Cinderella's Royal Table- Help!

[DancinDaisyDuck]

I'm trying to talk myself into eating here in June. My friend really wants to, and I want to as well, but what I DON'T want is to be disappointed. I haven't hyped it up too much in my mind, but I get such mixed reviews from my research I don't know what to think.

I have a problem justifying the cost, first of all. #1- I have to pay the holiday price (since when is June 5th a holiday???) which is $36 sans tax and tip for breakfast! #2- I know that at those places you pay for the ambiance, the character interaction and (whether you want it or not, apparently) the photo package. #3- That better be the best darn breakfast I've ever had if I'm going to shell out $40+ before 9am. I'd expect some gold leaf on top of my eggs for that price!

There are also some awesome character buffets that deep down I'd rather go to. Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare and Crystal Palace are all on my priority list over CRT.

I'm not a morning person. I'm not thrilled about having to get up at the crack of dawn on a cold December morning to make a reservation for June.

So I guess my actual question is, is this all worth it? Will I have a better time on this trip just because I ate at CRT? How is breakfast compared to lunch or dinner? I'd appreciate any insight you all can provide. The good, the bad, and the yummy (or crummy, as the case may be).

 

[dburg30]

Well I wouldnt expect a world class breakfast. Like you said, you are paying for the castle , IMO that's really what it boils down to. My wife and I are going in December, we've never been to WDW before, and I asked her 1/2 jokingly (only 1/2 ) if she wanted to eat breakfast in the castle with cinderella.. She looked at me like I was in idiot, and said, "You're darn right I do".

 

[ballarinamom]

We had a great experience there and really enjoyed the food. We even paid out of pocket instead of using the 2 TS credits. DD5 is a princess freak and it was an opportunity to see Belle as she was not at the other meals we had planned. However, if you are concerned about this meal making or breaking your trip? You will enjoy CP or 1900 Park just as much in my opinion. We did it more for DD5. Plus we do prefer a served meal instead of a buffet- If that makes a difference

 

[Tinks1984]

Well I wouldnt expect a world class breakfast. Like you said, you are paying for the castle , IMO that's really what it boils down to. My wife and I are going in December, we've never been to WDW before, and I asked her 1/2 jokingly (only 1/2 ) if she wanted to eat breakfast in the castle with cinderella.. She looked at me like I was in idiot, and said, "You're darn right I do".

O/T here, but your post made me chuckle! I totally had visions of that conversation...as we've had the same one! My DBF couldn't refuse once he saw my eyes light up at the thought of being inside the castle! I think I was back in my childhood for a brief moment - the thought of meeting my favourite princess (for the 1st time ever!) just makes me very giddy - goodness help me when I'm in the same lobby as her!!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I had lunch there back in July and hated it. I am 44 years old and not impressed with princesses. I was not impressed with my food either. The appetizer plate they set out is nice. Cheese and chicken if I remember correctly. Well, the lunch I chose had a cheese on the sandwich that I did not care for. They WOULD NOT swap the cheese for one of the types on the appetizer plate! I almost said could not, but of course they could have. That is what made it aggravating. After I had taken a couple bites of my sandwich--sans cheese the (rude) waitress came over and said "Oh, I told them to leave off the cheese, not the lettuce and tomato!" and in a flash dropped a small plate of lettuce and tomato on the table. I guess when you pay $40 for a sandwich, it would be nice if they would sub the cheese.

On the other hand, the 10 year old girl we were with was gaga over all the princesses and didn't give a fig about what was on her plate.

So, if you want princesses--go. If you want a decent meal, go elsewhere.

 

[super_crunch]

It is definitely all about the castle.
We found the breakfast food to be absolutely disgusting.

My 6 year old cinderella obsessed dd loved the fact that we ate in the castle...but she actually liked the character interaction and food at the dinner at 1900 park fare better.
She loved that she could see Cinderella walking around the room the whole time instead of just in the lobby for a minute or two.

If you are expecting good food, you might want to try a different meal of the day, or a different location

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you are that hesitant about going, don't do it. Honestly, it sounds like you are going to be dissapointed so I would skip it. Or, if you don't want to fork over so much $$ for breakfast or be up that early, go to lunch instead. We did lunch at CRT and we really enjoyed it. We actually loved our food. It was one of my favorite character meals b/c it was not hectic and crazy like the 2 others we did that trip.

 

[disneyquilter]

Eating at CRT is not going to make or break your trip. If you already know you don't really want to go, don't.

We ate here on our first trip in 2005 for breakfast on the first day and loved it. We are going on our 3rd trip in Jan 2009 and have already decided to try dinner (hopefully on the first evening we are there). Again, this really doesn't make or break the trip, but it is a nice addition (in my opinion) .

 

[EnnEss]

First time we went to WDW my gf really wanted to eat here, despite all the bad reviews. I tend to be a lot less harsh than most people though when it comes to reviews and I don't really like food all that much so its hard to disappoint me.

Anyways, she really wanted to meet the princess, do the picture, etc. The food was so awful though, soooo bad. It was really cool with all the chars walking around, but it was worse than counter service. I don't regret it because it'd be silly to regret what is really just a 1hour meal that just cost some TS credits but I'd not do it again. I remember looking at the kids around with macaroni and attempting to eat whatever type of meat I had and just being envious of them.

