Disappointed in CRT

[Vaughn4380]

Lately I have been more and more disappointed with Disney Dining, it used to be a lot better than it is now. It seems like it's a gradual change but little by little they are really changing the experiences.

You should have eaten there in the late 80's, it was an awsome formal meal with a real menu and NO characters. The decline in Disney Restaurants has been continuous for the past few decades.

I can cry when I hear stories about how it is now.

 

[Vaughn4380]

I can remember dining in the castle as far back as the 80's, where both lunch and dinner were top-notch and leisurely experiences.

Huge Caesar salads were made fresh at your table side, prime rib was sliced to order right in the dining area and both the waitstaff and the characters seemed genuinely happy to be there...

Those days are long gone.

My experience exactly! Those of us who remember Disney Dining in the 80's must be a dying breed.

 

[Vaughn4380]

I am trying to decide if should we "waste" 2 credits for the breakfast for our 2 year old (will be almost 3) daughter to eat in the castle or wait until she is older? of course the way things are going, by the time she is 4 or 5 it will probably only be worse



what are your opinions?

is the food much better at Aukerhouse?

By the time she is five, you might be lucky to get a small box of cereal.

 

[tlenzendorf]

By the time she is five, you might be lucky to get a small box of cereal.

I am thinking by then it might be the following:
10am. Welcome to the castle, please pay to your right, $50 per person, here is where Cinderella takes the photo *snap*, up the stairs, this is Cinderella's dining room, here is Jasmine, Belle, Snow White and Aurora, autograph books open, cameras ready... down the elevator you go, thanks much. Here's a cracker. 10:05am.

 

[reducereuserecycle]

By the time she is five, you might be lucky to get a small box of cereal.

Here's a cracker.

looks like we better give it a try soon!

my 2 sons didnt get the swords they should of

and what about swords?
do they give something to girls? what?

oh, and have you all been happy with the poses they give you for the photo package or do they just take one shot and not really try to get a good one?

 

[tlenzendorf]

looks like we better give it a try soon!




and what about swords?
do they give something to girls? what?

oh, and have you all been happy with the poses they give you for the photo package or do they just take one shot and not really try to get a good one?

I think they took 4 shots, 2 for each photo. Since we had 5 people we got 2 photos. They turned out good I think. Girls get a wishing star which is a flat, plastic star that sets on the table, along with a wand you wave over the star to make your wish during the "ceremony". Which is a pre-recorded spiel that has you close your eyes, wave your wand over the star and make a wish.

 

[gonzo76]

I am thinking by then it might be the following:
10am. Welcome to the castle, please pay to your right, $50 per person, here is where Cinderella takes the photo *snap*, up the stairs, this is Cinderella's dining room, here is Jasmine, Belle, Snow White and Aurora, autograph books open, cameras ready... down the elevator you go, thanks much. Here's a cracker. 10:05am.

We ate there this year. I missed the pretzel rolls. The prime rib was cut so thin and it was cold. Serving was nonexistient. It use to be so good. It is not a must do for us anymore.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I am trying to decide if should we "waste" 2 credits for the breakfast for our 2 year old (will be almost 3) daughter to eat in the castle or wait until she is older? of course the way things are going, by the time she is 4 or 5 it will probably only be worse



what are your opinions?

is the food much better at Aukerhouse?

Unless she is a huge princess fan I would skip the castle at this age. If she is still not that into princesses wait until she is a year or two older. 4 is a perfect age.

If I were you I would make ADR's for Norway with the princesses at dinner (unless you are huge breakfast fans than do breakfast). Dinner there is so YUMMY and you see the princesses for 1 credit. That way she can still do the princess thing without using 2 credits on someone so young. Next trip when she is older put it as a MUST DO item. Every little girl should do it once if possible - it is pretty cool.

 

[nicki.momof3]

We'll be doing CRT and PSB for breakfast for the first, so hopefully both will be enjoyable experiences for our 4 girls!

With 4 girls I guarantee it will be great. I know it was so joyful to see my one little girl gaze in amazment at it all - I can not imagine watching 4 daughters - be sure to bring the camara - the looks on their faces is going to be great. Most of the time the unexpected shots of the kids interacting with the princess (or any character) are the best - not the posed photos.

Enjoy

 

[Lucky'sMom]

We loved 1900 Park Fare! The character interaction was fantastic. Each character spent a good amount of time at our table, especially the step sisters. They were hilarious.

Thought I'd add my 2 cents. My DDs and I dined here last June, right after their BBB appt. They were dressed as Princesses. We got virtually NO character interaction. My DDs watched as the Step Sisters interacted with a couple of adult tables, but when they came to us, they just quickly posed for a photo and left. My younger DD (age 7) even tried to tease one Step Sister about why her rear end was so big (they wear the dresses that stick out the sides) and she didn't even react to her, just moved on. The look on my DDs faces made me sad. They were hoping for a moment or two of their time, but really didin't receive it...

