CRT vs Akershus

[sunshine0206]

I was wondering what your experiences have been at these.

Do they have the same princesses?

Can you get autographs and pictures with the princesses at both?

How fast were you seated with a reservation?

How long were you at each one? Was the service fast?

Would you do both in the same trip?

TIA

 

[Disfan1968]

I wouldn't mind hearing people's opinions on these questions. After much hemming and hawing, we went with CRT for our upcoming trip as we know our 4 year old daughter will get a kick out of eating "in the castle." But obviously, for half the money Akershus seems like a good deal.

 

[BStew]

We did both on our last trip.

CRT we did for lunch. There was a long wait after we checked in and got pictures with Cinderella to be taken upstairs to be sat. The service and food were wonderful. Jasmine is at CRT and she was one princess we hadn't seen yet so my DD was very excited about that. Princesses come around to greet your table, sign autographs and take pictures.

Akershus we did for dinner. A pretty long gap between checking in and being sat. As you walk in you meet Belle (she was AWESOME). The food here for dinner was better than I expected. I was a little worried about my DS and DD finding something they would like but they did! The buffet was great because we could get started right away on munchies while waiting for the main course that we ordered. At Akershus, the princesses come around same as CRT however, at Akershus they also have a Princess Parade that was awesome. The kids all get up and "parade" around the room with the princesses.

My vote would be... a toss up. I believe that at least once you HAVE to dine in the castle if for nothing else the experience. However, if you are going to frequent DW then I would vote for Akershus until the kids are old enough to really be able to sit in closed quarters and wait patiently for their food.

 

[aaarcher86]

It's usually the same princesses, with the exception being that Belle greets at Akershus and Cinderella greets at CRT.

We do breakfast at Akershus and dinner at CRT each trip, so I can't really compare the food. We enjoy them both.

I much prefer the ambiance and overall experience of the castle with the princesses being announced, the wands, and wishing ceremony. You can do pictures and autographs at both places. There's a princess parade at Akershus that kids can participate in. We usually have a longer wait at Akershus, but we do pre park opening reservations.

They're both great. If it's just about princesses, I'd go to Akershus. If it's more about the overall ambiance and experience, I'd go to CRT.

 

[sunshine0206]

So the wait time to get to your table at both of these are long??

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

I've done them both at one point or another. They are both fantastic. I went with Akershus this time for my frst trip with my DD simply because it's a 1 dining credit as opposed to 2 at CRT. I don't remember a very long wait for either, but it's been a while. I think it was 15 minutes for Akershus and 20 for CRT. But I agree with @aaarcher86: For princess interaction, go with Akershus. For the whole "I'm eating in the castle" experience, go with CRT.

 

[aaarcher86]

So the wait time to get to your table at both of these are long??

Neither were long for me, it was just longER at Akershus.

I'd say at most, 20 minutes from check in to get to the table (including going through the line for Belle) at Akershus.

CRT was maybe 5 minutes before we were taken for our picture with Cinderella, a few minutes in line, and then we were taken right to our seat. But neither one is known for long wait times like Ohana or anything.

 

[sunshine0206]

That's not too bad!! I was thinking when people said long waits, it meant like hours. lol I have both reservations. I am splitting my days one of those day. Am I crazy for trying to do CRT and Akershus in the same day?!??!

 

[melidy]

We've done them both in one trip, 4/5 princesses were the same for us (Snow White, Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora) but we met Belle at Akershus and Jasmine at CRT.

We went in the fall and only had around a 2-5 minute wait to meet both 'greeting' princesses and straight after that we were seated. I will say though that we were in the first breakfast seating at each so can't say if that's typical later in the day.

As for how long we were in... it was under/around an hour for both. And yes princesses sign/take pictures at both locations.

Ours were spaced around a week apart, personally I couldn't see doing them both in the same day but that's your choice FYI this trip we will be once again going to CRT for a pre-opening breakfast (if I can get the ressie tomorrow) but I'm not planning Akershus this trip... too much overlap to justify the extra credit and CRT was waay better to us. Eating in the castle makes it 'worth it' for us!

 

[melidy]

And I'll add the CRT reservation was at the request of my manly man partner aaaand we don't have kids So it obviously made an impression with him, since this is the only thing he's specifically requested I add into our plans haha

 

[Disfan1968]

And I'll add the CRT reservation was at the request of my manly man partner aaaand we don't have kids So it obviously made an impression with him, since this is the only thing he's specifically requested I add into our plans haha

I am thinking most manly men, if they were thinking straight, would be just fine with dining with a crew of 20 something princesses.

