CRT and Akershus?

[Frozen2014]

Hi,

We'll be coming with our 5 year old daughter and 9 year old son. Really want to try CRT for the castle experience (and have been told it's not too girly for our son as they give out swords). Will book for dinner.

Is it silly to also book Akershus? It looks ilke our best option for breakfast on out Epcot day, and it seems ok. I'm assuming since they are different resturants (and even different meals) that they won't be like repeating things ...and I'm hoping our son will sit through the girly part.

 

[Winnowill]

We're doing both. In fact, we're doing Akershus twice (once, granted, to get in line early to meet Anna and Elsa). We've done CRT before, and it really is a terrific experience - highly recommended.

My understanding is that while Akershus has some of the same princesses as CRT, sometimes you'll get Mary Poppins and Mulan in addition. And Belle is the headliner, wearing her formal dress (at CRT, she wears the blue one.)

 

[ses1230]

We're doing both. In fact, we're doing Akershus twice (once, granted, to get in line early to meet Anna and Elsa). We've done CRT before, and it really is a terrific experience - highly recommended.

My understanding is that while Akershus has some of the same princesses as CRT, sometimes you'll get Mary Poppins and Mulan in addition. And Belle is the headliner, wearing her formal dress (at CRT, she wears the blue one.)

Belle is not at CRT at all. She left when ETWB opened, and Jasmine has taken her place.

OP, if Akershus works well for your schedule I say go for it, if you think your DS won't mind another "girly" meal. And as pp stated, if you can get an early breakfast you will be that much closer to the A and E line, if your DD wants to see them.

I enjoy the breakfast at Akershus. It is a buffet with pastries, cheeses, fruit, yogurt. The main hot course is served family style to the table - the potato casserole is delicious!

 

[Winnowill]

Belle is not at CRT at all. She left when ETWB opened, and Jasmine has taken her place.

Good to know. We were last there in May, 2012, so we did see her, but it'll be good to see Jasmine, too.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you...good to know that these will not be "repeating meals"

OP, if Akershus works well for your schedule I say go for it, if you think your DS won't mind another "girly" meal. And as pp stated, if you can get an early breakfast you will be that much closer to the A and E line, if your DD wants to see them.

Oh yes...my DD is crazy for Anna and Elsa. She saw the NY sing along of Let it Go on tv yesterday, and for about 10 seconds they showed A and E at DW, and she was so excited and called out...and that was just on tv. good to know these are close.

What time would you recommend for a booking? (Assumign they are still there in Oct)

 

[ses1230]

Thank you...good to know that these will not be "repeating meals" Oh yes...my DD is crazy for Anna and Elsa. She saw the NY sing along of Let it Go on tv yesterday, and for about 10 seconds they showed A and E at DW, and she was so excited and called out...and that was just on tv. good to know these are close. What time would you recommend for a booking? (Assumign they are still there in Oct)

We had an 8:10 and I was in the Anna and Elsa line at around 8:50, right before the people from rope drop started to arrive. My DH took the kids to Future World and then they joined me around 10:45. (The meet and greet started at 11.)

Getting in line at 8:50, I was about 5 groups from the cutoff for the 11am set. People arriving at 9:05 were in the 12pm set. So I would say try to make your ADR as early as you can, that worked well for us.

 

[Frozen2014]

Yikes...a 2hr wait? Is that typical? Sounds like a long time to wait.

I do like the idea of the restaurant being a mix of buffet and family style. Don't remember seeing that elsewhere.

 

[redrosesix]

Hi,

We'll be coming with our 5 year old daughter and 9 year old son. Really want to try CRT for the castle experience (and have been told it's not too girly for our son as they give out swords). Will book for dinner.

Is it silly to also book Akershus? It looks ilke our best option for breakfast on out Epcot day, and it seems ok. I'm assuming since they are different resturants (and even different meals) that they won't be like repeating things ...and I'm hoping our son will sit through the girly part.

Akershus is one of our favourite restaurants on site and very different from CRT, so go ahead and do both.

 

[ses1230]

Yikes...a 2hr wait? Is that typical? Sounds like a long time to wait. I do like the idea of the restaurant being a mix of buffet and family style. Don't remember seeing that elsewhere.

Yes, a wait of at least 2 hours is typical for Anna and Elsa.

When we saw them the first set started at 11am. I know that they trialed a week of having them start at 9, but that trial is over. Maybe by the time of your trip the situation will be different though, so keep checking the Anna and Elsa threads, also Kenny the Pirate has great character info on his website.

 

[ajwolfe]

Hi,

We'll be coming with our 5 year old daughter and 9 year old son. Really want to try CRT for the castle experience (and have been told it's not too girly for our son as they give out swords). Will book for dinner.

