food IS a theme park
Hey, guys, what’s new with you? Oh, us, we’re just taking a walk over to the Disneyland Resort to check out what’s been going on in their neck of the woods.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
We’ve got some exciting stuff to share with you today, so let’s just dive on in!
In the pantheon of character meals at Walt Disney World, there’s only one where you can dine with big, fluffy friends straight out of the Hundred Acre Wood — and in a classic Magic Kingdom location: Crystal Palace!
Truth be told, we’ve had a bit of a roller coaster relationship with Crystal Palace over the years. Some visits have been good (like this lunch four years ago and like breakfast here back when you could get into the nearly-empty park!), and one was particularly awful (dinner at the end of the night = icky buffet remnants…I didn’t even do a post about it).
But the opportunity to dine with Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger is pretty much a Disney World rite of passage and something that every Disney fan should do at least once. And dining in the Crystal Palace — a gorgeous building that’s been a mainstay since Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 — is a lovely experience.
But what about the food — arguably the most important aspect of any restaurant? It’s standard, but acceptable on most visits, with breakfast having, perhaps, the most interesting options with Pooh’s Breakfast Lasagna and Puffed French Toast being crowd favorites. And so I returned recently, for lunch this time, to see how things are going.
Welcome to Crystal Palace!
We were back in Hollywood Studios over the weekend keeping up with all of the changes in this changing park.
Hollywood Studios
And yes, this is what a day in Central Florida can look like – on one side of the arch it is a beautiful blue sky, the other side a threatening, grey sky! How many times have you been caught without a rain coat or umbrella on this kind of day? [Read more…]
Welp, boys and girls — it’s time to head into Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and take in lunch at Crystal Palace! This is a beloved character spot for many Disney fans, and a must-do character experience for lots of you.
Me? I hadn’t been to Crystal Palace in foreva…not since an ill-fated late-night visit a couple of years ago when the food was AW-FUL! Yep, it was the end-of-the-night dregs of the buffet and we were pretty much just grossed out. (Have you ever seen a buffet about 15 minutes before a restaurant is about to close? Not pretty.) We ate very little and left as soon as we could. Sad, since we do love dining with Pooh and friends.
But it was time to revisit the 100 Hundred Acre Wood — after all, we’d had lots of great meals here previously — and I made reservations with some friends for lunch.
We have tons of shots to show you, so let’s get started!
You’ll find Crystal Palace to the left of Main Street USA’s end, just as you approach Cinderella Castle. The beautiful glass building, inspired by ornate conservatories of the late Victorian Age, is a slice of Disney history as well. The restaurant has been around since opening day in 1971.
Entrance to Restaurant
And here’s a tip if you’re looking for an extra-special experience during your Disney vacation: try and book Crystal Palace for an early breakfast. You’ll be one of the first guests into the Park when you do this, and visiting a nearly empty Magic Kingdom is an event to remember.
Once you step inside, you’ll see whitewashed walls that carry the bright, light decor throughout. Artwork depicting inspiration for the architecture as well as photos of lush palms cover the walls.
Artwork and Framed Photos
The soaring atrium above is gorgeous — especially on a sunny day!
Crystal Palace Atrium
After you check in, you’ll wait for your table outside on the shaded veranda. But once you step in, pause a moment to take it all in.
Dining Rooms
Tons of windows and glass domes allow for plenty of natural light in the two dining areas.
Dining Room from Another Angle
And really — look up. Because the windows are really stunning. I love the beautiful stained glass detail.
Stained Glass Windows
The decor puts you in mind of a Victorian conservatory, with its outside-but-inside feel. Lush flowers and what reminds me of patio furniture finish the area.
Afternoon Light
Crystal Palace is, of course, a character dining experience, and you’ve stumbled onto a party!
Center Atrium — Up Close
In fact, visit here, and you’ll take part in a Friendship Day Celebration with Winnie the Pooh and his friends.
It’s Friendship Day!
Just check out these gorgeous flower topiaries of the whole gang!
Pooh and His Hunny Pot
Eeyore Topiary
The sweet little figures appear to be made of dried roses, and foreshadow the characters you’ll meet while you dine.
Piglet Topiary
Bouncing Tigger Topiary
And beautiful hanging arrangements of tropical flowers complete the classic conservatory feel.
Fresh Flowers
Seating is standard and fairly comfortable. Heavy, padded chairs share the space with booths, but some tables are situated a bit too closely for our comfort.
Seating for Two
Seating along windows gives you a glimpse of guests waiting to be seated! But beyond them, you’ll also see a beautiful view of [Read more…]
Walking through the merchandise section of Pooh Corner in Disneyland, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by a giant t-shirt with a scratch & sniff sticker on it. When I noticed it was a “sleepy” Eeyore with a cup of hot chocolate, I immediately assumed that the “sniff” would be chocolate — because who wants to smell Eeyore all night long?
Scratch & Sniff Eeyore Night Shirt
Seriously? A scratch and sniff t-shirt?
