Help! Thinking about cancelling CRT & Do 1900 Park Fare instead - convince me!

[IluvDonald!]

I am NOT happy about the changes to CRT's menu. I have heartburn using 2 credits for roast beef, not prime rib. DH is not into the castle thing, but has agreed to go because I want to, and he was pacified with prime rib. DD doesn't care either way, she's outgrown the princesses for the most part.

So, convince me that we will love 1900 Park Fare! I think it will be fun with the step-sisters & step-mother.

 

[ilovemickeymost]

Unless you are going for breakfast, I'd skip it. I'm not super pickey & the food was horrible. I loved the experience of eating in the castle. Its a once in a lifetime dream come true. The character interaction was minimal. 1900 Park Fare the food was way better & DD got one on one time w/ Prince Charming. All the characters were more interactive. If you go to Park Fare, try & ride the boat over. It was very relaxing before heading into the madness that is a room full of little girls & a princess. I was over the moon when I met the fairy godmother here.

 

[mitsybella]

I love both but 1900 has a much more fun atmosphere with the step sisters , the food was fine a good selection at the buffet, it was noisy but with young children we did not mind, the intereaction with the characters was much better they spent a longer time with the children than the princesses did at the castle, and it you are on the meal plan its only 1 TS

 

[catne]

I vote for 1900 Park Fare, but try to get an early dinner seating. We ate at 5:30 (right when it opened) and were seated quickly, had great service, great character interaction and the food was mostly good (a couple of things not good...the rolls were hard as a rock, the pasta tasted horrible) But other than those, everything else was good.

Have seen many reviews of 1900 Park Fare and seems like the later seatings--like 7:00 p.m. and after, tend to have more bad reviews. Like the food being dry & crusty from sitting on the hot trays, harried wait staff, long waits to be seated, etc.

We enjoyed the castle (twice) but it was the better menu...not sure it's worth the price now. As for character comparison...absolutely laughed til we cried over the stepsisters--they are a hoot & a half. And you get visits with both Cinderella and the Prince at your table, so it's even better than the castle as far as royalty. Well, I guess you get all the princesses visiting at the tables at the castle. But 1900 Park Fare is almost more like watching a show...the steps have fights, throw tantrums, and flirt outrageously with all the little boys(they're looking for a prince, you know.) Just hilarious!

 

[The_Aviator]

I'd switch. The CRT seems to be a big let down for most, you are rushed, the staff are not as magical as they could be and it is just a waste of two credits to dine. But Disney would never change it, they can still fill the place so it doesn't bother them.

1900 PF has characters, it has princesses, it has a full buffet, it is only one credit. And I reckon it would be far more relaxed than the CRT.

 

[aenelson]

I would cancel, and in fact I did. I had a ADR for CRT dinner, and canceled it for Kona. Honestly for DH did not care to eat there, and after the changes I did not see a point anymore, not for 2 TS credits. I thought I might regret it later, but so far I do not.

I honestly would go ahead with Park Fare, much better food.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I'm leaning towards cancelling the castle for our Dec trip too. It's a special trip but I really feel like the menu isn't worth it anymore.

We eat at 1900 every trip and really love it. The characters are great and the food has always been good.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[2LittlePrincessGirls]

Gosh I'm so torn on this one as well. I keep hearing its terrible with the menu change. We're going in December and I've already planned a special birthday dessert for my Girls there. Its also our last nite. What to do, what to do? My husband says cancel it...I'm wondering if we should pay OOP. The Girls will be so dissappointed if we don't see the princesses.

 

[dixonsontour]

Park fare was great and my DH had it as a must do for our next time.

Prime rib and lots of desserts. We were not rushed at all.

It is very loud but fun. Tables with older kids were having a great time with the stepsisters.

 

[Fall1]

We have ressies for both this trip and I am thinking of just doing 1900. DS and DD are only 3.4 years old, so I'm thinking we can always do CRT on another trip.

It does hurt to pay 2 credits for a character meal even if it is in the castle!

 

[MSLRAC]

We loved 1900 PF! The step family is a riot and they add a very interesting and humorous twist to your meal. The food was your typical buffet dinner stuff but it was all done really well. So I would go for it if you're not feeling the CRT menu and eating in the castle is not a must do for you.

 

[Mary T in PA]

We are in the minority on this thread, and that's ok. We prefer CRT over 1900 PF. 1900PF for supper was a disaster for us, and it was a special celebration with a special order cake that was just not handled well. The food was bland, and the buffet isn't what it used to be (but then dining has changed overall at the World).

We prefer lunch at CRT.

To be honest, if you want to switch, do it. I think you'll be happier at 1900PF.

 

[ibela]

Why not cancel both and do Princess dinner at Akershus in Norway instead? You get the princesses, food was much better, and it's 1 credit. We just ate at 1900 PF for dinner a few weeks ago and the food was really bad. I tried everything looking for something decent and finally found 1 dish (stiry fry) so I ate that. My kids wouldn't even eat the mac and cheese there (whole wheat pasta which we often eat at home but this had a not good cheese), spit it right out. Food aside, the character interaction was great.

ETA - it was very loud overall, it seemed even worse if you're not in the main room because you miss the characters interacting with each other, and our reservations were for 6:20 and we waited 40 minutes to be seated.

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

We have done both and enjoyed the antics better at 1900.

One of the best examples of Disney Magic happened to my DD at 1900. We made our Ressies for the very first time availible for dinner. We got there early to check in and waited for about 15 minutes. The doors were closed to the dining room and no one was going in or out. The manager came over and asked our DD some questions and then asked if she would help with an opening ceremony. She was super excited and said "YES!!!" The manager then turned to the entire crowd waiting to be seated and said " This is Princess Olivia, she hails from the land of Texas. Olivia is going to say the magic words to open the doors to our banquet feast" Then he turned to Olivia and said "Do you remember the magic words?" Olivia nodded and said "BIBBITY.......BOPPITY........BOOOOO!!!!" The doors opened and Prince Charming and Cinderella were standing behind them smiling. Cinderella and PC each took my daghters hand and escorted her to a table in the center of the resturant. Prince Charming asked her "Does this table suit you Princess?" DD was beaming and both Cindy and PC spent a few minutes chatting with our completely estatic daughter.

Another time we went with our friends and their 3 kids. Big table, 4 adults, 5 kids. The step sisters were a hoot giving dancing lessons, flirting with the 10 y.o. twin boys. PC and Cindy were great but the Stepmother was the best. The kids were hamming it up with her and she was giving us parents pointers on child rearing. Such as " You know a little scrubbing of the floors on your hand and knees is good for children, keeps them in line....just ask my step daughter Cinderella". The eye rolls and snears at the kids were so funny!

Just my 2 cents but I'd do 1900. Book an early time to avoid any delays caused by tables sitting too long.

 

[mickeynut1]

I would switch and go with 1900 Park Fare. I booked CRT for our December trip, but recently cancelled it due to the menu changes . I booked it for the prime rib and salmon.......then once I found out those two items were taken off the menu, I cancelled and booked else where. We have the DlxDDP but I don't think CRT's current menu is worth 2 TS credits. We were already booked at 1900 PF on another night and we are looking forward to it .