Crystal Palace Lunch Review: Best Buffet at Magic Kingdom

On our recent trip to Disney World, we traveled with a family friend “Auntie” who was a first time Disney World visitor and a big Winnie the Pooh fan. So we made it a point to visit The Crystal Palace on our first day in the parks.  Read on for our Crystal Palace lunch review. Crystal Palace is located at the end of Main Street in Magic Kingdom and it is set in a nice restaurant that is reminiscent of a living garden, has a beautiful glass ceiling, and sun-filled glass windows.

Our Crystal Palace Lunch Experience

We had a 12:30 PM reservation at Crystal Palace for lunch—and it was exactly what we needed. A break from the Florida heat, some hearty food, and plenty of character fun made it a perfect midday stop. Making a stop from the midday heat to meet some of our favorite characters was a welcomed treat that we will definitely continue the next time we are at Magic Kingdom. The cast members were friendly and welcoming guests with big smiles, setting the tone for a relaxing lunch. The cast members that accompanied the characters joked around with us, and were overall very friendly. 

What to Expect from the Crystal Palace Lunch Buffet

From my pickey 9 year old, meat driven 11 year old, and me being a vegetarian, the lunch buffet offered a great selection with something for everyone. From the side of the buffet featuring pre-made salads and fresh vegetables to the carving station with prime rib and oven-roasted chicken, it was clear Crystal Palace is serious about offering a delicious buffet. My son kept going back to the carving station, while I enjoyed the variety of salads, mashed potatoes and vegetable dishes. Safe to say we all enjoyed the soft-serve ice cream!!

Favorite foods at Crystal Palace buffet included:

• Prime Rib: Tender, flavorful, and a real highlight.
• Mashed Potatoes: Creamy and comforting—perfect with the meats.
• Chicken Tenders: Always a win with the kids and even the Disney adults.
• Fresh Vegetables: A good option for balancing out all the heartier fare.
• Soft-Serve Ice Cream and Carrot Cake: Need I say more! The kids loved being able to go back for more soft-serve ice cream.

Soda and coffee were included with the meal, which the kids always love when buffets include soda in the price. 

If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, Crystal Palace counts as a table service credit, offering excellent value for a full character buffet experience. If you’re an annual passholder there is a discount for this buffet as well.

Planning character dining on your Disney trip? Our free Disney Points Cheat Sheet shows you how we make meals like this fit our budget using points and cashback strategies.

The Characters at The Crystal Palace: Meeting Pooh Characters

One of the main reasons we chose Crystal Palace was for the Pooh character meals. Meeting the Hundred Acre Wood friends was a highlight of the trip for Auntie. Her goal for this trip was meeting Poo, Tigger and Piglet and going on as many rides as possible.

During our lunch, we got plenty of time with Pooh Bear, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore. The great character interactions felt relaxed and not rushed. Piglet and Eyesore came to our table for hugs, photos, while Winnie the Pooh and Tigger met with people for a meet and greet under the center dome of the restaurant.

If you have a Winnie the Pooh fan in your family, like we do, this is a great opportunity to meet your favorite characters, all while enjoying a meal and air conditioning.

Cover Character Dining Without Paying Cash

Crystal Palace and other character meals add up fast, but we cover them with Disney gift cards earned through cashback apps like TopCashback and Rakuten. Turn your everyday spending into Disney dining, and make character buffets more affordable (or free).

Why Crystal Palace is a Good Option for Families

There are a lot of Magic Kingdom restaurants to choose from, but Crystal Palace good food, adorable characters, and a nice setting. An insider tip, many try to snag an early reservation around park opening, which will allow you to enter Magic Kingdom before it opens and catch a quick pic in front of the castle. 

On our last trip, we did Crystal Palace for lunch. We’re already talking about doing the Crystal Palace breakfast next year. We’ve heard good things about the breakfast buffet there too—think Mickey waffles and all the breakfast classics! If you’re an annual passholder, make sure the discounts are reflected on your check. Dining reservations are required for Crystal Palace, which you can book up to 60 days prior to your visit to Magic Kingdom. 

Overall A Wonderful Experience at the Crystal Palace

Overall, our lunch at Crystal Palace was a wonderful experience. Between the full buffets, the light and welcoming atmosphere, and the chance to meet our Hundred-Acre Wood friends, it created memories we’ll cherish.

Whether it’s your first time visiting or a long-time Disney adult, Crystal Palace is a great character buffet that offers something for everyone.

If you’re looking for a place in Magic Kingdom to enjoy a delicious meal and great character interactions, don’t miss booking a Crystal Palace reservation on your next Walt Disney World adventure!

This dining experience was part of our budget Disney trip strategy – for complete details on how we planned this affordable vacation, see our How We’re Going to Disney World for Just $1,800 for a Family of 4 breakdown. You too can enjoy Disney World for thousands less! This trip (aside from food) cost just $450 per person. Character dining can be expensive, but there are ways to save.

If you’re looking for a place in Magic Kingdom to enjoy a delicious meal and great character interactions, don’t miss booking a Crystal Palace reservation on your next Walt Disney World adventure!