How long do these dining experiences take?

[heymoonkid]

We're doing Akershus, CRT, and the Aloha dinner show. Can anybody give me an idea of how long those last?

I'm wondering about Akershus because our reservation is at 8 and I'm wondering if we'll be done in time to see Illuminations.

With the other two places, it'd just be nice to know when we'd be heading out of there... hopefully not too much over an hour or my toddler won't last!

 

[JimmyV]

We're doing Akershus, CRT, and the Aloha dinner show. Can anybody give me an idea of how long those last?

Akershus-Remember. Your ADR is not a reservation time. Plan on being seated anywhere from 5-30 minutes after arrival. If it is any later than 8:15, you will miss Illuminations. But even if you get out of the restaurant at 8:50, finding a decent spot to watch the show will be tough.

CRT-An hour (after being seated) is definitely doable. They move you in and out.

Aloha-Don't know. Never did it.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

With Akershus and CRT I plan on an hour. Either one you can get out earlier if the princesses are moving along well and if you're organized.

My suggestions if time is an issue.

Get there 30 minutes before your reservation - you might get seated early

Know what you want to order - check out the menus on allears and be prepared - order your food when the waitress shows up to take your drink orders.

Ask for the check as soon as the food arrives or even before that and cash out ASAP. Then when you're done eating and have seen all of the princesses you can just get up and leave. Saves a ton of time (the waitresses are always really busy cashing people out once the princesses have finished their rounds with this system you beat the rush. We've gotten out of Akershus in 45 minutes most of the time.

 

[heymoonkid]

Good tips, thanks!

 

[JimmyV]

With respect to Akershus, you have to be mindful that at a character meal, (don't know if you have done this before), the characters "make their rounds" from table to table and it can take some time for all of the Princesses to get to you. While you can rush through your meal, (or even take a normal approach to the meal), the timing of the character meet and greets is out of your control. So all the stategies in the world for accelerating your meal may mean little if you are sitting around waiting to meet a particular character. Of course, if meeting all the characters isn't that important, you can always leave whenever you want. I've done character meals in 45 minutes. And at one breakfast at the Poly, we waited 30 minutes after our meal was over for Minnie to show up. I actually had to track down a "handler" to let them know that Minnie basically skipped over our area of the restaurant.

 

[mommystieg]

We usually allow about an hour and a half for a character meal. We have done them in an hour or less but usually only when we have had the first seating at breakfast.