Cindy's Royal Table for boys

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Hi,
Is it worth it to take boys to CRT? My boys will be 6 and 8 next July when we go. They have never eaten in the Castle before, which is why I am thinking this is a must do for this trip.

What do they boys get when they go there? I know there are princesses everywhere, but is prince charming around at all?

Also, which is the better meal? Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner?

Thanks.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Boys get swords. Little ones, of course.

It is only princesses. Prince Charming only appears at the 1900 Park Fare Dinner. CRT is usually Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine, Ariel.

As far as better meal, I'd say review the menus. The children's fare at breakfast is very basic, but that may be a plus for you.

 

[nugov2]

I'd go to BOG. You still get the castle experience. Every child/family is different. My boys had no interest in going when we went so we just brought dd. They also had no interest in BBB. I would have taken them to both if they would have enjoyed it, but to spend the money when they have no interest seemed silly. They loved the Beast castle though. I'd ask them what they'd like.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I'd go to BOG. You still get the castle experience. Every child/family is different. My boys had no interest in going when we went so we just brought dd. They also had no interest in BBB. I would have taken them to both if they would have enjoyed it, but to spend the money when they have no interest seemed silly. They loved the Beast castle though. I'd ask them what they'd like.

I'd agree with this. We just did CRT last month for the first time and we were all unimpressed. Not worth the cost at all ( or 2 dining credits if on DDP). BOG was a much better experience. If not for the princesses for DD, I would have really left saying it wasn't worth it at all.

 

[smiths02]

We went our last trip with DS-9, DS-2 (almost 3) and DD-2 (almost 3). I really wanted to eat in the castle and I love Cinderella. We had a pre-park opening breakfast. The food was okay, but the server seemed annoyed that I asked for an extra muffin (no food was offered to my toddlers aside from the extra muffin), and the server basically took orders, dropped off food, and had me sign the check. The princess interaction was nice, but it was like any character meal.
Now, the castle is nice, but with the character rush, the NOISE (we couldn't really hear the wishing star stuff), and the server...it didn't have the feel of eating in a castle.
My daughter and I love Cinderella, so it was worth it to fulfill my fantasy. (And I only had to pay 2 adults and a 9 year old minus the TiW discount for all 5 of us to experience it) But never again unless my DD begs (and then, only her and I, not the boys).
We were treated more like royalty at the local Medieval Times.

 

[kaybird]

I have a little, different take, although BOG wasn't an option when my boys were small. They were always into castles, and LOVED being up in the castle. The princesses were great with them, and as they have grown up, they always want to share it with their wives.

 

[smiths02]

Boys get swords. Little ones, of course.

It is only princesses. Prince Charming only appears at the 1900 Park Fare Dinner. CRT is usually Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine, Ariel.

As far as better meal, I'd say review the menus. The children's fare at breakfast is very basic, but that may be a plus for you.

The swords break really, really easily.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The swords break really, really easily.

So do the wands. My point is more that they do adapt for the boys a bit.

 

[smiths02]

So do the wands. My point is more that they do adapt for the boys a bit.

Our wand is still intact. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that kids see swords and attempt to sword fight whereas the wand was just waved around. Both are cheap.

I have to add that the princesses interacted with both my boys well. They kind of left the older one alone and talked to the younger one about how he was a knight (and gave him a kiss).

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Will the boys get crowns too, or just swords?

We've already been to BoG a few times and weren't really planning on it for this trip.

My main reason is for them to eat in the Castle. I feel like it is a rite of passage for WDW.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The boys get swords, the girls get wands. No one gets crowns.

If you've never done it, I would do it. We did it with DS when he was 5 and 7. We really went because my sister and I wanted to do it! Yes, we are both adult women in our 40's LOL! But DS was a good sport! When he was 5, he did the "Knights" package at BBB first (because I wanted to see the inside of BBB! He actually enjoyed it, but wouldn't want to do it now that he is 8). On his second visit, he had s really cute conversation with Cinderella before the meal and then the princesses fawned all over him. It was fun!

I would just do breakfast. The food isn't great, so with breakfast, you get the experience at the lowest cost.

 

[pixarmom]

I'm not a princess fan and used to love CRT when it was a non-character meal at dinner. Our oldest is now 16 and when he was tiny, we had dinner in the castle without princesses and for a significantly lower price. So I understand why that's no longer available, now that princesses are so popular, but I loved it when they reserved a meal for those of us who enjoy the castle without the princesses.

In any event, we've been back since this turned all character meal, all the time. The only reason we returned is that our youngest son was really into princesses when he was four years old. Honestly, I was expecting a lot because I read so much about how the princesses are wonderful with little boys. Maybe an off morning, but that wasn't the case for our little guy. Even though he would show shy interest in them, most of the princesses seemed to assume we were there for me. And it was a huge contrast with Akershus, where the character interaction was great and each one of the princesses took time talking with him and answering his questions.

