Scared of the Crystal Palace!

[Ginny Favers]

I keep seeing all these glowing reviews for The Crystal Palace. I'm trying to figure out what went wrong the last time I ate there.... we had a horrible time. We waited over an hour to be seated, the place was crowded and dirty, we never saw one character, and the food was abysmal.

Is it because we ate dinner there instead of breakfast? Is it because we went right before MNSSHP? I really want to give it another try, because my youngest adores Pooh. But I'm still a little wary!

 

[mommyrosa2]

I keep seeing all these glowing reviews for The Crystal Palace. I'm trying to figure out what went wrong the last time I ate there.... we had a horrible time. We waited over an hour to be seated, the place was crowded and dirty, we never saw one character, and the food was abysmal.

Is it because we ate dinner there instead of breakfast? Is it because we went right before MNSSHP? I really want to give it another try, because my youngest adores Pooh. But I'm still a little wary!

If you really want to try it again, you really should. For every person who says they love it, you'll find someone who'll say they hate it - different strokes for different folks. In regards to our experience: The first time we ate there (a few years ago) we did the breakfast and it wasn't good. We skipped the next few years but decided to try it again but this time for dinner. We were there in October and ate there and unfortunately, it wasn't any better for us. We experienced pretty much everything you said above except we did see some of the characters. Needless to say, we won't be returning anytime soon.

 

[olecow]

My family ate breakfast there before park open and it was wonderful. There really wasn't any crowd (we were there in late October) and we had great interaction with the Pooh characters.

Going into the MK before it's open was REALLY cool. Main Street was mainly deserted and we got some great Cinderella Castle pictures.

As far as the restaurant itself we loved the variety and food quality at breakfast. We've never tried dinner there.

 

[pamkas]

The Crystal Palace is a must do for us every trip. Dinner is our preference
And we've never had a bad time. I would definitely try again. When you check
In tell them about your previous experience and I'm sure things will be better.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

We had breakfast there our last visit and didn't enjoy it, mainly because the food was not good - not simply not what you would expect for $30 a person, but not good. We tried just about everything offered and none of it would measure up to what you would get at your local $5 diner. We did meet the characters (but not Pooh), though that was very quick. Getting in to the park before it opened was great, but the food was a deal-killer. My daughter recently referred to the breakfast as "awful," and she's not picky.

 

[kadesha]

We have had dinner there 4 times and haven't had a bad experience. Yes, it is always crowded and even with an ADR we end up waiting to be seated. But I have come to expect that. We've always had good service, food, and character interaction.

 

[TheWrightTrip]

We did breakfast there this past November. An 8:30 ressie. LOVED getting into the park before opening. It was great to have that time to walk main street and take pictures in front of the castle with so few people there.
I thought the breakfast buffet was good. And the interaction with all the characters was great too. I would recommend it for breakfast. Never had lunch or dinner there.

Did you happen to ask where the characters were? I mean the whole point of eating there is that it's a character meal. I would of had to check into that. The food was good but it's just your standard breakfast food. No way it is worth it if the characters are no where in sight.

 

[babyrich]

We have had breakfast here every trip. Never had a bad experience. We get an ADR between 8-8:15am and never waited more than 5 minutes. We like the food, we realize we are paying more for the characters than food choices.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

Agree that CP can get very crowded and we have had to wait even with ADR's to be seated but we've always enjoyed the food. We've done breakfast, lunch and dinner there. It's a must-do for my family! Maybe give it another chance.

 

[Mamu]

Don't know what happen on your last visit. Maybe it's the night you choose. This is the one Character Meal we always attend. Were big Pooh Fans. I've never had the experience here that you experienced.

While we have had dinner here many times we enjoy lunch much better. While always crowded lunch seems less rushed. As far a characters go it does take a full hour for them to visit each table. We also enjoy breakfast this meal is always very crowded.

I refuse to allow anyone to rush me during meals. I'm paying a premium price to sit and enjoy my meal and thats exactly what I'm going to do.

