Keep Calm and Go to Disney! 10/21 - 11/4/14 COMPLETE

[jabead]

The cobbler looks delicious, Barb!

The Artist Point cobbler is delicious. I'm so glad I was able to get it at the Territory Lounge, since I had skipped it when I had dinner at Artist Point.

I'm excited for this when we eat at Artist Point in May! Looks delicious! We'll definitely have to grab a drink in the Lounge, it looks like my kind of place.

Oh, I hope you enjoy both the cobbler and the lounge, Jillian! I'm a little jealous because I would love to visit the lounge for mushroom soup and cobbler on my May trip but sadly it looks unlikely to happen.

That cobbler looks amazing.

It is pretty great. I highly recommend trying some if you haven't already.

Artist point cobbler = pure perfection. Glad you finally got some and even gladder I now know I can get it in the lounge. One more reason for a night cap

The next time I stay at Wilderness Lodge, I definitely want to spend more time at the lounge.

Oh my goodness that cobbler looks amazing! We went to the Territory Lounge once for a beer while waiting to be seated at WCC. Nice atmosphere and I would love to return to try the bar food menu as I have heard nothing but great things from other Disers.

I think I could easily have had a full meal at the lounge, especially with the AP mushroom soup and cobbler on their menu.

We really like the Oregon blackberry cobbler, too. My favorite thing to get there is the edamame.

Oh, the edamame does sound good. Really everything on that menu sounded great to me. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get back there but I hope that when I finally do, the menu hasn't changed too much.

These are great reviews! Thank you for taking the time to share with so much detail

Thanks so much and thanks for reading!

 

[jabead]

Tuesday, October 28th

I kicked off the second week of my trip with a pre-park opening breakfast at Magic Kingdom. Arriving at the park before 8:00 a.m., I had plenty of time to take lots of (nearly) empty park photos. Here are a few of those...





By 8:04 I was standing in front of the castle taking pictures...





By the time I thought about having a photographer take my photo, there were a few people around in the background...

​

Then I remembered that I had wanted to take a photo at the front of the park, so I headed back that way...




I saw the nice lady who dances in the Magical Express video...





At about 8:30 I headed back up Main Street, this time it was not quite as empty as it was a half hour earlier...





It was then time to check in for my breakfast ADR at...





This sign outside is the closest thing they have to a menu...





Before my December 2013 trip, I had not been to Crystal Palace since my kids were little, I would say circa 2000 - 2001. Some of the DIS ladies I was traveling with in Dec. 2013 wanted to have breakfast at Crystal Palace, so I decided to tag along. I was surprised by how good the buffet food was, especially the made-to-order omelets. Though I wasn't able to fit it into my next trip in April 2014, with this one being a longer trip I knew I for sure wanted to have breakfast here again. When I was able to get a pre-park opening ADR, that was icing on the cake.


But let's get to it now, what you are all here to see...THE FOOD!!!




Three kinds of cereal





Cinnamon rolls





Danish??





Three kinds of bagels





Chocolate croissants






Plain croissants






Breakfast Lasagna - Layers of Waffles, Pancakes, Pound Cake, Strawberries, and Bananas
topped with Pastry Cream and Caramelized Sugar


- continued in next post -
​

 

[jabead]

Crystal Palace Breakfast - Part II​

Next up is the cold buffet starting with strawberries, pineapple, grapes, watermelon, and a couple different mixed fruit salads...


















Salmon, tomatoes, cheese cubes, and hard-boiled eggs...








Banana bread and two other unidentified breads plus granola...







Hot food choices included...



Quinoa cereal with apples, cinnamon, and honey





Scrambled eggs




Sausage frittata




Corned Beef Hash

​

Pancakes





Western Breakfast Pizza





Cheesy Potatoes




Biscuits & Gravy




Sausage & Bacon





Savory Scones with Bacon & Cheese




Breakfast Potatoes




From the Kids section, two of my favorites...







Winnie the Pooh's Puffed French Toast



Oh, and I almost forgot, my #1 favorite thing about having breakfast at Crystal Palace...Made-to-Order Omelets!! Here is mine in the making...



I believe this had ham, sausage, bacon, green pepper, tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese (which was nearly all of the ingredients which were offered).



So here were my three plates of food...




Plate #1 was the "Good" one, because everything was good but nothing really stood out as being particularly great.









Plate #2 was my Kid's plate. I really enjoyed both of these, so I guess I'm just a "kid at heart".





But Plate #3 with my Made-to-Order Omelet was my favorite...






And since a character breakfast review does not seem complete without it, here is a pic with one of my favorite Disney characters...





