Anyone else disappointed in CRT?

[SHammett]

Just returned from a 6 day Spring Break trip with our family of 6, plus a friend. To save money, we cooked and ate a lot in the room. As a suprise to our two youngest girls, we did splurge for Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast. This was probably our tenth time dining here and will also be our last. The service was terrible, the character interaction was mediocre and at over $50 per adult (they were on "seasonal" pricing, I was informed at check-in), it was a big disappointment.

Our server was friendly at first, but we had to wait ten minutes to have our juice refilled and when asking for a couple of sodas (my husband and I prefer soda to coffee), the waiter seemed appalled and went on and on about how his Mother would NEVER let him drink soda for breakfast. Several in our party finished our plates and wanted more, but had to wait a good while before he came around again, then he breezed off before we could finish asking for what we wanted. Bottom line was we felt like we had to beg for our meal and drinks. I truly hope it was just a fluke, but at $300, I don't think we'll chance it again.

Has anyone had a similar experience recently?

 

[domesticking]

Have seen similar reviews here. Kind of why I'm reluctant to book CRT. Plus, the price is outrageous for the simple breakfast fare they serve. sorry you had a bad time.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

I would be so offended if a server ever elaborated on saying what he did to you about having soda at breakfast. I happen to love my Diet Coke with all meals including breakfast, I'm not a coffee person and if a server acted that way to me, I would have asked to speak to the manager.

But back to the original question, CRT is a nice experience because of the character interaction and the atmosphere of eating in the castle, but I won't be planning to do it again anytime soon because of the high price. When you get up to $50 pp for average food, that's just crazy, when like you said for $300 for a family, you can get a signature dining experience at many restaurants outside of MK. I won't say I won't go back, maybe once in a great while for kicks or if I go with someone who's never been to WDW before, but other than that, I think my money is better spent elsewhere on better food on vacation.

 

[tmbcole]

We had breakfast at CRT in early March and I thought the service was exceptional. Very kind, considerate, and regal. The Princesses were also very considerate. We do not have children and they still stopped by our table to chat and for pictures. The pictures that we took with our camera turned out a lot better than the professional photographer in the lobby. I was really disappointed with the photo from the lobby. I was also disappointed with the breakfast food. We had a ton of danishes which were really good and our french toast was also good. However the food was not worth $90+ dollars for breakfast. I know you're paying for the experience and I would not trade it for the world, but I also won't attempt it again.

 

[Tiger926]

Sorry you had a bad experience - we just ate at CRT 2 weeks ago for dinner, and it was great! It's not that much more for dinner, so worth it to us, as we also got to see Wishes at the same time.

I don't find hardly any places are worth it for breakfast, but paying approx. $50.00 for eggs, juice and a pastry is absolutely ridiculous!

Tiger

 

[Neesy228]

Yes, we had an awful experience there last fall. It's in my top two worst restaurant experiences in WDW. The food was awful and we didn't even know it was an option to get more food -- our waiter failed to mention that...but I wouldn't have wanted anymore anyways He also threw (literally) the basket of baked goods on our table. Said, "You guys are fine with orange juice right?" and looked annoyed when my DH asked for coffee. He doesn't care - he gets paid no matter what and the included 18% tip at $200 for eggs and sausage is a pretty sweet deal.

The princesses all seemed to be frantically running around to each table long to enough to sign autographs and quickly smile for one picture.


We won't be back. We love Akershus and at a fraction of the price, you can't beat it.

 

[SHammett]

Yes, we had an awful experience there last fall. It's in my top two worst restaurant experiences in WDW. The food was awful and we didn't even know it was an option to get more food -- our waiter failed to mention that...but I wouldn't have wanted anymore anyways He also threw (literally) the basket of baked goods on our table. Said, "You guys are fine with orange juice right?" and looked annoyed when my DH asked for coffee. He doesn't care - he gets paid no matter what and the included 18% tip at $200 for eggs and sausage is a pretty sweet deal.

The princesses all seemed to be frantically running around to each table long to enough to sign autographs and quickly smile for one picture.


We won't be back. We love Akershus and at a fraction of the price, you can't beat it.

Funny you mention the waiter not telling you about the option to get more food, ours didn't either. I asked, he looked annoyed that I knew about the option and answered that we could. He never asked if orange juice was okay, just poured it into our glasses and moved on. To be fair, I have since looked at the on-line menu and it does say that the included beverages are juice and coffee. I was just a little suprised when he started criticizing us for asking for sodas. Maybe he meant no harm, it just seemed so off, considering the price. The french toast was tasty, but by the time we saw him again to ask for more, we were aggravated and he ran off before we could complete our requests. There was no asking around the table, just what we could get in during the 10 seonds he stopped. We will have to try Akershus again. We've only been there once, about 5 years ago. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

We have had similar expierences at crt and dont even go anymore, the service was not good, the character interaction feels rushed and most of all the food just isnt good. For my money akerhus is the way to go, food is better and princess stay for longer time and few sat down playing with our infant, actually waiting in toon town and going to caseys might have been better than crt. Let alone double the price.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Shame that you had a bad time and how rude!!! We have always had a wonderful time and been five times I think now. I do agree that the food isn't worth the $$$ but to eat in Cinderella's castle is the buzz and the characters and food for us are just added extras. I love it love it love it and we're considering two visits for our next trip.

