Dining at Cinderella's Royal Table vs. 1900 Park Faire

[michael's mom]

Hi all,

I am going back and forth between choosing 1900 Park Faire and Cinderella's Royal Table for a table service meal on my next trip. I know that CRT is 2 credits and that's fine. I also know that breakfast and lunch are character meals and that dinner is a show. I just read the dining review on the DIS Home page and it was terrible and I am looking for some other opinions.

My questions below are about CRT.

1.) Which princesses were at the character meals? My friend was there (CRT) recently and she met Aurora, Snow White, Jasmine, and Belle. Is this always the case? How often is it not?

2.) How is the food? Is it worth 2 credits? The menu on the DIS home page is not very clear. What do they serve for lunch?


Which would you choose as the best experience for a first-timer 5 year old princess who happens to be toting along 2 three year old boys and 11 adults who have been to Disney a countless # of times?

Thank you all very much!

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

Well, just my perspective, but with your party size, I don't know how everyone will feel about using 2TS credits to see some princesses. The group you describe may enjoy 1900 PF for dinner more, since it is much more intereactive and the buffet is good.

Another princess only option would be Akershus in Norway, where the princess "bang for your buck" is better than CRT and only 1 TS per person. You also have your choice of B,L,D.

BUT...there is nothing like eating in the castle (strictly atmosphere) and if it was a once in a lifetime trip for your entire party, I'd say go for it, but I think you may do better at one of the other two, especially since the 5 yo has never experienced any of the character meals yet and both 1900 PF and PSB (Norway) are great experiences.

Hope that didn't confuse you more. Good Luck!

 

[Joanna71985]

Hi all,

I am going back and forth between choosing 1900 Park Faire and Cinderella's Royal Table for a table service meal on my next trip. I know that CRT is 2 credits and that's fine. I also know that breakfast and lunch are character meals and that dinner is a show. I just read the dining review on the DIS Home page and it was terrible and I am looking for some other opinions.

My questions below are about CRT.

1.) Which princesses were at the character meals? My friend was there (CRT) recently and she met Aurora, Snow White, Jasmine, and Belle. Is this always the case? How often is it not?

2.) How is the food? Is it worth 2 credits? The menu on the DIS home page is not very clear. What do they serve for lunch?


Which would you choose as the best experience for a first-timer 5 year old princess who happens to be toting along 2 three year old boys and 11 adults who have been to Disney a countless # of times?

Thank you all very much!

I have eaten at both. I've done breakfast and lunch at CRT, and just did 1900 Park Fare for the first time in July. Both are a lot of fun.

1. When I ate at CRT for lunch in July for my birthday, the characters there were Cinderella (lobby), Snow White, Belle (blue dress), Aurora, and Mary Poppins.

2. The food is really good. I have gotten the pasta each of the 4 times I've gotten lunch there. And the sampler plate is really good! I love the BLT salad.

For the group you mentioned, I think you would all enjoy 1900 Park Fare more. It's a buffet, plus the Tremaines are hysterical!

 

[jhpatrick1]

I'd have to say that DH and I took our DD last year for the first time when she was 5 y.o. It was our first trip to disney. We had breakfast for the three of us. It was nice because we also have two DS (2, 7), but they were able to stay at the hotel and sleep in, then meet us after breakfast. We had adjoining rooms with my sister and BIL. Anyway, my point was that it was truly a magical experince. Riding the bus early in the am (we had before park opening ressie) while she was dressed in her cindy costume was priceless. Her anticipation and complete awe of the entire experience will forever last in my heart. We ended up on a bus with a lady traveling by herself. We got to talking and she gave our DD her very first pin to put on her lanyard. It was something special we did with our princess by herself. We all went to PSB later that week and they boys had fun, but they could have cared less about eating in the castle. I wasn't paying that much money for them not to totally engulf the experience. We will be doing 1900 next month, so I can't comment on that. But, I agree with previous posters; with your large group 1900 should be a lot of fun. Maybe only those who really want the castle experience with you DD can do the castle, and you all can do 1900. Just a suggestion.

 

[perriwinkleblue]

We have eaten at CRT twice for dinner and 1900 for dinner a few times. Eating in the castle really is the draw of CRT although the food was fine when we went. We were somewhat disappointed with the briefness of the meeting with Cinderella. Just a quick hello and a picture.

