If your kids aren't princess obssessed would you..

[saavyplanner]

Hello! Taking our kids (6yo DD, 4yo DS) on their first WDW trip. We are pretty close to our 180 window opening so I am trying to figure out our "must dos."

Our kids are excited. That said, our daughter only has a modest interest in princesses. It was never huge for her and it's only getting smaller each month. I am also not sure she's even aware that eating at Cinderella's Castle is a big deal. Our son could care less. So, I'm trying to figure out if we still want to (try) and book it. I've heard that Akershus is a good (less pricey, easier to get) alternative.

What about the Bibbidi Bobbidi experience? She likes getting her face painted and probably would like her hair done but I'm not sure how much it matters and/or if it is worth the price and/all of us waiting for (or planning part of a day around). Are there other less involved face-painting or other experiences on site or at the hotels?

My gut is that we don't have to do these "must dos" but my only fear in not acting is realizing that we "should have" in a few months.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sona99]

My dd wasn't into princesses either, but enjoyed Akershus completely. She was 8.

Also she had an excellent tiger face paint done at AK.

 

[pens4821]

I can't speak of the hair, but I'd probably do the princess meal. While I have no experience with it, my nephew isn't big into the Disney characters in general (he's more of a superhero fan). However, we always make a couple character dining reservations and he loves getting autographs and his pictures taken with them.

 

[RedStars]

My boys really liked Akershus (and I liked it more than CRT).
As for BBB, I can't answer that but I think the Harmony Barber Shop will add "pixie dust" to hair. Also, there's Pirates League where she could get the Mermaid makeup.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I may be in the minority, but I wouldn't spend extra $ on the castle or BBB for someone who was only moderately interested in them, if at all. They are both way overpriced (like most things at WDW) which I am OK with if it's something that my family would get great enjoyment out of. But, that's a lot of $ to shell out if you aren't super excited about them.
The food at Cinderella's Royal Table is pretty mediocre. The setting and the princesses are the draw. We've been, but that's because Cinderella was DD's favorite princess many years ago. We still do expensive table service meals, but they are ones that suit our family in it's current state, like Hoop Dee Doo revue etc...
BBB is a lot of fun for someone who is interested in having their hair/ make-up done, but doesn't make sense if your DD is not into that kind of thing. My DD never had any interest in it. I think it's because she's a dancer and she was already used to having her hair up and make-up on so there was no lure. For many years, she's been doing her own hair and putting on her own make-up.

This is my long-winded way of saying that there are so many experiences to be had at WDW, that it doesn't make sense to me to pay for something that you don't really care about. If you are concerned that your DD may develop a love for princesses in the next 6 months, by all means, go ahead and book. Just be aware of the cancellation policies.

 

[frannn]

We've done both CRT and Akershus. Both were lovely, but don't think CRT is worth the hype and the price. The food and interaction at Akershus are good and keep us coming back each year. DD13 doesn't "let" me dress her up anymore in the costumes, nor will she go back to BBB cause she's over it. But I definitely enjoyed it along with her for as long as she would do it. If you are getting the Memory Maker, I would seriously consider BBB. There are (if they are still there) Photopass photographers there that will capture her transformation. You could get the least expensive package and bring your own dress. Then you can have a free Photopass shoot done at Disney Springs (provided they still do it). We got some amazing portraits of DD each time she did BBB.

 

[princesserin1350]

I actually do think that CRT is worth the hype and the price. We had a magical experience there on our last trip, and it really was the highlight of my trip. That being said, it was so incredible for me because of how long I've wanted to eat inside the castle; if your kids don't seem to care about that experience or don't really "get" why it's special (and so expensive!), then I would say pass. Simply based on the food, it wouldn't be worth it, although I thought the food was great when I went and our service was incredible.

 

[mom2rtk]

Make the BBB appointment in the castle at 180 days and think on it over the next 6 months. You don't have to do anything more than the basic hair and nails thing for $55 or $60 (not sure what it is offhand). Then evaluate when you're closer to your trip. If you change your mind later, you might not find a slot that works for you. You can even do one before the park opens.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I don't have any girls so we have never done a princess meal. I think if I had a girl I would do CRT, truth be told I'd probably do Akershus too. I have always wanted to do CRT, but the fact that I don't have a little girl has kept me from spending that much money on it when my boys wouldn't care about it. This last trip I insisted on BOG for mommy though. I would also do BBB. The little girls in their princess dresses and all fancied up are soooo cute!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you want to try a princess meal, go with Akershus. It's easier to get, it's not a pre-pay and it's cheaper. I actually like the food and atmosphere better. I took DS to CRT when he was 5 and he enjoyed it, but we really went because I wanted to! If no one in your family is interested, I wouldn't spend the money.

There are GREAT face painting places in each of the 4 parks. It costs about $16 for the face painting, there is usually no line and you can simply walk up without a reservation. If DD isn't interested in BBB or Pirate's League, there is no reasons to invest all of that time and money in those experiences!

 

[Noah S.]