Of course I immediately scratched and sniffed. And yes, into my nose went a hint of chocolate. The special ink used to print this shirt is infused with a chocolate scent; when you scratch it, it smells stronger. The areas that were the most potent were the cocoa jar and Eeyore’s mug. How do I know? because I tested out the [Read more…]
Early Morning on Main Street
The Early-Morning Advance Dining Reservation (ADR)
One of the well-known tips among Disney enthusiasts is that you should always try to book a dining reservation for breakfast in a theme park before it opens. Why? Because this means you get in before the general masses. You get the golden opportunity to wander through a practically empty Disney park. It’s magic at its finest. (Plus, if you eat quickly enough, you can make it over to the Adventureland rope and be first in line for Splash Mountain…but I didn’t tell you that.)
Empty Tomorrowland
One of my favorite restaurants at which to snatch up one of these break-of-dawn reservations is Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom Theme park of Disney World. This is a character breakfast, so you get to share your noms with Pooh and the gang (usually Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet); it’s a buffet, so you pretty much dictate how long your breakfast lasts; and it’s HUGE, so you have a great chance of getting those elusive 8:05 AM time slots.
Nearly Empty Main Street
So with all that going for it, you’ve got to give it a try! And I didn’t even mention that many guests deem Crystal Palace eats to be some of the best buffet food at Disney, scout’s honor.
...And the Castle
Getting Into the Park for Your Reservation
While it may seem like a red tape nightmare to get into the park an hour early, it’s usually pretty streamlined. Bring your dining reservation confirmation number with you to the park and show up about 20 minutes before your scheduled time. You’ll simply enter through the turnstyles marked for the Breakfast crowd (usually all the way to the right, but this can change); a Cast Member might check off your name and confirmation number, and then you’re free to explore Main Street in all its empty glory. This is why I suggest arriving 20 minutes early; you get to take all of those fascinating photos. Don’t forget to make your reservation for a day without extra magic hours in the morning!
By the way, if you’re staying at a Disney resort and taking the bus to the Magic Kingdom, a “breakfast bus” usually begins running at least 30 minutes before the first reservation in any park. The monorail also starts running far enough in advance as well.
Time for Breakfast!
Checking In for Your Reservation
The Crystal Palace can be found between Main Street USA and Adventureland — it’s the huge, glass domed building to the left of the walkway. Simply head up the steps (past the throngs of people, most likely — the Magic Kingdom may seem empty, but almost everyone who IS in the park is at the same restaurant) and jump into line to check in for your reservation.
Once your party is called, you’ll head into the beautiful Crystal Palace restaurant and be greeted by…
The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers...
…some very familiar friends! Not to mention an absolutely stunning, light-filled atrium made entirely of clear and stained glass. For all of Disney’s signature dining restaurants designed by award-winning interior artists, I find Crystal Palace’s atrium to be one of the most gorgeous design aspects on property.
The Beautiful Central Atrium
A Buffet With Character!
Once you’re seated in one of the two side rooms (these are beautiful, too — paneled with mirrors and filled with plants) you’re free to head up to the buffet.
There are two sides to the buffet, and these are mirror images of one another. The two sides culminate at the customize-your-own-omelet station in the center of the semi-circular buffet.
The Buffet
Hot Items are Identical on Both Sides of the Buffet
The Buffet
On the far ends of the buffet lines are cold items: yogurts, granola and other toppings, fruit, salmon, breads, etc. In the center you’ll find hot items: breakfast pizzas, breakfast meats, waffles, the famous puffed french toast, breakfast potatoes, and omelets.
Cereals
In the middle of the room you’ll find muffins, cereals, and Pooh’s famous breakfast lasagne.
Pooh's Breakfast Lasagne
Baked Items
The food is fairly similar to most of the other Disney breakfast buffets, which is actually quite good. Here are a few more close-up foods of some of our favorites. That Mickey Waffle might look familiar to some of you! It’s my avatar on Twitter!
Breakfast Pizza
Mickey Waffles
Puffed French Toast
Pooh and Friends
Once you have your food, it might be time for the first Character Parade! Hopefully you haven’t forgotten that some of your favorite friends are here, and they can’t wait to have a great time with you (and/or your kids…they’re good to go either way).
Piglet Leading the Parade!
While Character teams (Pooh and Piglet, and Tigger and Eeyore) take turns visiting tables on either side of the restaurant, some sort of Character Parade or Celebration occurs when it’s time for the teams to switch restaurant sides. This is when you should encourage your little ones to go find a character and follow along. Cast Members will be there to help move the parades forward.
There’s usually much singing and music; napkin “twirling” is a common activity during these functions. All in all, it’s a good time!
Eeyore Being Shy During the Parade
And then it’s back to signing autographs, taking photos, and making people smile for the characters (and back to eating for you!).
Tigger Signing Autographs...Sort Of...
And then, if you’re lucky, you pay the bill when the park is just about to open. I couldn’t resist posting this photo of a family following Alice (in Wonderland) as she hurried to “unlock” Fantasyland and her TeaCups ride right at opening time!
Alice is Very, Very Late in Opening the TeaCups Ride!
So you can see why Crystal Palace is one of my favorites for breakfast, but don’t forget that you can dine here for lunch and dinner as well! Both of those meals are buffets as well, and offer great food (in my opinion).
Enjoy!
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