Tony's Town Square or Crystal Palace?

[we*love*disney]

We are arriving to Disney on a Saturday afternoon(4:00ish) and plan to head to Magic Kingdom for dinner & the electrical light parade after we check in to our hotel. I am wondering if we should make reservations for Crystal Palace or Tony's Town Square Restaurant for dinner that evening? We haven't been to either and our kids aren't big on Pooh so it's more about which place has better food and is a better overall dinning experience?

If you would say neither then what would you recommend?

 

[Liljam]

We've never eaten at CP, but the menu looks really good and the reviews seem nice. Tony's is okay food wise, but it's not spectacular. The service we got there was outstanding though! Our waiter even brought us a sundae "on the house" and talked to us about WDW a ton during our dinner because they were very slow that day. We had great setting outside and it was just a really nice experience. We're booked at CP this year for the food and for the characters, but, honestly, when I'm in MK, I love eating at Casey's and then grabbing a churro later. Nothing like Casey's hot dogs and fries to make me feel right at home in the MK! We don't do many TS meals so I'm comfortable with grabbing quick CS meals and they've become some of my favorites. I suppose it depends on what you like though and if you're on the DDP.

 

[John Tag]

We always make CP our main MK dinning ressie. The food is good and being a buffet your at your own pace and can pick as you wish. Always have a great time in CP.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

We've eaten at both. If you're not in it for the characters much at all, I wouldn't bother paying the extra money they charge for it being a character experience, but that's just me. Also, if I'm not in it for the characters, I'm not into having to get up and go through a buffet, I like to relax and have someone else do the work for me.

As far as food goes, if you're particular about food quality, I guess CP is a little better in that regard, and it might have a little more variety to choose from. However, I never have any issues with Tony's food. It tastes just fine, though it's pretty much strictly italian.


I try to make Tony's a tradition on my trip, as I love the atmosphere. It's right at the front of MK, and the theme of the restaurant pretty much matches all of the Main Street USA. Lady & the Tramp is one of my all time favorite Disney movies, so its nice to be in a place themed as such. And our service has always been EXCELLENT. We've been at busy and not so busy times and either way the servers were very attentive, always generous with drink refills and went out of their way to talk to us and make us feel welcome. They treated me like a princess on my birthday too.

The atmosphere in CP is not bad either, though. But I attribute that partially to the characters...but it's also very lovely with all the natural lighting and I think the decor is very pretty.

Have fun doing whatever you decide!

 

[kari B.]

I really like the atmoshere at Tony's but Imho the food isn't terrible but it tastes like it came out of a school cafeteria. Dear son really likes Tony's but that might be because he loves their fried calamari. The food at the Crystal Palace is a bit better but since you are paying so much more for the characters that you don't really care about, Tony's might be the best choice for you. Both can be fun places.

 

[Mommytwotwins]

I have been to both and would choose Tony's over CP. I know Tony's has alot of bad reviews but we thought is was much better than CP. I think you have lovers and haters of both so just choose the one with the menu that looks best to your family and try it out!

 

[Aristocath]

Having done all three meals at CP, we prefer to eat there for breakfast. We enjoy Tonys and have had excellent service there. We usually order steak and it has turned out well. Plus, I'm just not a fan of buffets so I do handle them better at breakfast.

 

[PixieMama]

I've eaten at both CP and Tony's... however, neither place for dinner. I've only been to CP twice for breakfast and lunch once at Tony's.

Even though I've never had dinner at the CP, if I had to choose between the two I'd go with CP.

The food at Tony's was just ok. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't all that great. In fact, the only food item that was memorable for me was the dressing on my salad, LOL! It was a balsamic vinaigrette and was very good. The atmosphere of Tony's is fun, though, especially if you're a fan of Lady and the Tramp. I asked our waiter to take my DDs autograph books to Lady and Tramp (who were eating out back, like they do in the movie!) to get their "autographs"!

Again, we've only had breakfast at CP (which is very good) but I'd bet dinner is good, too. And we love all the Winnie the Pooh characters, so this is a definite place we'd go back to on any trip to WDW!

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

Have eaten at both for dinner and much prefer the food at CP!!

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

I've eaten at Tony's twice and the food was good both times. I had the lasagna the first time and the shrimp scampi the second and had no complaints.

The one time I ate at CP the food was so bad I never went back. Everything was cold and rubbery and had been sitting out too long. They may have been having an "off" day, but cold and rubbery food is the danger of buffets. I just know it made me never want to eat there again, especially for the price. I'll go elsewhere for character meals!