Decisions, decisions..........

[apostolic4life]

We are getting plans hammered out for our November trip and must decide between CRT, HDDR, and SOA.

We have not been to any of them, so I need my DIS friends to give me some pros and cons for each..........don't hold back, I want honest opinions of the food, service, atmosphere, and anything else which could affect our family's dinner experience.

Waiting on pins and needles!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

You can look at lots of reviews for any of these places here on the DIS.

 

[Chellymouse]

IMHO, CRT is NOT worth it! The food isn't that great and it's over-priced for what you get! The service isn't all that great either. We have not done HDDR, but I have never heard anything negative about the show or the food. We are doing SOA next month on the recommendations of friends of ours and we've been told if you like O'hana, you'll love SOA.

 

[apostolic4life]

You can look at lots of reviews for any of these places here on the DIS.

Fully aware of the "official" reviews by the different mods and such, but I was wanting to hear something from the masses.

I have not always agreed with many of the reviews posted because they seem to be more of a comparison between restaurants rather than objective, descriptive reviews of the venue being discussed. I have been to enough TS restaurants at WDW to appreciate each place for it's uniqueness while also understanding their individual shortcomings. What makes a place worth going to is what it offers on it's own without being compared to the place next door.

That is what I was hoping for in my OP.........what made each place special; what made it not so special.

So OKW, do you have any experiences to relay for these places???

 

[shannn]

We haven't done SOA or HDDR, so I don't have any experience to relate. However, we love CRT. It was our favorite meal last time. Something about eating in the castle is just magical; our server was amazingly perfect; and our food was good too. Just remember that the food is secondary to the experience, but I'd think that would be the same for the other 2 you're looking at too.

 

[apostolic4life]

IMHO, CRT is NOT worth it! The food isn't that great and it's over-priced for what you get! The service isn't all that great either. We have not done HDDR, but I have never heard anything negative about the show or the food. We are doing SOA next month on the recommendations of friends of ours and we've been told if you like O'hana, you'll love SOA.

Thanks Chelly..........was it a nice experience to eat in the castle?? I mean, it seems like experience could be more of what they are selling than the food. What meal did you have there?? I am sure if I was basing it solely on the food the price for CRT would be hard to accept, but with two young daughters who love Cindarella, I think the whole experience could be worth a little subpar food. If the food was five star could you imagine the price then.....


Thanks again!!

 

[apostolic4life]

We haven't done SOA or HDDR, so I don't have any experience to relate. However, we love CRT. It was our favorite meal last time. Something about eating in the castle is just magical; our server was amazingly perfect; and our food was good too. Just remember that the food is secondary to the experience, but I'd think that would be the same for the other 2 you're looking at too.

We seem to agree......the experience can be worth more than the quality of the grub. Don't get me wrong, as I chef I know what to expect from certain venues based on what claims to fame they reach for, but I also know when looking at all things Disney, the experience can be what produces the big price tag!!!

 

[PrincessMama605]

I haven't done SOA or HDDR, but took my dd to CRT for lunch last month for her b-day. We really enjoyed it. Yes, the food is secondary to the experience, but the experience was magical!

We also had excellent service, especially with the slipper dessert we ordered, so to me it was worth it. If you have two princess-loving dd's I would say go for it. It's worth doing once, just to eat inside the castle. I would go for lunch or b-fast though, at dinner the princess don't come around to your table.

I ordered the majordomo's pie and I liked it, it's not like a pot pie, it has a puff pastry crust. I had the buckle thing for dessert, but that was yucky IMO.

 

[Mom2SamandJames]

We did HDDR last summer, and we loved it. The show was funny. The service we had was absolutely awesome, and the food was great. We had our sons with us, and they were 3 and 8 months at the time. Our waiter was so attentive to our boys' needs, and we never had to ask for anything. It was one of those perfectly enjoyable evenings. I highly recommend doing the HDDR with your family.

 

[chabs]

I think that with the wide age range of your kids, you might be better off with the HDDR. It is entertaining for the whole family and if your kids don't like what is on the menu, just tell your server when you sit down and they can get you chicken nuggets or I think a hot dog. My kids would not sit through the SOA-so you may want to cross this one off of your list. We saw this years ago and unless something has changed, the show is a snoozer except for the fire twirlers at the end. I would skip CT unless your younger kids are really into the princesses.

 

[nicoleakr]

We did HDDR last summer, and we loved it. The show was funny. The service we had was absolutely awesome, and the food was great. We had our sons with us, and they were 3 and 8 months at the time. Our waiter was so attentive to our boys' needs, and we never had to ask for anything. It was one of those perfectly enjoyable evenings. I highly recommend doing the HDDR with your family.

That is great to hear!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

We are getting plans hammered out for our November trip and must decide between CRT, HDDR, and SOA.

We have not been to any of them, so I need my DIS friends to give me some pros and cons for each..........don't hold back, I want honest opinions of the food, service, atmosphere, and anything else which could affect our family's dinner experience.

Waiting on pins and needles!!!

Been to :
CRT - LOVED IT ! GOOD FOOD & YOUR EATING IN THE CASTLE IN THE MK.

HDDR- GOOD FOOD, GREAT SHOW. A LOT OF FUN HERE.

 

[penguinkimberly]

Out of your list this is how I would rate them
#1- HDDR- have been there twice, good food, great entertainment, have gone twice and will go again

#2- CRT- decent not stellar food,great atmosphere, great place to celebrate something. Have been twice for dinner, once to celebrate neice's 8th birthday, she loved having the fairy godmother announce the birthday. The second time was for my parents 40th anniversary, they were impressed with the champagne glasses they received ( but they don't drink and nobody else in our group really does)
Thinking of going back with freind on her first trip to WDW

#3- SOA- did not like the food or the show, will never go back!

Hopes this helps, good luck choosing!