Two Changes to The Crystal Palace Character Meals at Magic Kingdom

Two changes have arrived at The Crystal Palace character meal at Magic Kingdom, and if you have a reservation coming up, it is worth knowing what to expect before you arrive. Pooh is no longer making table visits, and the beloved Friendship Day parade through the restaurant has been discontinued. Here is the full breakdown of what has changed and what stays the same.

Quick Summary

• The Crystal Palace is located in Magic Kingdom and serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends
• Major change: Winnie the Pooh no longer visits individual tables — he is now stationed in the center of the restaurant in front of his topiary for guests to line up
• Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet continue to visit tables individually as before
• The Friendship Day parade through the restaurant has been discontinued
• The buffet format and overall experience remain the same
• TouringPlans rates The Crystal Palace 91% (Above Average), ranking it #31 out of 92 table service locations at Walt Disney World

Pooh’s New Spot

The biggest change at The Crystal Palace is how you meet Winnie the Pooh. Previously, Pooh made rounds to individual tables throughout the meal — now he is stationed in the center of the restaurant in front of his topiary, and guests are welcome to line up to meet him at any point during or after their meal.

In practice, the new system appears to be working smoothly. Wait times at Pooh’s spot have been manageable — no line longer than three groups during a busy lunch visit. The advantage of the new format is that you can control when you meet Pooh rather than waiting for him to arrive at your table. If your kids are mid-meal, you can hold off. If they want to go meet him immediately, you can head over.

Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet Still Do Table Visits

The three remaining characters — Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet — continue to make individual table visits throughout the dining experience, exactly as they have for years. This part of the experience is unchanged. You will still have all three characters come to your table for photos and interactions during your meal.

The Friendship Day Parade Is Gone

The Friendship Day parade — the charming procession of characters that wound through the restaurant — has been discontinued. It was a popular element, especially with younger kids, but it also added meaningful congestion to an already busy dining room. Disney has decided the trade-off no longer makes sense operationally.

The Food Has Improved

On a positive note: the buffet food quality at The Crystal Palace has improved noticeably over the last few years. If you have not visited recently, the current spread is in significantly better shape than it was a few years back — and is one more reason to consider a booking if you have Pooh fans in your group.

The Crystal Palace remains a solid choice for character dining at Magic Kingdom, especially for families with young Pooh fans. The new Pooh meeting spot and the loss of the parade are real changes from the classic experience, but the fundamentals of a Winnie the Pooh character buffet in a beautiful Victorian setting are all still there. Check My Disney Experience for current reservation availability.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!