Currently we have a Crystal Palace reservation for our trip in May and I am now wondering if I should keep it. Most of the reviews are mixed about value and food. So what is your opinion, is the food and atmosphere good enough to justify the price?
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Is Crystal Palace worth it?
- Thread starter Tinkerbell 2000
- Start date
sxeensweet
Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
Breakfast is good if that's what you booked but not sure I would keep it for lunch or dinner. so many other delicious places for lunch or dinner. We love BOG and Columbia Harbor House. Also want to try Slipper's Canteen. 
Yes if you are on the DDP, but I doubt I will ever pay cash for CP again.
belledream
Well-Known Member
I'd vote for Skipper Canteen or BOG lunch food-wise over Crystal Palace...unless you don't have any other character buffets planned and want that kind of experience. If that's the case, then I'd say go. It's a beautiful restaurant and Pooh & friends are always adorable to meet.
16 year old and 13 year old. Both grew up with Winnie the Pooh and have meet him already at disney.BOG is a must do lunch for usbut you didn't mention if you're going with children and if so are they big Pooh or B&TB fans
Figgy1
Well-Known Member
If it were me I'd do BOG lunch and Skipper's for dinner. Or here's a little fly in the ointment hop over to the GFC for dinner
Grand Floridian, what is the C?
Figgy1
Well-Known Member
Café. What time does MK close the night your planning for?
9am-9pm with 8am-9am extra magic hours.
Figgy1
Well-Known Member
In that case either Skipper's or PB's or CHH depending on what you like to eat and if you want to do a sit down that day.
Reggie Colorado
New Member
We ate dinner there earlier this year with 10 and 7 year olds.
It was my favorite character meal. It felt more relaxed than Princess or Mickey ones, which it turn seemed to make the other diners more relaxed and happier. We got more time with the characters than at the other meals or park meet and greets. The characters were very patient and made sure to acknowledge a goodbye when we were done taking photos instead of rushing to the next table. My kids had met the Pooh characters previously, but they still lost it when they came to our table. The characters also matched the theme, so it did not feel random. If you or your boys want the character experience, it is one of the best in the park.
The restaurant interior was beautiful and there was a lovely little indoor garden at the entrance with charming topiaries of the Pooh characters. The layout of the restaurant was a bit awkward, which causes some crowding of tables.
Service was attentive and helpful, and our server updated us on the characters' progress. We had to wait an extra five to ten minutes after our reservation time to be seated, but the host was upfront about it. At the end, we were not rushed out and were able to enjoy our desserts and coffee in peace. It was a great break to a long day.
The food was decent quality for a buffet but nothing especially memorable. It was mostly comfort type food, but there was a wide variety and not just things found at every buffet. But if the food is more important to you than the character experience, it is probably not worth the price.
It was my favorite character meal. It felt more relaxed than Princess or Mickey ones, which it turn seemed to make the other diners more relaxed and happier. We got more time with the characters than at the other meals or park meet and greets. The characters were very patient and made sure to acknowledge a goodbye when we were done taking photos instead of rushing to the next table. My kids had met the Pooh characters previously, but they still lost it when they came to our table. The characters also matched the theme, so it did not feel random. If you or your boys want the character experience, it is one of the best in the park.
The restaurant interior was beautiful and there was a lovely little indoor garden at the entrance with charming topiaries of the Pooh characters. The layout of the restaurant was a bit awkward, which causes some crowding of tables.
Service was attentive and helpful, and our server updated us on the characters' progress. We had to wait an extra five to ten minutes after our reservation time to be seated, but the host was upfront about it. At the end, we were not rushed out and were able to enjoy our desserts and coffee in peace. It was a great break to a long day.
The food was decent quality for a buffet but nothing especially memorable. It was mostly comfort type food, but there was a wide variety and not just things found at every buffet. But if the food is more important to you than the character experience, it is probably not worth the price.
DisneyPrincess5
Well-Known Member
We've been to Crystal Palace countless times and have always thoroughly enjoyed our meals, atmosphere, character interactions, service, etc. I've heard great things about Skippers and everywhere else in your poll are great except Pinocchios in my opinion. Can't go wrong all around.
One of the members of our party is Gluten Free so I am worried about finding enough things she can eat on the menu. Also the kids are use to really amazing food, should we skip it?
Reggie Colorado
New Member
I am not sure about Gluten Free so you should contact the restaurant directly. I can say there were multiple choices of salads, vegetables, and proteins.
For me, the food hit the spot but you are definitely paying the premium for the character experience. The food was not "amazing" but really none of the food in the parks would meet that standard given the mass production required. Be Our Guest had the best food quality of the table service restaurants, but it is still more akin to what you get at a wedding reception at a nice hotel rather than a nice restaurant. If food is more important than the character experience, go with Be Our Guest if you can get a reservation. (For dinner, the Beast makes an appearance and is available for a photo on your way out.)
The_Jobu
Well-Known Member
"worth it" is difficult to answer as it is extremely subjective.
If you're going because you enjoy meeting characters (specifically Winnie the Pooh characters) then it is probably worth it.
If you're going just to have dinner, there's likely better value and/or better quality elsewhere. There are a handful of places around the parks that people go to simply for excellent food, the Palace is not one of them.
Perhaps it's best put this way: Will you be eating more than $70 worth of OK food? If yes, then it is "worth it". If not, you're paying a premium for the characters and only you can say if they are worth the expense.
If you're going because you enjoy meeting characters (specifically Winnie the Pooh characters) then it is probably worth it.
If you're going just to have dinner, there's likely better value and/or better quality elsewhere. There are a handful of places around the parks that people go to simply for excellent food, the Palace is not one of them.
Perhaps it's best put this way: Will you be eating more than $70 worth of OK food? If yes, then it is "worth it". If not, you're paying a premium for the characters and only you can say if they are worth the expense.
Figgy1
Well-Known Member
Gf is one ting they do very well. They brought us food prepared separately and showed us what was safe on the buffet.. Skippers and PB also does a great job with allergies
Beacon Joe
Well-Known Member
Never been there for dinner, but at breakfast, I sure get my money's worth in smoked salmon. 