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[Raeven]

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[samantha3590]

Crystal Palace

Today we'd be starting our day celebrating Friendship Day!

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I haven't been to Crystal Palace since my first trip in 2015, and I really liked the breakfast so we decided it was time to go back, and our time fell in between breakfast and lunch so we got to try both!

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Here's a little throwback to the food in 2015:

This time I got Pooh's Breakfast Lasagna, Pooh's Puffed French Toast, cheesy potatoes, breakfast pizza, bacon, and an omelet (I always say I'll get one but this is the first time I think I actually have at a Disney buffet).

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Round 1:

Though compared to my first time I went, I have less plates in front of me.

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Is this what maturity looks like?

Maybe we can make that a bumper sticker or something: "Maturity is getting your plates at the Disney buffet one at a time instead of all at once." Or maybe it's more "an experienced Disney traveler knows what they like at the Crystal Palace, and it's Pooh's Breakfast Lasagna".

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A fun fact about my meal is that while I was scooping some of Pooh's Breakfast Lasagna into a dish (because c'mon that's the reason we go to Crystal Palace) some lady just looked at my dish, looked up at me, and then said "EW"! It was very weird, because a.) She was an adult. b.) No one was forcing her to eat it, she seemed upset at the idea that she thought it looked icky and someone else was going to eat it?

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Whatever it's delicious, and here's my plate from another angle:

As you may have guessed I love the breakfast lasagna, it's like a mix of bread pudding and oatmeal, and it's the best. My omelet was okay (if I had to guess it had bacon, cheese, and onions in it). I was not a fan of the breakfast pizza, but I did like the cheesy potatoes. Some of the bacon was crispy, but it was harder than usual to find crispy pieces, and the Puffed French Toast was pretty good too.

I left myself the really helpful note to "look at Samantha's plate" which tells me I didn't take the time to take notes on that. It looks like she got a fruit, some kind of pepper and cheese egg scramble, cheesy potatoes, Pooh's Puffed French Toast, the breakfast lasagna, a Mickey waffle, and the breakfast pizza.

Characters had started coming around, and I'll spare you the Piglet picture because it came out weird.

Pooh came out next:

At this point lunch was starting to come out!

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I got a mini corndog, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, pierogis, pasta, and a chicken nugget. Then on the dessert plate I got the lunch bread pudding, Rabbit's Garden dessert (a dirt and worms dessert), and I think the other thing is a S'mores cake (but I don't think I ended up trying it because I was pretty full).

Also forget that thing about maturity and one plate at a time because all bets were off now.

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The corndog and mac and cheese are what you would expect, the mashed potatoes were good, the pierogis were okay, the pasta was pretty good, but the sauce was very runny. (I can't find what kind though because the pasta seems seasonal). The chicken nugget really hit the spot for some reason, and I may have grabbed another one.

The bread pudding wasn't good especially compared with the breakfast lasagna which is delicious, but I do always enjoy a Dirt and Worms dessert as I mentioned in my last post.

Samantha also sampled a variety of desserts and food. And she found some deviled eggs that I missed. I know that she agreed with me about the runny sauce on the pasta, but I think we were distracted by characters coming around so I'm not sure how she felt about the other food. (@xlsm if you want to weigh in, in the comments you can!)

Eeyore:

Tigger:

The lady at the table next to us offered to take this one, and it's one of my favorites from the trip:

Tigger's always been my favorite Winnie the Pooh character so I was happy we got a good picture with him.

I really like the decor here, and I think it's a beautiful restaurant. If you look into the history of the original Crystal Palace in London it's really interesting and these prints and the topiaries are really fitting.

I wanted to make sure to get a picture of the topiaries on the way out.

And a selfie of two friends celebrating Friendship Day!

