HELP!!! Cinderella Royal Table at 9:35 PM???

[smile143]

So...I'm planning our first trip to Disney in mid-august and I really wanted to Eat at the Cinderella Royal Table. The only time we got was Monday night at 9:35 PM... Do you think I should still keep my reservation? Can we show up at 9 PM to try to get seated early and watch Wishes at 10 PM? Will they seat us 30 minutes early??? Can we watch the fireworks IN THE CASTLE? I just don't know what to expect since I never been to Disney...HELP, please???

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

You can show up early, they may seat your early but to be honest you are going during free dining time (starts 15th)thats about 99.99% sure not to happen. They will be mostly booked all day and be behind at least a few minutes. There may be a castle viewing area I am not aware of but from where CRT is in the castle I dont think you would have a good (if any) view of Wishes. I would suggest keeping the ADR and planning on seeing Wishes another night.

 

[d1gitman]

... Can we show up at 9 PM to try to get seated early and watch Wishes at 10 PM? Will they seat us 30 minutes early??? Can we watch the fireworks IN THE CASTLE? I just don't know what to expect since I never been to Disney...HELP, please???

even if they seated you at 9pm on the dot, you won't be done in time to see Wishes. Table service meals are at leat 1 hr long. CRT does a little show during the meal and they don't rush you.

My question would be if you are doing MK more than one day or not. If you can make it to MK 2x, then i would keep the ADR at CRT and use the other day to see wishes. That way you will get the best of both worlds, Wished AND dinner at CRT.

In reality, you are lucky to even have found an opening at CRT this late in the game.

 

[smile143]

My question is......IS Cinderella Royal Table worth it? I mean, it's not normal for us to eat dinner at 9:35 PM... We'll probably eat around 4 pm to prevent starvation 'til 9 pm... I guess we're paying for the experience vs. the food...BUT Is Cinderella Royal Table that BIG? Is it a "must" disney experience? Another question is...MK closes after 10 PM Wishes, so if we eat there 'til 10:30 PM, would they kick us at at 10:30 PM?

 

[Indio]

My question is......IS Cinderella Royal Table worth it? I mean, it's not normal for us to eat dinner at 9:35 PM... We'll probably eat around 4 pm to prevent starvation 'til 9 pm... I guess we're paying for the experience vs. the food...BUT Is Cinderella Royal Table that BIG? Is it a "must" disney experience? Another question is...MK closes after 10 PM Wishes, so if we eat there 'til 10:30 PM, would they kick us at at 10:30 PM?

I wouldn't keep it. We had an 8:30 pm reservation at O'Hana last year and we were famished by the time we were seated. If we couldn't eat until 9:30 - we'd die! We've never eaten at CRT so it's definitely not a "must" for us.

 

[Alesia]

My question is......IS Cinderella Royal Table worth it? I mean, it's not normal for us to eat dinner at 9:35 PM... We'll probably eat around 4 pm to prevent starvation 'til 9 pm... I guess we're paying for the experience vs. the food...BUT Is Cinderella Royal Table that BIG? Is it a "must" disney experience? Another question is...MK closes after 10 PM Wishes, so if we eat there 'til 10:30 PM, would they kick us at at 10:30 PM?

I don't really think it's worth it. We ate at CRT once, and I guess I'm glad we did it, but we won't do it again. It is very expensive, especially for the quality of the food. It was kind of cool to eat inside the castle, but it wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

 

[WDSearcher]

My question is......IS Cinderella Royal Table worth it? I mean, it's not normal for us to eat dinner at 9:35 PM... We'll probably eat around 4 pm to prevent starvation 'til 9 pm... I guess we're paying for the experience vs. the food...BUT Is Cinderella Royal Table that BIG? Is it a "must" disney experience? Another question is...MK closes after 10 PM Wishes, so if we eat there 'til 10:30 PM, would they kick us at at 10:30 PM?

Whether it's "worth it" or not is really based on you and your family. For many many MANY people, Cinderella Royal Table is very much a "must" Disney experience. People get up at the crack of dawn at exactly 120 days out to try their luck at getting an ADR. They try every single day to see if there are cancellations. Some folks have been known to buy / sell their ADRs on eBay. So yes, for many people, it's a huge deal.

