CRT vs ARB

[DYOBL0305]

We're looking into making reservations for either lunch or dinner at MK's Cinderella's Royal Table or Epcot's Akershuhs Royal Banquet. Our daughters absolutely love Disney's Princesses so we figure either one of these would be great but I'm wondering which one offers a better overall experience? How about the food? We can do dinner or lunch at either one, which time would you all recommend? TIA!!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I understand that people feel that you have to experience CRT at least once. Well we did it once and will never do it again. We spent over $450 for 7 of us to eat lunch and only 3 of us were able to finish our meal. 4 of us couldn't eat it because it was inedible. This was by far our worst meal in DW. We left there hungry. What upset us also was our server. Once we ordered our food it was brought out so fast. We were done with the meal in less than 40 minutes. He seemed to be in a bad/rushed mood and had no interaction with us. We were done with our meal before we could get refills on our water.

We love Akershus. We go there almost every visit. We go for lunch and love the food and the princesses.

 

[DYOBL0305]

I appreciate that, thanks! I've read similar reviews in a few other sites, it's one of the reasons I'm hesitant to make reservations there.

 

[Donna in NJ]

We have only done breakfast at Akershuhs. it was a great experience. You get a photo with Belle as you enter. The princess interaction was very well done. I think one of the advantages of Akershuhs is its small buffet. You get to go up and help yourself to fresh fruit, cheese, meats and smoked fish. I am not sure what else it has at lunch/Dinner. At breakfast there was yogurt,danish,breads. If you are not happy with the meal entree choices you make will not leave hungry.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

We're looking into making reservations for either lunch or dinner at MK's Cinderella's Royal Table or Epcot's Akershuhs Royal Banquet. Our daughters absolutely love Disney's Princesses so we figure either one of these would be great but I'm wondering which one offers a better overall experience? How about the food? We can do dinner or lunch at either one, which time would you all recommend? TIA!!

While we had a wonderful dinner and all-around experience at CRT last summer, I hear a LOT more positive feedback about Akershuhs. I very rarely hear anything negative about it and we will definitely try it out on our next trip.

 

[figment_jii]

I've had dinner at both Akershus and CRT and enjoyed both.

PRINCESSES: In general, the princesses are pretty similar between the two venues. Ariel, Snow White, Aurora, and Cinderella are among the "standard" princesses at both venues. Jasmine is usually the fifth princesses at CRT and Belle is the fifth princess at Akerhsus. At Akershus, you take the photo package photo with Belle (yellow dress) while at CRT the photo is with Cinderella.

INTERACTION: I found the princesses at both locations to be equally friendly/interactive. I did like the set-up a little better at CRT. The princesses enter to a little fanfare (quick summary of the story; like three sentences) and then follow a set route. So once the first one goes by, you know that when next princesses reaches a certain table, it means you're next. No more having a princess show up and your is full! At Akershus, the princesses don't really have a route so you never know when one will show up. We even had the character handler come up to our table and ask if we'd seen a princess (in our case, Cinderella) yet because she was about to head to the next room.

GAMES: There are no games/activities at CRT. There was a princess parade at Akershus (at least there was at dinner). All of the kids were invited to parade through the dining room with one of the princesses.

FOOD: Neither venue had outstanding food, but honestly, folks go for the experience and the characters. I went for dinner at both and would generally say that Akerhsus probably had better food (but only by a small margin). At Akershus, I liked the cold buffet-style appetizers and the entrees were pretty good, but the desserts were lacking. At CRT, all three courses were only okay. CRT did a little better at timing the meal (i.e., entrées came out after appetizers were finished, etc.), whereas Akershus ended up stacking the appetizers and entrees. (We were delayed getting to the buffet because a princess stopped by just as were about to get up.)

ATMOSPHERE: This is where CRT really shines. Akershus is fine, but there really isn't anything "magical" about the setting. At CRT, you're eating inside Cinderella's castle! Everything about it seems to say "Disney" to me. Plus, kids get a toy wand or sword (adults too if you ask) and a wishing star.

COST: In this way, Akershus wins. It's only one credit (on the DDP), whereas CRT is 2. If paying cash, I would probably opt to pay the extra money and go to CRT because of the overall experience. If you're on a budget, then Akershus is a good option for princesses.

OVERALL: If you had to only pick one and budget wasn't a consideration, I would go with CRT. I would especially go to CRT if you have children that are into princesses and dining in a "castle." If you have budgetary considerations, then Akershus is less expensive and you see largely the same princesses.

 

[DYOBL0305]

Thank you all, and thank you Figment, that was beyond helpful! We're leaning towards Akershus at the moment but we're not booking until tonight so CRT is not completely off the table just yet.

