Cindi's Royal Ripoff

[Lives4Disney]

Sorry the OP and others had bad times at the castle. We have been lucky, done it a few times for Bfast and lunch and had lots of fun.

I noticed somebody mentioned the hostess being nasty. Oh yeah!! I think I know the one. Everybody in the Fairy Godmother chamber (waiting area) noticed how snarky she was. She was wicked witchlike.

I was going to book the castle for lunch for our spring break trip, but found out it would cost us about $200 for our family of 5. (what a joke) My teenage son would just be doing it to be part of the family, my two girls didn't even care to do it again, and husband would probably have choked once he got the bill. It is getting a bit outrageous. If the girls had wanted to do it BADLY I would have caved in and gone ahead, but oddly enough they didn't care at all. Been there, done that attitude!!

Lives4Disney

 

[Amy&Dan]

We enjoyed our experience there for breakfast in October of 04 and had a great dinner in October of 05, but with this price hike we won't be back. I had booked for this April, right after they changed the ADR policy to 180 days. I was so in shock to have my choice of times and days I couldn't think straight and made the reservation mostly because I could. Then when I realized I had just prepaid over $140 for a breakfast for my family of four, that was six months away, I came back down to planet earth and cancelled a few days later.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I've never done CRT and with the ridiculous price increase, I probably never will, but I did want to comment that I disagree to not expect good food at the character meals.

Maybe it is just that I always go to Disney to during slower times, but I have always had excellent food at our character meals. Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace, Donald's Breakfastasourous in AK, Grand Floridian Park Fare, Princess Breakfast in Norway, ect..I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal. I was maybe a little disappointed in the dinner at GF's Park Fare, but the food wasn't bad or anything, just maybe not my cup of tea. Other than that though, we've always had great food, very plentiful and good character interaction.

That aside, I think for the outrageous price they are charging now for CRT you should not only expect, good food, great service and plentiful, friendly character interaction, you should demand it. I would have definitely complained to someone if I had the same experience as the OP. I think it's sad if Disney thinks...and we let them...that they can get away with charging whatever they want for the character meals as long as they have some characters show up and think they do not have to provide good food, service or value. If enough people get the word out about how bad CRT is (and I've heard alot more bad reviews than good) Disney, while maybe not lowering the price of CRT, will at least improve the food and service.

 

[Shells9]

I'm really saddened by all this.

I know that sounds silly, but the idea of CRT is wonderful to me. As someone who has a lifetime fasincation with that darned castle, the thought of eating there (particulary starting my day with breakfast at my favorite park), amongst all the princesses and seeing the little girls dressed up and interacting with their favorite princesses is very special. I don't even mind paying the price (well, I do a little), but the fact that the quality of the food has diminshed so substantially is why we're not going there this trip.

You get there and you're all hyped up because you've managed to snag one of the toughest PS or ADR's or whatever we're calling them this week. You get a taste of the excitement of a morning at MK while you're waiting at the turnstyles, and then you take your leisurely walk up Main Street with some of it to yourself. You smell the food as you approach the castle and it smells so good.

The magic starts to diminsh a *wee* bit when you approach the check in area, as everyone is crowded about and CMs are asking your name and everything. It diminshes a *wee* bit more when you get into the downstairs "holding" area if you have to wait to be called. You enter the restaurant and the magic comes back as you look out and see an empty Fantasyland through the windows.

It continues until they bring your plate of food. Those runny eggs. That deep fried pastery (which, while VERY tasty, is HORRIBLE for your health, and the "healthy" breakfast they offer is just not enough). Greasy sausage. It's just sad. I want to like the food, I want the people I am with to like the food. When you leave you want to say, "Wow -- that whole thing was awesome!" But the last couple times we have left it's been like a quiet, "Eh...okay..."

If anyone who has any influence over the food is reading this, please reconsider what you're doing. You've got a good thing going, you really do, but with prices like this, the quality is going to have to improve to maintain the high standard to which CRT is held.

