Auberge de Cendrillon princess lunch - any good?

[housemum]

I have a princess-mad 4 year old so we have booked a lunch at Auberge de Cendrillon for Sunday - any tips from those who have been there? How many characters do you get to see, and is it less of a scrum than trying a character tea? (We did the tea at Xmas and vowed never again - people who weren't eating there were just wandering in to see the characters!)

What's the food like - I think it's quite pricey - do you all have to eat the set meal? Last time I went to Cafe Mickey we were told when we booked that we had to all have the set meal for a character lunch, but when it came to ordering the waitress said I could choose what I liked.

I'm packing the Cinderella costume so we should have one very happy little girl!!

 

[scald]

The prinecss dinner is a set menu, there are no a la carte options. The price per adult is 48 Euro and 20 per child. There are two starter options, fois gras and salmon. The kids get a tomato and buffalo mozzerella strater (not impressed!). Then there are three main courses and a veggie option, can't remember what the meat dishes were but I had veggie tortellini. Kids had chicken reast with potatoes and veg (not impressed with the veg either as there was celery included!). Dessert is brilliant with chocolate cinderella slipper fabulously presented.

As far a charachetrs go, 2 princes and their princesses come in every half hour or so, do a dance on the floor then go around the tables. There is no guarantee who they will be. We too took a Cinderella clad daughter who was devastated when Cinderella told her she would come to her table then did not. Problem was we were sat right at the back and some families were allowing their kids to go up to the princesses while they tried to make it around the whole restaurant. As a result, they were not getting around everyone and it was totally unfair. Also, some families stayed WAY too long over the lunch with some dragging their heels in an effort to meet all the princesses. In the end, we had to approach the CM in charge and express our disappointment. She then ensured that a princess came to see us. All in all, the chances are you will see 4 or so princesses, and have at least one come to the table. The trick is to request a table near the dancefloor so you are not overlooked.

 

[housemum]

Thank you for that - sounds like pretty much anything with characters can end up bringing out the worst in people!! Would you ask when you arrive for a table near the dancefloor, or would you need to do that when you book? I've booked for 12.00 - I think the first booking was 11.30 but that seemed a bit early - would you have gone for earlier? To be honest I reckon we'll be there a while as DD2 isn't the fastest eater at the best of times! (Saying that, at least she will like the food as she likes all the things most kids hate!! When we went to Cafe Mickey the waitress asked me twice if I was really sure she wanted the fish, as it was just plain white steamed fish & veg - waitress thought I wanted fish fingers!!)

 

[scald]

We requested a table near the front when we arrived, but were seated in the very last booth at the back, so try to request it sooner if possible. We went at 2pm and there was a good rotation of characters. It took us 1 and a half hours just to get through the meal, as we have slow eaters too (and a daughter I call Max Wilde as she cries for broccoli!!). But I saw people who were on their dessert as we came in and were still there when we left!!!! I thought this was a bit lousy considering they were hogging all the good tables Good luck and I hope your daughter has a ball, I think with all charachter things you have to hold your tongue at the behaviour of others!!

 

[scald]

Oh, and I think going before 12 pm would be silly as the food is very rich for that time of day, and also because the princesses will more than likely still be at the Castle Stage, which might mean you miss out on a favourite coz she is elsewhere....

 

[A Small World]

We ate there at Easter. I wrote a report in the Restaurant thread which will give you more info.
We were seated at the table directly by the table infront of Cinderellas coach. When the Princesses arrived to dance on the floor a lot of children wandered over to watch including DD but they all returned to their seats. One or 2 were trying to have photos with the Princesses there and I asked if the characters came to the tables and was told yes. On the whole they did tend to go to the tables as opposed to the children who were hanging round.
We were visited by the Fairy godmother, 1 mouse (Suzy or Perla)- the other went to other tables. Then Sleeping beauty and her prince. Ariel and prince adn Snow White and Prince were visiting other tables. As Ariel was going she passed near our table and DD said Hello Ariel so Ariel looked at Eric and said one more? so She came to talk to DD
It seems as though you will probably get one Princess to visit but may see others. if your children have a particular favourite it may be worth warning them that she may not be there and if she is there it may be worth asking your server if they can at least wave to your children even if they cant come and talk to them.


