CRT for breakfast?

[NoraG]

I'm looking for opinions on doing CRT for breakfast. I've heard it's better than lunch or dinner, but if you disagree, speak up! I'd like to know generally what's served, how you liked your food, and what you think of the character interaction. I looked at Allears and it appears that there are no waffles or pancakes served. We have 3 non-egg eaters, so we want to be sure there's enough food. All together we'll be a party of 7- 4 adults (64, 23, 50, 50), one prince (15) and 2 princesses (13 and 9). I expect that there are better character breakfasts, so I'm not looking for the best breakfast you ever had. I understand your paying for the experience in the castle. We did CP 2 years ago and loved it, but we're a bigger party this time and want to splurge on a suprise for the family.

It looks like we'll receive two photo packages for being such a large group. Does this mean we should take several poses? Do we get to choose which photos we want or will they just take 2 photos and call it a day no matter the quality?

Our youngest princess will get a wand, I think. Has anyone had experiences with older children being jealous? Were you able to speak up and get wands/swords for all kids or did you just explain the rules to kids?

Any thoughts on an ideal timeslot?

 

[JKLMDisneyFans]

I can't speak for lunch and dinner as we've breakfast is our favorite. This past December our party of 6 (3 adults 2 girls ages 9 and 4, and one boy age 9) had an outstanding time. The meal consisted of a fresh fruit cup, made to order eggs, bacon and sausage, croissants and mini cinnamon rolls w/juice, coffee, water, etc. The character interaction was incredible. We took a ton of pics w/all of the princessess and they talked to each of the kids. The girls didn't want wands so they were given swords as was my nephew. Without asking my sister and I were both given wands and my husband was given a sword and all 6 of us were given wishing stars. It was really fun. Our reservation was right before rope drop but I can't remember the exact time. As far as the pics, I know we had some bad shots because we were all laughing so hard and goofying off but they chose the best shots for our photos. Hope you go and have a wonderful time!

 

[crostorfer]

I think eating a meal, any meal, in the Castle is something worth doing once. Would I ever do breakfast there again? No. I had a $50 bowl of oatmeal with granola and Nescafe coffee. I could have got the same meal at the food court at the hotel for $10 and purchased a photopass pic with Cinderella for $20 later in the park and saved $20 just on me alone. The ambiance can't be beat, I am glad we did it once, but I feel like if I was at least eating the salad, prime rib, and dessert there for dinner I wouldn't feel so ripped off.

I felt like we got a lot better bang for our breakfast buck at Akershus, we will probably do that again.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't think there is any meal more polarizing than breakfast. Some people love the whole "grand slam" breakfast thing with eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, french toast, waffles, grits, hash browns and the like, and others (like me) prefer a simple bowl of cereal, some unadorned fruit and a glass of OJ. When I had breakfast at CRT, I literally had nothing to eat. At the time, the only fruit they had came swimming in a bowl of foul looking yogurt. No cereal offered. Everything else that they served was a fat and cholesterol nightmare. It was truly the single worst meal I had ever had at any Disney restaurant, and when you factor in the price, it brought tears to my eyes. I don't know how much has changed in the last 4 years, but I certainly have no aching desire to repeat that meal. We're past the point of wanting or needing a meal in the castle. But if I had to do another, it would not be breakfast.

 

[connie1042]

I think i heard it on the disunplugged that the windows are covered with those painted screens right now, so you can not see over the fantasy walls, and see what is going on over there. If I paid that kind of money for the view, I would be pretty upset.

 

[stitch34]

We've done lunch and dinner in the castle, lunch is our favorite, but have enjoyed both. We have absolutely no desire to do breakfast there to get a preplated breakfast... when there are so many fantastic buffets with much more variety to please everyone in our group.

 

[KathleensKid]

We did breakfast a few weeks ago (the windows were covered then but I think they've been uncovered since). My dh, me, ds 6 and dd 4. It was the kids first visit to Disney. They loved it. Eyes wide as saucers. Gaga over everything. Their reactions were priceless. Dd's amazement every time a princess arrived was so genuine that it took my breath away. Truly a once in a lifetime thing.

