Best princess dining? Akersus vs. CRT

[adventure_woman]

First, I am still debating on if we will get the DDP. My DD is 2 and loves the princesses, especially Ariel and Cinderella. I have ADR for dinner at CRT. I also have ADR at Akersus for dinner. However, after looking at the menu for Akersus, I don't think that there is anything I'd want to eat there for dinner. How is Akersus for breakfast? What princesses have you seen at Akersus?

I also have ADRs at 1900 Park Fare (dinner w/ Cinderella) and Play n Dine and CM.

Please help me decide what is best for my 2 yr old? Maybe I just won't do the DDP and pay OOP and not worry about getting my money's worth w/ the DDP!

 

[laura74]

I've been to both for lunch/dinner and I would definitely return to Akershus. You'll have the same number of princesses (maybe even Cinderella) and the photo is included. We thought the atmosphere was comparable and we enjoyed the food. Yes, it's cool to say you've been in the castle but not worth the extra bucks. We liked the regional cuisine but we may be in the minority. At any rate, it's nice to have a glass of wine with dinner after dealing with the crowds all day...something you can't do in the castle.

 

[PrincessMomto2]

I went to Akersus for dinner and we all hated our food. If we go back there again we will definitely do it for breakfast. Went to CRT for breakfast and loved it I hope to go back there in June this year.

Editing this to agree with the other posters for Dinner at CRT you will not see the other princesses. They are only there for Breakfast and Lunch. Cindy will be in the lobby where you can take pictures but during dinner there is a show with two mice and the fairy godmother. So if those are your two ressies you proably want to go to Akersus if you want to meet the princesses.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Akershus is wonderful for breakfast! And - if you are planning on CRT for dinner, you will only see Cinderella in the lobby. There are no other princesses for dinner - just a show with the Fairy Godmother and mice.

I recommend sticking with Akershus for more princess bang for the buck!

 

[GatorLady]

We had dinner at Akershus this summer. Belle for the photo and then Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora and Jasmine, but there is no guarantee who you will get. Everyone at our table really enjoyed the meal. One of the better meals we had. We plan on eating there again on our next trip.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I've seen Ariel and Cinderella at Akershus when I had dinner there.

 

[Dsnymouse]

Hi there, while we have not done Akersus, we have done CRT & 1900 Park Fare. I enjoyed Park Fare a lot! It is buffet and some think it's pricey. I really liked it. CRT, you have to do at least once to say you've ate in the Castle. I was soooo excited about this dining adventure. Think I built it up too much as I was disappointed. The meal was good and interaction. Thank goodness we have done pricesses enough we are going to try Chef Mickey next time.

Either way, I'm sure it will be magical!

 

[Bell30012]

Akershus for breakfast. Much less expensive than Cindy's Royal Table. Awesome food and the best character interaction I've seen at any of the restaurants on property. Akershus is only partially a buffet. The meats, eggs and hash browns come out on a platter but they will bring you as much as you want.

 

[emh1129]

We love Akershus for breakfast. We haven't tried any of the other meals there, but breakfast was delicious! For breakfast there was Belle (at the entrance only for photos) and Mary Poppins, Mulan, Jasmine, and.. one other one.

We were hoping to see Snow White or Ariel, but they weren't there.

 

[bigAWL]

We ate lunch at Akershus twice last May. We saw five princesses each time. Both times we saw Belle in the foyer for a greeting photo. While dining we saw Ariel, Jasmine, and Aurora both times. The fifth was different: one time was with Alice and the other with Cinderella.

The food certainly gets mixed reviews. We liked it. Unless you're familiar with the food already, I suggest just picking something at random and be adventurous. You might be surprised how much you like it. And heck, you're in World Showcase, afterall. Just enjoy the cultural experience.

 

[Bell30012]

In October 2008 when we were just there the breakfast that day featured Belle at the entrance, then came Sleeping Beauty, Jasmin, Snow White and Mulan. My daughter informed me that Mulan isn't technically a princess.

