Cinderella's Royal Table vs Crystal Palace for Dinner

[Danny K]

We are on the regular dining plan and I am wondering which one to go to. If we go to CRT we will only have a snack on the last day and know meals which is an issue. But is CRT really worth 2 credits for the food? I know there is a good experience but I also want good and a huge portion of food. So do you think I should go to CRT and spend 2 credits or just go ahead and go to CP. We are all princess crazy and love Winnie the pooh. Can you also tell me that if I go to CP is there any other way to meet princesses with in Magic Kingdom? Please don't suggest Akershus because I don't want to go to that. But in the MK park without dining can you meet princesses and take pictures with them? Please tell me how it works.

 

[TDC Nala]

CRT's food is not worth 2 credits.

But as you mentioned, you have a princess crazy family. The castle is the ultimate experience for the princess crazy.

Yes, you can meet the princesses in the MK, they are featured in the current meet and greet which is on Main Street I believe. But it would be necessary to stand in line, and accept less face time with them.

If the food is more important to you than the princesses, then take the buffet.

I take it you're using the dining plan, why not consider purchasing a meal for the last day if you run out of credits?

 

[Danny K]

CRT's food is not worth 2 credits.

But as you mentioned, you have a princess crazy family. The castle is the ultimate experience for the princess crazy.

Yes, you can meet the princesses in the MK, they are featured in the current meet and greet which is on Main Street I believe. But it would be necessary to stand in line, and accept less face time with them.

If the food is more important to you than the princesses, then take the buffet.

I take it you're using the dining plan, why not consider purchasing a meal for the last day if you run out of credits?

Well food isn't MORE important just, I need large portions. Do you know if you can ask for more food at dinner? Also did you enjoy your experience at CRT?

 

[TDC Nala]

The last time I went to CRT was for breakfast in 2003.

But that place is not about the food, and the food is not the reason it costs 2 credits.

I have no idea what the portion sizes at dinner are. I haven't been to dinner there since it was King Stefan's. I know you can ask for more food at breakfast, unsure about dinner. Maybe switch to a breakfast.

 

[Danny K]

Hey by the way this might help: I will probably not return to WDW for 4 years.

 

[TDC Nala]

You're still just going to have to decide how much dining in the castle means to you and your party. If your family loves the princesses and wants to eat in the castle, you may decide to suck it up and work through the smaller food portion (if indeed they do have smaller portions), maybe buy yourself something to supplement it later on.

Crystal Palace is fine, has Pooh characters and is a buffet so you can eat all you want, so it's all down to the draw of the castle and princesses.

 

[tinktinktink]

My vote is CP. have you considered the storybook princess dining in epcot's Norway pavilion?

 

[sarmat1]

Go to CRT. It's pretty evident from your posts that you really want to go. We went for the first time last year and went again last week. Count me as one who thinks the food is quite good for dinner. Both times I have had the beef. First they bring you bread (yes you can ask for more). Then you get your choice of appetizer (I chose the salad), choice of entree (beef for both DW and I) and choice of dessert (I took the trio, DW the sorbet and the kids make your own ice cream sundaes). While the portions are not huge, it was plenty of food. If you're really worried, since you're on the dining plan, just walk out of the castle and use a snack credit at the Plaza for ice cream of Main Street bakery for other goodies.

There is nothing quite like eating at the castle. In our case, we also lucked out with a window seat facing the carousel and got to watch Wishes from there (they pipe in the music). Aurora just happened to be at our table at the time, and she watched the fireworks for a while talking with DD7.

 

[Danny K]

Go to CRT. It's pretty evident from your posts that you really want to go. We went for the first time last year and went again last week. Count me as one who thinks the food is quite good for dinner. Both times I have had the beef. First they bring you bread (yes you can ask for more). Then you get your choice of appetizer (I chose the salad), choice of entree (beef for both DW and I) and choice of dessert (I took the trio, DW the sorbet and the kids make your own ice cream sundaes). While the portions are not huge, it was plenty of food. If you're really worried, since you're on the dining plan, just walk out of the castle and use a snack credit at the Plaza for ice cream of Main Street bakery for other goodies.

There is nothing quite like eating at the castle. In our case, we also lucked out with a window seat facing the carousel and got to watch Wishes from there (they pipe in the music). Aurora just happened to be at our table at the time, and she watched the fireworks for a while talking with DD7.

Can you tell me all the princesses you met? Also if you can ask for more food do portions matter? Is it just for bread or you can ask for another helping of your entree?

 

[sarmat1]

Can you tell me all the princesses you met? Also if you can ask for more food do portions matter? Is it just for bread or you can ask for another helping of your entree?

You'll have a quick meet and pic downstairs with Cinderella (picture package is included with the price of the meal). Upstairs can vary. But both times we were there, it was Snow White, Aurora, Ariel and Belle (in her blue dress). We weren't hungry enough to ask for more food so I have no idea if they would bring you more or not. You'll definitely get unlimited drink refills and unlimited bread. As to other food, I can't help you with that.