 

[kimber11]

Another vote for Akershush here. We've done breakfast there twice and are doing it again in November. Obviously we love it. That being said though we have yet to try Cinderella's Royal Table. We will someday. We just figured we could do two table service meals.... Akershush and then 1900 Park Fare Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner instead of just the one at CRT for the same amount of credits.

 

[GWhitten98]

We did Akershus breakfast last year and food was very good as well as the interaction with the princesses. We are returning again this trip. I see the draw to eating in the castle, but just can't justify the extra cost.

 

[disney meema]

We've done both several time and Cinderella Royal table is a must do at least one time for sure, although we dined there several times with wonderful experiences. Akershus has less wow factor as far as the venue, but hard to beat the castle of CRT. But otherwise we enjoyed the food, princesses and service at akershus We usually can't pick so we do both : )
For us it's always the overall experience of character interaction, food and service and both restaurants for us personally met and went beyond our expectations. I've read people didn't like the food or we're underwhelmed ... I can only go by our experiences and they were fabulous at both

 

[visitWDW]

Our experience at Akershus was great, and our experience at CRT was just okay. The character interaction was basically the same at both restaurants, but the food was much better at Akershus. I'd rather eat at Akershus and use the money saved on a bibbidi bobbidi boutique reservation prior to the meal.

 

[ptlohmysoul]

I've had dinner at both Akershus and CRT and enjoyed both.

PRINCESSES: In general, the princesses are pretty similar between the two venues. Ariel, Snow White, Aurora, and Cinderella are among the "standard" princesses at both venues. Jasmine is usually the fifth princesses at CRT and Belle is the fifth princess at Akerhsus. At Akershus, you take the photo package photo with Belle (yellow dress) while at CRT the photo is with Cinderella.

INTERACTION: I found the princesses at both locations to be equally friendly/interactive. I did like the set-up a little better at CRT. The princesses enter to a little fanfare (quick summary of the story; like three sentences) and then follow a set route. So once the first one goes by, you know that when next princesses reaches a certain table, it means you're next. No more having a princess show up and your is full! At Akershus, the princesses don't really have a route so you never know when one will show up. We even had the character handler come up to our table and ask if we'd seen a princess (in our case, Cinderella) yet because she was about to head to the next room.

GAMES: There are no games/activities at CRT. There was a princess parade at Akershus (at least there was at dinner). All of the kids were invited to parade through the dining room with one of the princesses.

FOOD: Neither venue had outstanding food, but honestly, folks go for the experience and the characters. I went for dinner at both and would generally say that Akerhsus probably had better food (but only by a small margin). At Akershus, I liked the cold buffet-style appetizers and the entrees were pretty good, but the desserts were lacking. At CRT, all three courses were only okay. CRT did a little better at timing the meal (i.e., entrées came out after appetizers were finished, etc.), whereas Akershus ended up stacking the appetizers and entrees. (We were delayed getting to the buffet because a princess stopped by just as were about to get up.)

ATMOSPHERE: This is where CRT really shines. Akershus is fine, but there really isn't anything "magical" about the setting. At CRT, you're eating inside Cinderella's castle! Everything about it seems to say "Disney" to me. Plus, kids get a toy wand or sword (adults too if you ask) and a wishing star.

COST: In this way, Akershus wins. It's only one credit (on the DDP), whereas CRT is 2. If paying cash, I would probably opt to pay the extra money and go to CRT because of the overall experience. If you're on a budget, then Akershus is a good option for princesses.

OVERALL: If you had to only pick one and budget wasn't a consideration, I would go with CRT. I would especially go to CRT if you have children that are into princesses and dining in a "castle." If you have budgetary considerations, then Akershus is less expensive and you see largely the same princesses.

I agree. CRT is a must at least once and it is hard to get a reservation there. Akershus is a do over and over and over. It is definitely nicer at CRT that you don't have to get up to get your food - that way you never miss your time with any princess. I really liked that we knew we were next to see the princess, versus the randomness of some of the other restaurants.

 

[DYOBL0305]

Thank you all again. We decided to make the reservations at Akershus, we're only planning to do a half day at Epcot so it fit perfectly with our schedule. Considering we'll only be able to spend 2 days at MK, we figured we'd make the most out of our time there and leave eating at CRT for our next trip to DW....great excuse to not wait too long to go back, right? Less than 30 days to go, I'm very excited!!!

 

[USCAnna]

We've done both and hands down prefer CRT based on the food. Princess experience was about the same at both.

 

[jesswindsor]

Thank you all again. We decided to make the reservations at Akershus, we're only planning to do a half day at Epcot so it fit perfectly with our schedule. Considering we'll only be able to spend 2 days at MK, we figured we'd make the most out of our time there and leave eating at CRT for our next trip to DW....great excuse to not wait too long to go back, right? Less than 30 days to go, I'm very excited!!!

I really think that you will enjoy Akershus. Your Girls will Love it!!! Have a Magical Trip!!!