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  Home > Walt Disney World > Dining > Restaurant Reviews > The Crystal Palace - Dinner Buffet  
     
 

The Crystal Palace
Located in the Magic Kingdom
All-You-Care-To-Eat Character Dinner Buffet

I try to avoid the temptation of eating dinner in one of the theme park restaurants, especially one as popular as The Crystal Palace. I guess I have always felt I could get a better meal and feel less rushed at one of the Disney Resort restaurants.

So why did I, without so much as a second thought, set a priority seating for our family at this landmark Magic Kingdom restaurant? Simple, it was to be my youngest son’s fourth birthday. Dinner tonight would not be based on friendliness ratings, service ratings, stars or who gave it a thumb up or thumb down. No, tonight I was to going to see it through the eyes of my four-year-old son, who wearing his mousekeeter ears as he headed down Main Street, was going to have dinner with Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tiger, in the most magical place on earth.

As we turned left at Casey’s Corner the fast food hot dog stand that sits on Main Street and approached the restaurant I could tell we were not the only family that had decided to dine with Pooh that night. A light rain had started to fall causing quite a crowd to assemble on the verandah of this turn of the century glass pavilion. After giving our name to the young hostess who was seated in a tiny room that opened onto the porch we found ourselves facing a twenty to thirty minute wait. Even this wait could not take the shine off this special moment. In a little under a half an hour we were rescued by a cast member calling out our name as she worked her way through the crowd.

Feeling a little like we had just won the lottery we followed her through the large wooden doors with their beautifully etched glass that separate the chosen from the as yet less fortunate. We followed her to the left of the large open dining room that is divided in two by the centerpiece, which is the buffet itself. Our table was sitting up against the large decorated windows that afforded us a perfect view of the Castle that was being illuminated in changing colors from the floodlights that surround it.

The table had been covered in multi-colored confetti in the shape of Mickey ears. I didn’t ask but I believe this served two purposes, first as a colorful decoration and secondly as a signal to the servers and characters that this was a birthday table. After reassuring the birthday boy that he would not miss Pooh he made his way to the kids special buffet area. There he found such kid favorites as Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken Nuggets, Hot Dogs and Cheese Pizza. The birthday boy’s dad, mom and older brother turned their attention to the rather extensive offerings presented in casserole dishes set on special heated counter tops instead of the more commonly seen and less appealing steam tables. Here we found everything from carved meats, fresh salmon, peeI-and-eat shrimp, chicken, Pasta, a salad bar and a rather pleasant dessert bar.

I have eaten dinner here once before and very much enjoyed the character encounter, but harbored memories of so-so food. Now maybe, it was because of how my son’s face lighted up as all the characters made a fuss over him and signed his birthday card, but the food this night was delicious and the whole evening was as special as the birthday boy we had shared it with.


The Crystal Palace is located in The Magic Kingdom.
Theme park admission is required.
Characters include Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tiger.
All-you-can-eat dinner buffet.
Cost is Adults - $28.99, Children 3-9 $13.99. Tax, gratuity and beverages extra.
Crystal Palace
Magic Kingdom
Character Dinner Buffet


Menu Items Change Often

Dinner Hours 4:00pm - Depends on Park Closing Time

Peel & Eat Shrimp

Assorted Cheeses

Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

Tuna Salad

Chicken Salad

Cole Slaw

Fruit Salad

Caesar Salad

Tossed Salad Fixings

Pasta Salad

Mixed Rolls -Rye, Wheat, White

BBQ Chicken

Seafood Caesar Pasta

Arroz Con Pallo (Chicken w/Rice and Tomatoes)

Chef Carved Ham

Chef Carved Prime Rib

Roasted Red Potatoes

Grilled Vegetables

Rice Medley

Kid's Buffet with Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken Nuggets, and Cheese Pizza

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

Brownies

Lemon Bars

Chocolate Chip, Sugar and Peanut Butter Cookies

Chocolate Torte

Strawberry and Coconut Cake

Cherry Cobbler

The staff is happy to cater to your special dietary needs. Let the hostess know at the Podium or you can also talk to the Chef's at the Buffet.

 
     
   
 
 

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