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.

Reviews

Restaurant Review: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

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Rating:

Location: Hollywood Studios

At the Sci-Fi Drive-In Theater at Hollywood Studios, you step inside to feel like you’re outside again! This drive in movie theater is set in the rolling hills of Hollywood in the 1950s.

Sit back and relax inside your “car” while you watch old sci-fi movie clips and cartoons. Your waiter will come to your car window to take your order – you can’t go wrong with their burgers and shakes!

What we like:

Hollywood Studios doesn’t have many good sit down restaurant options. This is the only one our entire family really enjoys. It’s great to sit in the AC and get a break from the heat. The food is yummy – everyone can can find something they like!

Things to note:

This is not a social lunch – you’re sitting watching the old movies from your car or table. This can be a good or bad thing depending on your group! If everyone is tired, it’s a great break spot to just sit and relax, no talking required 😉

WDW Park Planners Tip:

Request to sit in a car – it’s worth the wait! There are regular tables as well, but the car really makes the experience. The cars have three rows of two, so a family of 6 would fill a car. If you have more than 6, you group may be split up. If you have less than 6, you likely will have other guests in your car sitting in front or behind you!

Reviews

Restaurant Review: 50’s Prime Time Cafe

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WDW Park Planners Rating:

Location: Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios is an incredible park, but there’s room for improvement when it comes to the dining options. 50’s Prime Time is one of the sit-down options at the park, and can definitely use some updating.

Our family has dined at this location many times over the years, with the most recent being last summer. Overall our dinner experience was mediocre, so I don’t think we will be going back any time soon.

In a nutshell, 50’s Prime Time transports you back to – you guessed it – the 1950’s. Your group sits at a table where your waiter “yells” at you to put your phones away, keep your elbows off the table and chew with your mouth closed. Some waiters are funnier/better at the etiquette lessons than others, but it can be a little uncomfortable and annoying at times. It definitely is not a relaxing meal. The menu is focused on home-style cooking and comfort-food, which is okay for dinner but too heavy for lunch. The food itself is okay, but again, there’s some room for improvement.

I truly hope Hollywood Studios starts to swap out a few of their sit-down restaurants in the park or just add some new ones (maybe once Galaxy’s Edge is complete?!). We love this park but struggle to find a good meal.

WDW Park Planners Tip:

Hollywood Studios has some great walk-up options for lunch and dinner. Try out mobile ordering on the app to cut back on your wait times! We love the Backlot Express near the Indiana Jones – tons of indoor and outdoor seating options and good food choices, too!