 

[PoohHappens]

I have to say we have done this breakfast 3 times. We have had a very good experience all 3 times. Never waited too long and have had good service. The characters always seemed interested in us when it was our turn. We liked our food. Now this being said, would I pay $20 for that food at a plain old restaurant--NO. But you are paying for much more than just your plate of food. It is the experience. I can see however that if you have poor service and are being herded like cattle and have very little character interaction that the magic is lost. Our family will not be returning to this breakfast as long as the new price stays in effect. We have experienced the magic and loved it, but the new cost is simply too much. We love Crystal Palace and will continue to go there. I am so sad that people have had poor experiences there lately.

 

[bethbuchall]

We have never been for breakfast, but I'm not happy that they changed dinner. That was one of our favorite meals on our last trip, and my daughter requested that we eat in the castle again this trip. With the change in menu and pricing, we won't be doing that.

Beth

 

[Danthesand]

The title of your thread made me laugh!!

Me too...probably in my personal top 10 of "best thread names of all time."

 

[skiwee1]

We've eaten at CRT 5 times in the last 3 years. I don't think we've ever had an above average meal. We had come to expect lackluster food and scarce princesses. We did go this past December one final time before the price change because there is no way I'd pay those prices for CRT.

 

[Texa]

Oh wow. I booked this breakfast this breakfast for my DD's 4th birthday. She just recently discovered the Disney Princesses and I was excited about this opportunity. I knew it was more about the experience for DD than the meal itself but now I'm starting to have second thoughts. My reservation is for June so I have some time before I cancel. I'm going to keep an eye on the boards and on the reviews for sure. Anyone going after Feb 1st please continue to post honest reviews, good and bad. And thanks to everyone who did post.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Oh wow. I booked this breakfast this breakfast for my DD's 4th birthday. She just recently discovered the Disney Princesses and I was excited about this opportunity. I knew it was more about the experience for DD than the meal itself but now I'm starting to have second thoughts. My reservation is for June so I have some time before I cancel. I'm going to keep an eye on the boards and on the reviews for sure. Anyone going after Feb 1st please continue to post honest reviews, good and bad. And thanks to everyone who did post.

Don't worry too much. If you are okay with paying that price, (and yes its ridiculous but the things we do for our kids ) and you go in expecting your daughter to be in awe of the princesses and everybody else to have an okay meal, you will probably be fine. I think all the hype and the fact that you have to move mountains to get in there, makes for some disappointment. Its hard for any meal to live up to what we expect it to, when we put this much forethought and money into it. I will not go again but it was so worth it to see my daughter's face when she walked into castle and saw Fairy Godmother and then all of those princesses. And I thought the food for breakfast was very good the day we ate there but just can't justify that cost now. The dinner we had in October was fantasic, really as good as any other upscale dinner we have enjoyed at WDW or at home recently. But again, they have hiked the prices for dinner as well making it unlikely we will return. But I am glad we went both times! As for bad service, I know it happens, but we lucked out and had great service both times and if we hadn't I would have complained to a manager big time. If you are really concerned, switch to the breakfast in Norway, same princesses in a castle (although not THE castle lol) and a lot cheaper.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I'm glad I have eaten in the castle and would not take that experience back. However, I thought the food was less than stellar and the service was only so so. But I am glad I did it. I loved the idea that I was sitting in Cinderella's castle and enjoying breakfast. When I left, I wasn't mad or overly disappointed. I was just so happy to have had the chance to eat there. I think that is the important thing.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

DD 4 didn't eat a bite and it was still worth it. Yes, you can see 3 princesses for free in toontown but it was about an hour wait on an August afternoon. At breakfast 4 (and Mary Poppins) came to us while we sat.

I remember being so disappointed with the castle because there wasn't really anything "in" it. Didn't know about the restaurant.

However once DD has outgrown Princess fever we'll go to places with better food.

 

[jarestel]

I disagree. We have eaten meals at CRT for many years, since before there even was a character breakfast. It has always been a busy restaurant whenever we have eaten there, so saying most people wouldn't have the slightest interest if the characters weren't there is not true.

I think we basically agree with one another. I'm saying that the current quality of the food and service and the cost on top of that isn't enough to draw raves from customers as the restaurant is constituted today without the presence of the princess characters. Certainly, they COULD make the restaurant a fine place to dine if they wished and I'm sure an entirely new group of patrons would be delighted. But the food and service, as it exists today, wouldn't be the "must do" experience it is for many without Cindy and friends.