 

[wdwpirates]

My DH is a big eater and he was satisfied with his portion of food when we had diner at CRT this past May. The table is served bread (all you care for) and each adult is served an appetizer, a main and a dessert. I wouldn't call it a huge portion of food though. And I don't think they'd be too quick to dole out another beef tenderloin, etc. This isn't all all you care to eat restaurant, afterall.

But if you want your kids to have an amazing memory and the experience of dining in the castle this is the way to go.

If you care more about the quantity of food (and quality in some cases) you might be better off at CP. The atmosphere is pleasant and you still get some character interaction all for only 1 TS credit per person.

Whichever you choose, have fun!!!

 

[meggiebeth]

CRT is in Cinderella's castle, so therefore, a great experience. However CP has better food. (And it is unlimitied, being a buffet.)

I know you said you are not interested in Akershus in Epcot, but out of interest, why is this? We love Akershus, it has a very princess-y feel and the food is among the best in WDW (IMHO). It is also only 1 credit. The food is a lot better than Cinderella's Royal Table and unlimited food. You also get special photos taken with a princess and put in a special folder for you for free. It is a great experience, and much better value than CRT. I would at least consider it, because character meals are such a stressfree way to meet princesses, without waiting in line. If you have little girls who love princesses then they will probably love Akershus just as much as CRT.

CRT is popular being in 'the' castle, but Akershus is a lot cheaper, only 1 credit on the DDP, and offers more, and better food.

We enjoy CP but prefer princess dining for the feel and experience

 

[hokie98]

Another alternative is 1900 Fare, which is easy enough to get to at the GF. I've never done CRT, and will do CP on our Oct trip, so I can't compare them. However, we really enjoyed 1900 Fare with Cinderella on our last trip (01/09). You won't get to see any other princesses, but you will see Prince Charming (whom I hear you may be able to dance with if you ask), as well as the Evil Stepmother & Stepsister, who were a hoot! They all came around to the table and were very playful and had loads of shenanigans. That meal is a buffet....so no worries about portion sizes. I remember the food being fairly decent.

 

[vinotinto]

Go to CRT for the experience. The food is fine and it's actually not worse than anything else you find at MK (can you tell I'm not particularly inspired by MK?). And *if* you are still hungry after the meal (and that's a big IF - I've had lunch in the castle and I would not consider it small portions), then stop at a QS and get yourself a snack.

 

[momofkids]

There was more than enough food for us. My husband is a big eater and was eying up my entree after he finished his. The waiter thought it was a hoot and brought him a plate of that entree too. We were there in 2010. I don't know if this is the norm or not. I have read before that they bring you more if you ask for it, but that wasn't a recent post.

 

[Danny K]

CRT is in Cinderella's castle, so therefore, a great experience. However CP has better food. (And it is unlimitied, being a buffet.)

I know you said you are not interested in Akershus in Epcot, but out of interest, why is this? We love Akershus, it has a very princess-y feel and the food is among the best in WDW (IMHO). It is also only 1 credit. The food is a lot better than Cinderella's Royal Table and unlimited food. You also get special photos taken with a princess and put in a special folder for you for free. It is a great experience, and much better value than CRT. I would at least consider it, because character meals are such a stressfree way to meet princesses, without waiting in line. If you have little girls who love princesses then they will probably love Akershus just as much as CRT.

CRT is popular being in 'the' castle, but Akershus is a lot cheaper, only 1 credit on the DDP, and offers more, and better food.

We enjoy CP but prefer princess dining for the feel and experience

Well I did consider Akershus but then I said no. I am not interested because I don't want to waste my Epcot day on character meals, because I want to try world showcase meals, and nothing on Akershus menu appeals to all of us.

 

[juliebug1997]

Well I did consider Akershus but then I said no. I am not interested because I don't want to waste my Epcot day on character meals, because I want to try world showcase meals, and nothing on Akershus menu appeals to all of us.

I am one of the few here who really didn't care for their experience at Ankershus. We much prefer CRT.

The dinner portions do seem a little small to us and my husband can put it away. However, we have never left there hungry.

CP dinner was a little disappointing. Lunch has pretty much the same things AND it's cheaper.

 

[Gorechick]

I did CRT and Akershus breakfasts a little over a week ago. CRT was EXCELLENT! Loved the new menu, service was great, plenty of food, didn't feel rushed, great character interaction. It was a highlight of the trip. Akershus was a little more hectic and the food paled in comparison. We really didn't get to sit and enjoy the meal together as they had the Princess Procession in the middle and it seemed once the princesses came over, they all came one right after the other.

 

[ladeeesquire]

we've done crt for breakfast and lunch and always found the portion size to be pretty good. I'd say we're averagely big eaters. I know some people can and do eat a LOT. We think the food is pretty tasty too. As to value, it really comes down to individual opinion. I love eating in the castle. I thought the wishing ceremony was adorable! So, we like crt. We like akershus too. Lots of food, same somewhat brief princess interaction but not in the castle so that's why its cheaper.

We've never done CP but have adr's for a breakfast and a dinner in the next couple of weeks!