The Crystal Palace is a classic Disney World Buffet right on Main Street, USA in the Magic Kingdom.
The cost is $39 for adults and $23 for children 3-9 for this all-you-care-to-enjoy meal. If you’re looking for a perfect family-friendly restaurant on your Magic Kingdom day, you found it!
Location
Picture it… you’re walking down Main Street, USA, you feel all the emotions, smell the smells, hear the sounds, and see everything that just makes Magic Kingdom magical, and then as you get to the end of the street to the right you see a beautiful turn of the century building. Welcome to The Crystal Palace.
The Crystal Palace is a beautifully ornate building located just before Adventureland. The building is inspired by Victorian-era greenhouses with lots of white elaborate details and large windows letting in lots of sunlight.
Ambience
The Crystal Palace is an opening day restaurant that opened officially on October 1, 1971. The restaurant theming keeps in step with the feeling of the good old days inspired by Walt’s childhood town, Marcellene.
In 1996, The Crystal Palace underwent a slight retheming. The restaurant still feels like a Victorian garden atrium, but now you’ll notice something a little extra that wasn’t there before… Characters!
BACK TO NORMAL:
Disney is excited to announce that full character dining will return to The Crystal Palace on September 20, 2022
The Crystal Palace is a unique character experience because it’s one of the only places in Walt Disney World where you can meet Winnie the Pooh and Friends. In fact, this is the only place to meet Eyeore and Piglet. Winnie the Pooh and Tigger can be found in both EPCOT and Fantasyland.
Come on out to The Crystal Palace to celebrate the Friendship Day Celebrashun! No, that’s no typo. That’s what the banner says as you enter The Crystal Palace. Who better to celebrate friendship than with our pals from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Food
The Crystal Palace is the perfect classic Disney buffet. While there are subtle changes to the buffet lines over the years, much of it stays the same. There really is something for everyone at this buffet, which is why it’s perfect for families with small children or picky eaters.
You will find favorites like fried chicken, mashed potatoes, pasta, carved prime rib, and a full salad bar. There is a “children’s section” that showcases pizza, macaroni and cheese, and chicken nuggets. People of any age can choose dishes from all over the buffet, but Disney does keep the child-friendly foods off to the side for them to find easily.
NEW AFTER THE REOPENING: When The Crystal Palace restaurant reopened in 2020 we were surprised with a couple new additions to the buffet line. Tiny seafood combo bowls were on the buffet line after the reopening. The bowls contained crab claws and shrimp. Jackpot!
Not everyone loves seafood, but you know what everyone does love? TATER TOTS! After The Crystal Palace reopened we were surprised to find a new loaded tater tot station for you to live your tater tot dreams. You can kick it classic with just ketchup, or you can get a little crazy with sour cream, cheese, bacon, and green onions. For the 50th Anniversary Celebration, Walt’s chili is on the line to spice up some chili cheese totchos!
There is nothing overly exciting on the buffet line that would make you fight to go to The Crystal Palace, but you will leave the restaurant happy, satisfied, and full.
Reservations
It is highly recommended to make an advanced dining reservation for The Crystal Palace. At times, the Walk-up Waitlist is available, but it is not guaranteed or likely that you will get a table.
You are able to make your dining reservations as early as 60 days in advance. Advanced dining reservations are easy to make using the My Disney Experience app.
The Crystal Palace is in the Magic Kingdom, so remember you will need a valid park ticket and reservation. If you are in a different park on the day of the dining reservation you will need a park hopper ticket.
For more about Disney dining click here.
See all our Theme Park Pages:- Disney World Theme Park Overview
- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Disney's Animal Kingdom
Comments, Questions, be sure to leave them in the Comment Section Below!
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This MDT Post By: Erin Schreiver Erin is a MilSpouse who loves going to Walt Disney World with her family, pin trading, and collecting Minnie ears and coffee mugs! Check out her bio. |
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How long ago did you dine there? I got so excited when it reopened and saw the crab, but I’ve not seen it in any the vlogs that have reviewed it the past few months. I figured it was no longer being offered since the price of crab has gone up so high. Cape May used to have all you care to eat on their buffet but now you have to pay extra to get just a pound of claws. Do you know if The Crystal Palace is still serving crab on their buffet?
We were there in November Peg.
Hi Peg,
This review is from July. And I was there in November.