SOME CHANGES TO THE HUNDRED- ACRE WOOD
BY DANNY SHUSTER
Note : This article was written ahead of the reinstatement of the buffet and reflects the Crystal Palace experience during the majority of the COVID-19 modifications .
I
adore Crystal Palace : It is a staple of my regular Disney dining itinerary and a fantastic example of how you can build dining into a full day of Disney magic . Previously , Crystal Palace was open for breakfast with reservations starting earlier than the posted opening time for Magic Kingdom .
One of my top Disney recommendations was to book breakfast as early as possible at Crystal Palace . If you got your timing right , you would be inside Magic Kingdom , have enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet , met Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood , and still be ahead of the rope-drop crowd to get to your favorite attraction . It was a recipe for a jam-packed day of fun at Magic Kingdom , and I loved it .
Today , at least at the time of writing , the experience at Crystal Palace is different . It ’ s not better or worse than before ; it ’ s just different . I have a very fond place in my heart for the character meets and buffet format that may return one day , but Disney is always adapting and evolving park experiences .
But we aren ’ t looking to the past right now . We are celebrating the present . This is what a meal at Crystal Palace looks like right now .
WELCOME BACK On the inside , Crystal Palace hasn ’ t changed very much . The dining space has always been bright , open , and airy . It has a sort of solarium , greenhouse , Victorian kind of aesthetic .
Huge windows offer excellent views of Cinderella Castle and the hub area . You ’ ll notice lots of greenery and quaint antique filigree in the columns and supports throughout the space . It fits right in with the turn-of-the-century look and feel of Main Street , U . S . A .
But it ’ s not all Victorian charm . Winnie the Pooh and his pals add whimsical character to this space . You will see the Hundred-Acre Wood gang in the form of topiaries dotted in a central garden display . There is also the charmingly misspelled Friendship Day “ Celebrashun ” banner , which was at the center of the previous character dining experience .