CRT or Akershus?

[jmccoy18]

If you had to choose one or the other, would you go with CRT or Akershus? And why. We will be dinning with a 5yr old and a 2yr old girl who are obsessed with princesses, for a little background info.

 

[FireflyTrance]

Personally I would probably pick CRT because it's in the castle which I thought was fun. We have done both and if I were to do one a second time I would personally pick CRT. I feel like Epcot has a lot of great restaurants with food I preferred over Akershus.

 

[librarymom2007]

CRT hands down. It's the ultimate princess experience to eat in the castle. Plus the food at Akershus is weird.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

I have been to breakfast at both. I would actually choose Akershus, particularly if you go for breakfast (yes, I have heard the Akershus food is a little weird outside of breakfast). Akershus is cheaper and I found the princess interaction a little better; they spent a little more time at the tables, plus your girls can join the parade in the restaurant. CRT is too costly to do often. It's nice to say you've done it once, but at your girls ages I expect they would not remember dining in the castle. I suggest saving it for when they are older.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would choose CRT. I think that for little girls there is something very special aboutdining in Cinderella Castle, and my little Princesses sure did feel that way as well a few weeks ago when we had dinner there. The Princess interaction was very good, as was the food and service.

WE also had breakfast in Akershus and it was very good too. If you have to choose and do nto want to spend the money that CRT costs, I would not hesitate to choose the Princess Breakfast at Akershus. The food was deliciou, there was plenty, and the Princess Interaction was very good. There was a Princess Procession the girls really enjoyed!

 

[KingLlama]

Can't speak to CRT because we've never tried it, but I will tell you that on our most recent trip, the princess interaction at Akershus was really, really bad. Not "go tell a manager" bad, but really rushed and impersonal. I realize everyone's experience is different(see Terra Nova Guy's review above), but based strictly on our last visit, we won't be doing Akershus again.

 

[Nancyg56]

Can't speak to CRT because we've never tried it, but I will tell you that on our most recent trip, the princess interaction at Akershus was really, really bad. Not "go tell a manager" bad, but really rushed and impersonal. I realize everyone's experience is different(see Terra Nova Guy's review above), but based strictly on our last visit, we won't be doing Akershus again.

Well that is lousy! And I do think that when a service does not measure up to the expectation that is sold to you, you have every right to speak to a manager. I don't mean whine for every little thing, but when you are paying a premium for character interactions you should get what you pay for.

 

[KingLlama]

And we have before, when we felt like it was warranted. This situation just kind of toed that line, where they weren't necessarily RUDE, just kind of disinterested and not fully engaged with the kids.

We may have just gotten a bad bunch, so to speak. We've been there on other occasions and the princess interaction was FANTASTIC, so we may have just caught them on an off day.

 

[ktlm]

CRT by far. We have done both several times. There is just something special about being in the Castle. Also they get wishing stars and wands at CRT. The castle is magical for kids in the age group of your kids. Your 5 year old will probably be "enlightened" about the Princesses at school before long, so I would enjoy it while you can!

Akershus we have always felt rushed in both the meal and the meets and feel like the interaction is not as good as at CRT. We have had some specific not so stellar experiences there. One time we were there, we had just been seated and the waiter immediately came up to us and asked for our order- he did not want just our drink order either. When I advised that I needed a little time to look at the menu, he said okay and then stood over my shoulder and did not leave until I told him what I wanted. We literally had been at the table about 3 seconds before he came over. Another time we ate at Akershus, the photographer with Belle snapped the shot before DD and Belle had even posed. It was so bad that Belle said "wait" as he was snapping the shot, but he did not wait, nor would he take another shot. Belle shot a look at him that I think she probably has reserved for the Beast when he was being awful and said "I'm sorry" to us. The picture was kind of funny because Belle has a surprised look on her face. As we were going to the restroom that day we heard the hostess for the picture line say to another CM- I love it when we get this photographer because there is never a back up in the picture line. I, on the other hand, did not love it, as you pay a premium to have that picture and it should not have been totally rushed. The last time we ate there, we were seated right by the buffet area. The tables are very tight, so people going to the buffet kept bumping into my chair over and over- as did the Princesses and a server. It got to the point where it was hilarious. DH and DD were busting out laughing every time someone bumped me after about the 3rd or 4th time. Let's just say I about cheered when DD said we did not need to eat at Akershus for our next trip. We kept going there because DD was a Princess nut and she wanted to do CRT AND Akershus (AND 1900 Park Fare dinner) every trip. CRT is still a must on her list even though she is now 9. I have to say that I enjoy CRT too.

