CRT or Akershus?

[longing4disney]

We are going to WDW end of this year. It will be the first time the DD6 is going. The last time we went, we only had 2 boys and so did not do any princess stuff. This time, as DD6 is a princess fan, I'm planning princess character dining especially for her.

After reading the reviews, I've decided on dinner at 1900 Park Fare so that the boys can have some fun too. My 2 DSs are adamant that they will not join us for CRT or Akershus, which I am considering for either breakfast or lunch.

Given that we are already going to 1900 Park Fare for dinner, will a lunch or Breakfast at CRT or Akershus be a duplicate? If we have to choose one, which is recommended, CRT or Akershus?

 

[kaleighmariesmom]

I just asked my DD who is 6 and has been to both and she said hands down CRT. She liked the castle part of it. She thought eating there was really "awesome". I have to tell you I have never been that impressed with any of the meals we ate there but we have sucked it up for DD.

 

[DMKEDM]

I'm pretty sure we've been to all the buffets/character meals...the food isn't noticeably better (or worse) at one over another...if your DD has a favorite princess, that could make a difference; otherwise the character interactions are pretty similar, too. Having said that, we haven't gotten tired of them...they're generally good, particularly with an enthralled little one in the party.

We prefer CRT over Akershus...and b'fast buffet food over lunch or dinner...there's nothing that quite compares to the magic at CRT...eating inside the castle is just an experience in and of itself. The food is served at your table (family style for b'fast, plated service at lunch/dinner). There are "boys' things," too--a sword for each boy...I guess whether your boys might like it will depend on how old they are (and how much force you'd have to impose to get them there! It's pretty expensive to force them, tho, if there's another option for them while you're there w/your DD)...

Akershus is good and the princess interaction is good and Epcot is a different experience from Magic Kingdom. But if we had to choose one over the other, we'd got w/CRT...

Happy planning and have a great time...

 

[longing4disney]

Thanks DMKEDM and kaleighmariesmom!
DD's favorite princess at the moment (it changes once in a while) is Aurora. Cinderella comes after that. I gather from all my readings that Aurora regularly appears at both CRT and Akershus but no guarantee. So we'll have to keep our fingers crossed wherever we decide to go.

I just asked DS13 again if he wants to reconsider about dining at CRT since dining in the castle could be fun. He thought hard and said, "no kidding? In the castle? Hmmmm...that could be cool.". Maybe if I work on it daily, I may get the 2 boys to agree to come along.

Is it more worth it to pay OOP for breakfast at CRT than use the dining plan? 2 regular meals in a sit down restaurant seem to cost more than one meal in CRT. I'm trying to get my math right here. Any one has any experience with that?

 

[DEA]

I think Akershus wins over CRT on every dimension except for actually being inside the castle. I like the food better, the princess interaction better, and the price better.

All that being said, we've paid OOP for CRT breakfast before in order to free up those dining credits for dinners, which are generally more expensive than breakfasts. I think it just depends on where else you're going and when, and may involve math. I do not recommend math this early on a Saturday, however.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

We never ate at CRT but we LOVE Akershus! The food is great and there are more than just one princess. One day we may do, CRT but its so $$$ and really the food is GOOD at Akershus!

 

[sissy1]

We've eaten at both places with my granddaughter twice (age 4 then again age 6) she loves both places. All the princesses come out and visit each table, one at a time, giving you time to snap a picture of them with the child. They don't stay very long, just a quick stop. She loves that she is in pictures with all the princesses. Its something she looks forward to everytime time we visit WDW.

 

[DMKEDM]

We've long since passed the point where the dining plan made any sense for us at all...so haven't used it in ages. But based on past experience, it does take a little math to figure out if it makes sense...generally, except for character meals, b'fasts are so much less expensive than dinners that using 2 TS credits for a b'fast may not make financial sense...and in our experience, b'fast food is MUCH better than lunch or dinner food (w/some exceptions)...

B'fast may also be easier to get by your DS's...especially if you can get an early reservation...we like to do character b'fast experiences starting about 45 minutes before park opening...gives us just a tiny head start on the parks at opening (you can't get past rope drop prior to opening, but if you finish at just about rope drop time, you're already "deep" into the park and ready to hit your favorite first big attraction...just the kind of "advantage" that would "sell" MY DS, particularly during his teenage years!

Of course, that's not terribly relevant at Akershus in Epcot, altho it could be timed to get you to TT or MS or Soarin' just a minute or so ahead of the people waiting behind the rope drop spot...

I'll use the DisBoards "best" one-liner...you really can't make a wrong choice here...

Have fun!

 

[longing4disney]

2 reasons why I considered Akersus initally
1. Price, 1TS instead of 2TS compared to CRT
2. We'll going for dinner at 1900 Park Fare which features Cinderella and family. Thought Akershus will feature other princesses so that we get to meet different characters.