 

[squirrel]

I also wasn't very happy with the last breakfast we had in 2008. My niece hadn't touched her waffle (non-dairy) and I was trying to get her to eat it when the server took the plate away. I had already paid with DDP credits as my neighbours were fininshed and wanted to leave. I was shocked that he took the plate and left when she had nothing but fruit and a sausage to eat.

I've booked Akershus this year for the younger niece. I hope she doesn't find out that there is a restaurant in the castle.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I am so sad to read all these bad experiences. CRT is the one place that we have not gone to yet simply because it has never fit into our plans but I was hoping to do it next time. I was sort of saving it for my next mother/daughter trip. Most likely I will go anyway because I can't very often surprise my DD with things...she's too smart. When I read about the recent changes I looked at the new price that goes along with it and . I guess all I can do is cross my fingers that it will get better......and cross them for an ADR since I never book my vacays in advance.

 

[wyonative78]

DH and I had dinner there back in '07. While the service was good and the character interaction was nice, the food was totally blah. For us, it was one of those things that we were glad we did once, but we will never do it again.

 

[LaDonna]

It's been awhile since we were there, but I remember not eating but 2 bites of my main dish, didn't care for it at all, it was some kind of pork w/ smoked cheese or something to that nature

 

[DW2010]

I cancelled our reservations. IMO, it should be consistently top notch for the price. I just know that I would be disappointed so I don't want to chance it.

 

[fairestoneofall]

DD and I had a special mom/daughter breakfast here on our Nov08 trip.

The greeter told us to wait for our name to be called after we met Cinderella. So, we waited and waited. And waited. Finally, I asked the CM and she told me we should have gone up the stairs after greeting Cinderella. So, we were late getting to our table. I have no clue if that has any bearing on the rest of our experience (as I've heard others complain about what I'm getting ready to say).

We did have a wonderful window table overlooking Fantasyland. But our server rushed us through our breakfast. He was nice and attentive, and very sweet to DD. But it seemed like he just wanted us done and out of there. The interaction with Jasmine was great. The interaction with Aurora was dull (but I've never really met an exciting Aurora). We had to request Belle come to our table. DD wouldn't let me request Snow White (she went through a phase where she was incredibly intimidated by Snow White).

Anyway, it was a very expensive meal for such rushed service. But we can say we ate in the castle.

 

[ShannonMB]

I enjoyed our breakfast there in 2007, but I sorta wanted some more of those potatoes but was never given the chance to ask for more. Oh well, no harm no foul. Last Feb we went for lunch, and I must say I was thoroughly unimpressed. We won't be going back for a good long time, WAY too many better places to eat on property that cost a lot less/better character interaction/BETTER SERVICE, etc, etc, etc. Shame, too, because for the price and the atmosphere, they really could make it a once in a lifetime, to DIE for experience. It is SO not, IMHO.

 

[Mary T in PA]

We tried the breakfast there a few years ago, and it was so so.. so last year, we tried lunch and loved it. It's one of our favorite lunch experiences. BUT, the part I don't like is the chaotic podium check in along with waiting for the pic with Cinderella. Once we got upstairs, we relaxed and had a good time and the food wasn't bad either.

Maybe try lunch or dinner at CRT?

Sorry you had such a bad experience.. that happened to us last year at 1900 PF,, will never go back there.

 

[kydisneymom]

We went last October and were very disappointed. We had just done the BBB and what better way to top off the whole "princess" experience than to dine at CRT. Well the food was fine, the service mediocre, and princess interaction lack luster. I guess I was expecting more of a production for my money. This is supposed to be a hot ticket ADR but for us, the Akershus experience was 100% better. I guess I just was amazed that it was only 1 credit as opposed to the 2 for CRT and the food was better, more princesses and you got pictures as well. For our next trip we are going to skip CRT and save our money for something else. I don't regret doing it because I wanted to make that experience a memorable one, but there was nothing too memorable about it.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

Hate to hear the bad reviews about breakfast at CRT. We have done dinner and lunch and we were planning to try breakfast our trip in May. We prefer lunch alot more than dinner. Our prime rib at dinner last time just wasn't good at all and no princesses then, only Fairy Godmother. We like the pork tenderloin and chocolate buckle (it has been really good both times) at lunch and it cost less $$.

 

[TreslovesWDW]

Wow, I know it is all about the castle and characters but come on for the price you have to pay for that kind of service and bad food now this is making me think about cancelling our breakfast. We were there in 2005 and 2007 for breakfast it was great. But in 2006 when we went for dinner not so. Our server rushed us and didn't talk to us with the my lady or my lord,she hardly said anything. I thought she was rude. Also my kids had to go to the bathroom in the middle of dinner. I had half of my steak left when I came back gone,she cleared for dessert, I was so mad. I did leave with tears didn't let anyone see though. I just keep thinking how much I wanted to take them and how much it cost,I paid for us six and my parents,plus I was so mad about the tip she got because she did not deserve it at all. I am sure it has good days and bad, but there should be no bad days we are at the happiest place on earth..lol