 

[Abbeysmom]

On our recent trip (couple weeks ago) we ate at both for breakfast, and I have to say I actually preferred the atmosphere of Akershus better. The food was very similar (plated eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrown casserole etc), but the princesses took so much more time with my 4 year old than they did at CRT. The CRT just seemed so much more rushed to me, and our waiter was not the most attentive either.
Don't get me wrong, I loved eating in the castle, and my dd loves Cinderella and enjoyed the portrait with her, but strangely enough we saw Cinderella at Akershus as well and she took more time with her than the one in cinderella's own castle. We had the exact same princesses at both meals...Snow White, Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle and Cinderella so we really didn't gain anything in the princess department (we were hoping for Ariel at Akershus since she is there sometimes) In addition, the lady downstairs handling the line for Cinderlla's picture was very pushy and bossy...I just didn't like the atmosphere as well.
If we go back.. we will probably stick with Akershus and skip the castle. I think it is nice for a one time thing.. but don't know that I would do it again.

 

[abc999]

I highly recommend the Akershus breakfast.

 

[skier_pete]

Overall, for the price, I think Akerhaus is actually better. If money is no object, CRT in neat for the atmosphere alone. But dinner there, you only get Cinderella in the lobby. Lunch is a much better proposition. I think the Akerhaus food is better, and it's considerably less money (though by no means cheap.) If you are on the DDP, it is even worse, as 2 TS credits for CRT is a super-poor use of credits. We did it twice on Free Dining, but if I was paying for my meals, we won't do it again.

We had both Cinderella and Ariel (for the pic) when we did Akerhaus. If I was you and wanted to do more than one - Akerhaus for breakfast and 1900 park fare for dinner to guarantee Cinderella.

SkierPete

 

[RMulieri]

I liked the PSB at Akershus much better than CRT.The food is good, and there was a better interaction with the princesses than at CRT.AT CRT they basically rushed us thru so they could seat the next group( we were only there 30mins).

 

[Big_Al_316]

Overall, for the price, I think Akerhaus is actually better. If money is no object, CRT in neat for the atmosphere alone. But dinner there, you only get Cinderella in the lobby. Lunch is a much better proposition. I think the Akerhaus food is better, and it's considerably less money (though by no means cheap.) If you are on the DDP, it is even worse, as 2 TS credits for CRT is a super-poor use of credits. We did it twice on Free Dining, but if I was paying for my meals, we won't do it again.

We had both Cinderella and Ariel (for the pic) when we did Akerhaus. If I was you and wanted to do more than one - Akerhaus for breakfast and 1900 park fare for dinner to guarantee Cinderella.

SkierPete

I like your idea. We have Akershus for lunch Friday, and 1900 Park Fare for dinner Saturday. That should cover the DDs for princess dining.

 

[melancholywings]

We loved the dinner at Akersus a couple of years ago and DD could have just eaten off the cold buffet - cheese and meat that isn't fried, the dinner at CRT though was so gross (don't get the salmon).

 

[buckirj1]

I used to love the Norwegian food there, but don't want to deal with princesses or children. Since princess dinner at Akershus seems to get the thumbs down from a lot of people, do you think a return to a regular dinner buffet would be successful? Most people seem to prefer a princess breakfast anyway.

 

[henrylovespooh]

I've had lunch twice at Akershus and loved it. I had a dish that I can't remember how to spell - kotjakke or something like that. It's like meatloaf and mashed potatoes and it was delicious. The cold buffet has sandwich items as well. My husband loved the salmon.

We have had both lunch and dinner at CRT, and I liked lunch much better. All the princesses are at lunch, but not at dinner. I also didn't like my dinner as much.

 

[skier_pete]

I used to love the Norwegian food there, but don't want to deal with princesses or children. Since princess dinner at Akershus seems to get the thumbs down from a lot of people, do you think a return to a regular dinner buffet would be successful? Most people seem to prefer a princess breakfast anyway.

I agree the food their was very good before the Princesses...but the restaurant was very sparsely attended...that is why they put the Princesses in there...does having the princesses in Norway make any sense from a "story-telling" purpose? Belle, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are all french...Snow White is German...Ariel is Dutch...wouldn't putting princesses in France or Germany make more sense? But those restaurants were popular, Arkerhaus wasn't...they now play to packed houses every meal and charge much more money for it...they will not go back to the way it was.

SkierPete