CINDERELLAS ROYAL TABLE... Worth It?

[!@#$%]

OK, were not the mushy princess type people. Sure, my daughter is adorable, and she's 3, and she loves princesses.
But it stops there. Were all more Pirates of the Caribbean types.

1) We wont buy the photos (we have thousands of photos from WDW already, and we'll take plenty there for free and upload them for free on our computer) so thats a fun, but pointless thing.
2) the character meals are booked up already for the week we are there, so it will be a dinner, and basically characterless (I know they walk through but no autographs)
3) It takes 2 table service credits.
4) the food really isnt that impressive.

I guess my question is... It it just the experience of eating in the castle? is it just something you HAVE TO experience once???

I'm booked for dinner, but I'm still unsure of it. Any input appreciated. (as long as its worded friendly, and not flaming or sarcastic)

Do you highly recommend it EVEN if its NOT a character meal? Is it worth 2 TSs?
Exactly how high up are you? Is the view amazing?
I havent been able to find much on it.

 

[bicker]

I haven't checked every other restaurant, but have checked most of them, and I think CRT is the worst value on the Dining Plan. Most 2TS meals run up close to $50 per adult (I just did a quick check, and depending on what you order, one adult could run up a bill of almost $64!), while CRT runs $32 for breakfast and $40 for dinner.

 

[Kaycee]

If you take out the princess factor, I don't think CRT is at all worth it.

We had lunch in the castle a few years ago. This was before lunch was a character meal, and the cost was much less. We chose to have lunch there because there are no little princess fans in our family and we just wanted to experience eating in the castle.

At the time, under those circumstances, it was worth doing. The food wasn't great, but it was fun to eat in the castle. We got a window seat, and it was nice to be able to look out over Fantasyland while we ate.

As long as the current circumstances are in place (all character meals and high prices) we won't be going back. It was fun to eat in the castle for the sentimental value, but it wasn't impressive enough to justify the current cost. And the view, while nice, was no better than the view of Liberty Square you get from the upstairs dining area at Columbia Harbour House.

 

[condorthb]

I maybe mistaken, but aren't the photos taken at CRT already included in the pre-pay price?

 

[F1Julie]

The photos are included in the price. CRT is good for dinner, but not worth 2 TS credits. I pay OOP for CRT (at breakfast, lunch or dinner) and get more out of my credits elsewhere.

 

[Bibbidi]

When eating in the castle was an "order off the menu" setup I think it was definitely worth it. We had dinner there in May 2004 and everyone in our group still talks about how fun it was. We weren't even seated next to a window, but the atmosphere was great and so was the food. If your family is more Pirates than Princess, I think you could be disappointed in the cost. We have two very Princessy daughters who will want to eat breakfast or lunch there so we will give that a whirl this trip (our youngest was only 10 mos old last time). However, since the pictures don't sound important to you and you're not going for the characters, I think you could consider skipping it. You might end up feeling like you're wasting a lot of TS credits that could be used better for your family elsewhere.

If you want to still have a castle-like experience and see some princesses for 1 TS credit you could do the Storybook Princess meal at Norway in Epcot. The breakfast is pretty standard fare, but the lunch and dinner are definitely more Norwegian and don't fit everyone's taste buds. We had breakfast there last Fall and my oldest wants to go back next spring. They have princesses at every meal.

 

[Golliwobbler]

If you want to still have a castle-like experience and see some princesses for 1 TS credit you could do the Storybook Princess meal at Norway in Epcot. We had breakfast there last Fall and my oldest wants to go back next spring. They have princesses at every meal.

100% agree with Bibbidi. We do not feel that CRT is worth the time or "money." Our two DDs just weren't that impressed with any of it. The food is pretty subpar, the roof leaks on certain areas (dripping condensation due to the materials used), the character interaction is only average, and as for being in the castle, once you walk in the front doors, much of the glamour is lost. We much perfer Princess Breakfast in Norway, as food is better, character interaction is much more robust (more Princesses, like Jasmine, that are not at CRT), and the restaurant is a bit more "cozy."

Skip it, you're not going to miss much at all...

 

[!@#$%]

If you want to still have a castle-like experience and see some princesses for 1 TS credit you could do the Storybook Princess meal at Norway in Epcot. The breakfast is pretty standard fare, but the lunch and dinner are definitely more Norwegian and don't fit everyone's taste buds.

