I need honest opinions on Crystal Palace (we do not like buffets)

[kimpup]

Ok my mom and I planned a dream vacation for Sept 2012 at the POLY!!! We have sooooo many planned ADR's and we are doing the disney deluxe dining plan!!!!!!
We have some left and are trying to plan some breakfast options. My mom and I are NOT buffet people but I thought it would be so cool to get in the park before it opens to have breakfast and a few pics with characters never hurt! We are there for 8 days so we have lots of options but we want to try new and different things this trip! We have done Chef mickey's and it is very cute and food was fine but we are not doing it again. I like the getting into the park before it opens idea! Can you guys give me some feedback on what you think of Crystal Palace?

 

[eliza61]

So they last time I was at crystal palace was a few years ago for breakfast and I thought it was fine. But let me qualify that.

1) we were there because some of my family members were little kids and we wanted to do a character meal.

2) I have really, really low expectations for buffets especially character ones. I think the food is mediocre and they get away with it because they know 99% of the folks are really simply there for to see the characters. So generally I'm not looking for great food.


So it pretty much met my criteria. The food was hot and filing. I had waffles, kids mainly had cereal and the pasteries.

Character interaction was great though. we were a fairly large party and tigger and pooh were especially attentive to the kids. Eyeore had the adults laughing with his antics. one of the best character interactions I ever had at Disney

Wait staff was excellent!!

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Breakfast at Crystal Palace is on our very short list of must-do meals each trip. We love love love getting into the park before opening, enjoy the atmosphere and service of CP, and find the meal to be very good. We aren't really partial to buffets either, but we have always found CP's breakfast buffet to be fresh and delicious. I'm sure getting there right when they open helps in that regard. The characters are cute and the kids love them, but even if we didn't have the kids along, we'd still go. We see many parties in the restaurant each time with no kids. Some interact with the characters, others do not. If you don't wish to, they'll pass you by.

I'd highly recommend giving it a try! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[jscottnc]

I agree with CapnJacksGirl. Before park opening breakfast at CP is a tradition with our family. Just walking down a (nearly) empty Main Street is worth the trouble. Besides, I really like breakfast foods.

I also highly recommend a before park opening at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom. The food is standard breakfast fare with added African dishes not found elsewhere in the parks.

Mind you, there is nothing this side of a private seating with all the Disney Princesses that would get me to have a sit down meal in the morning hours when the park is open. If I cannot get the 8:05am ADR on a non-EMH morning, I don't bother.

 

[cbg1027]

I don't eat at buffets outside of Disney. Avoid them like the plague simply because I've never had good food at one of them.

That said, Crystal Palace is actually my favorite breakfast spot at Disney! If you get that early ADR like you're talking about, you're eating there before the place fills up, so it's not too hectic in that hour before the park hours. I've always found the food to be fresh and delicious. The Cinnamon Puffed French Toast is a particular favorite of mine and they also offer made-to-order omelets.

I also won't wait in a line over a few people to meet with characters, so eating at CP gives me a nice chance to see some characters without taking away from my attraction time.

I would highly recommend giving it a try!

 

[Brian Noble]

We've done lunch at CP. I thought it was above average for a character buffet. Not world-beatingly awesome, but surprisingly good given my modest expectations. I don't recall the price being rapacious, either.

I'm less a fan of the breakfast buffets, because usually it's more or less the same thing everywhere, and the price for eggs and waffles is steep. I haven't done CP's. Even so, I would skip it. But, I also don't "get" the desire to be in an empty park, so my advice is probably worth ignoring...

