Crystal Palace Lunch, Dinner, Neither

[Figgy1]

One place on our list is CP for either lunch or dinner and we're not doing the dining plan. Is it still worth it paying out of pocket as we haven't gone in a few years. My boys are a bit older now and they'd be going more for the large amounts food than the characters. as always thank you

 

[wdwmagic]

There are much better options if you are going mainly for the food. Having said that, if the character element is important, I think CP is a good bet.

Here are some recent foods pics
http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/the-crystal-palace/gallery/03mar2015-the-crystal-palace---dinner.htm

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

CP is great I think. It's a nice restaurant and it's always fun seeing Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, etc. coming around to see you. The food isn't bad...pretty much the same food as the other buffets. My wife and I have eaten there a few times and have enjoyed it every time. Our 20 month old absolutely loves it. Either breakfast or lunch, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Tuvalu]

If you make an ADR at 2:30 pm, you will be able to eat both lunch and dinner buffet offerings (dinner selections are put out just before 3 pm) and only pay the lunch price, which is cheaper than dinner.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

I would only go to CP prepark opening for breakfast

 

[Master Yoda]

IMHO, there is not a single buffet on property worth the cash price they are charging save for maybe Trails End.

If you are going just for food, I would consider Trails End at Ft Wilderness or lunch at Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge. Both can be reached by boat from MK.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Neither - breakfast at CP is by far the best

 

[DisneyDelirious]

I voted for dinner in the pole because there were only two choices. We eat at CP every trip. That being said, if I was paying out of pocket and not the DDP I would consider the real hidden gem and priced right Plaza there in the MK or head over to 1900 Park Fare for one of the most entertaining character meals with Lady Tremaine, the stepsisters, Cinderella, and Prince Charming.

 

[thomas998]

One place on our list is CP for either lunch or dinner and we're not doing the dining plan. Is it still worth it paying out of pocket as we haven't gone in a few years. My boys are a bit older now and they'd be going more for the large amounts food than the characters. as always thank you

If you want food over atmosphere do 1900 Park Fare at dinner, much better food than CP... CP is only something we do to avoid standing in line for Winnie the Pooh and company... If we were just going to load up on food it wouldn't be CP. As for the quality of the food at CP it has declined over the years. If you had asked me 5 years ago I would have endorsed going to it simply for the food, but anymore... In fact to add insult to injury, both of the ice cream machine were dead when we were there last Friday evening so the only desert you could count on wasn't available.

 

[Disney4family]

Our first experience at CP was for dinner. It was a nice, typical, "wedding" buffet. They were very accommodating at the carving station. I like my meat well done/cremated and they cooked the meat a little more for me. (I blame the way my husband grills for that preference). We tried breakfast the next year. From then on, CP is a must-do breakfast for us.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

If you make an ADR at 2:30 pm, you will be able to eat both lunch and dinner buffet offerings (dinner selections are put out just before 3 pm) and only pay the lunch price, which is cheaper than dinner.

This ^^^ is the way to go. Best of both worlds. We have never had a bad meal at CP, although the last 8 years or so, we just do breakfast, but in our previous trips, we have always enjoyed the meals here