Try to find the meals that will feature the characters they enjoy more. In MK, there is Crystal Palace which offers the Winnie the pooh characters. A short monorail ride away is Chef Mickeys with the fab five at the contemporary, Ohana with Lilo and Stitch at the polynesian, and 1900 park fair Mary Poppins characters at The Grand. I wouldn't spend the money for royal table especially if you are on the dining plan if you don't think they will care. As far as the BBB, you can get a much cheaper facepaint and is not worth the money if she is not super into it.

 

[TI double-GUH ER]

We did CRT last trip, DD was just shy of 4 - and although she enjoyed it, it didn't make her top 10 list of things we absolutely had to do again. She really enjoyed the interaction at the Disney Junior breakfast much more -- and she's fairly princess obsessed.
DS tolerated CRT - but he wasn't in to the princesses either. So - I'd say if it isn't a priority, wait on it and don't book. Save it for another trip when it will be appreciated. It's great fun to eat in the castle, and I won't lie and say it didn't bring a tear to my eye- but it was way more meaningful to me than them. If she gets the princess bug, just make time for the meet and greets. Just keep in mind there's no such thing as a perfect trip so don't overthink it, follow your gut and you are going to have a fantastic time no MATTER where you decide to eat!!

 

[MeganMango]

I did CRT dinner a few years back so unless anything changed, it was pretty cool and even the slightest interest in princesses would excite her.

When the princess came in the dining room, it was like a mini show. The lights flickered and music played to welcome them. Then they all came around to the tables like any other character meal. I thought it was pretty fun.

 

[AJA]

My dd wasn't into princesses either, but enjoyed Akershus completely. She was 8.

Also she had an excellent tiger face paint done at AK.

This is exactly what we did with my DD. Don't waste valuable vacation (and money) if your DD really isn't interested in Cinderella or the boutique.

 

[Pesky]

Thank your lucky stars and skip CRT for a less pricey character meal that has more of the characters she (and your DS) might enjoy. If you want to be sure to get some face characters (I think breakfast has Mary Poppins and Alice while dinner has the Tremaines, Cinderella and Prince Charming), consider 1900 Park Fare. So I'd just plan to skip the princess-only meals if you don't have a kid who is really into the princesses. I also had a DD with modest interest when we went to DLR. I did the princess meal there and honestly, it was decent but the interaction was nothing special and was rushed. She had a far better time at a different character meal where she had some really special interaction with a couple of the characters, like Winnie the Pooh coming up to surprise her and then pulling her out to dance. She's even said that next time around, she really doesn't want to see the princesses and is cool skipping all of that. So go with your gut on that one and I'd probably schedule without consideration to the princess angle.

If she only has a modest interest in princesses, maybe skip BBB in favor of Pirate's League. There she can choose to be a mermaid or a pirate and your DS can also get a pirate makeover, including a Jake makeover I believe. And it's cheaper! Have fun!

 

[auralia]

Our favorite princess meal was at the grand Floridian... I forget what the restaurant is called but they have Cinderella, evil step sisters, step mother, and prince. The sisters are awsome... Dd was dressed as Cinderella and evil step sister comes and says omg you look just like my dishwasher and then begs ds to give her kiss and marry her... And he said yes (he was 3) and kissed her cheek and omg did she make a deal about that and got her "mom" to come meet her new husband..... It was awesome ... I have done the other 2 princess dinners and was 100% not impressed. The one in the grand Floridian is blew the other two away.

 

[mkla2015]

We've done BBB twice but DD loves princesses and loves dressing up. Have you talked to your daughter about it? If DD didn't want to do it then I wouldn't waste my money.

If there's a slight chance, she'd want to do BBB then just book it early- you can cancel later if you need to.

DS who could care less about princesses enjoyed both CRT and Akershus. We had a much better experience at Akershus- food was better and character interactions were better than at CRT.

 

[dachsie]

I would compromise and do Akershus and book lunch or dinner at BOG to get the "castle" experience.

At CRT the girls get a magic wand and the boys a toy sword which your kids may enjoy, but its really up to whether you want to spend that kind of money.

My niece did BBB and just did the hair, nails and makeup - this was when it first came out in 2006, not sure what they do now. SHe loved it and wanted to wear her headpiece the rest of the trip. LOL

 

[ktlm]

For us, CRT is special because you are eating in THE castle. I would think that is impressive even for a little girl that is only a little interested in the princesses. I wouldn't both with Akershus unless without a princess obsessed kid. DD is 10 and was a princesses obsessed for years and Akershus was the first Princess meal she was willing to give up. She still requests to eat at CRT and 1900 Park Fare every trip. To us, the tables at Akershus are too close together, the service is often rushed (one time the waiter came as we were just being seated to take our order and when I asked for a few minutes to look at the menu, he stood over my shoulder until I ordered), the Princesses have always been more rushed than at CRT, and the last couple of times we ate there the food was very mediocre. I was glad to give Akershus up, but we all still enjoy CRT. She will be given a wand and wishing star at CRT and your son will be given a sword.

If she doesn't care much about princesses, I wouldn't waste the time or money on BBB.

 

[Allison]

Don't fall into the trap that any one thing is a "must do". Just because it is popular doesn't mean it is a good fit for your family. If the kids really aren't into that type of thing, don't do it. We never have and nobody ever cared about it.

You can get face painting done in the parks.