CRT: Should we bother?

[Angelaann]

I just snagged a CRT breakfast reservation at 60 days out during spring break. We have 5 people, 2 adults, 2 8 year olds and a 5 year old. Should we keep it? We did it a couple of years ago and it was fairly unmemorable. Any recent great or terrible experiences? Thanks.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

How important are the princesses to the children?

 

[Angelaann]

Not really to the older, maybe moderately to the younger. We are doing Akershus on a different day. I was thinking it might be a nice, capacity controlled environment for a busy week? Or is it more chaotic than I am remembering?

 

[AshleeH]

We ate there twice on our last trip and we'll be going back on future trips.

 

[eastendlights]

I think it is one of the quieter, less frantic places to dine in MK. We go every year, alternating between meals and have dined there twice in a trip on occasion. Nothing beats eating in a castle and my dd will be turning 21 during our trip and she still loves to go.

 

[melanielll]

I don't know if I would do CRT and Akershus - unless the kids were princess crazy. Then I would do both.

We ate at CRT in December. It was definitely our best meal/dining experience while we were there. We had an Akershus reservation, too. But we cancelled it after eating at CRT. The food at Akershus seemed less appealing, the price wasn't substantially different, and we had really enjoyed CRT. I think Akershus would have been us spending a lot for a lesser (yet very similar) experience.

 

[Amelia :)]

We did it and enjoyed the experience, but I don't think we'd bother again now it's ticked off the list.
If you found it unmemorable, why bother? Stick to either experiences you love or try something new

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

What time is your ADR?
If it's 8 am, then I'd say keep it. We go every trip (for lunch or dinner, never been for breakfast, actually).

If it's at 9 am, then you are giving up the best time of day for short lines.

If it's 10 am, then I'd go for it.

 

[Sweettears]

Not really to the older, maybe moderately to the younger. We are doing Akershus on a different day. I was thinking it might be a nice, capacity controlled environment for a busy week? Or is it more chaotic than I am remembering?

I find CRT to be one of the more relaxing character meals. That is if you can call any character meal relaxing. Probably less chaotic is better.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It's not chaotic, but, IMHO, that's a lot to spend just to have a TS meal if you aren't interested in the characters. If you don't care about cost and are just looking for a less chaotic breakfast than, say, Crystal Palace, sure!!

 

[MSPeeler]

We prefer CRT over Akershus. It was probably our best meal/character dining experience by far. Akershus was forgetful (literally, I forget almost the entire meal if it wasn't for pictures of my daughter with the Princesses!)

 

[tinkerbella16]

We actually prefer Akershus breakfast over CRT. We did CRT in 2015 and it was a one and done - food portions were small, we were so rushed that we were in and out within 40 minutes and the princesses were rushed as well. Akershus was like night and day compared to CRT - all you can eat, way better food, spent more time with the princesses and we did not feel rushed at all. Both are expensive, but CRT was almost $60 a person for breakfast or 2 TS credits on the DDP whereas Akershus is $46 or 1 TS credit, so we will stick with that and get more out of it.

 

[jvz82]

We loved CRT this year. As others mentioned, we also found it the least chaotic character meal and I felt a real sense of being treated like royalty. That said, I've never been to Akershus so I can't compare. And I would not give up too much of my MK morning so if you have a later breakfast I may not make it a priority. We went for lunch so it was a nice break from the crowds after a busy morning of rides.

 

[GillianP1301]

Since you already have Akershus in your plans, you've eaten at CRT before and your party only has moderate interest in the characters, I would skip it.

 

[TwoMisfits]

If you have to ask if you should bother, and for the amount of $ this costs, you already know the answer.

 

[Angelaann]

Thalnks, everyone. Point welll taken about giving up relatively calm AM hours at MK. I think I will keep my eyes open for a lunch instead.

 

[IrishNYC]

We enjoyed breakfast there - not the food - I wasn't impressed by that at all. But the atmosphere was nice, princess interaction was good, and it was a magical start to DD5's first trip. But, I would not do it again unless she specifically asked for it. We also ate lunch at Akershus on that trip. I'm planning Akershus breakfast for our princess fix next trip, no CRT.

 

[tink2]

Is the 5 year old a girl? the 8 year olds? If so, I say keep it! or change it to lunch.

There is nothing more magical to a princess (girl) than eating in the castle with the princesses. My daughter is 17 and has been going to CRT since she was 2 years old. It is one of her absolute favorite things to do at Disney. At 5 years old, she simply loved it and fully believed that Cinderella’s bedroom was upstairs. At 8 years old, she had probably figured out the whole character thing, but still literally teared up when they introduced the princesses for the morning (our trip had been delayed a year bc DH went through a job loss~ this trip was special to us all~ but she literally had tears running down her cheeks)
Now~ it is the first question she asks when we plan a trip~ can we eat in the castle~ we eat there every trip. We have an 8am breakfast our first morning this upcoming June trip to celebrate her graduation bc she can’t think of a better way to kick off the trip.

So in essence, I say keep it. There is nothing more ‘Disney’ or magical to me than eating in the castle with the princesses.