Anyone else have a bad experience at Dinner At Cinderella Castle - Big Disappointment

[mickey0624]

CINDERELLA CASTLE - BIG DISAPPOINTMENT Hi all. I am fairly new to Disboards, and it looks like a fun place to exchange ideas and stories. I am 32 years old and now have 2 kids of my own. I live in NY and have been to Disney World 25+ times. Usually we go down for about 8 days every year and stay at thh Polynesian. One of our favorite dinner spots was Cinderella Castle. The atmosphere and food was always great. Great Prime Rib and well worth the money. Well, things have definitley changed. They now have a pre-set menu to choose from and the food and service was terrible. Definitley not worth the money they charge. Apparently this change was made a few months ago. I'm not sure with the influx of dining plans, that maybe the food has suffered. All of our meals (4 adults and 2 kids) were terrible. The steaks were thin and fatty and the waiter was unpleasant. Even the kids meals were terrible -a small plate of noodles with nothing on them. Big disappointment at a place that used to serve one of the best meals in the parks. I definitely will not return to the castle for dinner.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience at the Castle. I've heard many mixed reviews since they have changed to a fixed menu - some good some bad. It is a shame that it is so off for so many people now

 

[Ms.Mouse]

We went last year when it was still 1TS so it was very much worth it... Each of us thought our meal was very good. Nothing exceptional.... just very good.

Now that it is 2TS... we are still going to plan for a dinner there because we have a first time guest with us whose dream is to eat in Cindy's Castle. Just that experience for her will be worth the 2TS.

 

[mickey0624]

We went last year when it was still 1TS so it was very much worth it... Each of us thought our meal was very good. Nothing exceptional.... just very good.

Now that it is 2TS... we are still going to plan for a dinner there because we have a first time guest with us whose dream is to eat in Cindy's Castle. Just that experience for her will be worth the 2TS.

Just be prepared. The food is nowhere near the quality it used to be. As a family we have been there 15+ times and it was always great. The menu was changed about 3 months ago. It was a huge disappointment. Food and service was bad. I've had better meals at Applebee's (seriously). I wouldn't go again unless they changed the menu. ( and this used to be our favorite place to dine).

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Well, now I am curious about breakfast. I know that they have always had a set menu for breakfast and this is the only meal that we will be eating at the castle. DD6 has selected to eat here for her birthday. I know that they have gone up in price, but they have added the picture package to the breakfast to make up the additional cost. I hope the food is ok for breakfast.

 

[n2mm]

This was one of our favorite places to eat dinner until the Feb. 2006 change. We won't go back. We loved the menu before the change and had our favorites. This is one place that is now ruined as far as we're concerned.

 

[purpliequeen]

Thanks for the opinions. My family hasn't eaten there since I was three (I'm 17 now). I remember how much fun it was- the characters were great- I have tons of pictures to remember it all. I remember the little butter shaped as mickey mouse. It could even stand on its own. Anyway, we definitely agree with the above opinions that unless it turns back to the way it used to be run, we're not returning.

 

[4 DZNY NUTZ]

The atmosphere was awesome, the food was terrible. We went in Feb 2006 when they changed it to 2 TS credits and we were very disappointed.

Let's just say, we wont be going back.

 

[seven dwarfs]

This was a fav for us at dinner as well. We were so sad that it was going to the set menu and character. I know it is all about the money, but the castle has special memories for us. We have not tried it since the change. First of to much money and I am sure the quality of food is not there. So heres to hoping enough people will stop going and they will return it back. I don't think so but hey worth wishing.

 

[BlindTyldak]

I'm so happy we booked breakfast there now . . . this was one that I would have been hung if I didn't book since DH and DD have never eaten in the castle. Hopefully they can't mess up french toast or whatever it is too bad.

 

[kerry34]

We ate there for Christmas dinner last year and were disappointed with it. The food was just okay, not horrible, but nothing to rave about either. The kids meal that my son got was incredibly skimpy though. They were mini hot dogs in pretzel buns. Mini...IMO...is being a bit generous. They were smaller than mini and there were three of them, my guess is maybe it might have made a half of a hot dog if you put them together. The pretzel buns sounded good but they were hard and very dry. He said they did not taste very good but he was so hungry he didnt care. The service was fine, but our waiter had absolutely no personality whatsoever and we are a friendly bunch, but this guy had no intentions of having conversation in any way shape or form. Couldnt really complain because he was attentive to our needs throughout the meal. We were excited to eat here since it was our first time and it was on Christmas but were pretty let down by the whole experience. I cannot say I am in a hurry to eat there again, especially now that it is 2TS credits. It was still 1 when we went thank god otherwise I would have been really upset about those hot dogs.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Anybody had a good breakfast there, lately? We have ADRs in Sept.

 

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

Absolutely the worst food restaurant on Disney property!!!! I was served uncooked pork which had to be sent back. Service was very poor.

 

[dublincailin]

I hate to have to say it but we went for breakfast and for the price paid it was pretty poor stuff. The service was great, the rolls/cakes at the meal were good (only thing our little princess ate!) but the main plate was rather inedible for us anyway. Hope some others have better report of it but of all our Disney meals this was the most expensive by far and the one we ate least of. On the plus side, the atmosphere is magical and the photo they took lovely

Maybe I should also mention that we had an ADR for 10.15. We arrived at 10, checked in and queued from then until about 11.10 before even entering the castle! Kids were so restless. Then queued up for photo and finally, nearly 11.30, got to sit down to eat! Service was good but I really felt rushed - maybe service was too good and quick as we clearly got the feeling they wanted us out and quickly!

 

[BroadwayGirl]

Well, now I am curious about breakfast. I know that they have always had a set menu for breakfast and this is the only meal that we will be eating at the castle. DD6 has selected to eat here for her birthday. I know that they have gone up in price, but they have added the picture package to the breakfast to make up the additional cost. I hope the food is ok for breakfast.

Breakfast has never been all that good food-wise but you're not going for the food, you're going for the princesses...

 

[beth_cam]

We ate there for dinner March 2. The one and only reason it was worth it is because it was my DD's birthday. The boards had prepared me so I was disappointed I got exactly what I was led to expect (Although I still thought the food would be better, I dont think I've ever had prime rib I didnt like before). My husband kept talking of CP during the meal. Our service was great and my dd loved eating there. SHe didnt like her food or the cupcake they brought her for her birthday. it was a little cupcake with a fondont type covering which she thought was nasty. She kept asking where her sunday (like her brothers) was. She was sick with a cold too which partially effected her eating. BUT it was the castle and her memories of it are nothing but good...she's 7 if I pressed it she could recount all the negatives but it was such a great thing to eat there she really didnt care. I dont mind the 2 credits just for that but I will never eat there again. We much more loved 1900 park fare, both in the food and the interaction with cinderella. WE even enjoyed PSB breakfast more although we arent big breakfast eaters.

 

[lovmy2girls]

We have been to Lunch and Breakfast at the Castle, and the food is nothing to get all excited about. If we go back to the Castle, it will be for breakfast. Its the lesser of the evils so to speak.

Our lunch was cold, and the service very robotic. You sit, they bring your drinks, food and bring you the check, or now there is no check, its prepaid, as well as the tip. We had to flag our server down anytime we wanted our drinks refilled, or anything else. When she saw us, it was like we were making her mad that she had to stop what she was doing. I guess they can get away with it because the server already has your tip. Why go out of her way to check on you, to see if you need anything.