Was the food worth it. Not at all. The kids barely touched anything b/c they were so distracted. Dh and I were so involved in taking photos and just being "in the moment" with the kids helping them be excited that we didn't eat much either. I honestly don't even remember what I ate. As we had reservations before the park opened, we didn't want to linger to eat either b/c we wanted to be among the first in Fantasyland. And we were. They let people from the castle thru the rope before other park guests had gotten there. Everyone else ran to dumbo and we ran went to the carousel. We were the only people on it for the first ride of the day! So for that reason I recommend the earliest breakfast of the day. However, we all probably would have eaten more if we had done a later time. I knew for us though that I wanted the kids first time in MK to consist of walking up an empty Main Street to the castle and right into it for breakfast.

We had them take a photo only w/dd for the photo package. The photographer took several shots, and the one they brought us was gorgeous. We also had the CM take a photo of all of us w/our own camera. The kids got wishing stars and wand/swords. I have heard several times that if you ask nicely that anyone in your party can get them but dh and I neither asked nor wanted them.

For us, the interaction with the princesses was awesome. I have a series of shots of ds with Ariel while they were discussing the fact that ds' dog is named Max and Ariel and Prince Eric's dog is named Max. It was great. When she promised to tell Eric about ds' Max, he totally believed her - even though he is cynical and knows that none of it is "real". In the moment then though, he was utterly awestruck with her and the fact the she was going to tell Prince Eric about his dog. Can't wait to pull those photos out when he's 16 to embarrass the heck out of him.

Will we do it again - maybe. But probably not as I don't think any future visit could top the experience we had - and it was the experience that I paid for (which I knew going in) not the food.

 

[NoraG]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. For the price, I think we'd be better off doing lunch. There would be much more for everyone to eat. It's a huge expense, but we'll consider doing it for the experience. Although the kids are older, the youngest is still enthralled with characters and the castle. Plus, I think their Mom would love it. We'll keep in mind that the food is not the greatest and it may get cold while we take photos, but it's about eating in the castle and getting to experience the characters in the castle.

For all those that have had a less than stellar experience, I am truly sorry. We can only hope that this does not happen to us, but I can't say I'll be shocked if we are disapppointed. However, I think keeping expectations down will lighten the blow if the experience is not what we want it to be. Thanks again everyone!

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

Wow. We did breakfast at CRT a few weeks ago and we loved it! I got the stuffed French toast, DH got the breakfast platter, I don't remember what DD had, maybe French toast sticks and eggs or something (I know she had syrup because I was worried about her Cinderella dress LOL).

There were pastries and a fruit bowl brought to the table, also.

My French toast was fabulous! I told DH we are definitely doing breakfast there again. It had cream cheese in it and strawberries on it. Yum. We thought the coffee was good, too.

I must be easy to please though. I just love the castle.

I'm not sure how many pictures they took of DD but the picture they brought us was really good.

 

[JKLMDisneyFans]

I'm w/you! Can't wait to go back to the castle and my husband and kids feel the same way. Since we had reservations before rope drop too it was really cool to walk down Main Street w/only castmembers welcoming us to the Kingdom. We had been many many times before but that was our first early morning seating and if at all possible in future all of our reservations at the Castle will be early morning.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I can't compare breakfast with anything as we have never done it. We did lunch our last trip and really liked it.

 

[willowsnn3]

We did Thanksgiving Dinner there one year & it was good. Traditional meal tho so can't compare regular dinner. Loved-loved-loved breakfast there last year and can't wait to go again in a few months. Everyone in our party received either a wand or sword & a star without asking. DD has talked about that stuffed french toast for a year now, lol. The rest of us got the preplated bkfst. The sausage links were really good. We did a 10:30 bkfst on a day when MK opened at 7am so we were ready for a rest by that time. We were not rushed at all. For the 5 of us they brought out 2 fruit bowls, but granddaughter asked for more strawberries so they brought out a bowl of fruit for each of us. DD asked for another croissant & they brought out another whole plate of those & more pastries too. Then my grandson wanted more bacon & I thought oh, no, they'll bring out a whole platter, lol. Sure enough they brought out a big plate full. I don't know if it was because it was a late bkfst & they were just getting rid of all the bkfst foods or what but they even boxed up the xtra croissants & pastries for us to take & we did not ask for them. Thank goodness we were going to go back to the room afterwards so we took them & had them another day.