I have to agree with some other posts in saying that with your group, I'd choose 1900 Park Fare. The buffet set up will allow everyone some flexibility and it's only one TS credit. The character interaction at 1900 is very good. Cinderella, Prince Charming (SO charming), stepmother (comically snooty), and the stepsisters (very funny) each stop at the table to chat, sign autographs and pose for pics - and they dance . A plus is that the GF is just so pretty and the boat ride over makes it exciting.

I know it was not one of your options but we also like Akershus. Nice atmosphere, lot's of princesses, a professional photo package and 1TS each.

Good luck and have a nice trip.

 

[MissionMouse]

... 2.) How is the food? Is it worth 2 credits? ...
Which would you choose as the best experience for a first-timer 5 year old princess who happens to be toting along 2 three year old boys and 11 adults who have been to Disney a countless # of times?

The never ending worth reference which gets even more complicated since the introduction of dining plan tickets that convert your money into tickets.

Personally I think the answer is no, but when you add in the 5 yo old princess the worth meter could move the answer into the yes category. Our two princesses have lasting memories and the CRT is one of them. We also eat at CRT every trip too. The food is OK. The actual price is partially a deterent to keep the demand managable, coupled with supply and demand. For us it is for the experience, creating Princess memories and capturing those once in a life time photographs of the innocence of childhood. I can only imagine what our little girls think about the experience....but know our youngest would love to live in the castle with the princesses.

 

[tigger_03]

We haven't eaten at CRT. We ended up deciding to eat there during another trip and go for 1900 Park Fare this trip. I'm glad we did because 1900 Park Fare was absolutely wonderful. We'll eat at CRT (most likely breakfast) when DD is a little older and can rememeber it more.

 

[autumnpalm]

I will cast a vote for 1900 Park Fare. Something in the buffet for everyone, and the character interaction is AMAZING. The Tremaines at dinner are absolutely hilarious!! Plus the GF has a lovely atmosphere.

 

[World Bouncer]

We just made a visit recently to 1900 Park Fare for breakfast.
This was a highlight character experience for our trip and the food on the buffet was good, the characters were awesome and the whole atmosphere is fun. We seen Tigger, Pooh, Alice, The Mad Hatter, & Snow White... The Mad Hatter was absolutely great!

We did CRT for Dinner and this was... yes the castle... but never again.
The food was good, but the atmosphere was just chaotic, the restaurant floors were the filthiest things I have seen ever, anywhere at Disney, and the service was less than average.. our server was chewing gum & never cracked a smile the whole time
Did I mention a chaotic atmosphere?

So if I haven't yet made my vote clear...
1900 Park Fare would be my choice!

 

[iheartdisney]

We went in September for lunch, and loved it.
I love the photo package included with the meal, it is beautiful! Plus, since we were more than 4, we got 2 photo packages, so we have one of everyone, and one of just the kiddos.
The food was amazing, the service was great. It was a bit loud, but what Dinsey resturaunt isn't?

 

[SARAHS1MOM]

She will get more interaction with Cinderella at either 1900 Park Fare or at Norway.

At the castle, you are hurried and hushed into a line to get your picture quickly taken with Cinderella. Once your picture is taken, you won't see Cindy again. You leave and go upstairs to eat. That was a major disappointment for my daughter on our first time to the castle. My children (ds6 and dd5) prefer either 1900 Park Fare or Norway.

I don't think the food or the interaction is worth 2TS for the castle. You could do both Norway and PF for that price!

Have a great trip!

 

[michael's mom]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you for all of your opinions. We have decided that we will be doing 1900 PF this year for the princess. She will be there a few days before the whole group with her grandparents and her cousin. I will tell them that if they want to take her up there beforehand they can. After looking at the menu, too many of our party wouldn't enjoy the menu, but the buffet will appeal to all of us. We hope that we will get to meet the princesses at a different venue during our trip.

Thanks again!

 

[GatorLady]

We hope that we will get to meet the princesses at a different venue during our trip.

Try to take her to the Hall of Fame in Toontown in the MK (be there at their "rope drop"). They actually get to have a real conversation with each princess, much better interaction than at any character meal I have ever been to.