CRT-Still hard to get into?

ilovefh

Is it Disney time yet?
Joined
Sep 17, 2002
Messages
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Here is the scoop! We're going on our honeymoon in less than a month. Is CRT still really hard to get into (lunch I'm thinking). I worked at CRT 7 years ago and loved it. I do miss the regular lunch and dinner though! I'd like to take soon to be DH to eat there...maybe. I haven't quite decided. Is it still really hard to get into? Can you really use the DDE card for 20% off? Is it worth the money?
 
I would say it is

We had it booked, finally, for this week. Travel firm went bust on Friday last week so our holiday got canned. Managed to get re-booked for Disney for first 2 weeks in November instead and CRT was the one booking we could not get re-established. It may be down to luck but I reckon its still one of the most popular dining experiences in MK.

It may be worth trying repeatedly to get any cancellations that pop up, after all someone will get the 4 spaces that our holiday cancellation opened up

Good luck
 
I think I got lucky! I can't decide whether I want to eat at CRT or not but on a whim I called and they had a reservation available for a day we are there. It is on the day we are supposed to go to Universal, but we can switch things around I think.

About how long does a dinner take now? Soon to be DH is going to HHN at Universal that night which starts at 6:30 while I go to MNSSHP. Our reservation is for 4pm and if things are still the same that is the first reservation.
 
I have to say that we used to love lunch at CRT. We were there last Friday and were terribly disappointed. They are trying so hard now to get people in an out quickly, it's nothing but an assembly line. They were annoyed because it took a bit of time to get my handicapped parents seated. I finally had to say to the woman hostess who kept telling us to hurry and sit down that "My parents are handicapped and it takes a bit longer for them . . . please leave us alone".

Once seated, the princesses came out and made one quick circuit of the room. At other meals, the characters circulate 2-3 times (we had a good point of comparison because we also did Chef Mickey's and Liberty Tree Tavern dinner).

As I told the restaurant manager when I complained, "If Snow White spent 20 seconds with my 4-year-old niece, I'd be surprised". The princesses seemed like they were on a clock and had to run to make it through in the time indicated.

There was a quick something about making a wish and the meal was over and we were expected to vacate. I got a cup of coffee and lingered out of spite.

We did this lunch a couple of years ago and even though it was an assembly line then, it was not nearly as much so as last week. I think they are trying to get one more group into and out of the restaurant for lunch than they used to do.

The food was okay, but the character interaction was totally disappointing. I told the manager I was on free dining so didn't really care, but that I would never pay for this meal the way they are running it now.

And, I'd never waste two dining credits on it again -- even if they're free.
 

I am planning our 2nd trip to WDW and am considering eating at CRT this time. We will be on the Dining Plan. Our kids will be DS 6, DS 5, and DD 2. Our sons saw some pictures from our niece's trip to WDW and her breakfast photos from CRT and they both really want to eat in the castle. I told them it was a princess meal, but they really just want to eat in the castle. What will the experience be like for them? Will the atmosphere be worth using 2 TS credits? I had planned on breakfast at Tusker House and dinner at the Garden Grill, but will instead use the credits for the CRT lunch instead in order to work this into our vacation.
 
I know very little about this place and do know I have heard several stories about how crowded it is but I did hear the podcast crew got a ressie 2 weeks before their desired day for dinner. I am not sure if this is a fluke or just becomming the norm.
 
We love CRT--- the whole experience of eating in the castle is amazing. Even my teenager enjoys it. We have only done breakfast (when we started it was the only character meal and we just love the food so much we have not tried anything else). I am sure it would be special for you seeing as you worked there.
Remember that you have to give them a CC number and must cancel 48 hours ahead of time, so your best bet is to try 2 days before you want to go. Having said that, anytime you have a minute, try calling, people's plans change all the time. I am one of the nuts who calls exactly 7am on the 180+ day before our trip. I had the day on my calender circled so I wouldn't forget.
We have never felt rushed and I really hope they arn't rushing when we were there. Maybe it was because of free dining (not that it makes it right).
 
I have always been able to get CRT ADRs even when it was supposedly impossible to get them. I call evey day and I am flexible about whwe we go. However since they chenged the menu and the format I don't care for it at all and I completely agree with the person that said it's now an assembly line. It is, they have a set way they do things and I felt rushed. I am not someone that usually lets a server rush me but I found at the CRT it's all so structured you don't have a choice.

Think os a wedding when all the food comes out at once, it's all cleared at the same time, the dessert is served at the same time.

I WISH they would go back to it being a regular restaurant.
 
I am planning our 2nd trip to WDW and am considering eating at CRT this time. We will be on the Dining Plan. Our kids will be DS 6, DS 5, and DD 2. Our sons saw some pictures from our niece's trip to WDW and her breakfast photos from CRT and they both really want to eat in the castle. I told them it was a princess meal, but they really just want to eat in the castle. What will the experience be like for them? Will the atmosphere be worth using 2 TS credits? I had planned on breakfast at Tusker House and dinner at the Garden Grill, but will instead use the credits for the CRT lunch instead in order to work this into our vacation.

DS was 5 when we did CRT in 2007. Granted, this was supper which was the fairy godmother and the seamstress mice. He really got a kick out of getting his picture taken with Cindy. Thought the inside of the castle was awesome. And we have a neat picture of him, with his sword, and a suit of armor in the lobby.

Certainly wouldn't go EVERY time, especially without a tiny princess in tow. But it is a pretty cool experience to do at least once with the kiddos, be they knights or princesses.
 












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