My first ADR!

[Princess A]

I just wanted to share that I made my first ADR this morning, for lunch at Crystal Palace. This restaurant always looks amazing in the trip reports and the character interactions look so much fun. Very excited for this. Any experiences you want to share are welcome, I am interested to hear other people's thoughts and feelings on this restaurant.

 

[zurgandfriend]

Congratulation you’re a veteran now. The Crystal Palace is, IMHO, the best buffet on property. Winnie the Pooh and Company are fun characters especially with little ones, e.g. preschoolers. Our funniest memory is when we ate there with our niece and her 4 year old daughter. She got so excited in seeing Pooh that she wet her pants. Her mother didn’t know what to do, but my DW took charge, wrapped the little one in a napkin and took her to the Ladies room to clean her up and ordered me to go buy an outfit for her. We still laugh at that one during the holidays. Of course the little one is in high school now and fails to see the humor but I digress. Enjoy!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

CP is one of the nicest places that we've eaten at, although we've never had lunch here. Its a must for us and we eat here at least once every trip.

 

[Tom 55]

I like the characters breakfast. Especially if you get an early ADR before park opening. Walking on an empty main street is amazing.

 

[Princess A]

Congratulation you’re a veteran now. The Crystal Palace is, IMHO, the best buffet on property. Winnie the Pooh and Company are fun characters especially with little ones, e.g. preschoolers. Our funniest memory is when we ate there with our niece and her 4 year old daughter. She got so excited in seeing Pooh that she wet her pants. Her mother didn’t know what to do, but my DW took charge, wrapped the little one in a napkin and took her to the Ladies room to clean her up and ordered me to go buy an outfit for her. We still laugh at that one during the holidays. Of course the little one is in high school now and fails to see the humor but I digress. Enjoy!

That is a great memory! I'm sure she will see the funny side when she has a little one of her own.

Thank you for the replies! It's good to know its held in high regard. The menu looks good too, buffet food is just my sort of thing. I think my better half will approve, no one can resist Pooh!

 

[SDisney90]

I just wanted to share that I made my first ADR this morning, for lunch at Crystal Palace. This restaurant always looks amazing in the trip reports and the character interactions look so much fun. Very excited for this. Any experiences you want to share are welcome, I am interested to hear other people's thoughts and feelings on this restaurant.

YAY! Isn't it so exciting? lol, do you have any more ADR's planned for your trip? If "buffets" or all-you-can-eat are your type of thing there are a few other places I think you might enjoy...Garden Grill, LTT, Chef Mickeys (never been but hear a lot) and few others..grats again!

 

[belledream]

Been to Crystal Palace many times with big and small parties and have always had a good time! It's so pretty and bright, Winnie the Pooh characters are the cutest, and there's something for everyone to enjoy! Congrats on your first ADR and for the many that will follow.

 

[Figgy1]

Congrats you will love it!!!!!!!!!!!! Just stay away from Hollywood and Vile! LOL

 

[DizneyPryncess]

Congrats! That's a great first choice! I've been there twice, for breakfast. My husband and I went for an anniversary trip, and had a great time. We went before the park opened, and loved seeing a nearly empty Main Street. Then I went again with my mom and my daughter when she was 2, for Mother's Day. It was a really nice breakfast for the 3 of us! My daughter loved the characters, but was more interested in eating, haha. Have a great time!!

 

[materbuddy]

Congrats on making your first ADR. Crystal Palace is one of our favorite character meals. All meals are great there but we prefer breakfast over lunch and dinner.

 

[Princess A]

Thank you all! I have not made any more as yet, although Chef Mickeys would be another choice. I may see if I can nab a lunch reservation at some point. I know in DLP there is Cafe Mickeys which is the same sort of thing, and it is always packed out as Mickey is quite hard to find in the parks. From what I remember he is only in two or three other places, perhaps less. I will definitely keep an open mind for other ADRs. Neither of us eat breakfast normally, but we talked about perhaps having some breakfasts as we will need the early morning energy for the parks! I sometimes find I can't stomach food early in the day, it tends to make me feel sick.

