Cinderella's Royal Table worth it??

[jsinsel]

We are going to WDW for the first time in May/June, and I'm in the process of making dining reservations. We're trying to decide if eating in the castle is worth two credits...we have reservations for Akershus one night, but my DDs (ages 6 and 7) are princess crazy and I was also considering the Royal Table for our final night at Disney. We're splurging on a one-bedroom at AKV, so we could cook dinner at "home" (we'll have a full kitchen) a couple of nights in order to make up for using two credits at the castle, but I haven't been able to find a lot of feedback on this in the recent past.

Thanks in advance for any opinions!!

 

[Disneymama5816]

We have eaten there quite a few times. The interaction with Cinderella and the pictures are really nice. Especially if your girls are "princess crazy". The service is usually pretty good and the atmosphere is really special. The food can be hit or miss. I will say that most people prefer the food at the Castle vs Akershus as the Norwegian food is a little bit different. I think if you have not been to the castle before, you should do it at least once, especially for the girls.

 

[tiggerrulz]

We thought it was worth it, once....

It is very expensive, but the character interaction made it worthwhile. Not something we would do all the time though.

 

[candielips]

I thought CRT was much better than Akershus for the dinner food. If you do not care about the food, the interaction at Akershus was good.
The castle is very special, especially if your girls are princess crazy. The princesses interacted with my DD more at CRT than Akershus.
I could take it or leave it, but my DH insists on returning on our next trip for our DD.

 

[Carrie772]

I adore the food at CRT!!! The app plate is nice, and the Major Domo's Favorite Pie is delightful! My kids always eat every bite! If you get dessert, ask for ice cream on the chocolate muffin thing. They don;t offer it, but they have it for the children's dessert and it really makes the thing sing!! La la la!

The ladies that come and visit your table are nice too! My oldest son...14 yo...always gets his pic made with Cinderella. He just can't help himself!

 

[AirGoofy]

I think CRT is worth it, especially for breakfast. We have dds (8,6) and have been to CRT for all three meals. Breakfast was the best. We thought the lunch and dinner meals were not good. Regardless of the meal, you get one "free" picture (you really paid for it) at the entrance with Cinderella. You can take a few with your camera as well, but Cinderella won't visit the tables. You will have 4 or 5 princesses come to the tables, Aurora, Belle (blue/white dress), Snow White are consistent, and we have had Ariel, Jasmine, and Mary Poppins and different times. The girls also get a magic wand and wishing star. Plus, where else do you get to eat at a castle. If you can get a reservation before the park opens, then you get into MK early and take the walk through empty main street. That is really cool as well. Good luck with your decision.

 

[heather13]

If you're already planning on Akershaus, I wouldn't do both. For one thing, there's a good chance the same princesses will be different and they might notice - might be a big deal for them.

However we went to CRT and my girls (2 and 5) LOVED every second of it. The food wasn't an issue. No one really had time to eat. I shoveled in what I could between princesses visiting our table since I didn't want to miss a photo opportunity. The breakfast was pretty good I thought, but again it wasn't about the food. As an additional perk for me, it helped us avoid the lines to meet princesses throughout the park.

 

[Hootch]

OOP so I can't help on the value related to the dining plan. I just booked CRT for the fourth straight trip. I guess you can say we find it worth the money. Now this is likely our last visit for awhile as our daughter is getting older and we want to get back to exploring some of the other restaurants.

I agree with the PP on the Major Domo. We always do lunch and that's what we have settled on.

 

[Tiger926]

We totally don`t find it worth it at all - we pay OOP, and so spending that kind of money for kids to eat chicken fingers, is just not going to cut it.

We`ve eaten there 2x for dinner, as breakfast and lunch are totally not worth it to us (way overpriced for what you get), and the castle is nice inside, as is the photo you get, but the character interaction is on par with Akershus (have eaten here way too many times to count!).

We don`t feel any character meals are worth it any longer, most of all CRT.

Tiger

 

[defendthehill]

As the father of three Disney Daughters who love the princesses let me say that yes it is worth the two credits. My girls are 9,7,5 and we are heading to the world in June and eating breakfast at CRT. We did dinner last time we were there. Although my wife and I love Disney these trips are for my daughters. Our enjoyment of Disney comes mainly from watching them have a great time. And they will have a great time at CRT......no doubt....two credits.....absolutely!

 

[madelyn]

I have been to Akershaus on the dining plan for dinner with the whole family (2 boys and daughter almost 3 at the time) in November 2009 and dined at CRT for lunch paying cash but with TIW 20% discount in November 2010 on a gal's trip w/ 5 adult women and my daughter almost 4 at the time. I was not expecting much from CRT since I have read so many bad things about it and was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting to be rushed out of there but we were allowed to take our time. We were there in early November and had a 1:30-ish reservation so maybe it was just a slow time overall. On our way downstairs no one was taking photos with Cinderella and one girl older than my daughter was dancing w/ Cinderella so we encouraged my daughter to do the same and she shyly did it and we had a really magical moment. The food wasn't spectacular but we all enjoyed our food except 1 friend who thought her pork chop was a little dry. The rest of us had the Major Domo Pie and the pasta. My memories of Akershaus are good too but we had a late dinner (after 8p) seating and Aurora failed to visit our table. Not sure how she missed it and once we realized she never came to see us she was nowhere in sight and probably left for the night. I would probably go to either again but might think twice about CRT only b/c of the cost in both dining credits and money. Using the TIW discount made it a little better for us. As long as my daughter is into princesses it is worth it to us to pay for a character meal just to avoid having to stand in line to meet all those different princesses!