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Overall we had a good meal at Crystal Palace, and it's one of the character meals that I feel is truly worth it. I was happy to see it was just as good as I remembered it being back on our first trip. I love the Winnie the Pooh characters and the restaurant itself, but the food is pretty good for a character buffet and has some unique options. I'd definitely recommend breakfast over any of the other meals, as it was definitely the better of the two. (Especially with Pooh's Breakfast Lasagna pushing it over the edge). But the lunch wasn't bad either. (Though I don't have much to compare that too as we don't usually do lunch buffets). It's definitely my top pick at MK for breakfast. ​

Yay!! I’m going to crystal Palace next trip! Haven’t been since I was a kid! I have so many pictures/nostalgic memories of that restaurant!

 

[xlsm]

Samantha also sampled a variety of desserts and food. And she found some deviled eggs that I missed. I know that she agreed with me about the runny sauce on the pasta, but I think we were distracted by characters coming around so I'm not sure how she felt about the other food. (@xlsm if you want to weigh in, in the comments you can!)

I liked the deviled egg, the pasta was ok but too runny and kind of fake tasting? The pierogi I think I liked. None of the desserts were very good. I feel like I didn't have good luck with the lunch foods, but the breakfast stuff was good like normal. And I love the breakfast lasagna so that weird lady who "ew-ed" at you needs to get over herself!!

Aww, yay!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Glad you still liked Crystal Palace! We are doing the "brunch" time next month and looking forward to it!

 

[Raeven]

Yay!! I’m going to crystal Palace next trip! Haven’t been since I was a kid! I have so many pictures/nostalgic memories of that restaurant!

I hope you have a great meal there!

I liked the deviled egg, the pasta was ok but too runny and kind of fake tasting? The pierogi I think I liked. None of the desserts were very good. I feel like I didn't have good luck with the lunch foods, but the breakfast stuff was good like normal. And I love the breakfast lasagna so that weird lady who "ew-ed" at you needs to get over herself!!

That pasta was weird especially with that very funny sauce. The breakfast lasagna is the best! Maybe that lady should've tried it before just going up to people at the buffet and"eww-ing".

Glad you still liked Crystal Palace! We are doing the "brunch" time next month and looking forward to it!

We actually didn't mean to do the "brunch" timing, but they were a little backed up when we got there. But it worked out well because I didn't mind trying both at all Hope you have a great meal there! ​

 

[Tracy161]

They did seem to have more table space this year, I wondered if they'd seen all the jokes people make about having to eat on trash cans

so though I don't know too much about the movies it seems weird to me that a major drink in their universe would be that.

I completely agree!

This year our goal for MNSSHP was to sample as many snacks as we could

I wanted so badly to do the same and it just didn't happen. I was with a friend who was more interested in getting every PP picture imaginable

It's a childhood favorite, and chocolate pudding always works.

Agreed

Though compared to my first time I went, I have less plates in front of me.

Is this what maturity looks like?

If so, I've got a ways to go

As you may have guessed I love the breakfast lasagna, it's like a mix of bread pudding and oatmeal, and it's the best.

OMG that sounds amazing! I love bread pudding and I love oatmeal. Combined... yes, please!

Characters had started coming around, and I'll spare you the Piglet picture because it came out weird.

#thanksphotopass

 

[lvcourtneyy]

I got "The Elvis" French Toast:

This was so delicious!

Fly Boy Beef & Cheese Fries
French Fries, Beef, Jalapeño, Pico de Gallo, Vermont Cheddar Cheese

This looks delicious but also the name cracks me up

Warm Manchego and Oaxaca Cheese Dip
chorizo, poblano peppers, tortilla chips

Oo I want to eat this!

Speaking of Disney+, one of my favorite parts is the old DCOM movies on it, so I'll leave you with a question...which one is your favorite?

Yesss it's one of my favorite parts too. I always loved the Halloweentown movies but I loved Smart House too and I watched it the other day and now I picture everyone's Alexa devices coming to life to take over

Maybe we can make that a bumper sticker or something: "Maturity is getting your plates at the Disney buffet one at a time instead of all at once." Or maybe it's more "an experienced Disney traveler knows what they like at the Crystal Palace, and it's Pooh's Breakfast Lasagna".

some lady just looked at my dish, looked up at me, and then said "EW"! It was very weird, because a.) She was an adult. b.) No one was forcing her to eat it, she seemed upset at the idea that she thought it looked icky and someone else was going to eat it?