As for an "in-castle" experience with boys, our three boys aren't interested in a return to CRT, but they loved the Knight's Package at BBB in the castle. It's an incredible value at just $19.95 per child. It includes hair gel (we asked them to go very easy on the color) and mickey confetti (our boys loved this stuff) and pixie dust along with a painted mickey head in the back. It also includes a sword and shield - years later, these items are still in use! I looked up the retail value of the sword and shield, and it exceeds the price of the package. They do a knight's oath at the beginning, which is clever and funny - the boys loved it. They kept the stuff in their hair for a couple days and received lots of compliments from CMs - it was all very festive. Our guys don't mind that the rest of BBB is girly - they had a great time together. They were ages 4, 10 and 11 at the time - not for every 10 and 11-year-old boy, but ours remain festive and goofy to this day, so they loved it! Anyway, it was their favorite way to experience the castle.

 

[bumbershoot]

We went there with my son when he was still of kid's meal age. Frankly I can't remember if the cutoff is at 9 or after 9 years old, so I'm not sure if he was 8 or 9. Either way, he was at the very end of kid's meal age.

He didn't much care for Aurora, but once Ariel came out he was done for. They both have red hair, and he's always been a sucker for a princess mentioning that they have it in common (you should have seen him with Merida at DL a year or so before). He was being a tad bit sullen with Aurora, but with Ariel he's blushing in the pictures. So he had a fine time.

The issue was that he's a tall, active kid with a fast metabolism, and we're vegetarian, and the adult-palm-sized cheese pizza just didn't cut it for him. He wasn't quite as adventurous then as he is now, and refused to try our gnocchi with veggies (which were VERY good, though rather salty), so we had to feed him shortly afterwards. Expensive meal, even the kid prices, when you have to feed the kids later. So if your kids have big appetites, just know that it's possible the kid serving sizes might not suffice.

 

[Dis703]

I have three boys and we've done CRT twice now for lunch. We had a fabulous meal the first time around but the pork I had the second time was super dry and overcooked. A disappointment considering the price. My boys all loved the experience though. But they are probably just as into Disney princesses as the girls are. They got a lot of attention from them and my oldest had a sword fight with Ariel. The two lipstick kisses he got from Cinderella and Ariel are still a highlight of his past trips for him.

Princesses aside, there's just something really special about eating inside the castle. So for that reason alone I think it's worth doing at least once.

 

[butterfly71076]

I have an 8 year old boy. We have done CRT, one time for my nieces birthday. After that, he is one and done. Has absolutely no interest in any princess, at all. Even if it just for a meal.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

In light of recent policy changes at WDW, are they still handing out swords to boys at CRT?

(Are they still selling swords in the parks?)

 

[Dis703]

It was only guns that were banned as far as I understand.

 

[ariane37]

We just did CRT for the first time in Nov; my boys are 10 and 13 but we did it strictly for me We did Akershus twice when they were younger and had great Princess interaction and food; princesses were great with my DS's and, at that time, only younger DS (4 & then 6) was really interested in their beauty lol.
So we did CRT b/c I really wanted the experience of eating in the castle; I'm glad I did but I was not really impressed The breakfast food was fine and most of the princesses were good enough with me and my boys (Merida was there that day and was AWESOME with me since we both have red hair, natural of course ) but none were outstanding. And DS's weren't really impressed with the castle or the swords but they're older than yours which is probably why.
To make a long post short, I wish I'd taken them to CRT when they were younger so that maybe they'd have been a bit more impressed. For that reason I'd say give it a try and hopefully you'll have some princesses that day who'll make them feel special
Oh, and it hasn't been 2 months yet but our swords are still in tact. And my 8 & 5 yo nephews played with them HARD over the holidays!

 

[sallytigger]

We went when my boys were 7 and 11 just to eat in the castle. I'd been as a child with my grandparents and had great memories of it. When we planned it, I didn't mention the princesses, but told them we could eat inside the castle and they were all for it.

We had fantastic interaction with every princess. It's one of our great memories from our trips. The picture of my younger son with a lipstick kiss on his cheek and a sheepish grin is priceless.

As for the food, it is a really expensive meal. The server seemed rushed and the food was fine but we really enjoyed our visit to the castle.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

I'd go to BOG. You still get the castle experience. Every child/family is different. My boys had no interest in going when we went so we just brought dd. They also had no interest in BBB. I would have taken them to both if they would have enjoyed it, but to spend the money when they have no interest seemed silly. They loved the Beast castle though. I'd ask them what they'd like.

I'd agree with this. We just did CRT last month for the first time and we were all unimpressed. Not worth the cost at all ( or 2 dining credits if on DDP). BOG was a much better experience. If not for the princesses for DD, I would have really left saying it wasn't worth it at all.

We have been thinking about this for weeks and talking to the boys about it and ultimately have decided not to do it. The cost is just not worth it for the minimal (if any) enjoyment they would get.

When we went to Akerhaus a couple of years ago (maybe 3 yrs?) , they had no idea who any of the princesses were and it was just....... awkward. (The princesses were great and very nice to my boys, even held their hands and walked around w them for the princess parade. My boys just didn't have a clue LOL.) Last summer we had FP+ to meet Anna and Elsa, because they liked the movie and I wanted to meet them. It ended up being a bust. My older DS hid behind me the entire time and my younger DS just stood there frozen (pun intended!) and wouldn't say word.

For the longest time I've had it in my head that "we HAVE to eat in the castle". I've come to the realization that we don't! Why should I spend the money when it will be less then enjoyable for every one just to say we did it.


We've already been to BoG twice and been to all the Star Wars meals. This time we are going to try the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review! It's something we've never done before, but I think it will be fun!

Thanks!