 

[Disney4family]

The Crystal Palace is the prettiest building on campus. It's bright, airy, white and open. You'll have a smile on your face as soon as you step in. There are great views of the hub and even the Adventureland gardens on one side.
We've had breakfast and dinner there. We also prefer breakfast. The food is fresh and delish. You have to try Pooh's stuffed French toast!!!!!
The CMs sprinkled sparkly pixie dust on our table in the shape of a heart when we were there for our 15th anniversary. Pooh also got down on one knee for my daughter when we were there for her 9th birthday and she told him she was going to marry him. I have a great picture of him proposing to her. She's 12 now and I still think there's a chance I will have fuzzy, yellow grandkids. Piglet is kind. Tigger will bounce and be very playful - even with adults!! Eeyore is sweet, but, then again, I have a sweet spot for him. 40something years old and I still get choked up when I get my picture taken with him...
Enjoy the park and some attractions before heading in to breakfast if you're not a typical breakfast person.
Chef Mickey's is also fun. We've only had breakfast there. You can check out the menu and reviews for it at www.allearsnet.com.
Enjoy!

 

[Swissmiss]

I have not made any more as yet, although Chef Mickeys would be another choice. I may see if I can nab a lunch reservation at some point. I know in DLP there is Cafe Mickeys which is the same sort of thing, and it is always packed out as Mickey is quite hard to find in the parks.

Don't compare Café Mickeys at DLP with Chef Mickeys at WDW - Chef Mickeys is WAY better - for both food and atmosphere.

 

[Princess A]

There's no need to be rude. I meant in terms of Mickey is the main attraction. I have never eaten there so can't comment on food.

 

[Princess A]

The Crystal Palace is the prettiest building on campus. It's bright, airy, white and open. You'll have a smile on your face as soon as you step in. There are great views of the hub and even the Adventureland gardens on one side.
We've had breakfast and dinner there. We also prefer breakfast. The food is fresh and delish. You have to try Pooh's stuffed French toast!!!!!
The CMs sprinkled sparkly pixie dust on our table in the shape of a heart when we were there for our 15th anniversary. Pooh also got down on one knee for my daughter when we were there for her 9th birthday and she told him she was going to marry him. I have a great picture of him proposing to her. She's 12 now and I still think there's a chance I will have fuzzy, yellow grandkids. Piglet is kind. Tigger will bounce and be very playful - even with adults!! Eeyore is sweet, but, then again, I have a sweet spot for him. 40something years old and I still get choked up when I get my picture taken with him...
Enjoy the park and some attractions before heading in to breakfast if you're not a typical breakfast person.
Chef Mickey's is also fun. We've only had breakfast there. You can check out the menu and reviews for it at www.allearsnet.com.
Enjoy!

That is so sweet! and thank you for the link, I will have a good look.

 

[disneygirl76]

I just wanted to share that I made my first ADR this morning, for lunch at Crystal Palace. This restaurant always looks amazing in the trip reports and the character interactions look so much fun. Very excited for this. Any experiences you want to share are welcome, I am interested to hear other people's thoughts and feelings on this restaurant.

We are huge CP fans! For bfast and dinner both! They do this little parade around with the kids and Winnie the Pooh, and my DH was at the buffet getting a plate and didn't realize they were right behind him. So he kind of started to "run/march" out of their way and ended up with Pooh leading the parade...and a plate of waffles. hee hee They are also wonderful at making celebrations special. For our anniversary, they put a heart made out of confetti on our table. And for my bday, they covered the table in streamers. They always do such a nice things there!

 

[disneygirl76]

Oh, and Congratulations on making your first ADR! That is so exciting!

 

[Swissmiss]

Don't compare Café Mickeys at DLP with Chef Mickeys at WDW - Chef Mickeys is WAY better - for both food and atmosphere.

There's no need to be rude. I meant in terms of Mickey is the main attraction. I have never eaten there so can't comment on food.

I'm sorry if you took my post as rude. My intention was to let those that have been to one location but not the other that they really aren't the same - they only share similar names. Having been to both (Chef Mickeys at WDW is a family must do each trip) I can provide a perspective comparing them which others can take for what it is worth - one family's personal experience.

 

[thomas998]

I just wanted to share that I made my first ADR this morning, for lunch at Crystal Palace. This restaurant always looks amazing in the trip reports and the character interactions look so much fun. Very excited for this. Any experiences you want to share are welcome, I am interested to hear other people's thoughts and feelings on this restaurant.

Our preference is lunch over breakfast or dinner there. The only caveat we have found is that you don't want to be toward the end of a service because sometimes the options become limited... you also never want to do a late dinner if you want character interaction because that seems to decline dramatically the closer you get to the end of the day... I would say lunch or breakfast is the best time to hit it... As its your first time I suggest you determine the path that the character take when you first get your seat, then you can figure out the amount of time you have to get food and not have your kids miss a character... the paths they take are pretty easy to figure out and they don't tend to deviate much.