 

[pumba]

with all the options at CP breakfast...You have to find something you will love...I like the freshness of it ...always hot and ready for me to eat...Also plenty of fresh fruit, cereals, bread options..like bagels and muffins...I just for some dumb reason ....love the eggs at this place with the sausages...
I dont think you can go and not find something that will satisfy you and your family

 

[OhThePain]

If you are looking to go to CP in order to get into MK early, it's worth doing once. Breakfast is the only meal at CP that is somewhat close to acceptable. All the breakfast buffets are generally the same on property, with a dish or 2 here and there that is unique to each. As long as you like the usual breakfast foods like eggs, bacon, sausage, Mickey waffles, fresh fruit, etc., you won't leave hungry. The restaurant is still relatively quiet early in the morning and the characters aren't quite as rushed as they are at the other meals. While we don't consider it a "must do" and probably wouldn't go back until we have kids (it is just my fiancee and I), the chance to get into MK early and walk down MSUSA and get some great pictures was worth doing once.

Lunch and dinner on the other hand are both awful. Between the chaos in the restaurant and the awful food (dishes either had no flavor or were served at the wrong temperatures, i.e. hot dishes were cold, cold dishes were warm) and the subpar service we have gotten at our meals that were not breakfast there, those meals are something we won't do again.

 

[LoriJune]

Like you, I'm not crazy about buffets. I don't care to get my own meal and deal with getting my kids plates. That said, we do go to the CP. It's worth it to get into the MK early and I do love the atmosphere and characters there. The food is average, it's breakfast so at least you know they can't screw it up. (Also had lunch there recently and was surprised to really enjoy those food offerings.)

 

[Floridian Princess]

Buffets aren't our thing either BUT our DD loves all the characters at Crystal Palace!Ok ok so do I!!!!
Go for breakfast and you will get wonderful photos of the family in front of the castle with no one in your shot
The breakfast food is just ok but the characters are in no rush and the kids get lots of attention again fab memories and photos to treasure
That is why it's on our list when we book our ADRs next week
Have a great trip

Claire

 

[kimpup]

Thanks everyone! I think this is one we will try, I just convinced mom, I think - I really want to take pics on an empty main street!!!! Plus how bad can a micky waffle be right!!

 

[DisneyMom2Boyz]

We've been going for the past 3 years and we stay at the Poly. We ate at CP dinner and it was ok. We never ate breakfast there. However we have eaten at Ohana character breakfast with Lilo & Stich and the food is served to you family style. It's very relaxing and the food is good. Its, warm breakfast breads/rolls, fresh fruit (awesome), mickey waffles, scrambled eggs, potatos, sausage and bacon. The orange juice is a blend and is delicious. We'll be back there in April and will eat there. It's not in the park but after jump on the monorail and there you are!

 

[Disneyhayes]

mmmm pooh ears...Crystal Palace breakfast is the only TS credit we are using on a meal other than dinner.

 

[warty]

Just did this 3 days ago. I loved the Fluffy French Toast and could have eaten that and only that. The omletes were made to order and good. Coffee and orange juice were plentiful. There was smoked salmon and a general good variety of food. The bonus of being in the park was well worth the early wake up. The characters are my fav.
This is a must do.
If you have not done the Pirates and Pals fireworks cruise I would suggest this as a must do.

Good luck getting through all that food.

 

[disneymomej]

Kind of hard to make a bad waffle with syrup. Breakfast is a safe choice.

My family has done breakfast before park opening at every trip. It is incredible to walk down an empty main street, and get the photo in front of the castle. Worth the cost alone imo. ....plus, I kinda like the characters. We will be there in two weeks!

 

[bedogged]

Since you are on the Deluxe Plan why not try CRT? I do not like buffets ether. I found CRT to be a lot of fun with decent food. It is two credits.

 

[Bob NC]

I need honest opinions on Crystal Palace (we do not like buffets)

It's a buffet.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Since you are staying at the Polynesian have you thought about Ohana? I haven't heard too many good comments on the threads about CP but I know from my own experience that Ohana is great! It's like a buffet because it's all you can eat but it's table service or family style as they call it. Ohana means family. Or you could try both and decide from there which you like best.

 

[amykathleen2005]

Have only done dinner at CP but loved it! The food was good, the setting is very pretty (open and airy). The character interaction was the best we've ever had. I went with my mom and husband so it was only adults and we would definitely do CP again.