My visit to Crystal Palace--28 years later!

[Poohbear123]

Yes, its been since 1978 since I visited The Crystal Palace, and I am so sad. This was a nice Cafeteria Style resteraunt back than, cheap and quiet and nice. Now, you need a Xanax if you want to even wait outside with the crying, screaming children, and hot frustarted Parents. Than you go inside, and eat with the same results. OK, been there, done that, won't do it again. BRING BACK THE OLD CRYSTAL PALACE!!!

 

[Tinkerbell_Tiffany]

Yes, its been since 1978 since I visited The Crystal Palace, and I am so sad. This was a nice Cafeteria Style resteraunt back than, cheap and quiet and nice. Now, you need a Xanax if you want to even wait outside with the crying, screaming children, and hot frustarted Parents. Than you go inside, and eat with the same results. OK, been there, done that, won't do it again. BRING BACK THE OLD CRYSTAL PALACE!!!

XANAX! LOL

 

[vellamint]

HA HA HA

I remember being really surprised at the difference from my 1980's trips and our first trip back there in 2002!!!

Yes, the atmosphere did certainly change but I like the change...to me the big difference is the $$..lol!

 

[dixiedizfan]

I'm with the OP ... I liked the way Crystal Palace USED to be ... quiet and with no characters!

 

[crisi]

I haven't been to the "new" CP, but we did the old one on our first trip. One of the few "Disney meals" we did since my parents were on a budget. I'd read in Birnbaums that is was an affordable cafeteria, and it was. Food was decent, if not great, and affordable. Very uncrowded and underutilized - but that was the Heavenly January Trip - where we felt like the only people who'd braved Disney that January.

 

[Poohbear123]

I'm with the OP ... I liked the way Crystal Palace USED to be ... quiet and with no characters!

Lets start a "Bring Back the Old Crystal Palace" petition!

 

[Antonia]

Tell the truth - is it really screaming crying kids????????????????? DH and I were thinking of eating there in September. Does anyone think it will screaming crying kids in September, too. We're empty nesters and could do without it.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Tell the truth - is it really screaming crying kids????????????????? DH and I were thinking of eating there in September. Does anyone think it will screaming crying kids in September, too. We're empty nesters and could do without it.

None of us noticed any screaming, crying children...and we were there in early August! But we were doing a late lunch. Eat at an odd time and I think you'll be fine. If there were screaming, crying children, we were too busy eating to be bothered...

 

[disgram]

We were at the Crystal Palace two years ago and it was wonderful! It was bright and sunny and the atmosphere was great! There were plants everywhere. Sure there were lots of kids but they were very happy and excited. The characters were a delight too. We are going this August and it is our first character breakfast!!!

 

[Poohbear123]

Tell the truth - is it really screaming crying kids????????????????? DH and I were thinking of eating there in September. Does anyone think it will screaming crying kids in September, too. We're empty nesters and could do without it.

We went Lunch time and there were about 3 screaming crying children, one outside, that cried the whole 15 minutes we waited for our table. Than, we were seated, and got our first plate of food when, guess what, that SAME child and parents got placed at the table behind us! All this kid do was cry, run away from Mom and Dad, and cry some more! Thats where the Xanaz could have been used....for me and my dining partner. There were others on the other side of the resteruant that screamed so loud, we could hear them.

 

[patsal]

Though I hae seen some meltdown it isn't like the CP is filled with screaming/crying children and parents with not an ounce of patience left. Sorry your experience was so big a disappointment for you, but if your looking for quiet and out of the way CP isn't it--perhaps you would have been happier at LTT for lunch (no characters) or The Plaza. If you go to a character meal you should be prepared for what I would call "organized choas", as all things Disney it runs pretty smoothly, but be prepared for the excitment of characters and kids in a buffet situation.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Though I hae seen some meltdown it isn't like the CP is filled with screaming/crying children and parents with not an ounce of patience left. Sorry your experience was so big a disappointment for you, but if your looking for quiet and out of the way CP isn't it--perhaps you would have been happier at LTT for lunch (no characters) or The Plaza. If you go to a character meal you should be prepared for what I would call "organized choas", as all things Disney it runs pretty smoothly, but be prepared for the excitment of characters and kids in a buffet situation.

The whole point is ... we wish the Crystal Palace WASN'T a character meal! Then it would be like LTT and the Plaza; quieter and more relaxed.

 

[Poohbear123]

The whole point is ... we wish the Crystal Palace WASN'T a character meal! Then it would be like LTT and the Plaza; quieter and more relaxed.

Yes, I KNOW it is a Character Meal now, have known that for years. However, I thought if I went during Lunch it would be OK, but alas it wasn't on that Particular day! However, I really missed the OLD Crystal Palace, and wish they would NOT have changed it to this.

 

[drewswife]

I have to say I disagree. CP is my favorite character meal. We usualy do lunch to get out of the heat. Its takes a while for the chacters to make the rounds so we have a nice rest. I find Chef Mickeys much more noisey and more kids running amok. Maybe I have been lucky not to have cring kids around when I went.

 

[Avivasmom]

We just had dinner there 2 weeks ago and it was not any louder then any regular restaurant. All the kids were well behaved and did not hear any crying. And GREAT character interaction. I have eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner there now. And never had a bad experience and that includes not hearing any crying kids.

 

[gigi1313]

totally OT here...
Avivasmom, your dh's name is Spider?! we have a neighbor named Spider... great guy... lotsa fun... just thought i'd share

*~*~*~*~*

never been to the "old" CP but MK has enough non-character lunches and it's nice to have a character opportunity at lunch (it's one of the VERY few... only other i can think of is CRT @ MK, and Garden Grill @ Epcot, soon to add H&V @ MGM) for those of us who occasionally like a long cool relaxing character-filled lunch rather than dinner or breakfast

 

[Avivasmom]

Gigi,

That is his nickname (he plays music and they call him that). His real name is Richard.

Small world, I grew up on Long Island, in Syosset!

 

[gigi1313]

'tis a small world indeed! i grew up in valley stream and now live out east past riverhead

 

[jrasmom]

So...what about the food?

I've read review after review (been reading that food picture thread for days now....just making myself hungry!) looking for opinions on the food at lunch.

What is typically offered at lunchtime? Is it like a brunch mixture or what?

Any help is appreciated. We're going to Disney for the first time ever in Sept. We have ADR's for a late lunch here, introducing the kids to character interaction early on! And I was wondering about the food.

 

[Poohbear123]

Is very tasty. They have Roast Beef, Pork/Chicken/salads/Mashed Potatoe's/fruits/desserts. I had something that did not agree with my system later on, but hey, thats my belly!