I really enjoyed this meal and would gladly return here on my next trip. However, on my next trip I will have my kids along (ages 19 - 25) and none of them really eat breakfast, especially not a big buffet breakfast. Plus they rolled their eyes when I told them that this is a character breakfast with Pooh & friends. So having breakfast here in May is definitely a long shot. But I will be back again...someday. ​

Next up: Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern

 

[LindseyJo22]

That breakfast looks delicious!

We are doing a morning breakfast on our upcoming trip, and I wasn't super concerned about the food since the characters are the main reason I want to go, but I'm glad there are lots of food options that look good. The Puffed French Toast and Breakfast Casserole sound particularly interesting, and I'm pretty sure no Disney buffet breakfast is complete without Mickey waffles!

 

[wilma-bride]

I love Crystal Palace breakfast - mmm, puffed french toast! Love how you and Tigger are colour coordinated.

 

[jesswindsor]

Just caught up!! Great Reviews so far, can't wait for more!! Crystal Palace is one of my favorite breakfast spots.

 

[Vernie822]

I love Crystal Palace - especially the Puffed French Toast. Yum! Can't beat getting into the MK early for some pictures then going to breakfast with Pooh and the gang.

Although last trip we ate at Tusker Houser at Animal Kingdom.. Holy cow, it was so good! Both buffets are fantastic and offer great character interaction IMO.

 

[rteetz]

Crystal palace looks great for breakfast. I have only had dinner there. The food looks very good as well.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Hi Barb - great pre park opening pics! Since we are taking his girlfriend, Andrew is happy to eat at CP in August! Looking forward to the puffed French toast! And I was able to get a pre park opening CRT breakfast that he also is ok with! It has been great fun planning her first trip!

 

[kastoney]

You just inspired me to make a prepark opening reservation at crystal palace for our trip in September. We've been to crystal palace once before but never before park opening. And I somehow missed the omelet station. A park to myself and omelets, here I come....

 

[sunnysideup3]

When will you be there in May, Barb?

I love Crystal Palace but have never gotten an omelette, I will have to next time!

 

[Linda67]

Hello Barb
Just been catching up
Love your early morning shots of Main Street
Yummy breakfast by the looks of it!
Lx

 

[ursalita]

Hi Barb! I really enjoyed reading your last few updates. So you certainly had some highs and lows. I really enjoyed your review of Crystal Palace. Thank you for taking all those pictures. We have an early breakfast scheduled next month and can't wait to try so many of those items.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Love your pre-park opening pictures Barb! And I really appreciate the many buffet pictures at CP. We have an ADR at Crystal Palace for our upcoming May trip requested by my 18 year old kid. I think he's enticed by the omelets, but I still like the characters.

 

[Scoobymoons]

Gotta love the pre park opening photos - one of the reasons we go to Crystal Palace for breakfast as well Another ADR booked for this summer and your review cements the decision!! Thanks

 

[RunnerMommyof4]

Oh I can't wait for breakfast at Crystal Palace and hope we get a pre rope drop ADR. It looks so yummy and we are BIG breakfast eaters.

 

[OThopeful35]

We have an 8:10 am ADR Crystal Palace on our upcoming trip. This will be our first visit. The food looks yummy.

 

[wilma-bride]

Well, hi Joh!! I've missed you! Perfect timing though, as you will soon be making your first appearance in my report.

Anyway, keep me posted on your possible October trip. I'm going in May for sure with my three kids but I would still consider doing another solo trip in October. I might even be able to talk my hubby into joining me for a few days again.

Sorry, didn't mean to be absent for so long - you know what those post-Disney blues are like though Anyway, looks like October is a no-go, Gary can't get away. But we are heading to WDW in August instead - yay! Managed to score 4 nights at the new Poly villas so super happy about that - just a shame we won't get a chance to meet up again.

 

[goofy4prez]

Barb, I've been stalking but so far behind in responding on several TR's. I love the Crystal Palace Restaurant and love getting the chance to walk down Main Street in a virtually empty park. I am really bummed out that I had an 8:05 am ADR for my trip in June but had to change my arrival date a day later and my departure one day later as well. Unfortunately it fell on our CP day and was not able to get another ADR for that early. The one question I would have for you is, how in the world did you not load up your plate with the breakfast lasagna? I am absolutely addicted to that stuff. I can't tell you how many miles of running I have to do when I get back home to burn off the weight I gain from it.

 

[marchingstar]

I stumbled on this thread looking for a review of CP (I'm still pretty new to these reviews, and haven't read through a whole one before). This is so comprehensive! I didn't know if Mickey waffles were offered at CP, and I'm so glad to see them in your photos. And everything else looks delicious too--I'll definitely start planning an omelette now!

Can I ask what time your reservation was for? I know 8:05 is the coveted time. I have an 8:40 booked for our May trip. It's on a day when the MK opens at 9, so hopefully we'll get some pics as nice and empty as yours. How much time did you spend in the park before heading to the restaurant? Thanks again for the great photos!