 

[undertheradar]

Years back when this was known as King Stephans(sp?), it was a very relaxed setting. You could take your time and enjoy your meal. Servers didn't rush you through and the face characters spent QUALITY time with the guests, not the rushed blow-by interactions that are the norm today.We were spoiled when our now 15y.o.DS was 1y.o. Fairy God Mother held him the entire meal! Then the internet took off and people blew the "magic" out of the castle! Remember the reservation scandal that completely changed how advance reservations were made? That was before this became the "Must Do" breakfast at WDW! The demand for seating became outrageous and the imaginears envisioned more money to be made. The thought of people rushing to the phones at opening to get a highly sought after Holy Grail is cartoonish. This has always been a preplated, mass produced breakfast plate. There was never justification that the interaction made up for poor food quality. PSB and 100 Parke Fair will suffer the same fates, as people will direct the misguided demand to these in an effort to "save" money. Remeber that before DCL, Mickey sailed on the Big Red Boat! The BRB is no more and a sailing with Mickey is 5X what it cost before the DCL. If enough people don't buy into the increases, the policy will have to change and prices will be lowered.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Years back when this was known as King Stephans(sp?), it was a very relaxed setting. You could take your time and enjoy your meal. Servers didn't rush you through and the face characters spent QUALITY time with the guests, not the rushed blow-by interactions that are the norm today.

YES! I remember having lunch there in 2001--heavenly. Quiet, good food, we took our time, out of the melee in the park...
Fast forward to lunch there 2005--yikes! Crazy--rush rush rush, sub-par food quality--characters boom boom boom. No more.
Bring back the old way--not even sure characters were there at lunch, but I do remember taking pictures with them downstairs.
I'm beginning to think Disney is "outcharactering" its meals.

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

agreed that the food quality there is not "Fine Dining" On Average it's pretty good at breakfast. (never eaten there any other times).

But to the orginal poster and anyone else that has extra bad experiences. Remember there is Manegment there you can ask to speak to. If You are complaining about a legit problem. Can't get refills on drinks or bread. Bad service. Food not cooked to your order (runny eggs, cold ect.) they can and will make it good.

They just won't make it great.


Anyone reading this thread and is concerned about going. Remember you'll always find people are quicker to report the bad than the good. Your positive CRT reports will be hidden in trip reports not seperate threads. Not saying your meal too won't but it means you have at least as good of chance to get a good meal too.

 

[Danthesand]

In the universe of over-obsessed WDW elements, the Cindy breakfast is the textbook example of a phase-related one. It's an obsession... when you have a daughter (or female relative) in the 3 or so to at best 9-10 or so age range. Outside that segment, it's pretty much irellevant.

We did it back in 2001 when my daughter was 7. Was it worth it then? Yes, we must have been there on the "right' morning; we got picked to open the park and then were driven up main street on the fire engine to the castle. Were seated right away, the food and service were fine and the Princesses were great with the kids. Felt is was somewhat expensive then, but heck, it seemed worth it given all the photos and "bragging rights".

Looking back years later, I'm still glad we "checked that box," but it wasn't the high point of that trip, or even on the short list of our most beloved WDW experiences. Those generally are in the "unexpected surprises" category ....

 

[CRSNDSNY]

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!!!

We thought the food at CRT breakfast was terrible and not worth the money, either. IT will be a very very very long time before we give that one another shot.

 

[tink&pan]

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!!!

Sorry you such a bad experience. We've done the breakfast mainly because our daughter loves the experience, and hardly touches her food. If my DH ever knew what the cost was there would probably be one less princess (that would be me).

We have made our PS for April and I was in sticker shocked at the price of 31.99 per adult. I was told by the CM that the breakfast had changed somewhat as to how they do things for breakfast. IE, the princesses no longer circulate the room to each table. Was it like that for your dining experience or is this new no princess in the dining room due to change later this year. Just wondering if you could elaborate on that part of it.

thanks
tink

 

[Sterm26]

My family (myself, DW and DD, 4 at the time) did the CRT breakfast back in 2003. I personally found it to be extremely cool to eat inside of a world landmark, we found the food to be good, but a bit heavy (had to stay away from the "E" rides for awhile after), and my daughter was impressed with the princesses. But I look at it as one of those things you have to do once...I have no plans to return, unless of course my wife is carrying a second daughter ...maybe in 2009 or so!