Character meal advice please!

[StephCT]

Hi! Wondering if some of you experienced DIS'ers can give me some advice.

I'm trying to figure out how many character meals is too much?

So our first day we arrive and go to the princess dinner at Epcot. Then the next day we'll go to MK and have lunch at the Crystal Palace w/Pooh.

I could only get Cinderella's castle for our last day at 8:30am...my plan is to go to breakfast, do one or two rides at MK that we missed the first day or want to repeat and then head to HS for the day. It would obviously be easier to just go to HS for the day, but I really wanted to do the castle and it was the only time I could get it.

For those of you who have done both, how different is the Epcot princess dinner vs the Cinderella breakfast? Do you think the castle is a must do?

The bottom line is dd isn't going to know what she's missing if I cancel the Cinderella breakfast...

 

[wildeflowers]

We haven't done both, but I thought I'd add my experience, too. We did the Princess Dinner in Epcot, which was wonderful. I, too, couldn't get ressies for the castle last minute at any reasonable time. All the princesses came to our table, and the meal includes a photo package with one of the princesses at the very beginning. It was very relaxing, the food was good and we loved seeing all the princesses together.

I did not miss the Castle after having such a good experience. I did hear from another mom while at WDW that the interaction with Cinderella is much more limited at the castle. Of course, I can not vouch for that since I did not go myself, but that is what she said.

 

[StephCT]

Thanks for that info, that's really helpful!

 

[GingerJay]

At the castle, you can only see Cinderella in the lobby where you pose for pics. There is still a chance for some great interaction, but if you're going in at a busy time, it may be limited. The interaction at Akershus is wonderful, and all the princesses (including Cinderella) comes by your table and chat for a while. Cindy's also at 1900 Park Fare for dinner with her stepsisters and prince I've heard wonderful things about the interaction there, too.

 

[StephCT]

Oh, I didn't realize that! The only character meal we've done is Pooh at Crystal Palace and I just assumed they were all the same (the characters all come around to your table). So is Cinderella the only princess at her castle? So you really only see her as you go in and then you just eat and that's it? It sounds like the big selling point is actually eating in the castle? if all that is true, then I'm really thinking of cancelling.

this is so helpful, thanks!

 

[MousePrincess]

At the castle, you can only see Cinderella in the lobby where you pose for pics. There is still a chance for some great interaction, but if you're going in at a busy time, it may be limited. The interaction at Akershus is wonderful, and all the princesses (including Cinderella) comes by your table and chat for a while. Cindy's also at 1900 Park Fare for dinner with her stepsisters and prince I've heard wonderful things about the interaction there, too.

I agree with this, Akershus was much more relaxed for us where we felt rushed at the Castle. The Princesses started coming around a second time at Akershus and even though they knew we had our turn they still sat with DD and talked with her some more. It was great!

 

[MousePrincess]

Oh, I didn't realize that! The only character meal we've done is Pooh at Crystal Palace and I just assumed they were all the same (the characters all come around to your table). So is Cinderella the only princess at her castle? So you really only see her as you go in and then you just eat and that's it? It sounds like the big selling point is actually eating in the castle? if all that is true, then I'm really thinking of cancelling.

this is so helpful, thanks!

We had Snow White, Aurora, Belle, and Jasmine at the Castle and SW, Ariel, Cinderella, and Aurora at Akershus. Then they do a pic with Belle at the beginning that I believe was also included without charge.

 

[tallen429]

At the current time, I don't think Cinderella is at Askerhaus. All the other princesses mentioned are there though.
Ariel is a nice addition because she isn't at the Castle meal.
We did the Castle last time and truly enjoyed it, but this time we're doing both 1900 Park Fare dinner and Askerhaus breakfast to cover all our Princess bases...LOL!

 

[lumpy08]

For my last trip we went to Akershus and 1900 Park Fare @ GF for dinner. Akershus was very nice. We had Cindy, Aurora, Jasmine, Ariel andthen we had the picture with Belle. My DD loves snow white and we ended up finding her the next day at Germany. The princesses have some spots during the day at Epcot which was nice.

We also did teh 1900 Park Fare. When I made ressies I couldn't get into the castle and the person I spoke to was awesome. She said try this and you won't be disappointed. Well 1900 Park Fare was hands down one of our favorites. My DD loves the stepsisters. We were fortunate and had a table right in the center of the room. Both my DD and DS got to dance with Cinderella. Drizella also sat on the floor with my DD for a few minutes and was talking with her. (god I wish I had that conversation on tape). The interaction was fab at this dinner.

We are going again this summer and I got into CRT. Which in a way I am glad we didn't get in the last time since it will be something different. This time I did the 1900 Park Fare as well for dinner and breakfast. My DH loved the food here as well, so I thought being on the monorail loop was a good place to start the day.