Wow that's so dramatic! I might tell someone I know that I'm eating with that I think what they're eating is gross lol but definitely not a random stranger at a buffet.

 

[Raeven]

I wanted so badly to do the same and it just didn't happen. I was with a friend who was more interested in getting every PP picture imaginable

Oh no! Usually I never make it to the snacks, but I'm glad we didn't get more PP pictures

OMG that sounds amazing! I love bread pudding and I love oatmeal. Combined... yes, please!

You'd love it, it's so good!

This was so delicious!

It is!

This looks delicious but also the name cracks me up

Apparently they're not on the menu anymore

Yesss it's one of my favorite parts too. I always loved the Halloweentown movies but I loved Smart House too and I watched it the other day and now I picture everyone's Alexa devices coming to life to take over

This is why I don't have an Alexa I love Halloweentown too!

Wow that's so dramatic! I might tell someone I know that I'm eating with that I think what they're eating is gross lol but definitely not a random stranger at a buffet.

It was so weird, like why not just keep that to yourself? She had to let her "ew" be heard. ​

 

[Raeven]

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[kastoney]

We haven't been to Crystal Palace since Casey was little and its clearly been too long because I thought the breakfast lasagna has eggs in it

Your meal at Bice looks phenomenal. I don't know too much at Universal food but it generally never looks all that great. This is clearly the exception. Like Josh I love me some carpaccio

 

[lvcourtneyy]

All of your dishes at Bice look delicious. I'm always hesitant to book an Italian meal in Universal/Disney but this one looks fantastic.

 

[Raeven]

We haven't been to Crystal Palace since Casey was little and its clearly been too long because I thought the breakfast lasagna has eggs in it

Breakfast lasagna is the most amazing thing ever

Your meal at Bice looks phenomenal. I don't know too much at Universal food but it generally never looks all that great. This is clearly the exception. Like Josh I love me some carpaccio

It was so good! A lot of the in park choices don't really appeal to me, but there's some good places in Citywalk and at the hotels. I don't see a lot of people talking about Bice, but it's definitely a hidden gem.

All of your dishes at Bice look delicious. I'm always hesitant to book an Italian meal in Universal/Disney but this one looks fantastic.

I'm always pretty skeptical too, and we've been to the other restaurant at Portofino Bay, and I wouldn't recommend that one. But this one is amazing. ​

 

[Raeven]

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[lvcourtneyy]

We were planning to go to the 6:30 pm concert and I wanted to get there on time to get good seats after the debacle that was our Candlelight Processional package a few years back, where despite having the package we almost ended up with nowhere to sit because many people saved entire rows for everyone they knew.

Wow that's really annoying!!

I apparently was supposed to ask Josh how he liked this, but dropped the ball I'd ask him but currently he's asleep, so I'm going to guess he liked it enough to eat most of it.

This is me all the time because I'm always up when Mike is sleeping lol

It didn't seem to be a problem that we opted not to do the package, as they seemed to leave that decision up to you until you paid

That was nice.

 

[Raeven]

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[lvcourtneyy]

"We got there about an hour early, and the line for the packages already stretched to Japan....When we did get in the seating situation wasn't so terrible, but people were making it worse than it was. Almost the entire center was taken and so was the entire front. Any good seats left were in back of trees. Whenever we saw an open spot and headed for it people would dart in front of us. It was getting frustrating how rude everyone was being. At one particular spot we were 2 steps away from a pretty good seat in the center when another couple rushed in and sat there. I didn't say anything to them, but I was a bit vocal in my disappointment to Josh that the only spot left in that row was now in back of a tree. And this lady who overheard said "it's a perfectly fine spot why don't you just sit there sweetie" like I was kid throwing a tantrum. When she said that I felt like maybe I was making too big a deal about where to sit? But I don't think not wanting to sit in back of a tree is that bad.

