Conservatory of Flowers

The Crystal Palace at the end of Main Street was inspired by the mid-19th century tradition of grandiose greenhouses. Victorian England was a "golden age" of greenhouse design. It was a time when there was intense interest in exotic, tropical parts of the world. Flowers, trees and other specimens from around the globe were often put on public display in huge glass conservatories. One of the most impressive was located at Kew Gardens, England, with a large glass dome and two 100-foot wings.

Kew Gardens was the model for the Conservatory of Flowers, built in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in 1879. The Conservatory of Flowers is the oldest public conservatory in the Western Hemisphere, and it was the primary building upon which the design of the Crystal Palace was based.

Step inside the Crystal Palace, and you're immediately struck by the soaring atrium and bright, sunny wings. Throughout, one can find real plant specimens, along with artwork depicting 19th-century greenhouse designs and an assortment of beautiful flora.

There's even a nod to topiary art, both traditional and with a Disney flair.

Of course, the flora that attracts the attention of most Guests at the Crystal Palace is of the edible variety available from the buffet. And the fauna? Well... Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore fill that bill.