How does CRT character dining compare with 1900 Park Fare and Akershus?

[mcm_momma]

I'd like opinions please. We're trying to decide if CRT is worth all the trouble of getting a ressie. My DD really wants to see Cinderella, but we could see her at 1900 Park Fare and do another meal at Akershus on the dining plan for the same number of credits as one meal at CRT. Will we be missing anything significant if we don't do CRT?

Thanks,
Carrie

 

[Trev's mom]

I would love to know this too. I have a three year old that is in love with Cinderella. We have an ADR for Christmas eve breakfast but I'm wondering if this is worth paying $130 OOP for the four of us. I've heard that eating in the castle is really neat. The CM on the phone said Cinderella walks around at breakfast but I've read that the only time with Cinderella is limited to pictures, correct?

 

[mmmears]

We did CRT breakfast and 1900 Park Fair for dinner in April. The differences that I can recall are:

At the castle, Cinderella poses for photos (which are included in your price) in the "foyer" of the castle, but does not appear upstairs or go from table to table. She goes from table to table, greeting the children, signing autographs and posing for photos at 1900.

At 1900 you dont get (or have to pay for) the photo package.

At CRT my daughter could choose a wand or a sword and got a little yellow star "a wishing star" with a flashing light. They dont hand out souveniers at 1900.

1900 is a great dinner buffet, highlighted by a chilled strawberry soup that my daughter still talks about. CRT breakfast is pre-plated and fine, but food-wise nothing special.

While 1900 has beautiful decor, it cant compare to the magic of actually being inside Cinderella's castle. That can be very special!

So, I guess there are pros and cons for each. I would do CRT if you really want to be in the castle, and 1900 for more interaction and much better dining for your money.

Hope this is helpful and not confusing!

 

[irishbosoxfan]

We chose 1900 and Akershus based on exactly what you posted.

At 1900 my DD's got to meet Suzy,Perla,Prince Charming,Cinderella and Fairy Godmother and they had lots of one on one with them---Fairy Godmother actually remembered all 3 of my girls names when we met her again after dinner!

At Akershus they met Belle and Ariel in the hallway for pictures and during the meal they had one on one with Mulan,Jasmine,Snow White and of course Aurora who is DD4's favorite

We were able to buy the photo of the kids with Belle during our meal.

We felt that for 2 TS CRT was just not worth it because of the lack of interaction--When we got to a "Character Meal" we WANT the characters and the little souveniers were not worth the limited interaction or the difference in price.
While dining in the castle may be the added bonus we would not do this meal as it is now for the price---We felt it was much more worthwhile for the kids to meet all the princesses and have 2 meals for the price of one at CRT

 

[Bibbidi]

Here's our situation. Not sure if this will help in your decision or not, everyone else has already given good info.

We ate at 1900 PF and found the buffet (we were the first seating) to be OK. We never saw the Fairy Godmother--she didn't show up until after we were seated and left before we finished our dinner. We were done eating and already onto dessert by the time the characters started circling. We saw Cinderella and Prince Charming once and only briefly. Suzy and Perla came back several times and were great. Both our girls were under 3 at the time so they ate free. I would have been very sad to have spent any additional money on their meals. I found the atmosphere to be nothing special--sorry!

We ate at PSB last fall and thought the princesses were a little rushed, but we were able to get each one's signature and photo--just no time for cute chit-chat, but the place was packed and I can understand the need to circulate in those instances. Food was OK. We had breakfast there. My girls didn't eat much and I only remember getting some eggs, fruit and a sticky bun. I honestly can't remember what else came out pre-plated. Atmosphere here was a little nicer because it felt more castle-like.

We ate at Cinderella's Castle when it was still the old set-up. We had dinner there when there were no characters. It was fantastic. We loved being in the castle and the food was really good. I had read lots of mixed reviews before that visit and all 4 adults and 3 kids thoroughly enjoyed their meals--and we're all pretty particular about food being cooked right. Based on the atmosphere and the age of my daughters now, I plan to open my wallet next trip and eat here again.