 

[NoraG]

Well goodness everyone. Now I have to decide which meal we're going to! It seems to be 2 TS credits no matter which meal you choose, so obviously lunch or dinner are the "more bang for your buck options," but stuffed french toast sounds good! So, if I understand correctly, you can choose the preplated breakfast or an alternative?

I will try to book 180 days in advance to be sure we get in...and I know we'll have to put a CC down to hold the ressie, but does anyone know what the cancellation/change policy is?

Also, anyone taken a Disney-resistant and first-time visiting Dad or a teenage (15) boy? We're debating a whole fmaily event or a girls only meal? Please share your thoughts.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I think a girls lunch or dinner would be lots of fun. Make a different reservation elsewhere for the boys and let them have their fun without the girls and enjoy your time with the girls!

 

[prack]

to eat at CRT and were just wondering what do you dibbers recommend, Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner??? we would prefer either lunch or dinner but are willing change our plans if breakfast proves to be best.Paul Medeiros has found and is working with a Massachusetts company that will collect these items at drop off sites set up throughout Woburn at various times throughout the year. This is an excellent opportunity to recycle these items at a minimal cost compared to the high cost associated with curbside appliance recycling programs and will also be a fundraiser for local organizations that will sponsor these events. Another good thing and possibly the best part of this program is that it is open to residents from any and all communities, not just Woburn, as well as any and all business entities. With your help these collections have raised over $86,000 dollars for local Woburn organizations with a portion going to the Woburn high school scholarship fund in a bit more than 3 years! So clean out those basements, attics, garages and warehouses and bring your items down!

 

[Hooked On The Mouse]

On our last trip in late September 2010, we ate back-to-back meals at CRT, dinner one night and then breakfast the next morning. We greatly enjoyed the character interactions at both, as well as the ambiance of the castle. As far as the food goes, we preferred the dinner to the breakfast, but just because it seemed a little more unique than the fairly standard breakfast fare. If I remember correctly, there were 2 or 3 different options for breakfast, a healthy meal with granola/yogourt/fresh fruit etc. and a more standard scrambled eggs, bacon, cinnamon bun type of thing. I believe it was served family style rather than pre-plated, but I could be forgetting. I would definitely book 180 days out to be safe. My dh came to the castle with me and 3 dds and enjoyed watching the kids just as much as I did, but it might depend on the man. Definitely there are lots of dads and grandads there so nobody needs to feel out of place. I would do a family meal. If dad is disney resistant, seeing the kids having so much fun might be the best thing to convert him.

 

[NoraG]

You all have been so helpful. We're thinking that lunch is going to be a better option for us. The kids aren't big breakfast eaters and I think the lunch choices will appeal to them more. I'm hoping to do this the first day as a welcome to Disney kind of deal, but that will depend on park hours and availability. I want those Jan park hours to be released!!! If I book 180 days out for Jan 9, that's July 21st, right? I know I read somewhere about how to get directly to the dining line, so I'll have to reread that and get up at the crack of dawn, but I think it will be worth it.

Still debating how many of us we'll go, but it will probably be all of us. I'll let the husband and wife decide which combo best suits them.

Getting so excited!!!!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

we love their breakfast. it's just me (28) and my fiance (31) and he asked me if i could book it for november since we didn't do it this may. he realllly likes their breakfast. we feel like there's better lunch/dinner options and also like getting to the park early

 

[disneyfreak2127]

Wow. We did breakfast at CRT a few weeks ago and we loved it! I got the stuffed French toast, DH got the breakfast platter, I don't remember what DD had, maybe French toast sticks and eggs or something (I know she had syrup because I was worried about her Cinderella dress LOL).

There were pastries and a fruit bowl brought to the table, also.

My French toast was fabulous! I told DH we are definitely doing breakfast there again. It had cream cheese in it and strawberries on it. Yum. We thought the coffee was good, too.

I must be easy to please though. I just love the castle.

I'm not sure how many pictures they took of DD but the picture they brought us was really good.

It has been since 2005 since we ate at CRT and I was getting quite nostaligic for the stuffed french toast! I thought it was gone and they only served eggs! Even though our Princess will be 18 when we are there next March, this is her "dream" to have breakfast with Cinderella again! I know...sappy! But, I'm all in! Glad the stuffed french toast is still available! We think of it often!