We stay so far away, that each WDW trip is so precious. When we were there 5 years ago, DD did not go with us as she was only one and I wasn't sure if she could manage the more than 24hrs of flight time. I told myself that I'll go CRT with her when she is old enough to go WDW and if we can ever afford another trip. Now this day has come and my logical self is inkling towards Akershus while my dreamer self is saying CRT!

I somehow know this could be our last trip to WDW. It is just too expensive to make another trip. If not because DD has not been to WDW and DSs wanting to see Harry Potter at IOA, we will not have planned this trip. We literally have to fly half way round the globe to get to WDW and that cost a lot of money. We will be flying Singapore-Moscow-Houston-Orlando!

Anymore advice or feedback will be most appreciated!

I think I may just start a spreadsheet to compare prices.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

You definitely won't be duplicating the character experience by doing 1900 PF (d) by also doing Akershus or CRT.

We've done CRT twice and Akershus twice. Food and service at Akershus has been better on both of our visits. Our first visit to CRT -we had good food and avg service...2nd visit we had bad food, bad service, and issues w/our table as well. Of course, our girls really didn't notice. The "magic" of being in the castle also faded considerably on the 2nd visit...although the chaos waiting to be seated on that 2nd visit is probably what killed the atmosphere.

I still think that the castle is the better bet if it's her first princess meal. Even as adults, DH and I were in awe of the place that first time. While obviously you will meet Cinderella at CRT and Aurora was there both times we dined at the castle, we've had Cinderella and Aurora in our two visits to Akershus as well.

 

[disneybliss2]

For us, the character experience was about the same at both. While Akershus isn't "The Castle," it does have a castle-like feel that makes for a nice setting. The cost is a lot less at Akershus, and we prefer the food there. We actually ate at both CRT and Akershus for two trips. Both times my daughter preferred Akershus. ??? Great for us because it's much cheaper. With all that said, I would choose Akershus. However, if your boys are willing to dine at the castle, I would choose it to keep the family together if that's important to you.

 

[DMKEDM]

Warning: "heresy" coming! (I'm good at spending other people's money)...

Given the time, effort and money you're spending on this trip--and your feeling that it may be a very long time, if ever, before you can do another one--why not do both? One for b'fast and one for lunch or dinner? And use your dining plan...you can "eat cheap" one day to make up for the extra TS credits at CRT??

Or, maybe you can just take your DD to one of the two, and the whole family to the other (whichever you choose and whichever your DSs will agree to)...

Anyway, they are both very different and very similar experiences. The words you use to describe them are much the same. The atmosphere and "feeling" is unique in each place. And Akershus is no more/less expensive than any other TS experience so it shouldn't add much to the cost to do it "on top" of CRT...

Anyway, it's not my money and not my time, so I don't get a vote. But if I did, I'd vote for both!

Good luck and have a TERRIFIC trip!

 

[PoohsFan1]

We do both, we love the Akershus breakfast and the CRT dinner. We are also on the DxDP so we can justify the costs for both restaurants. Akershus is a lovely restaurant with great Princess interaction while you just cannot beat eating in the Castle at CRT, Princess interaction is good but not as good as Akershus. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Coconuts]

We have been to both CRT and Akershus.

I think of CRT as a "you must go there at least once" place, just to eat in the castle, but is a big splurge so only do it if you can financially. We went when my youngest DD was 1 1/2, which we probably shouldn't have done, since I think that she was too young to appreciate this expensive experience. Akershus is a much better bang for your buck, and you get to see a lot of princesses. So therefore I normally suggest Akershus, but...

Since you said this would probably be your last trip to WDW, and if you've never done CRT, then I'd say go for it!

 

[kylmac]

We have done both with our 2 children-dd 12 and ds 10. The castle has that great castle feel but we found the food to be average. The castle you will see all the genuine princesses (unless it has changed since last year). At Epcot you will see the princesses plus Mulan, Alice, and maybe a few others. My kids loved getting their picture with Ariel in Epcot. We found the food better in Epcot and with a few extras like fish from Norway which DH appreciated-I remember some kind of French Toast that was delicious as well but it has been about 4 years since we have eaten there. I think the coffee was good as well. Good luck making your decision.
Elizabeth

 

[kylmac]

We have done both with our 2 children-dd 12 and ds 10. The castle has that great castle feel but we found the food to be average. The castle you will see all the genuine princesses (unless it has changed since last year). At Epcot you will see the princesses plus Mulan, Alice, and maybe a few others. My kids loved getting their picture with Ariel in Epcot. We found the food better in Epcot and with a few extras like fish from Norway which DH appreciated-I remember some kind of French Toast that was delicious as well but it has been about 4 years since we have eaten there. I think the coffee was good as well. Good luck making your decision.
Elizabeth

 

[dolfinjuls]

We've done both for breakfast. I think if it's a first, then nothing beats eating in the castle!