So sorry to hear of your disappointment at this restaurant. I do think you should give it another try. It's a beautiful restaurant. They probably book to many on this very busy night. We tend to have a table serve lunch on the night of a Special Disney Party. Return to our resort for some R&R and return to the Park around 5-5:30. We do get something to eat later in the night from one of the CS Restaurants.

 

[RMulieri]

We won't go back..after a failed breakfast and dinner we are done with it

 

[saintfan]

Crystal Palace breakfast good choice. Didn't get ADR before park opened but 9:30 not bad lots of character interaction. 25th anniv. DW Me

 

[Wenda]

We also had a very bad experience at Crystal Palace. I checked in and got a beeper. After over an hour wait I asked the hostess how long the wait was running. She told me 15min!!! I told her we had been waiting over an hour. She took my name and left. 5 min later someone else came out and asked my name. Another 10 min and I was told they couldn't find me in the system! I showed them the beeper and they left again. Another 5 min and I was told sorry, you will be seated soon. 15 min later we were seated and got who we called the magical disappearing waiter. Once our drink orders were taken and those were brought it was over 1/2 hour before we saw him again. We asked for refills and once they were brought we never saw him again until he brought the bills. He had other tables near us and ignored them also. He didn't get much of a tip and we did complain about it to the manager on duty. The food was good and the characters were around several times, but being diabetic I wouldn't risk another 2 hour wait for a table.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

We won't go back..after a failed breakfast and dinner we are done with it

Count me in, I just think the food is horrid

 

[ppony]

I keep seeing all these glowing reviews for The Crystal Palace. I'm trying to figure out what went wrong the last time I ate there.... we had a horrible time. We waited over an hour to be seated, the place was crowded and dirty, we never saw one character, and the food was abysmal.

Is it because we ate dinner there instead of breakfast? Is it because we went right before MNSSHP? I really want to give it another try, because my youngest adores Pooh. But I'm still a little wary!

We have never had dinner there and we always get the first ressies available, so that can have a LOT to do w/ satisfaction. That said, we rarely don't give a plce a second and sometimes a third shot. We actually didn't care for our first 2 breakfasts at SP but WANTED to like it and get into the park early , so we tried it once again and this time was the charm. We loved it. It was breakfast though. Your waiting and hour to be seated isn't unique though as everyone around you had to do the same thing. And this happens at every single restaurant w/ ADRs as they are not a guarantee of WHEN you'll be seated, just that you will be. It has everything to do w/ how long other patrons before you stay, and by the time you were there, there was a day's worth of people flowing through. Yes, that's no excuse for a place being dirty, but it is what it is. Sometimes, some days staff can't keep up.
Personally, I recommend breakfast (the place hasn't seen a day's worth of patrons at that point) and I also recommend early ressies. you'll be far less at the mercy of whatever else may have come up that day to have a negative impact on your experience. Give it a shot!

Now, Chef M's has had multiple strike outs for us both at breakfast and dinner, so until I read a plethora of good reviews showing a turn around in food, no going back there. And Rose & Crown owns the dubious honor of getting the only one chance and your out distinction in our family.

 

[nanalisa]

We had dinner there Dec 15 and it was ok. We only waited about 15 for a table. To us the MK has better counter service meals than table service. And while if wasn't great, the salads were good and the roast chicken, salmon and roast beef was good. It was way better than our meal at Cinderella's Royal Table.

 

[Madhatter266]

We had lunch there during our last trip - and we were disappointed also. We arrived early for our ADR and waited almost 60 minutes for a table. Once we were seated, our server took forever to take our drink orders. The food was okay - and maybe it was just the day that we were there - but not anything exceptional. What did stick in my mind though, was what appeared to be total choas from unattended children. I couldn't believe how many kids were just running around without any supervision. These kids were crawling under tables, playing tag around the buffet stations, climbing through chairs, chasing each other, and no one - parents or staff - intervened. This misbehavior was not just from one or two families - it appeared to be from everywhere. I did overhear one lady speak to an employee about the kids who were running and the response was that they would take care of it. Nothing changed. I can't say that I have seen this at any other character meal. I actually found myself becoming nervous about some of these kids hurting themselves - let alone their being annoying.

