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Looking for a character meal at Disney World that your whole family will enjoy? Crystal Palace is one of the more popular restaurants in the Magic Kingdom. Is it the best dining choice for your family? Keep reading to find out!
Crystal Palace Generally
Crystal Palace describes itself as a “buffet with character.” It is one of only a couple character meals in the Magic Kingdom. And it is the only character meal at Disney World where you can find Winnie the Pooh and friends.
Theme/Decor
Crystal Palace is themed after a Victorian-era conservatory. It features high ceilings and stained glass windows. The restaurant is bright and airy inside with hanging plants and topiaries located throughout.
The overall vibe of the restaurant is one of happiness and fun. Hanging prominently in the front atrium area of the restaurant is a sign that says, “Welcome to our Friendship Day Celebrashun.” The sign really captures the essence of this eatery.
Location
You can find Crystal Palace on at the end of Main Street USA nearest the castle in the Magic Kingdom. If you stand at the end of the street facing the castle, it will be on your left. It is located next door to Casey’s.
Not only is this one of the most convenient places in all of Disney World for a restaurant, but it is also in a great spot for taking pictures while waiting for your table.
The main reason why so many people love eating here for breakfast is the ability to get a reservation before the park opens, which allows you to take pictures of the castle without any people in them.
You just can’t beat the location!
Food
Crystal Palace is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It serves an all-you-care-to-eat buffet at each meal.
For breakfast, you can choose from eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, pastries, fruit, cereals, and breakfast meat and potatoes.
The options at lunch and dinner include carved meat, chicken, seasonal fish, peel-and-eat shrimp, pasta and vegetable dishes, soup, house-made sweets and soft serve ice cream.
For children, you will find mac-and-cheese, chicken nuggets, and pasta and meatballs.
For a more extensive look at the menu, see allears.net.
The food here is decent, but is nothing amazing. It is exactly what you would expect from a buffet. The food is about the same as all the other buffets at Disney World.
However, to be honest, you don’t really eat here because of the wonderful food. You eat here because of the location and the characters.
Entertainment
The best part of dining at Crystal Palace is the entertainment. It is the only character meal in Disney World that features Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet. And it is the only place, outside of the holiday parties, where you can meet Piglet and Eeyore.
The characters are great here. They go from table to table, so you can eat while waiting to meet them. You can expect some wonderful interaction with these characters.
We ate here when my son was about 2 years old. Piglet played peek-a-boo with him. It was so sweet!
These characters are as fun and playful as you would expect them to be. If you are dining here with children, your kids are sure to be entertained. But, even without kids, you will be pleased with this entertaining meal!
Disney Dining Plan/Cost
You will be able to use the Disney Dining Plan at Crystal Palace. It will cost you one table service credit per person.
If you are paying out of pocket, a meal at Crystal Palace will cost you $42 per adult and $27 per child for breakfast. Lunch and dinner are and $30-60 per adult.
This is, in my opinion, on the expensive side if you just look at the food. However, when you factor in the character meets, and the fact that this is the only place to meet Piglet, the price is a bit bearable.
Because all of the character meals are expensive, they are always a good choice for your dining credits. This is no exception.
Conclusion
Crystal Palace is a fun character meal restaurant located in the heart of the Magic Kingdom. The character interaction here is wonderful and unique. It is the only place in all of Disney World that you can find Piglet and Eeyore.
The restaurant itself is bright and cheery. While the food is decent, the real benefit of this eatery is the time you get with the characters. Plus, as an added benefit, if you book a pre-opening breakfast, you can get photos in front of the castle without other people in them.
If you have Winnie the Pooh fans in your family, this meal is definitely a must do!
For a complete list of all character meals at Disney World, see our quick guide. Need help planning your trip? See my step-by-step guide and advice for first timers. For another great place to eat, see my post on Boma.
Happy travels!
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