Is it silly to also book Akershus? It looks ilke our best option for breakfast on out Epcot day, and it seems ok. I'm assuming since they are different resturants (and even different meals) that they won't be like repeating things ...and I'm hoping our son will sit through the girly part.

We are getting ready to Akershus for a second time on this upcoming trip. I have 2 boys who will be 7 and 10 at time of travel. Last time we did it was last year and the boys actually liked it. I didn't feel like it was overly girly at all and it was hilarious to see the Princesses flirt with my boys and make my oldest blush.

There was a good mix of boys and girls in the restaurant, so you wouldn't feel out of place.

I say go for it!

 

[Frozen2014]

Wow..can't believe the line ups are that crazy. Not sure it's worth the wait when we don't have that much time at Epcot (mind you, maybe my DD would say differently).

Thank you...good to know that Akershus is ok for boys too. Was a bit worried about that (esp on top of CRT)

 

[MickeyChix]

Akershus has an awesome lunch if you want to try something different. It's bit more but well worth it in my opinion. This way you have the benefit of trying something new. Although I'm sure the breakfast food Buffett is great --it's still well breakfast food. The overall quality at CRT is so awesome as it is at Akershus--it just might be fun to try something new. They have a fabulous cheese and various meats Buffett with fresh salads and fruits. Then on top of that you get to pick out a main course plus dessert. The meatballs with mashed potatoes were incredible!!! As they say, FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!!

 

[kimber11]

wait times are normally longer then 2 hours for Elsa and Anna. I would recommend doing both too. I think they are quite different experiences. My son was 5 the last time we were there and he walked in the princess procession with his sisters and loved it. haha. Enjoy your trip!

 

[libinatorsmom]

We have been to both! This trip in May we picked Akerhus instead of CRT price is better and we like the food better at AH in Norway we also got BOG for the 1st time so we will have a castle experience we haven't had before we are excited and I am amazed I stumbled across the ressie for BOG about 80 days out

 

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

We went to CRT last time for an early dinner and it was so nice, probably our favorite ADR next to Chef Mickey - and mostly for the great character interaction and being inside the castle. I did feel it was a bit rushed - more rushed than any of our other dinners - but who knows if it was just the day or group that was working that day.

We are doing Akershus this time around for something different - but if I could do both I might do Akershus in the morning and do CRT at night for dinner and stay for the fireworks.

 

[PoohsFan1]

For our upcoming trip, we are having breakfast at Akershus twice and eating dinner at CRT once. My kids are 12 and 10 and still love the characters whether they be princesses or not. We even have dinner at BOG one night as well. Akershus is my family's favorite breakfast in all of WDW (we can't get enough of the cheesy potato casserole ), plus like a PP had mentioned we are hoping to get in line to see Anna and Elsa after our breakfast, at least one of the days, since both breakfasts are before the park opens .

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We like CRT for a pre-park opening breakfast and Akershus for lunch or dinner. On the trips where we have done them, we've done both. I think the whole "being in the castle" for CRT automatically makes them feel very different.

 

[MomNY]

I did both Cinderella's and Akershus on a weeklong trip last week with my 5 yo daughter. Cindy's for breakfast one day and Akershus for dinner another day. We loved both and although they are both princess meals, I felt they were different enough experiences to make it worthwhile. I will go to both again next time I go to WDW.

 

[Frozen2014]

I love this site...especially for a first time Disney traveler (well, as an adult...bringing my own kids).

Great...so will keep with our plan then...CRT for dinner on our MK day and Akershus for breakfast for our Epcot day. My daughter will go crazy and my son...well, he'll at least get a couple good meals.

 

[KelleyK75]

We had an 8:10 and I was in the Anna and Elsa line at around 8:50, right before the people from rope drop started to arrive. My DH took the kids to Future World and then they joined me around 10:45. (The meet and greet started at 11.)

Getting in line at 8:50, I was about 5 groups from the cutoff for the 11am set. People arriving at 9:05 were in the 12pm set. So I would say try to make your ADR as early as you can, that worked well for us.

I was going to ask this same question. I just snagged a 8:10 reservation mainly to be in the park and try to beat the Anna and Elsa crowd, but I really do want the kids to meet the Princesses in Akershus, too. I assume you had enough time to meet all of the Princesses and then get out to the Anna and Elsa line before it was too long? How long did it take for all of the Princesses to get to your table? I will leave and get in line early if I have to, but I don't want to miss too much in Akershus.

Also, which Princesses are typically in Akershus? I have seen the lists, but it just says "some of the following could appear." Thank you!