Which one would you suggest? There are 5 of .. 2 adults and 3 children ages 3,8 and 16 going. I was trying to book dinner for September.. This is our first trip and I am overwhelmed with all the options. Which one would you suggest? Thanks so much 
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The Crystal Palace vs the plaza`
- Thread starter allisonmomofthree
- Start date
Crystal Palace is a buffet with Characters, Plaza is table service sandwiches and burgers. Quite different experiences.Which one would you suggest? There are 5 of .. 2 adults and 3 children ages 3,8 and 16 going. I was trying to book dinner for September.. This is our first trip and I am overwhelmed with all the options. Which one would you suggest? Thanks so much
Is your party interested in Characters? If so, Crystal Palace is more of an experience. However, if you want something quiet and low key, Plaza is a good bet.
belledream
Well-Known Member
It depends on a lot of things. How many character buffets, if any, do you have booked already? If none, I'd definitely consider putting one in, and Crystal Palace is always a solid choice (though there are many good ones!).
How much are you looking to spend? If not a lot, Plaza offers some really good food that's half the price of a CP buffet. But if you're on the dining plan, Plaza really isn't a great value.
Atmosphere-wise, CP is obviously fun with a character buffet and in one of the most prettiest buildings in the land...and Plaza is very small, which can either be intimate or just plain loud depending on how many people are there.
How much are you looking to spend? If not a lot, Plaza offers some really good food that's half the price of a CP buffet. But if you're on the dining plan, Plaza really isn't a great value.
Atmosphere-wise, CP is obviously fun with a character buffet and in one of the most prettiest buildings in the land...and Plaza is very small, which can either be intimate or just plain loud depending on how many people are there.
Of course my 3 year old would love the characters and she's the one that's hard to please.. She's definitely a little diva 
This will be our only character dining.. and we'll be on the dining plan, not sure if this will cover it or not.
belledream
Well-Known Member
Crystal Palace is 1 TS credit on the dining plan, so you should be covered, and I'd definitely recommend going in this case!
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
The Plaza menu is fairly limited, although the food is good and the sundaes are awesome. At Crystal Palace, you'll have more choices but of course you're not getting anything made to order. If you're not on the dining plan, The Plaza should save you some serious coin. Also, if you're on the regular dining plan (where you get one table service and one counter service meal each day, versus the super expensive Deluxe Dining Plan where you get 3 meals table or counter service), The Plaza is a good out-of-pocket choice, if you plan on dining at a Signature location at some other point in the trip. That's the dinner you pay for in cash, then you have your extra table credit for Cali Grill or wherever.
However, with a 3 year old, who I'm sure will want to see characters, dining at the CP or any character location is a good deal because then maybe, hopefully, you can spend your theme park time going on attractions versus waiting on lines for more meet and greets.
However, with a 3 year old, who I'm sure will want to see characters, dining at the CP or any character location is a good deal because then maybe, hopefully, you can spend your theme park time going on attractions versus waiting on lines for more meet and greets.
Yes, that's definitely worth it! I'm hoping they offer the free dining plan again this fall, that would be very nice
She's excited!! But I think I'm more excited LOL is that possible??
Thanks, this will be our only character dining so I hope she will like it.
jenos0524
Active Member
If I were you I would go with Crystal Palace... I am bringing my almost 3 yo there in August.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
If you're making all the plans, why not be the most excited?She's excited!! But I think I'm more excited LOL is that possible??
Now, not to be too much of a pain, but if this is will be your only character meal...does your 3 year old really like the Winnie the Pooh characters? Or is she more into princesses or Mickey Mouse?
I'm not a fan of dining at Cinderella's Royal Table (especially at those prices), so I'm not about to push too hard on that. But going to the Contemporary resort is like a 10 minute walk (or monorail stop away) from the main gate of the Magic Kingdom. A potential option could be to leave the MK for dinner, go to Chef Mickey's where your three year old will get Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald & Pluto. While it's loud and potentially crazy, I don't find it AS crazy as CP, quite frankly. And then you can hop back on a monorail or on the walking path and head back to the Magic Kingdom if you want. If it turns out that everyone's wiped out after dinner, it's still just a monorail ride away to get to the MK and your bus stop back to your resort, or a monorail ride to the TTC so you can get your car.
Food at both places is comparable, it's really a difference of the characters...and of course the luxury of dining while monorails whizz by your head.
Unfortunately chef mickey was booked for the date we needed.. I can't believe in september, but I do believe it now !! LOL
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
never any promises, but unless you start having your heart set on CP, keep looking. Cancellations happen all the time. Especially, it seems, in September. I think a lot of people start booking trips and making reservations for September in the hopes that free dining promotions will come around. But then other things happen that make a trip for them unfeasible, even with a free dining promotion, so they then cancel.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
Personally, and this is just me, I don't like buffets with three-year olds (I have two). It's difficult for us to get food for us and our kids because they listen as well as most three-year olds. Character meals, in general, can be difficult for us as our kids are so excited to see the characters and impatient at having to wait for tables in front of us that screaming ensues. We prefer a plated meal where the food is brought to us. Places like 'Ohana (breakfast) and Garden Grill offer the best of both worlds--characters and the food is brought to you. Those are our happy places right now. At MK we are going with Plaza next month to have the food brought to us. If only they still had Mickey at Liberty Tree...
Disney4family
Well-Known Member
We have been enjoying The Crystal Palace for b'fast every year since 2006. Our daughter started at age 2 and our son at age 3. They're now 13 and (almost)12 and we will be dining there again in 18 weeks. I understand about being so excited. I'm the one that cries every time I get to hug Eeyore. My daughter has dibs on Pooh. He proposed to her and they've been engaged ever since. I'm going to have fuzzy, yellow grandkids one day.
http://allears.net/dining/menu/crystal-palace/breakfast
http://allears.net/dining/menu/crystal-palace/lunch
http://allears.net/dining/menu/plaza-restaurant/lunch-dinner
http://allears.net/dining/menu/plaza-restaurant/child-lunch-dinner
http://allears.net/dining/menu/crystal-palace/breakfast
http://allears.net/dining/menu/crystal-palace/lunch
http://allears.net/dining/menu/plaza-restaurant/lunch-dinner
http://allears.net/dining/menu/plaza-restaurant/child-lunch-dinner
HRHPrincessAriel
Well-Known Member
both?
I love the CP if you can get a pre park opening reservation.
I LOVE the Plaza anytime. It's not much more $ than a counter service meal but I get to sit and eat with out feeling rushed. Well worth the few extra $.
I love the CP if you can get a pre park opening reservation.
I LOVE the Plaza anytime. It's not much more $ than a counter service meal but I get to sit and eat with out feeling rushed. Well worth the few extra $.
Thanks so much for all the info
Definately CP if on dining plan.
We love both- the milkshakes and Plaza club sandwiches at the Plaza are fantastic.
We NEVER use our dining credits at the plaza. Normally we end up having to pay for at least one extra meal and we feel the plaza is much better value than any of the QS venues but cost about the same.
We love both- the milkshakes and Plaza club sandwiches at the Plaza are fantastic.
We NEVER use our dining credits at the plaza. Normally we end up having to pay for at least one extra meal and we feel the plaza is much better value than any of the QS venues but cost about the same.