Is it for you? No one here can tell you. If you or your daughter loves Cinderella and princesses and thinks eating inside a castle is a dream come true then yes, it probably is. If you're kind of luke-warm about the princesses and like the castle just fine from the outside and would much rather see fireworks, then it might not be. But only you can make that call.

As for leaving MK, you won't be "kicked out" at 10:30pm, but there is a limit to how long they'll let you linger. The park will have closed at 10pm, which means all the attractions and rides will be closed and the only shops that will still be open will be along Main Street. You'll be able to shop and take pictures and wander towards the exit, but you won't be able to go into any other areas of the park, as they will have all closed as well.

Also ... while you can see the fireworks from the castle (and it's a very unique viewing experience), you can't really see 'Wishes.' It's a very different experience inside than outside, but it's pretty cool.

Personally, I'd keep the ADR and grab a light snack around 4pm, then take my time leaving MK after dinner, to enjoy the unique sight of Main Street after dark.

 

[smile143]

I promise...LAST question... We have two toddler boys, 2.5 years and 18 mos, and I think they will like the princesses. I personally would like meeting the princesses as well! So we'll gearing towards keeping the reservation...but do you think we can watch a little bit of the spectro parade at 9 PM and make our way to 9:35 PM reservation? Would we be trapped? Is the parade close to the entrance of the castle? Sorry i'm so lost...

 

[mamalisala]

I was one of those people that set my alarm and prayed 120 days out on my daughter and son's first trip to Disney to guarantee a CRT meal. We had a breakfast. THis time it is my 3 nieces first trip to Disney and I got a 8:30pm CRT ADR and was thankful because we are going mid-July and although we got free dining pin (couldn't use it because we used the discount on the WL instead) we know that it is a crowded time. I went to MK probably 25 times prior to my first CRT but knew that even I would think it was the coolest thing ever to eat in the castle. My son was 5 at the time and thought it was cool. My daughter - well I hyped that up a lot... Before we arrived back to our room at CSR my husband snuck into our room and placed the pink elaborately glittered personal invitation that I pre-made at home and brought with us. My husband placed it and a brand new tiara on my daughter's pillow so that when she arrived back at the room she was personally invited the next morining to breakfast with Cinderella. It was a huge hit! I'm even going to do it for my nieces this time. Now, I stated that we have 8:30 ressies at CRT and my brother has two girsl 3 and 1 and he is now considering in-room babysitting for the 1 yr old becuase he thinks its way too late for her. So it is a personal thing. How about keep the ADR and just check a few times daily for cancellations. It's worth a shot
Enjoy...

 

[WDSearcher]

I promise...LAST question... We have two toddler boys, 2.5 years and 18 mos, and I think they will like the princesses. I personally would like meeting the princesses as well! So we'll gearing towards keeping the reservation...but do you think we can watch a little bit of the spectro parade at 9 PM and make our way to 9:35 PM reservation? Would we be trapped? Is the parade close to the entrance of the castle? Sorry i'm so lost...

It'll be tough to see much of the night parade -- any place close enough to the castle to get you to CRT by 9:25-ish will be about half-way down the parade route. The parade will just be getting to you about the time you have to turn around and leave to make your reservation. And your boys might be more upset about what they won't be able to see (the thing you're taking them away from) than they are excited about what you're taking them too. You won't be able to be at the front of the parade route, as it would be like a salmon going upstream trying to get to the castle. You may see the very beginning, but you won't see the parade.

You really need to choose between dinner in the castle and Spectro / fireworks. If you think this will be your one and only ever trip to WDW (or the only one for a long while), I think I'd choose parade / fireworks, particularly for boys of this age. If you think you might be back in a year or two, I'd choose castle, but mostly because you want to, and you may not get a chance when the boys are older and into "girls ... ewww!" territory.

 

[tkldisney]

My question is......IS Cinderella Royal Table worth it? I mean, it's not normal for us to eat dinner at 9:35 PM... We'll probably eat around 4 pm to prevent starvation 'til 9 pm... I guess we're paying for the experience vs. the food...BUT Is Cinderella Royal Table that BIG? Is it a "must" disney experience? Another question is...MK closes after 10 PM Wishes, so if we eat there 'til 10:30 PM, would they kick us at at 10:30 PM?

