CRT lunch review...yuck!

[idofabric]

We were at WDW earlier this week, Mon to Thur, the 24th to the 27th. My DSIL wanted to go down so it was a last min trip. I KNEW we would not be able to get into any place at the last min, short of a miracle... Which when I called Disney Dinning on Tues, the 25th about 5pm, I thought had happen!
I was checking for someplace for dinner that night. And on a whim I checked for the next day, the 26th, also. They had an opening for CRT at 2:30 for lunch and I grabbed it cause my 6yo DN wanted to go... and it would be a great surprise. No prob. so far!
The next day the DN lost her second baby tooth and we said, Well, lets go get lunch, OK? Someplace special, OK? She said sure... so off we went..
Get to CRT, checked in, fine.
Got to the table, next to the window, Wonderfull!
Got the food, finally, and HORID!
The appertizer was so-so. The grapes were great! The rest, just ok.
I ordered the Pork Tenderloin. And it was very pretty when it came. And there were 4 pieces, each about the size of a golf ball. Not bad portions. Great sauce...But the first bite of the the pork I could not chew up! They did not remove the silver skin from the tenderloin, and it was over cooked so bad it was dry. I even got out my Swiss Army knife to cut it! I quit eating that piece, thinking, I had 3 more pieces... and the second one was worse!! So I tried to get hold of our waiter... and waited, and waited... finally he came and took it back. 15-20 min latter I got a small oval plate, about 3.5 inch wide and 7 long with 2 pieces of pork and the other stuff dumped on it... This time the pork was still over cooked, but I could cut it.
I told several CMs about it at the time, and they all shrugged.
And to top it off, when I gave them my DDE card I did not get the full discout! I did get the discount in the form of a Disney gift card...
Very disapointing meal! And this makes the second CRT in 6 months that has been less then good... the first was Breakfast last summer/fall...
I asked for a comment card, but never got it. And while I know it is the busiest time of the year, for $40+ each I think they could have been a little more concerned about the quality of the food. And , yes, I did not go for the food alone, but for the whole experience. We also didn't see the Princesses for more then 2 seconds. And the dinning room wasn't even full while they were in there. At least at the breakfast they came around 3 times, as did the Fairy Goodmother, who was NOT there at lunch. I know, nothing is guarenteded as to Characters... and I am whiney about this... but still, for the money, you would think the food would be eatable!!! Besides the grapes, which might be the best I have ever eaten, which would make them also the most expensive ones also!
On the other hand, the DN was very, very happy....but did not eat her hot dog cause it didn't taste good.....

 

[divawife]

I thought the Fairy Godmother was there at lunch and did the wishing ceremony??? What time was your ADR?
That pork lunch always looks so good in the photos-too bad-I guess I will go for the Major Domo!
I hope our lunch goes a little better-sorry it didn't turn out that great for you.

 

[suzimar57]

well, at least the grapes were good.....

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

We do breakfast there and the food is good!

 

[gabbyrosebud]

I'm so sorry it wasn't a good experience for you! I wanted to try CRT for lunch this December, so now I'm a little worried. We've always had a magical time at the breakfast.

You said the characters were rushed too? Would you mind telling me what characters were there for lunch? I hope that your DN interaction with Cinderella was good.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I thought the Fairy Godmother was there at lunch and did the wishing ceremony???

That's the "show" she does at dinner.

I'm so sorry it wasn't a good experience for you! I wanted to try CRT for lunch this December, so now I'm a little worried. We've always had a magical time at the breakfast.

You said the characters were rushed too? Would you mind telling me what characters were there for lunch? I hope that you DN interaction with Cinderella was good.

I wouldn't worry about it based on one review, I had lunch there before and it was very good. Good food and service, and the character interaction was very good.

The characters when I ate there were Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Wendy, and Mary Poppins. I believe the Fairy Godmother was also there that day.

 

[divawife]

I am now bibbidi bobbidi confused. We are going for lunch which will apparently suck according to the OP-Anyway...no Fairy Godmother at lunch?? Do the kids get wands and swords and stars? No wishing ceremony at lunch?
And sucky food???
Help!!!!!

 

[gabbyrosebud]

That's the "show" she does at dinner.
I wouldn't worry about it based on one review, I had lunch there before and it was very good. Good food and service, and the character interaction was very good.

The characters when I ate there were Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Wendy, and Mary Poppins. I believe the Fairy Godmother was also there that day.

Thanks, that's good to hear! How recently were you there? It's surprising that Wendy and Mary Poppins were there. That's a bonus! We absolutely love the breakfast and hope to try lunch this trip. I'd really love to do both!

 

[idofabric]

Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you all ...
The characters we had were, Aurora, Cindy, Snow White and Jasmine. The Fairy Godmother was down at the BBB. She has been at the CRT the last 2 times I ate there and this is the first time she has NOT been there when my SIL and DN were at CRT. SIL/DN eat there 1 to 2 times a year for the last 5-6 years. She also said this was the worst meal she had ever had.
The dining room was not crowded. I think it might have just been the (bad)luck of the draw... but then again, as I said last summer/fall the breakfast was not all that great and I now remember that they were the only rest. in WDW that was not willing to make diet changes for my DH, who has a picky tummy... They said it was all pre-made and they kitchen at the castle was so small that they could only plate and heat/keep warm the food that was sent over... I have NO way of knowing if that is true, but I have had 2 different CMs on 2 different trips tell us that CRT can not do the cooking cause it has a kitchen that is to small to handle the volume of food that would be required...
And for the cost of the meal I think that seeing the Princesses at the Norway Character in ECOPT was a better deal, at least the 4+ times I have eaten there since they started that Char. meal there.
It is all what you want... but I am at the point that I want a good meal for my money, and would rather forgo the Castle for it... esp. when the Fairy Godmother is not there for the Wishing Cer. And that was also disapointing, we did not have any one leading that except a voice over the loud speakers and that was all.
So while I might give it another go, it will be a long while! If you haven't done it then you won't know what is going on... I do remember it about 10+ years ago and it was wonderfull then...
BTW they have changed the Star Wands design. I like that, cause the old ones had stars that fell off by the time we got home... adult kids are just as hard on "magic" wands as the little ones! And the "adult" boys are much harder on the swords!!! Which have NOT changed and still break very easily....thank goodness!!!

 

[Minniespal]

What a shame you had such a bad experience. I've read conflicting reviews about CRT recently.

 

[Disney owl]

Sorry you didn't have a good experience