I think you can still enjoy it if your expectations are in order, but you are really unlikely to enjoy the food. Considering its 2 TS creds you could go somewhere like Narcooses maybe or even just a couple different restaurants. I even liked the food at the Sea restaurant (name suddenly eludes me) in Epcot, and it seems so many dislike that.

 

[DancinDaisyDuck]

Thanks for all of your input.

We will not have kids travelling with us (which is good because we don't have any!). This trip is more of a "we're young and let's celebrate getting through our first year as full-time professionals" thing. We still have some time to think about it since our 180 day mark isn't until December 7. Thanks again!

 

[budbeerlady]

I paid out of pocket for our breakfast, a surprise for DD who has always wanted to eat there.
We were in the castle 40 min tops: met Cindy, up the stairs, seated, hot plate set in front of me, wishing ceremony, princess Belle, princess Jasmine, princess snow white, princess aurora, done, down the stairs and out the door. Almost 40min even for $65ish. (I didnt even get a $1 a min.) It was 9:10 and DD was itching to go on some rides.

We could have sat longer, but we were done. It wasnt very good, DD ate her eggs and 1 piece of bacon. I ate her french toast sticks, my eggs and the small dab of potatoes I had gotten. Some fruit and a bit of a roll. I expected better food for the $$$$.

But anyway, my point is...... if you ask DD her favorite part of the trip its eating in the castle. Not BBB, not illuminations cruise, not the diver w/ a sign at coral reef, not getting a cake and 3ft tall mickey at garden grill from us. Its the castle for her. She didnt care we were not there long or that the food was bad, so if you really need to go, then go and dont flinch over the price.

 

[Bama mom to 3]

My youngest son has picked Cinderella as his Character meal (we are letting each of the kids choose one). And so I was considering CRT so we can get the pictures and we have never ate in the castle so I thought it would be fun for the kids (or at least youngest DS who will be there on his first trip and DD). I know that DS won't get to see Cindrella while dining, but I thought it would be a good chance to get the other princesses out of the way too...LOL

 

[THERESA522]

We had a wonderful breakfast at CRT last May. Even if I didn't have my two kids with me (dd 3 & ds 5), I still would have enjoyed it! It IS expensive, but the food was good & the atmosphere FANTASTIC!

 

[Surfingstitch]

Our first trip to WDW and our first TS was CRT for dinner. The food was great and the atmoshpere was really fun. DW had the salmon(her favorite of the trip), I had the pork loin which was yummy. They even substituted something to give me the grautin(sp) potatoes. So yummy and reminded me of the Blue bayou in DL.

 

[PrincessMomto2]

We had breakfast there as well this past August. The food was good and the atmosphere was just wonderful. The princesses were great and my dd's both still talk about it. Is it expensive yes but what is not expensive at WDW? It was a very special way to kick off our trip. We made some very special memories. I'm glad we did it.

 

[quixoticvalue]

CRT for dinner was ooooookay... one of my least favorites for 2 reasons:
1) it was my bday and fairy godmother was doing her spiel about "special days" while dbf and i were ordering.. i heard what she was saying after we ordered... "any anniversaries?" and i said "oh its my birthday!" and she just goes... "oh thats nice, dear" and walks away. yeah i did hear people laughing at me for that.
2) i was a picky eater at that time and when i asked for no risotto with my salmon and asked if i could replace it with something else the server didnt suggest anything and then shrugged off to ask "the chef". he came back saying that i can have mashed potatoes and i thought "well thats not very inventive or special"

However, dbf absolutely loved his prime rib and potatoes gratin. he almost drooled himself silly while eating. i have pix to prove too!
anyway.. i suppose you have to do it at least once for the castle experience. the ambiance and table was very magical IMO. However, i think the breakfast is something to do with your kids. If you want to experience the castle, go for dinner when the atmosphere is more magical and you dont have princesses breathing down your neck.
Also, appetizer, entree, dessert, and drink is included... although quite expensive, for what 40 bucks? not worth paying with DDP but better out of pocket.

 

[Tammysue5]

We did the CRT for Lunch.. and the food was WONDERFUL! I realize that it was expensive.. we would do it again in a heartbeat. We got Two Pics. One with DDs and Cinderella and the other with the whole family... Me, DH, DS16 and the girls. They both got their books signed, escorted upstairs... we saw Fairy godmother, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, and a couple other princesses. The girls got a wand and wishing star. (each DD got one)

The castle is truly beautiful and the girls had been made up at the BBB right there in the Castle immediately rior to the lunch. It was magical for everyone.

Even our DS16 had his pic taken with all the princesses. They would interact with the girls and then turn to DS16 and say hello handsome prince... he ate it up... and while he did it for the girls he enjoyed the whole experience as well.

In saying that we agreed as a family that for our first WDW vacation we did everything together. He went to all the princess dinners, CP, Cehf Mickeys etc... and in turn he chose Planet Hollywood and Sci-fi. We were not disappointed!