 

[EWL]

Well, we had lunch at CRT last week. Having read on here some of the questionable reviews beforehand, our expectations weren't too high, but we found it to be a wonderful experience. DD7 had a BBB makeover beforehand and was impressed by everything. The food was quite good-- granted, not the best we had on our trip, but perfectly fine-- and the character interaction was quick, but not that bad. We thought it was well worth the 2TS credits and definitely a "must" for DD at this age. Now, having said that, we likely wouldn't do it again, nor would we be inclined to pay OOP for it next time. It sounds like it was a better overall experience some years ago, so perhaps we're lucky that we didn't have that to compare it to!

 

[WantToGoNow]

I just can't decide. We were planning on doing lunch at CRT. Now I read all of this and I just don't know. Back in the late 90's, I had breakfast here 3 separate times with just my oldest dd and it was always a really good meal. Fast forward, now I have 2 small children - ds8 and dd5 and they have never eaten at the castle. My dd will be turning 6 two days after we return from WDW and we were planning this as her birthday lunch. We are also travelling with another family that has never been to WDW at all - they have 4 children - ages ds9, ds5, dd4 and dd2. We have thought about the princess meal at Epcot as well but quite honestly the menu doesn't appeal to us at all. What to do... ADR date is Sunday.

 

[tlenzendorf]

I just can't decide. We were planning on doing lunch at CRT. Now I read all of this and I just don't know. Back in the late 90's, I had breakfast here 3 separate times with just my oldest dd and it was always a really good meal. Fast forward, now I have 2 small children - ds8 and dd5 and they have never eaten at the castle. My dd will be turning 6 two days after we return from WDW and we were planning this as her birthday lunch. We are also travelling with another family that has never been to WDW at all - they have 4 children - ages ds9, ds5, dd4 and dd2. We have thought about the princess meal at Epcot as well but quite honestly the menu doesn't appeal to us at all. What to do... ADR date is Sunday.

OP here. I would honestly go, just never again, if I'd never been. Its one of those do once experiences.

 

[Scrooge Jr]

We at CRT in 2006 and it was good and fun. What has changed?

The Characters were Fery God Mother, and the two mice. When did the princess start?

fixed menu? Cold food?

We have 5:50pm November 30th. After reading the threads what should I do? If not Royal Table we will go to Crystal Palace.

 

[Justsyd2]

DH and I had lunch at CRT in June. It was fabulous. One of the very best meals at Disney. We were not rushed at all. The princesses took their time with every table. Our meal was well paced, and our server told us to just sit back, relax, and take our time after we ate.

I know that most people complain rather than compliment, so I wanted you to know that not every experience is a bad one. We will certainly do this again without hesitation.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

Been to CRT also...IF it went back to one TS, I would be fine with going there for a meal...BUT it certainly is NOT worth 2TS

 

[tlenzendorf]

DH and I had lunch at CRT in June. It was fabulous. One of the very best meals at Disney. We were not rushed at all. The princesses took their time with every table. Our meal was well paced, and our server told us to just sit back, relax, and take our time after we ate.

I know that most people complain rather than compliment, so I wanted you to know that not every experience is a bad one. We will certainly do this again without hesitation.

OP here again. Honestly I'm not a huge complainer. I like food, love character meals. I can typically deal with mediocre without complaining. But it really was ridiculous. If you look at my other posts, I'm not a complainer. I go with the flow. We dealt with the rain no complaints, crabby Pooh at CP with no complaints, and a less than friendly Peter Pan at a character spot. Other than putting it here, I have no plans on including them in my trip report(link at the bottom of my sig ). Its life, it happens. But the serious decline at CRT along with the 2TS usage really made me feel like I wanted to tell people, especially people on the fence. I don't even have plans to complain to Disney, I don't want anything free from them, I don't need it. We just won't go back again unless we hear things turn around again. From the sounds of it lunch must be way better than breakfast.

Also, if you've looked at the rest of my posts here, I encourage people with DDs to try it for the experience. If I was just a big ol complainer I wouldn't say that. Have to weigh costs/preferences vs. experience you want your kids to have.

 

[reducereuserecycle]

i'm now thinking about trying California Grill to use 2 TS credits rather than CRT. then we can still do the Akerhouse breakfast for one credit.

 

[DVCPAT]

We at CRT in 2006 and it was good and fun. What has changed?

The Characters were Fery God Mother, and the two mice. When did the princess start?

fixed menu? Cold food?

We have 5:50pm November 30th. After reading the threads what should I do? If not Royal Table we will go to Crystal Palace.

Disney now targets popular venues and raises the prices significantly. Its happening with the candlelight processional and the fireworks dessert party. Once a venue gets great reviews and bookings take off…..look for a significant price increase to follow. The fireworks desert party gets such great reviews, I bet the price will reach $28.00 by the end of the year.

Once the prices reach such high levels, expectations correlate with the cost. The reviews start to sour. I cant imagine paying over $100.00 for dessert ….that’s a Beaches & Cream kitchen sink for everyone in our party.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Sorry. Wrong thread. I really shouldn't be trusted to be able to open multiple windows.