Need opinions re: Crystal Palace

[phyllis1966]

Hi all -

I am in need of your opinions...I'd like to plan a meal at CP because my DD(4) loves Pooh and friends, but I don't know if I should do breakfast or dinner. We never do sit-down lunches - we'd rather have a hearty breakfast, a midday snack, and an early-ish dinner. I've checked Deb's website and the dinner menu looks decent, but there's no b'fast menu - it just says that the menu changes frequently.

So, let me have 'em - your opinions, that is. I'd love to know how you all feel about CP. Thanks!

 

[DisneyBoundGals]

Originally posted by phyllis1966
Hi all -

I am in need of your opinions...I'd like to plan a meal at CP because my DD(4) loves Pooh and friends, but I don't know if I should do breakfast or dinner. We never do sit-down lunches - we'd rather have a hearty breakfast, a midday snack, and an early-ish dinner. I've checked Deb's website and the dinner menu looks decent, but there's no b'fast menu - it just says that the menu changes frequently.

So, let me have 'em - your opinions, that is. I'd love to know how you all feel about CP. Thanks!

My mom and I found Crystal Palace wonderful. We had an early breakfast when we went and there was plenty of food. Anything you wanted as far as breakfast foods go, it was there and there was plenty of it. There was yogurt, fruit, waffles, all of the breakfast meats, eggs (sidenote: if you wanted eggs cooked a certain way, you could let the chef know and he would cook them or you), waffles, pancakes, breads for toast, cinnamon rollls, a few breakfast casseroles, potatoes, etc.

I hope this helps.
Angi

 

[webray]

We love Crystal Palace for breakfast. Our favorite MK breakfast spot actually. It is very good.

Never been there for dinner, so can't help you there. We enjoy character meals in the morning...just seems like such a great way to start the day....hugs and kisses from the characters. Also, then you don't have to spend all day looking for the characters in the park, because you already got some great, unrushed photos in the restaurant.

 

[slp87]

We too have eaten breakfast there and found a huge selection. We got one of the first PSs of the day so we finished up just before 9 and got some great pics on MS without any crowds. We at dinner there a few years ago, but DD is very picky and can never eat near the price it costs, so we don't do buffet dinners anymore. As far as the adults we thought the food was good, but definitely prefer the breakfast.

 

[phyllis1966]

Thanks for the responses, everyone! Any more opinions of dinner?

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

My friend Eric dragged me to the character dinner at the Crystal Palace a few years back. I say "dragged" because I had absolutely no interest in a character meal. But let me tell you, it was one of the best times I've ever had eating! The food was fantastic, and of course, the characters are here, there and everywhere! You can't help but be swept up in the magic. As for the food, it was quite good. I was actually surprised, having had a bad experience or two with buffets, both at Disney and other places, over the years. I walked away very satisfied, very full and with pictures (and stories) galore. Consider me a character meal convert, thanks to dinner at the CP.

Richard

 

[swankybeth]

I've done the breakfast twice at Crystal Palace. The first time was wonderful and I couldn't wait to go back. The second time was so-so. The food and selection just didn't impress us as much as it did on our first visit.

 

[johnsonet]

I would definitely plan on going to the Crystal Palace if your daughter loves the Pooh characters. I have never done the b'fast there but I've done dinner at least 4 times. We probably won't go back just b/c we've done it so many times and DD is now 7 - on our last trip she wasn't interested in going on Dumbo .
Anyway, the first 2 times we went I was just so enchanted (DD was 3 and 4) but the last 2 times have been burn-out. It has always been SO crowded. I would recommend breakfast - as early as possible. It would be a wonderful start to your DD's day! And she won't be exhausted from a day at the parks!! The food has always been good at dinner but waiting around for the characters to make their way thru 2 dining rooms of PACKED tables gets to be a little much.
I don't mean to be a downer. If you've never been, it will be wonderful and your daughter will be in heaven! I would just recommend going early or late - and WITH PS!! The lines get insane!
Have fun!

 

[JennyDrake]

We have done breakfast there three times and dinner once. I would highly recommend staying with breakfast. Dinner was not bad, but food was mediocre at best. I also felt more rushed.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My family loved our breakfast there. We had an 8:15 PS, and it was a lot of fun walking down an almost completely empty Main Street. We have not eaten there for dinner so I can't compare.

 

[Scratch42]

When I was finalizing our PS's and showed DD our schedule....

