How is the food at the Crystal Palace for dinner?

[Snoopymom]

I made reservations for us, my sister's family, and our parents, so I'd really hate for them to be disappointed.

Dh says I'm crazy to expect everyone to spend that much to eat at a "hog trough", that's what he calls places like Ryans and Golden Corral. Of course, I got defensive and said that it's Disney so it's going to be better, but I'd love to hear some reviews to reassure me that it's not like those type of buffets.

We're not that concerned about the character interaction, since my 20 month old niece is the only one at that age (besides 39 yr old me) and she might be terrified of them.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[DisneyWorldWisher]

I'd like to know about the food too.

 

[tinkerbeth]

Me too me too me too!

 

[dianemb]

We had lunch there but the menu is pretty similar to dinner I think. The food and the quality is hardly "trough food". We had wonderful side dishes and carved meats. The desserts were wonderful also. The charesters were great too if your interested in that.

 

[agnes!]

Our family thinks that Crystal Palace is one of the best dinner buffets on property. The characters & being inside MK are just bonuses, we've had some of the BEST service & the BEST food there of any WDW restaurant we've eaten at. Dinner is more expensive than lunch, but it does have more choices. (Trying to remember...I think peel 'n' eat shrimp was a dinner addition. Check out the menus at allearsnet.com - that should convince your DH!)

agnes!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi Agnes! Long time no "see!" Hope you are well!

Here is my review of CP...please check it out. I think the place is fabulous. The last time I check allearsnet, they only listed a few things that were offered and it sounded boring to me. So, I was really impressed when we arrived and saw the selection. Maybe they have updated the menu since the last time I looked, but if not, rest assured there are a zillion yummy things offered!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=937129

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

I was also wondering how their food is too.

 

[Rella Bella]

We've had dinner and lunch there several times, and I can say the food is much better than Ryan's or Golden Corral.

The have lots of choices for main dish, vegies and salads as well as carved meat & salmon. And the food is upscale, not ordinary buffet food. The desserts were wonderful and of course the kids love the separate kid food buffet.

I don't think anyone will be disappointed.

 

[MissMagnolia]

Have no fear...CP is fantastic!

We have eaten lunch there twice and have been very impressed with the selection, quality, and character interaction. This August we are trying it out for dinner.

Don't sell the characters short...who doesn't love Winnie, Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet (what! no picture of Piglet!!)! My 9 month old and 3 year old were very comfortable with them. Even my DH posed for a photo with Eeyore. It doesn't matter how old you are, when you are in WDW you definitely revert back to childhood days!

 

[Snoopymom]

Wow, what a great selection! Shrimp, salmon, and deserts, sounds great, and a separate kids buffet, how nice!

I'm sure everyone will be happy, plus since there are so many of us, I think a noisier casual type of place with good food and lots of choices will be perfect!

Thanks everyone! I feel so much better.

oh, and maybe I should delete that bad buffet term? Sorry!

 

[Terk-1]

This is a must dine for me on every trip. Have both dinner and breakfast planned for there for my next trip. The food is very good and so is the service.

 

[Magic Carpet]

My DF and I have eaten at CP twice so far & we love it. I've been to many buffets and I must say CP is one of the top. I refuse to eat at golden corral .

 

[Micker]

It's Disney and my experience is that they do quantity well and quality okay. The best food is served at the hotels in my experience. For park food, Crystal Palace is great, and it is definitely better than Golden Corral, etc. It is great for kids because they do make excellent kid food. The adult food is just better than average. Tell your DH that sticker shock on food prices is something he will have to adjust to on your trip. Food has always been pricey in the parks and does not necessarily map to the quality. In short, I don't think your husband will be happy about it, but maybe you can let him learn from other food experiences by ordering counter food for lunch!

 

[monalsw]

We're there in August, can't wait!

 

[wdwlvr629]

Sorry, I can't go with the majority....BLAH...hated it, disgusting food! Would NEVER go there again!

 

[polly p]

We like Crystal Palace for dinner. the whole family can find something they like and dh loves the shrimp and carved meats. Me, I love the desserts.

 

[QJ411]

I was planning on doing a dinner or breakfast at CP also. The list of food seems fantastic and we can't wait! But I have a couple of questions.

1. Is it a character dinning for dinner as well as breakfast?

2. Is it a traditional buffet or like LTT, a family style buffet?

We'll have our 6 month old DD w/ us and I'm worried that she might get fussy. But I'm dying to try the food, sounds yummy!!!

 

[goodferry]

Crystal Palace is a character meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it is a traditional buffet. We loved our dinner there, definitely better than your run of the mill buffet, my husband loved the fish!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

It's Disney and my experience is that they do quantity well and quality okay. The best food is served at the hotels in my experience. For park food, Crystal Palace is great, and it is definitely better than Golden Corral, etc. It is great for kids because they do make excellent kid food. The adult food is just better than average. Tell your DH that sticker shock on food prices is something he will have to adjust to on your trip. Food has always been pricey in the parks and does not necessarily map to the quality. In short, I don't think your husband will be happy about it, but maybe you can let him learn from other food experiences by ordering counter food for lunch!

I agree. The food is ok. Definitely better than Golden Corral. We've been there 5 times for breakfast and 5 times for dinner. MK, being my least favorite place to find a great TS meal, CP is the best choice for a TS for dinner.

I do wish a couple of nights a week they would do "character free" meals for people with kids scared of characters (and people who just don't care for characters) and just want a good buffet meal at MK. It's a beautiful restaurant and I would love to just sit in there and have a peaceful meal. But that'll never happen as the characters pack them in.

 

[christinou]

We go there every trip it is a tradition now and just love it, the kids like the character but it is not the primary attraction anymore, but we all enjoy the food, it is nice, fresh, and there is something for every taste.