we actually just did both in october. we did crt for lunch with dd4 dressed as ariel-sadly she was off that day. i loved it for the expereince of eating in the castle. the kids didnt really react. altho we werent seated at the windows we were lucky to be the first table the princesses all stopped at when they were announced. also cindy was only there downstairs for pics and not at the lunch. plus i found then to be very rushed. i mean i know turnover is quick etc, but at all the other meals we seem to have had more time with any chrarcgter.
we did dinner at 1900 on our last evening as our anniversary dinner with the kids. princy was kinda pasty and scary looking! lol but the interaction was great and cindy remembered dd from her pics with her the other day- didnt seem to mean anything to dd, but it meant a lot to me. the interaction was great, and the food really good-esp the strawberry soup! the only thing i didnt like as i said to dh the other nite was we werent in the "main room" but the room off to the side so we got forgotten about at times. lady tremain passed by us twice so i asked our server and she siad she'd arrange it. well there still was a mistake as she came back to this side room and went to the few that were left in here but us. i mean i didnt freak out, just wanted to get the entire experience of the kids meeting all the chracters, esp. since at that time we didnt expect to go back in 6 months! lol still it was a memorable last evening. and they do interact a lot with the kiddos, ive seen it first hand.
so theres both sides- but in mho i'd book 1900 park fare. and then you can also squeeze in looking at the gf, maybe a jaunt to the wedding pavillion(caught a wedding there one year) and basin is upstairs as you come in from the monorail! that was even more worth it for me....sadly we dont have basin in canada. but i digress! lol