We have never had any issues with CRT, other than not being crazy about a menu change and one time 6 years ago, there was a bad Cinderella downstairs. I don't know whether she was having a bad day or what, but she was grumpy downright rude to people to the point that DD (then 3) said that she was a fake Cinderella standing in because the real Cinderella was in Toontown (back in the day when Cinderella's meet and greet was in Toontown) seeing kids. You can definitely see that Cinderella either didn't feel good or was in our mood in our picture (and probably everyone else's picture around us in line). Other than that 1 visit we have had good interactions and pictures with Cinderella and the other princesses there.

 

[agwood123DLFerguson]

Well this makes me nervous. We have an akershus booked. Is there a better time to eat there? I have a 2:45 or a 6:15.

 

[jmccoy18]

hmmmmm..... Thanks for all replies. DD1 has been talking about eating at the castle ever since we got back from our last trip and I know she would love CRT. I just thought it might be good to do Akershus to see more princesses.

 

[bjackowski]

I would say CRT. We've done both, CRT twice with our oldest daughter. We're going again and picking CRT over Akershus.

 

[Live4theMagic]

I'm trying to make this decision as well. I have 5 and 3 yr. old princesses. We have done CRT twice before, but are thinking of giving Akershus a try next time. We are going in May and are hoping that the Frozen ride will be open... maybe meet and greet with Elsa/Anna. If the timing is right, I know my girls would love to visit Arendelle (oops, I mean the Norway Pavillion )

 

[cmarsh31]

We really enjoyed Akershus last trip. The "weird" lunch didn't bother us at all - the meatballs were yummy - and the princesses were all great. We did CRT the first time and it was definitely magical (even for my DS who was 6 at the time). Maybe our expectations just aren't that high but my DD is firmly a princess and loved both meals. We had a great time at 1900 as well - the kids loved the stepsisters' antics.

For a first time, I'd definitely do CRT because you are OMG IN CINDERELLA'S CASTLE!!! and that's about as exciting as it gets for the little princesses.

 

[constantstar]

We are going in May and are hoping that the Frozen ride will be open... maybe meet and greet with Elsa/Anna.

With that in mind, I better keep my Akershus ADR for February. I know the Frozen stuff won't be up yet but it may be our last chance to visit for a while since since it's about to get crazy!

 

[ktlm]

Well this makes me nervous. We have an akershus booked. Is there a better time to eat there? I have a 2:45 or a 6:15.

Don't let us scare you off! Some people love the place! If you have a Princess lover, she will be thrilled to see the Princesses there, and nothing else will matter. We just prefer CRT. I would pick the time that you prefer. My gut says that it might not be as crazy inside at 2:45 and you might get a little more attention from the Princesses, but since it is typically booked solid all day, that might not be the case anyway.

hmmmmm..... Thanks for all replies. DD1 has been talking about eating at the castle ever since we got back from our last trip and I know she would love CRT. I just thought it might be good to do Akershus to see more princesses.

If you are talking about just picking 1, I would say absolutely CRT. If you are thinking about doing both, then at your DD's ages, my DD would tell you to go for it. The Princesses are mostly the same though. The difference is that unless someone is sick or missing and there is a substitution, you will get the formal picture with Cinderella at CRT and with Belle (gold dress) at Akershus. You will see Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White and Ariel (ball gown) at both (unless someone is our and there is a substitution). At CRT, you will see Jasmine, but not Belle. Akershus it is Belle (out front), but no Jasmine at the meal. (Just FYI- the other place that DD ranked right up there with Princess meals at WDW at your DD's ages and still today is Biergarten- she loves the band and the dance floor).

 

[Dis703]

Personally, I would choose CRT because there is just nothing like dining inside the castle. Princesses aside that alone is just a really special experience.

 

[SueDonym3]

I like both. If it was a first experience, CRT. The food is great. The castle is amazing. Plus Princesses everywhere! Once you have done a princess breakfast or two- they work the same...photo at the beginning. Cinderella at CRT. Belle at Akershus. Then food. Then princesses circulate through the room taking pics and having a brief convo at each table. Then a princess parade or magic sparkle that all the kids join in...the princesses sweep out and you get to decide if you want to buy an additional photos...Akershus has good food too- I have only eaten breakfast at both so no opinion on lunch/dinner. Akershus is a neat space itself....but it is not dining inside the castle....