I've eaten dinner at CRT several times and was not impressed at all. (breakfast is good) The food was not the greatest, service was always good though. It fills up because people want to eat in the castle. Even if your lucky enough to get a window seat, you still won't have a good view of fireworks. Me, I'd pick another location for dinner and enjoy the fireworks. You could have dinner at one of the resorts at your normal dinner hour, then monorail back to the park for wishes. We love Kona in the Poly and any of the GF restaurants are good.

 

[dd50]

You may want to keep checking to see if they have a different time as some people cancel.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

You may want to keep checking to see if they have a different time as some people cancel.

I agree, I just did that myself and got a much better time slot then I first had. I have always done CRT each trip for the experience. I have a 6 year old daughter, so it is an important meal for her. The last 4 trips I have been able to get CRT around the 45 day mark due to trip cancelations.


I say keep it and try for better every day, you may get lucky.

 

[d1gitman]

so are you doing MK any other time during your trip? maybe i missed it in a previous post, but are you only going to MK that day/night?

 

[Micca]

For us, that is too late for dinner (for adults & kids) and too late to keep children that age in the parks. Save this experience for when the kids are older and you can get a better time.

 

[TARAMEOW]

For me this is certainly a must do experience once. i went last trip and was so happy I did. The food was so-so but I wanted the atmosphere. I wont go back now until I have kids of my own. That being said how are your little ones at staying up late? Will they enjoy the experience or do you think they will be to tired to have fun? If you think they will be up for it I say keep the ressie

 

[Mercenary]

So...I'm planning our first trip to Disney in mid-august and I really wanted to Eat at the Cinderella Royal Table. The only time we got was Monday night at 9:35 PM... Do you think I should still keep my reservation? Can we show up at 9 PM to try to get seated early and watch Wishes at 10 PM? Will they seat us 30 minutes early??? Can we watch the fireworks IN THE CASTLE? I just don't know what to expect since I never been to Disney...HELP, please???

It is a fun thing to do, but for me that is way too late... For dinner, or for anything that may take 1 to 1 1/2 hours... I would keep checking back but I could not pay that price for a dinner because I could not enjoy it...

 

[nichols81]

You should also be aware of that when you eat at CRT at night the princesses aren't there. The fairy godmother and the mice are there. For my daughter the daytime experience was a lot better than at night.

 

[tink too]

You should also be aware of that when you eat at CRT at night the princesses aren't there. The fairy godmother and the mice are there. For my daughter the daytime experience was a lot better than at night.

This has been changed - the princesses visit guests at their tables during every meal now.

As to OP's original questions - we have done breakfast and lunch at CRT and enjoyed both. We have never had dinner there, but due to your ADR time I would consider A) the cost, and B) will your little ones want to eat that late? It's a lot of $$$ to pay out just to see the princesses.

As others have suggested, I'd keep trying for a more suitable ADR time, if one comes up, book it as soon as you see it, then cancel your original.

 

[mom2rtk]

You should also be aware of that when you eat at CRT at night the princesses aren't there. The fairy godmother and the mice are there. For my daughter the daytime experience was a lot better than at night.

This changed in February of this year. The little show with the Fairy Godmother and the mice is out.... the princesses are in. Dinner is now the same arrangement as breakfast and lunch.

Also, for those who have posted already........ ADR's are 180 days out.... not 120.

I would highly suggest continuing to check online for a different times. This ADR requires a credit card hold if you're on the dining plan, and payment in advance if you are not. So people DO cancel here.

Is it worth it? We LOVE CRT and don't miss it on any trip. But some folks really don't love it so much. Probably because it's hard for any venue to live up to the hype this place gets.

I personally think it would be cool to see the fireworks going off from INSIDE the castle. It's by no means a complete view, but there will be SOME view of a small portion of the fireworks.

I think the biggest issue is whether your kids would still be going strong at that hour so you could enjoy it.

Keep checking though! Check breakfast and lunch too!