We did Norway right before it went princess. We LOVED it!!! The food was AWESOME!!! I ate seafood that I wont touch anywhere else (I usually dont like herring). When it became a princess character meal it really ticked me off. I had planned to do that one every year and havent done it since. I read here by other Norway fans that when it became a princess storybook they stripped it of anything really interesting, and substituted all the odder foods with burgers and such. I liked the huge selection, and the fact that I could eat a little of each, because some items (like herring) I really wouldnt want to order a whole plate of, but definately like to "sample'.
I might give it a second chance though. The salmon was awesome! drool drool
(They need a smiley here drooling)

 

[poptoone]

We are doing CRT breakfast or DD-3 would probably disown me. We are using our TS credits on it because we prefer to eat at most of the CS restaurants vs the TS with a wiggly 3 year old. I know this isn't maximizing the DDP but it was free. I can pay OOP for two counter services to replace it for about $40.00 where CRT would run me $103.00 out of pocket.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I had a similar discussion with DH about taking the 2 DNieces....they are princess fanatics so we decided to look at the cost and menu and the characters .... they will hate the food at the Castle lunch or dinner so we would have to do a breakfast and that price is crazy....sooo what we came up with is the Princess Breakfast (I know Cinderella is not there) and dinner at 1900 Park Fare (the menu was great for the girls) and Cindy is there.....since they are so young (3 and 10) I dont think they will miss out on the Castle as long as they see the princesses

 

[cpayne1997]

The photos are included in the price. CRT is good for dinner, but not worth 2 TS credits. I pay OOP for CRT (at breakfast, lunch or dinner) and get more out of my credits elsewhere.

This is what we did! I really wanted to eat here again this year but did not want to use 2 credits each for all 4 of us. We have to pay a little over $100 but oh well it is worth it to us!!

 

[sportears]

We've eaten there Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner several times. Breakfast absolutely not. Lunch and Dinner are just a little better than average. Crystal Palace is the place you'd rather be.

 

[Cass]

People like to dine in the castle, just to experience it. We are doing CRT for the 3rd time in December but it's only because we are going with newbies who have never been to Disney before.

I would have been fine to skip it.

 

[musicmama]

Now that the dinner menu is so much more limited and the price has effectively "doubled", I think the value has diminished greatly. Granted, we LOVED dinner last Christmas - but there were lots of choices on the menu and we all ordered something different and shared around. I don't plan on going back because I want to remember the great food we had and not compare it.

My sister and her family went for lunch last year after it went "princess". She was not thrilled but the girls were (8 and 3) and that was important to them. Plus it was still 1 credit.

 

[Micca]

If it's worth it to eat in the castle, do it. Otherwise, better food, better service, and better characters elsewhere. That said, the castle itself is wonderful.

 

[!@#$%]

they will hate the food at the Castle lunch or dinner

I havent found much in the park my children wouldnt eat. My kids are like little scavengers. They'll eat prettymuch anything not breathing. Of course we buy all kinds of unusual foods on a regular basis, so they are used to it already.

 

[LuvOrlando]

If you don't mind my 2 cents........

I read this through and can't figure out if you are getting the dining free or paying for it yourself and that would make all the difference in the world to me.

If you are paying out of your pocket I can see you being cost sensitive since you've paid for it yourself and you probably don't want to go digging further in your pocket. But, if the meal plan is free I say go for it and do every expensive meal you think you might like. It's like WDW is giving away free Princess meals, Luaus and Hoop Dee Doo's. I wouldn't miss out on that stuff if I had the chance to do it all for free. Maybe it would take up 2 nights dinners but you can always find alternative options. Cinderella's Castle lunch is wonderful, the meal was great compared to the other meals at other places and my kids found pleanty to eat, no trouble there.

To me these character meals are 'once in a lifetime's' that my kids still talk about. Sure they are all expensive. Sure you're paying alot of $ to see a bunch of girls in pretty clothes. But to MY daughter she really ate lunch in Cinderella's home and that was worth every cent.

I have a friend who goes every year and she refuses to 'waste' her money on character dining. Her kids don't even know the meals exist. They go to WDW and still have lots of fun. I have other friends who think WDW is one giant waste of money and their kids are ok too. I guess it all boils down to what you like.

 

[Cruz91]

OK, were not the mushy princess type people. Sure, my daughter is adorable, and she's 3, and she loves princesses.
But it stops there. Were all more Pirates of the Caribbean types.

1) We wont buy the photos (we have thousands of photos from WDW already, and we'll take plenty there for free and upload them for free on our computer) so thats a fun, but pointless thing.
2) the character meals are booked up already for the week we are there, so it will be a dinner, and basically characterless (I know they walk through but no autographs)
3) It takes 2 table service credits.
4) the food really isnt that impressive.

I guess my question is... It it just the experience of eating in the castle? is it just something you HAVE TO experience once???

I'm booked for dinner, but I'm still unsure of it. Any input appreciated. (as long as its worded friendly, and not flaming or sarcastic)

Do you highly recommend it EVEN if its NOT a character meal? Is it worth 2 TSs?
Exactly how high up are you? Is the view amazing?
I havent been able to find much on it.

Regardless of what everyone says - it's their opinion (no meanness intended). I think you know the answer yourself because you started by saying you're not really princess type people - and it's great to know yourselves! My wife would NOT go back to WDW without going to the castle. It's a MUST for us because she and the DD are both fairy tale freaks. I, therefore, go because I love seeing them smile. If you guys aren't that into it - spend the money somewhere that would make similar wonderful memories for you! Don't get peer pressured into a decision - you know what you'd enjoy

 

[ChrisLei]

We had lunch there last November before it went to 2 credits per person. I say the expierence is worth 1 credit but definitely not 2.

 

[!@#$%]

great points. something to consider