 

[SleepingUgly]

We just returned from WDW this past weekend and I had booked both CRT and Akershus for meals. Our reservation at CRT was 4.05 pm so we were one of the first to be seated for dinner. As such, we didn't have to wait for a previous group to leave and were seated immediately. Service was awesome and super friendly, and I thought the princess interactions were lovely - each princess spent just the right amount of time at each table, taking pictures and making small talk. We didn't leave until @ 6.45 pm and the lobby was packed with people who were waiting to be seated. Cinderella (who greets guests in the lobby) was just standing around, waiting for the next group to be let in because she had already had her picture taken with everyone who could fit inside the waiting area. I'm sure those with 6.30 pm or later reservations were going to be backed up by at least 30 minutes, if not more. Or the princesses / service would start to be super rushed and that would have sucked.

Now, it was a completely different story at Akershus. We had a 1.30 pm reservation for lunch and we didn't have to wait too long, so it wasn't like they were backed up. We were seated right after we got our pictures taken with Belle, who was the greeter (and who was lovely, BTW). Anyway, when the princesses came out to do their meet-and-greet, they practically sprinted into the dining hall and spent no more than 30 seconds at each table. Literally. Each princess, when she got to our table, it was like this: "Hello there, everyone" ... Grab autograph book and sign ... Take my five-year-old's hand and stand / pose with her, and she would scramble to get in place ... I'd take the picture, they wave good-bye, and with a swish and swirl of their skirts, they were gone. It was madness. Luckily, we had done CRT for dinner the previous night so we just got a good laugh out of it; otherwise, I would not have been happy at all. We had done Akershus on previous trips and always been happy with the interactions, so I was really surprised at how rushed everything was this time around.

Either way, no matter where you dine, maybe consider one of the first seatings for that meal so you don't have to wait when guests take longer than expected? One night, we had a 7.45 pm reservation at 50s Prime Time Cafe at DHS and weren't seated until 8.30 pm because of the back-up. It was not fun, to say the least.

Have fun!

 

[jmccoy18]

We just returned from WDW this past weekend and I had booked both CRT and Akershus for meals. Our reservation at CRT was 4.05 pm so we were one of the first to be seated for dinner. As such, we didn't have to wait for a previous group to leave and were seated immediately. Service was awesome and super friendly, and I thought the princess interactions were lovely - each princess spent just the right amount of time at each table, taking pictures and making small talk. We didn't leave until @ 6.45 pm and the lobby was packed with people who were waiting to be seated. Cinderella (who greets guests in the lobby) was just standing around, waiting for the next group to be let in because she had already had her picture taken with everyone who could fit inside the waiting area. I'm sure those with 6.30 pm or later reservations were going to be backed up by at least 30 minutes, if not more. Or the princesses / service would start to be super rushed and that would have sucked.

Now, it was a completely different story at Akershus. We had a 1.30 pm reservation for lunch and we didn't have to wait too long, so it wasn't like they were backed up. We were seated right after we got our pictures taken with Belle, who was the greeter (and who was lovely, BTW). Anyway, when the princesses came out to do their meet-and-greet, they practically sprinted into the dining hall and spent no more than 30 seconds at each table. Literally. Each princess, when she got to our table, it was like this: "Hello there, everyone" ... Grab autograph book and sign ... Take my five-year-old's hand and stand / pose with her, and she would scramble to get in place ... I'd take the picture, they wave good-bye, and with a swish and swirl of their skirts, they were gone. It was madness. Luckily, we had done CRT for dinner the previous night so we just got a good laugh out of it; otherwise, I would not have been happy at all. We had done Akershus on previous trips and always been happy with the interactions, so I was really surprised at how rushed everything was this time around.

Either way, no matter where you dine, maybe consider one of the first seatings for that meal so you don't have to wait when guests take longer than expected? One night, we had a 7.45 pm reservation at 50s Prime Time Cafe at DHS and weren't seated until 8.30 pm because of the back-up. It was not fun, to say the least.

Have fun!

We had the same experience at 50s Prime Time Cafe duing our last trip. We had ADRs for 6:30pm and we were not seated until an hour later. It was pretty bad and left a bad taste in our mouth, even though the meal was great and the service once we were seated was wonderful.