Reviews

Restaurant Review: The Plaza Restaurant

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Rating:

Location: Magic Kingdom

Enjoy views of Cinderella Castle when you dine at this little parlor set on the end of Main Street. Your family can’t go wrong at this simple but great dining option – just be sure to have a reservation! We always enjoy eating lunch at The Plaza, but they also serve breakfast and dinner.

While the inside of the restaurant is a bit outdated, there’s still a certain charm and elegance to it. The menu serves salads, sandwiches and burgers, so there’s something for everyone. If you’re lucky, the Mayor of Main Street might make a special appearance while you’re there!

What we like:

This is a great sit down option for lunch. We’re in and out pretty quickly (we don’t like to lose too much ride time with our meals), but it’s enough time to sit and relax in the AC. The food is delicious (we love their sandwiches) and the service is good, so you can’t beat it!

Things to note:

This restaurant is very small, so I would highly recommend against trying to just walk up and put your name in. Even with a reservation, we usually end up waiting a while to actually get seated.

WDW Park Planners Tip

Our family likes to pick a “meal buddy” at this restaurant and split meals since the portions are big (like most places in Disney). This saves you some $$ (if you’re not on the Dining Plan) or just saves you some extra room for dessert! It’s a win-win 🙂

Reviews

Restaurant Review: The Crystal Palace

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Rating:

Location: Magic Kingdom

Crystal Palace is a buffet style restaurant on the end of Main Street facing Cinderella Castle. This spot serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and features the cute characters from Winnie the Pooh.

Our family still goes here occasionally for sentimental reasons and we always have a nice time. When my sisters were young, this was a must-do for our family with the Winnie the Pooh characters!

What we like:

This is a great spot for big groups and families with small children. The buffet style makes it very easy if you have picky eaters. Winnie the Pooh and friends come around to the tables to sign autographs and take pictures with your group. It usually takes about an hour for them to all come around to the table, so take your time eating! Don’t worry, dessert is included in the buffet (there’s even an ice cream machine!).

Things to note:

I would not recommend this spot unless you have younger kids. While it’s a great location on Main Street, the food and atmosphere are just okay. It can be very noisy and busy with the characters coming around, so if you’re a group with older kids or adults, I would choose somewhere else.

WDW Park Planners Tip:

Even with a reservation, you will end up waiting for your table once you check in. Make your reservation for 15-30 minutes earlier than you normally would book. While you wait, sit outside on the benches and take in the sites and sounds of Main Street and the Castle area.

Planning Tips

Nighttime Must Dos at the Magic Kingdom

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Nighttime at any Disney park is magical, but there’s something extra special about the Magic Kingdom at night. If you haven’t been before, it’s definitely worth a visit!

These are five of my nighttime must dos at the Magic Kingdom park:

Ride Big Thunder Mountain.
This roller coaster is way cooler at night! Make sure to take in the views of Magic Kingdom while you’re riding – they’re pretty incredible. We’ve even ridden this during the fireworks (which has to be timed perfectly) and it’s the most magical experience 🙂

Walk through Fantasyland.
I always think Fantasyland is such a magical part of the park, but it really comes alive at night when everything is lit up. This area behind Cinderella Castle is such a unique view and seems to quiet down as the night goes on, leaving you with no crowds and space to wander and explore!

Visit the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor.
We like to enjoy the fireworks in Magic Kingdom with a sweet treat in hand! There’s nothing like a yummy ice cream cone from the parlor, located on the corner of Main Street. Now you’re in prime position to watch the show!

Watch Happily Ever After up close.
While the fireworks are beautiful over Cinderella Castle, it’s the projections ON the castle that are my favorite part. Disney movies from past and present light up the castle as the music from all of your favorites fill the air. This show is not your average fireworks show.

Be one of the last people on Main Street.
There’s nothing quite like standing on an empty Main Street at the end of the night. There’s a feeling of complete peace and calmness after the crowds have passed that is worth staying up late for (and I only stay up late in Disney!).