Character Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner?

[Betzee]

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of posts on this board, and my eyes are about to fall out of my head from reading.... So, I decided to ask this question, although I'm sure the answer is somewhere within all these posts!

We're taking my DD5 on her first WDW trip and I want to find a special character meal for her, although not sure we can do the most expensive ones.

Which is best, a breakfast, lunch or dinner? For her purposes, the characters will be much more important than the food! She is a huge princess fan. Is there one with the princesses, other than Cinderella's Royal Table? I'm not sure we can afford that one, unless someone tells me it is REALLY worth it?

Thanks so much for any help.

 

[Cruz91]

Well - first of all, CRT Breakfast IS worth it. The one warning about this venue is that, while you do get to meet Cindy and take a picture with her, she is NOT one of the characters who walk around and greet you while you're eating. You meet with her right before you're seated and that's it. Then while you're eating, an assortment of other princesses and 'friends' (like Mary Poppins) walk around while you're eating and meet with every table. The food is awesome, and the atmosphere is unreal. I mean, when else will you have a chance to eat in a castle?! This is an absolute, unquestioned MUST for us on every trip - so much so that we actually book our trip around when we get ADR's (it's very tough to get into if you don't call at the exact 180 day out mark). Another note is that at dinner, none of the princesses are there while you're eating. It's only the fairy godmother and the the mice - which is why we stick to breakfast.

I know that the princess meal at Epcot (Askerhaus) is also very popular. We have always stayed away from that one, though, because the menu does not appear to be anything that our children would eat.

One final thought... As for price, I don't know that you'll see a drastic difference between the 'expensive' and the 'less expensive' ones. I don't know exactly, but I'm guessing you're talking about $10 difference per person or so - which if you consider the cost of the trip as a whole, that's not a huge difference.

 

[blana]

As PP mentioned, there's the Princess Storybook meal at Akershus in Norway at Epcot. If you don't think you'd like the menu, you can always try that one for breakfast, which has a more "Americanized" meal from what I understand. Multiple princesses, less aggravation in getting a ressie than CRT, and costs less. We're going there with our whole group of 10 in two weeks. There's also 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian for supper, which has Cinderella and her step-family there now. My parents & niece (4 the last time, I believe) have been to both of these, although 1900 was in the previous incarnation with the mice instead of the sisters, and loved them.

 

[Tink51]

CRT is a must-do for us as well. It does cost a bit more, but the photo package is included in the price. At Akershus it was an additional $32.00. The "magic " of having breakfast in the castle is someting our little princesses look forward to all year long.

 

[ldo]

Princess Storybook breakfast--why?
It's cheaper--you can take your own came--also get a little autograph book and snap candid photos of her with princesses.
She gets to see 6 princesses.
I do not think the extra cost was worth it for the Castle, esp. if $ is an issue.
Your DD will be THRILLED to be in the Norway castle with SIX princesses!

 

[Minniemouse07]

We skipped CRT during our December trip and opted for dinner at 1900 Park Fare and breakfast at Akershus instead.

We loved BOTH of them and more importantly so did dd (6.5yo). She got her princess fix and we were able to meet everyone except Ariel.

Dd and I are going back in July for her birthday though and I'm trying to get CRT for breakfast on her birthday. Figure it is an extra special occasion!

 

[sl_underwood]

We have been to the princess storybook breakfast in Epcot and 1900 park fare for dinner, dds enjoyed both. We have not done cindys castle just because its always full. I spend all year planning but dont book until the last minute.

 

[hopare]

I have taken my daughter to both. We have done CRT Breakfast, and Akershus(breakfast also). Last time we did CRT for lunch because breakfast was booked. Next week we are doing CRT lunch again. For us the timing just works better and we love the castle.
Trust me your daughter will be thrilled with either one. Book soon though, they book quick!

 

[Joanna71985]

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of posts on this board, and my eyes are about to fall out of my head from reading.... So, I decided to ask this question, although I'm sure the answer is somewhere within all these posts!

We're taking my DD5 on her first WDW trip and I want to find a special character meal for her, although not sure we can do the most expensive ones.