In my opinion its worth the money and the food was delicious

 

[disneyangel]

We met two Princesses (Snow white and Cinderella) and their princes when we went in June.

WE enjoyed our meals , children liked the fillled pasta and bread rolls they got with their starter.

We were seated at the back but would have preferred another table.

Your DD will love it

 

[minnielover]

please could someone tell me is this Princess Lunch on every day????? and compared to character breakfasts etc is it good value for money???

 

[aobh]

My DH brought DD to the princess lunch on thursday past. As far as i know it is on every day. He said the meal was delicious well worth the 48 euro and that DD ate well though it was a bit fancy.. she's only 3! They met Cinderella & Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty & Prince Philip and ate at 12:15. They didn't leave til 2:30 and DH had drank 3/4 of a bottle of wine (free). He tried to get a table close to the dancefloor ( a tip found on here) but he was told that only tables of 4 or more were set there. they were in the middle of the room.. i waited outside with my sis and we were able to walk in and out during the meal.. it would have been too expensive for all of us to eat there (we had to make do with fish & chips in toad hall - tho it was lovely)!!

I had no intention of bringing DD to auberge de cendrillon until wednesday.. on tuesday cast members told us that pricesses would be on stage in the afternoon and to expect a princess and a prince at 4pm. We were delighted because when we took princess mad DD to DLP in March we only saw the princesses in the parade. We queued for 30 mins for ariel then before our turn came she left and alice & the mad hatter arrived. DD didn't even know who they were. a very helpful cm let me wait at the top of the queue til ariel came back and DD got her photo taken - so that was great. We spent nearly the whole afternoon at the castle stage waiting for other princesses and taking turns to queue - then at 4pm out came Mary Poppins - we were so disappointed after wasting so much time we didn't even get to see a proper princess. Thats when we decided that we would book the princess meal so that we wouldn't have a disappointed DD for the 2nd time.

sorry thats so long winded - but i hope it helps!!

 

[GlendaONeill]

Sorry to bring this up again. I'm going to DLP in February with my family and I am considering this meal for my kids. DS1 will be nearly 5, DD will be nearly 4 and DS2 will be 2. The older two can be fussy eaters at times, especially if one decides to starve, the other will too. When we were at WDW in July they wouldn't even eat things they normally eat at home. DD wouldn't eat pasta her favourite staple. So I'm a bit unwilling to pay this amount of money for what would be a wonderful occasion to have my husband either turning his nose up at the food (he knows where foie gras comes from thanks to Rick Stein!) and screaming at the kids to eat or complaining because of how much it costs!!!!!
Should I avoid this and wait until they are older before doing the lunch? Or forget about the food and give them an unforgettable experience. DS2 has a thing for princesses although not even 2 yet and DS1 isn't old enough to realise he can refuse to do girly things but DD is princess mad .
Any advice would be good!!!
Thanks
Glenda

 

[Cyrano]

If you go and accept that the Princess you are desperate to see may not be there and that there is potential for "your fussy" eaters to be distracted and therefore not eat that much. Then this may be the character meal for you

We didn't do this because of DS but know that the youngest DD would have loved it

 

[GlendaONeill]

Thanks. It would be the one I think.

I suppose it is all about the princesses really. They could serve bread and water and we'd still pay 40 something Euro!!
I think I secretly want to go not just for the kids.
But seriously I think I'd better show DH the menu and then convince him how he'd be the bestest daddy in the world if he took them.

 

[jillrobinson]

We didn't do this because of DS but know that the youngest DD would have loved it

I think my niece 4 would totally love this but my 2 DS's 13 and 8 would just die, so much as I'd like to I think we'll give it a miss, I assume the Prince/Princesses still do a meet and greet, so I could take the little one for a photo.