 

[sunshine0206]

Hahaha! Hopefully my man will be happy with it. The problem is, I started planning my trip in february. I set up dining alerts for CRT and got some how got Akershus. I was set on my schedule then after 2 months of waiting I got one for CRT. (we go in may, 15 days actually) So now I am like... what do I do??? I have no way to change this unless something for CRT came up on my other MK day. And that is if I am lucky. I have the dessert party on my other MK day. So I really can't change my days. and now they are in the same day. ugh! It has been my dream since I was kid dining at CRT. So I am leaning towards dropping Akershus. But I just don't know what to do. :/ I wish I could get a breakfast to come up for CRT that would be awesome. Then I wouldn't be stressing as much.

 

[Disfan1968]

Hahaha! Hopefully my man will be happy with it. The problem is, I started planning my trip in february. I set up dining alerts for CRT and got some how got Akershus. I was set on my schedule then after 2 months of waiting I got one for CRT. (we go in may, 15 days actually) So now I am like... what do I do??? I have no way to change this unless something for CRT came up on my other MK day. And that is if I am lucky. I have the dessert party on my other MK day. So I really can't change my days. and now they are in the same day. ugh! It has been my dream since I was kid dining at CRT. So I am leaning towards dropping Akershus. But I just don't know what to do. :/ I wish I could get a breakfast to come up for CRT that would be awesome. Then I wouldn't be stressing as much.

Keep checking every single day, maybe a couple times if it occurs to you. Something is likely to open, but you have to be vigilant. Good luck!

 

[melidy]

Hahaha! Hopefully my man will be happy with it. The problem is, I started planning my trip in february. I set up dining alerts for CRT and got some how got Akershus. I was set on my schedule then after 2 months of waiting I got one for CRT. (we go in may, 15 days actually) So now I am like... what do I do??? I have no way to change this unless something for CRT came up on my other MK day. And that is if I am lucky. I have the dessert party on my other MK day. So I really can't change my days. and now they are in the same day. ugh! It has been my dream since I was kid dining at CRT. So I am leaning towards dropping Akershus. But I just don't know what to do. :/ I wish I could get a breakfast to come up for CRT that would be awesome. Then I wouldn't be stressing as much.

Ok, I'm getting confused (not your fault... it just doesn't take much )

So what exactly are your current reservations? You have Akershus breakfast on your Epcot day? and then CRT ressie opened for dinner and now you are planning on park hopping and doing both in one day? But... you'd prefer a CRT breakfast on your other MK day. The day which has a dessert party scheduled?

 

[MmmSuite]

Akershus was the only place that I ate in WDW that I never want to go back to! The photopass guy was rude when I said I wanted a picture alone with Belle before I let my ILs get in with us. I only met two rude CMs on my whole trip and he was worlds away from the other one. Just a jerk. They also bought me the wrong pictures that I asked to be printed. The Belle wasn't really in character if you ask me. She was like a statue and told my kids she didn't like to go on adventures only read about them! Um...."I want adventure in the great wide somewhere." She didn't make eye contact or interact with them at all.

The tables in the back were on top of each other. I couldn't get in and out and holding my 1 year old when she got fussy...forget it. My husband weighs 50 lbs less then me and is a stick and wasn't comfortable. My MIL has had two knee replacements and couldn't even stretch out her legs.

I like the starter buffet and the food. The other princesses were great, especially Ariel. I was sad that Aurora wasn't there because I wore my Malificient shirt just for her! However, it did inspire me to go find her in the rain at Epcot and I found that there aren't any lines for the characters in the rain and had a blast meeting Aurora, other Belle, and Aladdin with Jasmine! So it worked out in the end!

I'm going to try CRT next time! I'm hoping the experience is better!

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I am thinking most manly men, if they were thinking straight, would be just fine with dining with a crew of 20 something princesses.

I love reading reviews in which mothers are so surprised at how much their teenage sons enjoyed CRT, obviously never putting two and two together.

 

[melidy]

I am thinking most manly men, if they were thinking straight, would be just fine with dining with a crew of 20 something princesses.

Shocking huh?

 

[limpy]

The age old question! For what it's worth, Akershaus breakfast was awesome. Wait was not terribly long. Everyone was nice, good food, princess interaction was good. My kid loved it.

 

[sunshine0206]

Ok, I'm getting confused (not your fault... it just doesn't take much )

So what exactly are your current reservations? You have Akershus breakfast on your Epcot day? and then CRT ressie opened for dinner and now you are planning on park hopping and doing both in one day? But... you'd prefer a CRT breakfast on your other MK day. The day which has a dessert party scheduled?

I'm going to mk one day. I have the dessert party that day, so I can't change that day.

My other mk day I'm splitting with epcot. So I have crt fit lunch and Akershus for dinner

 

[sunshine0206]

I'm having a hard time deciding. Lol this is so hard!