Crystal Palace opinions please

[ChiTownZee]

We have a Crystal Palace PS for an early (4:30) dinner for my DD's birthday (we also have late breakfast, 10:00, scheduled with Cinderella) I thought DD would really like it, with the characters and all, but DH says it doesn't look special. Men. Of course this is just going by a couple of boring pics on the internet. For those that have eaten there, what did you think?

 

[MickaMaizie]

We went there for dinner on our DD 2nd birthday and she loved it. They had a parade in her honor and Pooh led the way. She was treated very special! It was the highlight of the day for her. The food was great too! I would highly recommend it. By the way be nice to men, I'm one of them.

 

[FallDisney]

First, the food was to die for! Definately better than any other meal was had at Disney that entire week, including our expensive dinner at The Brown Derby!

Vinnie was our server and was EXCELLENT! And lastly, the character interaction was MUCH better than we got at Cinderella's Royal Table. I'm glad we had the CRT experience, but Crystal Palace was much better and I would DEFINATELY feel confident in eating there for such a special occassion!

 

[childsplay]

We have eaten at the CP twice (both for breakfast) and on both occasions the food and character interaction were outstanding. This last time we tried Cape May because it was a non-parks day and were staying at the BCV and that was wonderful too...but i think CP will always be my favorite.

 

[dgaston]

We visited Crystal Palace for the first time in August and boy are we big fans. It was just DH and I and all the characters spent a lot of time with us, and the buffet was very impressive. Interesting stirfries, combo pasta dishes, and carvery meats and shrimp too. And I'm sure other DISer's will rave about the dessert table too.

We liked it so much we changed our LLT reservations for the MNSSHP to the Crystal Palace and are bringing DS and DD on the 24th!

 

[mommystieg]

We have had breakfast and lunch at CP and look forward to trying dinner next year. After our trip this year, DH declared CP at "must do". The character interaction is wonderful and the food is very yummy

 

[DeniseD]

It is so funny how different people have different experiences. Let me just start off by saying I am Very I mean VERY laid back and not the complaing type at all. With that being said here it goes.

We were not all that impressed with the CP. The food was delicious. But we didn't feel that the character interaction was good. When we sat down we thought we had a great table for the characters-right on the end next to the buffet. We were wrong. One family in the middle of the room basically took the characters hostage. Individual pictures with all the 10 or so people in their party. Plus group pictures. I understand wanting pictures but they were out of hand.

We had to wait 15 minutes after we were finished eating for Tigger to visit. I would try it again because of all the great things evertone post about it but, on 10/16/03 we were not so lucky.

Personnally I thought that CM was much better with character interaction, and much more fun for the kids. We did breakfast and that was great but from what I hear the dinner is good, too.

 

[Laura]

Well, my family had a great time at CP. We all enjoyed the buffet a lot, and I think the building is very pretty and light. And the characters are just so cute; but then, we didn't have DeniseD's problem. Tigger was just about to go to the table next to us when they all got up to go the buffet. Tigger acted all sad, like they didn't want to see him, sat down at their table and put his head down like he was crying. It was the cutest thing.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We have eaten at CP for lunch, and breakfast.

I don't remember the food being outstanding for lunch, but very good character interaction.

I thought breakfast was really good. My kids liked it too.

Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet, visited the table, and Pooh was in the lobby.

We will definately go back.

 

[heart4dis]

I PM'd a similar question to KSgirl. I haven't been to WDW in over ten years and I remembered the Crystal Palace as a glass-walled cafeteria with OK food. It was fine by theme park standards. I kept reading how wonderful it was on the boards and thought maybe it was renovated or I was thinking of a different place. KSgirl had no insight about the 10 years ago thing (she's a pup) but she was there on her anniversary trip with her DH and loved it. She said the atmosphere is nice.

As far as characters go, I know the ratio isn't the best at the parks, so go knowing that and you won't be disappointed.

...does anyone else know if it has changed in the last 10 years?

 

[DisneyLisa]

We just celebrated DD's 16th birthday at CP on Oct 18th (at 4:30pm ) & it was wonderful. They had decorated the table with streamers & pixie dust (Mickey Confetti) before we arrived. The character interaction was fantastic (the best in WDW I think) and the food was good as usual (nothing spectacular but good). I had ordered the cake with my PS & reminded the CM when we arrived. It was presented after dinner with a cute card signed by all the characters and everyone sang Happy Birthday. They also had a parade around the room for all the birthday kids (which DD was a little embarassed to join in...seeing as though she was 16 ). But she loved it...Tigger is her favourite character & the waitress timed it so she was bringing the cake just as Tigger was approaching our table. I know they can't have characters present gifts/cards etc. so this was perfect. Here are a few pictures:

 

[2MuchOhana]

We had a great time there for DD's 2nd birthday! She loved the characters and being lead around in a parade. She also loved being the center of attention when they came to sing to her! What a ham !

We had a really attentive person taking care of our table. He was a lot of fun! He even brought a signed card for our DN and a cupcake so she wouldn't be left out. ! I thought that was really thoughtful and nice of him to do.

We will be celebrating both my DM's and DFIL's birthday there on December 16th. We have tickets to the MVMCP, too. My DM choose this as the place she wanted to eat. She loved seeing how happy it made her DGD's. :happy1:

Go and have a great time! The food was very good as was the character interaction!

 

[kessieann]

DisneyLisa-How much did the birthday cake cost? I made a PS and mentioned it was her birthday but they didn't say they had a cake and I didn't think to ask. Thanks!

 

[Maddle]

LOVED IT!!!

Good food, nice atmosphere - gotta love those characters. Can't wait to go back.

Maddle

 

[DisneyLisa]

The cake was $9.99. I had it noted on our PS that it was DD's birthday and that I would be requesting a cake but still called CP a few days before we left just to be sure I didn't have to do anything else. I was told that they always have the cakes and all I had to do was mention it when we arrived and that if you don't request a cake but specify a birthday, they'll give the birthday person a cupcake & card.

The cake was delicious but cold so they obviously keep them in the fridge to be used as needed...there were several birthdays being celebrated that night so I'm sure they go through a lot of them. It really was good cake...we were surprised.

Hope your DD has a great birthday there.