If you had a DS7 and DS5 (princess dining?)

[nosy parker]

I have two DSs ages 6 & 7. I had originally thought exactly like you do, that they would be horrified by anything "princess". So I did not even contemplate CRT at all when I made my ADRs 180 days out. Imagine my surprise when two weeks ago in conversation I mentionned to DH that I hadn't booked a meal to eat in the castle because "I doubt the boys want to eat with Cinderella in the castle" and my son who was in the room replied "but mommy, I like Cinderella and I really want to eat in the castle"

So, ya know when I asked him about it, it was simply that yes, he wanted to eat in the castle and he didn't care if that meant Cinderella was there. I had never even considered the fact that simply eating in the the castle at MK would be an exciting experience all on it's own. Of course!! I can totally see that being a thrill for any kid, regardless of gender.

So, I started calling right away, all the while kicking myself because I knew how hardv it would be to get at this point, and after almost a week of trying three times a day, I was able to get an ADR for CRT dinner. This, to me, is the best option for a dinner with solely boys. It isn't an actual "character meal" so there are no princesses circulating from table to table during dinner. You get an individual meeting in the lobby to greet Cinderella, where they take photos of your group with her (distributed to you during dinner, I believe) then you go up to the dining room for dinner in the castle. The boys do get swords as well. The Fairy Godmother and the mice put on a little show for a general acknowledgement of birthdays/anniversaries/special events and that's it. So I doubt that it will be the same as the breakfast or lunch with hoardes of little girls only in princess dresses etc. This also makes it an easier ADR to get late in the game, since everyone traditionally wants to have the princess character meal.

Anyway, I think dinner in the castle would be a great compromise for you. You'll get a little meet and greet with Cinderella (and photos) as well as having the thrill of eating in the castle without it seeming like an overtly "girly" meal to your boys.

My thoughts anyway. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[ajsrph]

Thanks for your comments, nosy parker. That helps!

 

[dvcdisney]

We've taken my daughter and son to CRT, Princess Storybook and 1900 Park Fare. My daughter loved it, but my son didn't really care. He just liked the atmosphere. However, we have asked him which he liked the best and and he said Princess Storybook. (We were a bit until he explained that he loved the smoked salmon and shrimp at that restaurant. ) But if we asked him which restaurant had the best characters, he said they were all the same. I think he's getting to the age (9) where he doesn't really want to be fussed over by the princesses.

However, I don't think there's anything wrong with taking two boys in any of these, it's an experience and they are characters. I'm sure they'd love any of these. We do go to them because I want to get some photos of the princesses with my daughter. But to be honest, we have great photos with my son and the princesses.

 

[Kparks]

I brought my DS6 and DD4 to the princess breakfast in Norway. He loved it and had the biggest smile on his face when he was kissed by
Aurora and had the redlipstick on his cheek to prove it. We are going in October to CRT and he will be 9. He is very excited about it. By the way, we did Chef Mickey's the last trip and he liked that too, however his favorite meal was with the princesses. Have a great trip!!

 

[nosy parker]

Thanks for your comments, nosy parker. That helps!

You're welcome!

Honestly, I don't think my boys really view the princesses as 'girly' or 'for girls'. They really just see them as characters from a story. They had never really seen any of the older/classic Disney movies until we booked this trip. Then we wanted to familiarize them with everything Disney so of course we started them on all the old movies. So they only recently watched Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Little Mermaid etc. and they just enjoyed them for what they are, nice stories. They really don't have that sense that they are watching "girl" movies.

Now if you asked them if they wanted a big pink frilly comforter with all the princesses on the front, of course they would say "NO, that's for girls" and look at you weird! It's just that on it's own a Disney princess can be seen through different eyes. A character in a story, that's cool to meet, just like Peter Pan. In it's own context that's just what it is. However, in the context of a breakfast with 100 little girls where they are the only boys, I think in that case, they would feel like they're at a "girl" event or party. They might certainly feel out of place.

Anyway, of course all of that will get ruined the day a friend or another boy tells them "Ew, why are you watching a girl movie" or teases them in some way about something 'girly'. Isn't that always the way.

 

[jhpatrick1]

Don't know about the princesses since I do not know your boys. However, if you have not been there, Chef Mickey is a must.