitely Chef Mickey's. We didn't care for WCC at all--service was terrible (for a 5:15 ADR, we waited over 35 minutes for our table) and the food was blah (DH got sick on the meat in the skillet).

 

[Lamandpercy]

We have eaten at both and enjoyed both, although both are very different. CM is a faster visit as you can help yourself, eat and go. We have enjoyed the food at CM every time and despite being 2 aduls with no kids the characters always came and said hi and posed for photos. WCC is table service so if service is slow you may be while having your meal. Both times we have been there service for us has been great. There are no characters here but the servers mostly get into the mood. There are horse parades every so often for the kids who get hobby horses to parade around on, the staff did help smaller kids to take part. Food here was good, I really enjoyed the mash in the skillet, it was great. Also enjoyed the pulled pork which was a new eat for me being from the UK.

Both places are noisy and busy but both had many families with young kids. I would go back to either place - if your kids like characters, I'd go with CM.

 

[AveryandLilysmom]

Thanks all! Sounds like CM might be the better choice, if for no other reason but because it's a buffet and we can get in and get out pretty quickly if need be. We took oldest DD to Crystal Palace last year and she did very well. She's 2 this year, we'll see if she fares the same this time, I've heard from other parents that sometimes kids are fine earlier on and then develop a fear of the characters. Haven't had the youngest around any characters yet, she was born in December so really haven't had the opportunity, she was too young to care or be afraid of the Easter Bunny.

The other thing I wasn't thinking of when I started this post is that DD1 isn't the best about sitting still for very long, so if the service is slow at WCC that may turn ugly. I guess my only concern with CM is that I keep reading only breakfast is good at CM and I was planning to do lunch at one or the other. The thought of trying to get our group to a morning ADR makes my head spin.

 

[Mommytwotwins]

I would do CM. Plus if the kids don't want to sit long a buffet is best since you can eat right away then leave when you nned to.

 

[PirateFrank]

They're BOTH awesome...and I couldn't see going to wdw without hitting both!

But I think there are some pluses and minuses to each. Chef Mickey's might be better for real young children (3-5) that want to see characters. Older kids (5-6+) will enjoy the broomstick racing and other tomfoolery that goes around at the Canyon.

However, having said that...my DD(3), LOVED the joking banter at the Canyon and loved watching her older brother do the broom race....

I think the food is a tad better at the Canyon. Chef Mickeys is buffet food, which is fine in and of itself....but the Canyon food, AFAIK, doesn't sit under a heat lamp for a while before it hits your plate (I may be wrong)....

...regardless, I love em both and you seriously can not go wrong with either!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have been to both locations for dinner and I would go with Chef Mickey's.

 

[Disneynut5]

I had teh same problem deciding between these two but I went with WCC because I knew my husband would like it better. I am already making him do 4 character meals with the kids and I so I though he might need some beer and BBQ! It's not like Mickey won't be EVERYWHERE - this is Disney, will will see him!

 

[webprinter]

My first choice would be both, (breakfast at CM and dinner at WC). If you can only choose one, I would choose WCC. The service was faster at WCC and there was enough action going on for your kids to watch. The food was very good, although if you have a late ADR they can run out of milkshakes. DH ordered a choc. milkshake and the waitress told him she would bring him one if they still had them. She brought him two at once "just in case they ran out". CM is fun but it took us a long time to get out of there as Minnie was "running behind". We waited about 30-45 minutes for her to get to our table. The other characters almost made it around again in that amount of time. The kids next to us were getting very restless waiting for her. We also had a much longer wait to be seated at CM. However, they do have the characters and WCC does not.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

No ? for My family. We love Chef Mickey's.
WCC is good don't get me wrong.

 

[cab0ad]

WCC! We went to both and WCC was great food, lots of fun, and great service. Chef Mickey's was packed, congested, okay food, and okay character interaction. Go WCC!!!