Boys at CRT and Akershus

[pixarmom]

We have three boys, ages pre-school to pre-teen. Our two older boys have never had any interest in princesses, and I've been a Minnie fan since childhood. So even though I've been going to Disney since I was two years old, I've never been to a princess meal. I've helped plan lots of trips for friends with their little girls, but none of our friends with only boys have been interested in the princess meals. (And we've been to CRT for dinner, but before it was a character meal.)

Our youngest son recently became very interested in princesses (to say the least!) We 're planning a short trip in January for his birthday, so we booked dinner at Akershus the night of his birthday, and breakfast at CRT the next day.

Here are my questions: 1) Any ideas for dress-up? We ordered the birthday Mickey ears from disneystore.com, but any other ideas for a little princess fan? 2) With all the focus on little girls, I'm interested in hearing about your experiences with little boys at princess meals. I've read mixed reports here, so I'm wondering if I need to be proactive and let them know he's a big fan. He's very excited, and I'm sure they'll see that, but he won't be wearing a dress or tiara, so I'm hoping he isn't lost in the shuffle!

 

[caroline1851]

When we dined there, my ds got just as much attention as my dd.

 

[MJAJmom]

I've taken my 2 boys to both Akershus and CRT. The princesses will ask the boys about fun stuff and boy-like things. It's helpful if you can tell the boys the story about each princess so they know a little bit about them. It's fun to do the princess meals with them at least once!!

CRT is very cool because you get to eat inside the castle. The boys get a sword and the girls get a wand to make a wish. As soon as my boys heard they would get a sword, they were very excited about going!! They tell the story about each princess before she arrives and my DS5 really got into that.

Akershus seemed a little bit more girly to me, but I wanted to try it out. Aurora asked the boys if they slayed any dragons lately. Cinderella asked them about being a prince. Snow White talked a lot about the apples on their breakfast plates. So that helped the boys like it a little bit more.

Have a great trip!!

 

[kirbsam]

if they have no interest in princesses for gods sake dont take them to the princess dinings. take them to see mickey or pooh or donald. cripe...

 

[pixarmom]

Kirbsab, you must have misunderstood my original post. We are booking princess meals for our next trip because our youngest son recently became VERY interested in princesses - LOVES them. He found the stories in his Disney storybooks and knows them all very well. So he asked to see princesses and eat in the castle for his birthday. We have three boys - it's just the older two who are not interested, and that's exactly why we've not done a princess meal before now. We'll still do Garden Grill and all our regular favorites and everyone will be happy!

Thanks to caroline and MJAJmom for the reports!

 

[kamikazecat]

My 4yo son loved both CRT and Akersus on our trip last summer. He got a ton of attention from the princesses and even got a sword at CRT (we then had to buy him a shield in Norway after Akersus)

He is even asking to go back this summer.

 

[DuckMom]

We did CRT in June with my two boys (then 5 and not quite 2) and they both enjoyed it a lot. The princesses were good ... came over, took pictures a flirted a bit with my older son. He fell in love with Belle. They also give all the boys the swords which were used a ton at my house until they both finally broke. We didn't dress up for it, but it was also a walk up reservation more for me than anyone else (Cinderella is my all time favorite). Both boys also liked the wishing stars and the wishing star ceremony. Have fun ... I am currently debating if we'll do CRT again in August. It really is just for me ... and Akershus wouldn't cut it because for me, it's all about the castle

 

[ratlenhum]

Interested in princesses or not, Akershus is awesome for just getting in before the crowds if you do breakfast.

This year we did both CRT and Akershus with my son. We took my son to CRT dressed as Prince Charming.

 

[jasmom]

Hi I think it is great that your youngest son likes the princesses. I have 2 boys 10, 8 and a dd6. This past trip we split up for dinner the one night so my daughter could do the princess dinner at Aerkhs(spelling). We did 1900 park fare the year before and my sons were miserable, and it made it not as fun for the whole family. My oldest is pretty easy going but he flat out refused to go to another princess dinner and I did not want to take them as it was not fun for anyone. That would be a concern for me doing 2 meals with your oldest kids not enjoying themselves or being embarressed. pre teens get so embarressed easily. A lot of people would say of course take boys to the princess meals. I would say only take them if they are really little or into princesses.jmo

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks to everyone for the additional reports! Thanks for posting the photo, too, ratlenhum!

And jasmom, all good points and I agree. I should have mentioned that we're not taking our two older boys to the princess meals - it's just our youngest son. So it will just be my husband, our princess fan pre-schooler and me!

 

[*sarah*]

My son is super excited about our CRT ressie. He is going to wear a shirt that says "Prince Charming" on it. I thought that would be cute.

 

[sharig5576]

I took my 5 year old and 3 year old boys to Akershus last month b/c they LOVE the princesses. It was one of the best character meals we had. My 5 year old was just talking and talking to the princesses and gave them special notes he wrote for them. Totally worth every penny!

 

[pixarmom]

My son is super excited about our CRT ressie. He is going to wear a shirt that says "Prince Charming" on it. I thought that would be cute.

Super cute idea!! Thanks!

 

[pixarmom]

I took my 5 year old and 3 year old boys to Akershus last month b/c they LOVE the princesses. It was one of the best character meals we had. My 5 year old was just talking and talking to the princesses and gave them special notes he wrote for them. Totally worth every penny!

Love the report and the idea for the notes! Thanks!

 

[It'sWDW4me]

My pre-teen loved CRT!!

After 3 trips to WDW, I was jonesing for a girly princess dinner so I told DS (12 at the time) and my yougest DB (also 12 at the time) that they would just need to deal with eating at one princess dinner. They opted out of the pic with Cinderella but they both loved the meal and had a great time watching Fairy Godmother and the mice.

In fact, for this past trip, DB (now 14) was hoping that we'd go to CRT again! Given a choice this past year between a dinner at Akershus with my DB#1 and his 3 kids or dinner at Le Cellier with me, mom, DB#2 & his GF, DS (14) and DB#3 (14) actually chose Akershus over Le Cellier! And they enjoyed it too.

Your older boys will be fine with dinner at Akershus and a breakfast at CRT. In fact, they may just surprise you and love it!

 

[copperhound]

My son gave Akerhus a thumbs up, after initially being resistant to go (at 5 years old). He ended up being more excited about the princesses that my 3 year old daughter.

One of the princesses did ask him tentatively if he wanted his autograph book signed, as if she wasn't sure whether or not he would accept. Of course, he said "yes!". So, it might pay to give them a heads-up on the side which one of your guys is the big princess fan.

Have fun!

 

[blondietink]

We ate at Akershus in August with my 2 teen boys. They were thrilled by all the attention the princesses gave them! It didn't hurt that one of my Ds has the same name as Ariel's boyfriend. the princesses even came back twice to our table during or meal. I say go for it!