Her words "When are we going to CP?" "I don't see it here!"

My response, "But you said you did not want to go back to CP for Breakfast!"

So guess what I had to add to the lineup!LOL

We've done both but find the dinner is not DD's thing! Breakfast is better and is a good selection. I like it better than 1900 Park Fare! And the Character interaction is great also. The pictures there are always the best! DD always has the biggest smile!

The selection is your usual breakfast items and freshly made omelets made on a griddle.

Whatever you decide it will be great!

m2cw

Scratch

 

[phyllis1966]

Thanks for all your help, everyone! I guess I'll stick with breakfast, which was my first instinct. As always, you've all been so helpful!

 

[disneyvoice]

We've been for both breakfast and lunch. We loved breakfast but were disappointed with lunch. So now we just do breakfast on each trip. I think that lunch and dinner are very similar menus. The character interaction was great at both meals, we just didn't find the lunch on par with other lunches we have had at other Disney restaurants. The breakfast was excellent, though. I think it's fairly difficult to mess up breakfast foods, especially if you have an early seating. The food is fresh and pretty much untouched, and the crowds are small so you don't feel hurried through the buffet line. Plus I think you get more time with characters when you have the very first seating. And since it does take a while for CP to fill up for the first breakfast seating, I don't feel quite as rushed to scarf down my food to make room for the next seating.

 

[DisneyBoundGals]

Originally posted by disneyvoice
We've been for both breakfast and lunch. We loved breakfast but were disappointed with lunch. So now we just do breakfast on each trip. I think that lunch and dinner are very similar menus. The character interaction was great at both meals, we just didn't find the lunch on par with other lunches we have had at other Disney restaurants. The breakfast was excellent, though. I think it's fairly difficult to mess up breakfast foods, especially if you have an early seating. The food is fresh and pretty much untouched, and the crowds are small so you don't feel hurried through the buffet line. Plus I think you get more time with characters when you have the very first seating. And since it does take a while for CP to fill up for the first breakfast seating, I don't feel quite as rushed to scarf down my food to make room for the next seating.

disneyvoic,
You sure hit the nil on the head! After being at Crystal Palace, what you said is exactly what my mom and I experienced ~ hard to mess up breafast foods, untouched and fres, smal crwds, unrushed. Everything I loved about this restaurant! Can't wait to go again!

 

[arizonacolbys]

My hubby & I did both breakfast & dinner last trip, and are now planning to do both again for our upcoming trip. Tigger is my favorite & we have been doing the breakfast every trip for the last few years. In March, we tried dinner there for the first time & it was great! We usually get a very early breakfast PS, or a late dinner PS. We have found that the best way to get great character interaction. It may also depend on the time of year you'll be there. The CP Breakfast is definitely our favorite in WDW. Hope this helps!

 

[sters]

I hate to be a spoiler, but the CP was a huge waste of time. We waited over an hour beyond or PS time and by that time my kids were beyond irritible. The characters took a long time to get there and we felt rushed. By the time we ate, they were starting to switch over to lunch so there wasn't a lot of food left. If you go, get there early I guess. I enjoyed the one at the Beach Club so much better and have concluded that character breakfasts outside the park give better food, service, and character interaction. Having SAID that, I've booked one at Epcot for the Princesses and at Chef Mickey's for my next trip ... to test my theory of course.

 

[kdibattista]

Have never been there for dinner so I cannot compare but I can tell you that breakfast is FANTASTIC!!! It's actually our all time favorite meal in all of WDW!!!

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

They have the breakfast lasagne that is to die for! It is one of the best breakfast items that I have ever eaten!

They have:
bacon, eggs, waffles, pancakes, breakfast lasagne, sausage, potatoes,grits, gravy, toast, muffins, bagels, cereals, french toast sticks, breakfast pizza,(kids table) fruits, and a few more items that I am sure I am forgetting.

We've eaten here at least 30 times, it's a must do on every trip.

 

[slp87]

By the time we ate, they were starting to switch over to lunch so there wasn't a lot of food left. If you go, get there early I guess.

Sters,

That's a lesson we also have learned from our dining experiences. Ours occurred at Breakfastasaurus. They were switching over to lunch and no longer refilling the breakfast items. Everything was extremely picked over. Our CP breakfast was the first PS of the day and the food was fresh. We will never schedule a late breakfast buffet again.