Cindi's Royal Ripoff

[VINN127]

This is an example of Disney greed run amuck. The platter of food (if you want to call it that) is thrown at you followed closely by a check. Eggs were cold and the blueberry sauce on the french toast was dried out. We were a big group so gratuities were included or I would have reconsidered my tipping. When we asked for more pastries at one end of the table, Scott, our server picked up the basket from the other end and gave it to us. The family members at the other end wanted them back. There are a lot of fine dining experiences at WDW. This is not one of them!!!

 

[Kelly5538]

Not to excuse them - but maybe it was just bad timing or because of a large group???
I took dd there last year in March and it was a wonderful experience with WAY too much food for the two of us..

 

[thelionqueen]

I think everyone should do this once, sorry you didn't have a good time. Our service was great, but I also thought the meal was lacking.

 

[tommygirl79]

We went to CRT January 9th for breakfast and we too were disappointed. Yes, it was neat to eat in the castle and see the princesses but the food was so-so (for WAY too much money) and our server didn't even bring DH and me juice until we sat for 15 minutes looking for her to do so. Even then, it took her over 5 minutes to get it to us. The princesses were okay but not overly friendly - which may or may not have been tainted by our attitude towards the situation with our waitress. We did the Princess Storybook Breakfast last year and LOVED it. I think part of the reason we preferred it was because it was our DDs first experiences with the princesses but evn so we found the atmosphere just as inviting, our server more attentive, and the food much better. Even the princesses there seemed to spend more time and seemed much more friendly with the girls. Who knows....separate experiences render different opinions.

 

[carol-lamb]

The title of your thread made me laugh!! We did the breakfast about 7 years ago, when my daughter was about 6. One of my sons was in high school and the other was in middle school. We enjoyed it and it was fun eating in the castle, but once was enough for us also. I remember feeling very rushed. This summer we had lunch at the Crystal Palace and once was enough for that also. We had a nice time and it is so beautiful there, but I probably wouldn't spend that much money for a buffet lunch again. I would rather spend it at Brown Derby or Le Cellier!

 

[cigar95]

I love the food at CRT.

Never had any problem with service, but I realize that some servers on some days will not be at their best. Sorry to hear that you may have gotten one on a down day.

I'd be fine without the princesses, but I just go with the flow, say hi when they come by, and always flirt with Belle and Mary.

 

[La2kw]

This is an example of Disney greed run amuck. The platter of food (if you want to call it that) is thrown at you followed closely by a check. Eggs were cold and the blueberry sauce on the french toast was dried out. We were a big group so gratuities were included or I would have reconsidered my tipping. When we asked for more pastries at one end of the table, Scott, our server picked up the basket from the other end and gave it to us. The family members at the other end wanted them back. There are a lot of fine dining experiences at WDW. This is not one of them!!!

It's definitely not worth going if you are looking for great food. As with many of the theme park restaurants, the food is so-so and the price is too high. Definitely go for the experience, not the food. We did the breakfast once and vowed to never do it again. We enjoyed going at lunch so much more because there were no characters and the food was better. Unfortunately, they also ruined lunch and now dinner by adding characters and changing the menu. It's now way overpriced and no longer one of our dining choices.

 

[TwingleMum]

Sorry your experience was less that magical. We went and thought the food was OK. We got plenty of seconds and the pastries were replenished quickly. My oldest DS is anti princess and 3 when we went to CRT. He pretty much hid under the table whenever the princesses came. Snow White came and tried to get him to come out She said in her Snow White voice "Hello young prince can you come out and talk to me?" He said " No!! I'm here for my Mommy I don't want to see you. " Snow White then said "Oh you must be Grumpy (my DS didn't get the joke) He said "No my name is Liam!!"

 

[vellamint]

When we took our family in 2002 - I will never forget one of my daughters LOVING the fruit cup....until I realized that the ice cream sized dessert cup was meant for our entire family of six.. (as she sat there happily eating directly out of it lol). Seriously, the food was terrible but it is something that you should experience once!!

 

[scrump]

This is an example of Disney greed run amuck. The platter of food (if you want to call it that) is thrown at you followed closely by a check. Eggs were cold and the blueberry sauce on the french toast was dried out. We were a big group so gratuities were included or I would have reconsidered my tipping. When we asked for more pastries at one end of the table, Scott, our server picked up the basket from the other end and gave it to us. The family members at the other end wanted them back. There are a lot of fine dining experiences at WDW. This is not one of them!!!

This would've ticked me off endlessly, I am so sorry this was your experience.

We have never done the character meals, but I have heard they can be so rushed.

I don't think the food is ever incredible, but CRT is the one place I would reconsider - perhaps during non-peak hours?

On the other hand, it would take me a lot to go back after an appalling experience such as this one.

 

[pooh2001]

Maybe it was just bad timing - or the Chef in the kitchen was short handed - no Sous Chef to help out.

I hope some people have a better experience for the price.

 

[gigi1313]

we've had breakfast in the castle twice... first time (aug '04) there were four of us and it was excellent... this time there were 8 and it was similar to what you described...

 

[MinnieGi]

I would have been horrified too if the server just simply moved the pastries from one end of the table to the other. We actually have always had good service at CRT even in larger groups and have always been brought more food when needed. Now any other place I would never pay the $for the food but the atmosphere and DD's face when she saw and met the princesses always made up for it and was the reason we always came back. However this past trip I could not get a ps for CRT so we went to PSB for lunch. Our service was okay, but none of us liked the food. In fact we had to go to Mexico right after to feed DS b/c he tried the food but found none to his liking.

 

[Dopey420]

We went for lunch and I thought the food was very good, if overpriced. I had the pork on cheese grits with onion straws. Quite good.

 

[abk96]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I agree about the princesses. When we went in July they all came at us at once. It was like they had somewhere else to go and quick. At one point Snow White was with my dd's getting a picture and Belle came over and took the autograph books and signed them so she could move on faster.

It was a great experience, but now we can say "Been there, done that".

 

[jaysue]

I agree with prior poster - the costs have been hiked so much it is not even up for consideration as a place for us to go

cheers
jaysue

 

[lillygator]

sorry to hear about your experience....we have been to the CRT breakfast on almost every trip and we love the breakfast offerings....

 

[diznyfanatic]

We had a lunch ressie at CRT on December 23. Maybe because it was my 3 year old granddaughter's very first trip to WDW and this was our very first character meal with her on our very first visit to the Castle, we had such a "magical" time there.

We enjoyed our food very much while it wasn't anything exceptional. The Princesses were all great with my granddaughter but brief. The ambience was wonderful. While the server was very friendly, my granddaughter loved being called "Princess", it was rushed. Every server in the place was running around madly it seemed.

As much as we loved the experience and would happily do it again for 1 TS, sadly, we feel it isn't worth another visit for 2 TS each.

 

[Shells9]

My oldest DS is anti princess and 3 when we went to CRT. He pretty much hid under the table whenever the princesses came. Snow White came and tried to get him to come out She said in her Snow White voice "Hello young prince can you come out and talk to me?" He said " No!! I'm here for my Mommy I don't want to see you. " Snow White then said "Oh you must be Grumpy (my DS didn't get the joke) He said "No my name is Liam!!"

Too cute!

 

[SandraC]

We've been to Cindy's three times. The first time was MAGIC! The second time was rushed. The third time was fine...but I think we're done. We booked Princess Storybook at Epcot for March. My kids are looking forward to that! S