I really would like to give CP another try sometime in the future - when my nerves calm down.

 

[Tass]

We've always had good experiences at CP. We book lunch at 11:30 and have always had a minimal wait, if anyway. The character interaction has always been great too - almost to the point of too much as it would distract our kids from eating

If you do try it again, maybe get an ADR for the time they switch over to the next meal, either lunch or dinner. Perhaps that's the difference.

 

[Ginny Favers]

Thank you so much everyone. Glad to see I wasn't the only one who had a bad experience there. I decided to give it another chance for my daughter... but booked an early lunch. I'm hoping the place won't be as crowded or dirty then, and we might be able to meet some of the characters!

 

[goofy4tink]

I keep seeing all these glowing reviews for The Crystal Palace. I'm trying to figure out what went wrong the last time I ate there.... we had a horrible time. We waited over an hour to be seated, the place was crowded and dirty, we never saw one character, and the food was abysmal.

Is it because we ate dinner there instead of breakfast? Is it because we went right before MNSSHP? I really want to give it another try, because my youngest adores Pooh. But I'm still a little wary!

I've eaten at all sorts of times at CP and not had that experience!! How awful to have that happen, especially on your first try.
Yes, the waits can be long, especially right before a party. But an hour is out of line!! CP is generally crowded....only time I've seen it less than crowded was when we were among the last to be eating. And to not see a character??? Sorry but there is no way I would have stood for that. That is part of the price you are paying to eat there...to enjoy character interaction. I would most certainly have brought that to someone's attention. It's one thing to leave without seeing all of the characters...we've done that. But no way do we leave before seeing Pooh and Tigger!!!
I think you'll have a better experience eating an early lunch. My favorite is a late breakfast...around 10:30.

We also had a very bad experience at Crystal Palace. I checked in and got a beeper. After over an hour wait I asked the hostess how long the wait was running. She told me 15min!!! I told her we had been waiting over an hour. She took my name and left. 5 min later someone else came out and asked my name. Another 10 min and I was told they couldn't find me in the system! I showed them the beeper and they left again. Another 5 min and I was told sorry, you will be seated soon. 15 min later we were seated and got who we called the magical disappearing waiter. Once our drink orders were taken and those were brought it was over 1/2 hour before we saw him again. We asked for refills and once they were brought we never saw him again until he brought the bills. He had other tables near us and ignored them also. He didn't get much of a tip and we did complain about it to the manager on duty. The food was good and the characters were around several times, but being diabetic I wouldn't risk another 2 hour wait for a table.

We had a server just like that about 3 year ago!! I now look for him and refuse to be seated anywhere near where I see him!!! And I did see him in Oct!! Can't believe he is still there!!! He took forever getting to our table, then it took 15 mins to get our beverages. THen, he never cleared one single plate and didn't return to refill our glasses!!! After an hour, we had a hefty stack of used plates on the table!!! Finally flagged down another server who took care of our drinks and used plates. Our 'server' finally showed up, we asked for the check...took another 20 mins to get it. I left no tip...and said something to the manager on my way out.

I truly think that one of the issues with CP is it's size and popularity. It is a huge restaurant and it is always crowded since it's in MK. And since it's the MK, there is a huge percentage of little children eating there, and they take up more time with characters!! So, a character interaction that would take 3 mins at say, Tusker House, takes 5 mins or more, at CP. And because there are multiple characters (Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet), it takes longer to sit there and wait for them to all come to your table. And of course, Disney realizes that we'll wait to be seated, even if it takes more than 30 mins...so, they continue to book a ton of people in there. Huge money maker for Disney.