Which is best, a breakfast, lunch or dinner? For her purposes, the characters will be much more important than the food! She is a huge princess fan. Is there one with the princesses, other than Cinderella's Royal Table? I'm not sure we can afford that one, unless someone tells me it is REALLY worth it?

Thanks so much for any help.

In my opinion, CRT is worth it! I have done CRT lunch 3 times (and hope to do it again in July). Just being in the castle is pretty cool. That being said, there is another princess meal in Norway at Epcot. I did the breakfast once, and it's ok. Also, you have to buy the photo package at Norway (at CRT it comes with the meal).

And if it's just princesses you are looking for, you can find them outside of dining. There is Toontown (which usually has Cinderella, Belle in her yellow gown, and Aurora), Snow White can be found in Town Square, and Jasmine by the Carpet Ride. Then at Epcot there is Mulan in China, Snow White in Germany, Jasmine in Morocco, Belle and Aurora in France, and Mary Poppins in the UK.

 

[Lesley Mahler]

Princess Storybook breakfast--why?
It's cheaper--you can take your own came--also get a little autograph book and snap candid photos of her with princesses.
She gets to see 6 princesses.
I do not think the extra cost was worth it for the Castle, esp. if $ is an issue.
Your DD will be THRILLED to be in the Norway castle with SIX princesses!

You can't take your camera into CRT?

 

[Joanna71985]

You can't take your camera into CRT?

Oh yes you can.

 

[Lesley Mahler]

Oh yes you can.

Oh, thanks!! Someone said in an earlier post to do The Storybook Breakfast b/c you can bring your own camera, so I thought it meant you couldn't bring it into CRT, that's why I was asking. We have CRT booked for the day of my daughter's 6th birthday and if I couldn't take my camera, I would be upset!!!

 

[Lesley Mahler]

In my opinion, CRT is worth it! I have done CRT lunch 3 times (and hope to do it again in July). Just being in the castle is pretty cool. That being said, there is another princess meal in Norway at Epcot. I did the breakfast once, and it's ok. Also, you have to buy the photo package at Norway (at CRT it comes with the meal).

And if it's just princesses you are looking for, you can find them outside of dining. There is Toontown (which usually has Cinderella, Belle in her yellow gown, and Aurora), Snow White can be found in Town Square, and Jasmine by the Carpet Ride. Then at Epcot there is Mulan in China, Snow White in Germany, Jasmine in Morocco, Belle and Aurora in France, and Mary Poppins in the UK.

Can you tell me about the photo package with CRT, they didn't tell me anything about that when I booked the breakfast? Thanks

 

[Joanna71985]

Oh, thanks!! Someone said in an earlier post to do The Storybook Breakfast b/c you can bring your own camera, so I thought it meant you couldn't bring it into CRT, that's why I was asking. We have CRT booked for the day of my daughter's 6th birthday and if I couldn't take my camera, I would be upset!!!

Oh don't worry. I have eaten at CRT for my last 3 birthdays (and hope to do so again in July) and I have always been able to use my own camera.

Can you tell me about the photo package with CRT, they didn't tell me anything about that when I booked the breakfast? Thanks

Sure. For my last birthday I got a nice folder with Cinderella on it. Inside is a photo of me and Cinderella (a large one. I'm not sure what size, but I think it may be 8 by 10) and also 4 smaller prints of the large version (I believe they are 4 by 6).

 

[DCSxTwo]

We had dinner at CRT in Nov and it was worth every penny!! (we were on the dining plan so it was a lot of pennies! lol) It was by far our most favorite! I will be trying desperately to get ressies there again in Dec.!! The photo package is awesome and you can use your own camera also. I took about forty shots of my children with Cinderella along with the ones they take. I thought it was well worth the money. Although next time I will pay for it out of pocket and use the ts from the dining plan elsewhere. I think it works out cheaper that way since it takes 2 ts meals. I haven't eaten at the Princess Storybook Meal, but I have a friend who has, she had breakfast and said it was good, her dd5 had a great time. Either way, if you include the pictures you are coming out about the same pricewise.