So we moved on, because we noticed there was an entire row in the middle that was basically empty except for some children running about. But when we went to sit down the children started yelling "we're saving these seats, these seats are for our family!" Which one of the adults informed us was made up of 28 people! So we headed farther down the row where a girl was sitting by herself wearing headphones. I figured we'd just sit near her. I tapped on her shoulder and asked if she was "saving these seats for 28 people" I thought she'd think is funny because to me that sounded ridiculous. Then she goes "actually we are our family is sitting in this row!"

So I'm sorry but I have a little rant about the above situation, because I'm still in disbelief that Disney lets people do that. I'm really annoyed that there were so many people saving seats at CP (there was another row we overheard saying they were saving 30 seats). It seemed like people sent family members in so they could stay outside getting food, going on rides, etc and they wouldn't all have to sit down. I don't think this should be allowed. People I have told this to asked why I didn't tell a CM. To be honest, I really didn't think there was much they could do...Easier to have 2 people find a new seat than to have 28 people yelling at you. People have also told me they would've just sat there anyway. I would've loved to do that, but I imagine that wouldn't have gone well for us. What if we did that, and they went to get a CM saying we took their children's/family members seats and won't move? It would've looked like we created the problem."

OMG!! That is insane and beyond ridiculous.

I would've felt the same exact way you did and sorry lady I don't wanna sit behind a tree after I paid for reserved seating and got here an hour early. I'm curious what the CMs would've done if you went to them but I also don't feel like it would've helped which would've made me more frustrated.

Honestly, my sister and I are doing the CP dining package next month and I'm not sure what I'll do if we experience a similar situation!

 

[Raeven]

OMG!! That is insane and beyond ridiculous.

It was!

I would've felt the same exact way you did and sorry lady I don't wanna sit behind a tree after I paid for reserved seating and got here an hour early. I'm curious what the CMs would've done if you went to them but I also don't feel like it would've helped which would've made me more frustrated.

Me too, but at the time I didn't want to put them in the middle since I had a feeling they'd side with the 28 people over us just to keep the peace.

Honestly, my sister and I are doing the CP dining package next month and I'm not sure what I'll do if we experience a similar situation!

Good luck! I'd recommend getting in line earlier than we did. I didn't think it'd be so crazy with the package, but now I feel like we should've gotten in line at least an hour or more beforehand. (We were also the first show so I had nothing to measure against and people seem to get in line very early for the first one). Although I think it depends on the narrator/day/etc. Because for the concert an hour before we were the first people in line. ​

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Me too, but at the time I didn't want to put them in the middle since I had a feeling they'd side with the 28 people over us just to keep the peace.

Yeah I think that's what would've happened also

Good luck! I'd recommend getting in line earlier than we did. I didn't think it'd be so crazy with the package, but now I feel like we should've gotten in line at least an hour or more beforehand. (We were also the first show so I had nothing to measure against and people seem to get in line very early for the first one). Although I think it depends on the narrator/day/etc. Because for the concert an hour before we were the first people in line.

It's crazy how even with reserved seating you have to get in line so early. We're doing the last show so maybe it won't be as crazy? But even so we'll plan to be in line early and plan to just swap out to bring back snacks and drinks to each other lol

 

[Raeven]

It's crazy how even with reserved seating you have to get in line so early. We're doing the last show so maybe it won't be as crazy? But even so we'll plan to be in line early and plan to just swap out to bring back snacks and drinks to each other lol

I didn't expect it to be so crazy. We had Kurt Russell who I'm guessing was pretty popular, but we still didn't think it would be that hard to get a seat. It probably won't be because you can't line up so far ahead of time. The earliest people can really get there for the next show is after the previous show is let in. ​

 

[psac]

Thanks for the Bice pics and review, Yelp has very few pics and we’re going soon! Glad to hear it’s still good, we went about 10 years ago and really liked it back then!