 

[DizGirl20]

I have 2 daughters, now 10 & 13, no longer interested in the princesses. But 7 years ago we took them to eat in The Castle. I have no regrets that I took them when they were younger. The look on their faces was something I will never forget. I have tears in my eyes thinking about it now. So my point is... Absolutely do it now, they are only young once!

 

[caitbrianna]

We did not enjoy CRT at all. Food was terrible. Princess interaction was ok. When you first enter the Castle you are basically put in a holding pen with so many other people it ruins the feeling of being in a castle. Akerhaus was so much better in every aspect.

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

I would do it. We ate at both last time. My DS7 and DD5 did not notice they were "different". They even asked Jasmine if she remembered them from MNSSHP. She agreed even though I am sure she did not, but she was actually the same Jasmine.

They way I look at it is how old will they be when you return? Will they still want to do CRT? I think 6 and 7 are perfect ages. If you have never done it, it is neat to say you have. DD5 loves telling everyone she ate in the castle.

To the pp that mentioned the yummy cupcake dessert, it is no longer offered. They took it of when they updated to the crappy menu. I am bitter about not being able to get my prime rib lol.

Go and enjoy. Remember for your 2 credits it includes the tip and the photo with Cinderella. I think I would have regreted it if I would not have done it.

I am a picky eater and enjoyed Akerhaus. I think the kids enjoyed them both.

 

[ladeeesquire]

we were just there this past sept. We paid oop but did the akershus (lunch) and the CRT (breakfast). My dd was only 2.5 yrs old but she just loved the princesses.

I think the castle experience is awesome and very special. Yes, there was kind of a mad rush in the waiting area but then they call your name (which was very exciting for the little girls) and take you upstairs and the dining room is so pretty. I thought the breakfast food was good. It wasn't the greatest food I've ever eaten but it was sooo much better than any of the other character meal food we ate.

Unfortunately, we had a problem with our experience --they skipped us and we ended up being taken in the dining room late --after the intro thing and the princesses had to be brought over to us for a special visit as our area had already been visited by then. I did complain, politely but firmly to the manager who then gave us a 5-8 front of line passes to be used elsewhere in the park. He also offered a special princess meet and greet just for my dd which we could have done a few hrs later when they did lunch but it didn't work for our schedule. my point is we had a problem but I was pleased with how they addressed it.

Akershus is different, very nice imo, and I thought the lunch food was really good. It was nice to have the little salad bar area. If your dd like Belle then that's the one to go to. We had a wonderful experience with Belle who really took a shine to my dd and spent a LOT of time with her at the end of our meal. Its probably one of my dd's (and therefore my) favorite memories of wdw.

Anyway, my whole point is that we will be returning to wdw next year and will definitely not miss CRT or akershus!

 

[rkrushing4]

I think its worth it at least once. My DD21 and DD16 just had breakfast there in November. When they were little we were never able to book it. One day I was online reservations looking and it was available. I asked the girls if they wanted to do it and they were thrilled. We had the dining plan but we paid OOP. Not sure if it would be worth the 2 TS to us. After dining there I am SOOOO glad we did it. The girls and I got wands and DH received a sword. The service was very good and it was so neat eating in the castle. I had lots of fruit with my breakfast that was very good. My DD21 loved the pastries. Not sure if we will do it again because of the price but am so glad that we have done it once even though my DD's are older. When people ask me what I liked about my past trip I have to say one of my top memories was the castle and how we all thought it was sooo cool.

 

[Carrie772]

I think its worth it at least once. My DD21 and DD16 just had breakfast there in November. When they were little we were never able to book it. One day I was online reservations looking and it was available. I asked the girls if they wanted to do it and they were thrilled. We had the dining plan but we paid OOP. Not sure if it would be worth the 2 TS to us. After dining there I am SOOOO glad we did it. The girls and I got wands and DH received a sword. The service was very good and it was so neat eating in the castle. I had lots of fruit with my breakfast that was very good. My DD21 loved the pastries. Not sure if we will do it again because of the price but am so glad that we have done it once even though my DD's are older. When people ask me what I liked about my past trip I have to say one of my top memories was the castle and how we all thought it was sooo cool.

I am so glad you posted this! My sister and I (26 and 32 at the time) got to eat at CRT together, just we two. You had better believe we got our picture made with Cinderella. We told her we were sisters and she said, "Sisters! How wonderful!" We went all googly and giggly! I will never forget that day.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

We haven't done it yet but we are trying it in the Spring. My girls want to go into the castle and that's what we're paying for - the experience of eating in the Castle. We did Akershus last year and it was nice, but it wasn't really a full replacement for the Castle. My kids still wanted to go in and they are at the age where they believe that everything is real. We are NOT using DDP at CRT for DH and I. It's only worth the credits for the kids as the meal is way more expensive for KIDS compared to other meals. However, CRT is NOT double many TS meals. I'd rather use the TS credits elsewhere.

 

[Kudrah]

I am not sure if it's worth it or not, but I hope that it will be!! I have a 1:15 reservation for my DD's 5th birthday! I am hoping that they will make it a very special birthday to remember!

 

[kathie859]

I think everyone should eat in the castle once.

Having said that, let me say it's way over-priced, food is average, the character interaction is rushed as is the service.

Akershus has a great salad bar (for lunch/dinner at least) so even if you don't like the main course offerings you won't starve and the princess interaction is stellar-- very relaxed and much more pleasant over-all than CRT.

I'll do Akershus again before I'd do CRT.