Is Cinderella's Castle THAT great?

[laughinplace199]

We had breakfast at CRT when DD was 3. She was really into princesses and it was her first trip to WDW, so we booked it. The food was good - better than I had expected after reading some not so great reviews. The atmosphere was great and so was the interaction with the princesses. Was it the best meal I've had at WDW? Definitely not. However, hearing my tiny 3 yr old DD whisper "This is so amazing!" under her breath as we headed up the stairs and into the restaurant was worth every penny!

We're doing the breakfast again this April. DD is now 7 and although she'll enjoy it, it won't be the same as that first time. The main reason we're doing it again is that we are vacationing with friends from California. They go to DL all the time, but there's no restaurant in the castle there. We all agreed it would be a really fun meal for their DD who is 6 and a big princess fan.

 

[SA53]

We had lunch there in March 2007 and the food was some of the best we had all week. We were on the DDP and did most of the character meals and food wise this was the best. We had great princesses (Jasmine and Snow White were extra good), but we did have a grumpy Fairy Godmother!!!

1900 Park Faire was a let down compared to CRT and seemed kind of run down and dirty.

At CRT the kids loved their wands and swords but the wishing star was the big hit and still sits beside their beds to wish on at night. We got a great picture package that comes with the meal and had a great table by the window over Fantasyland.

I was prepared not to like after reading some of the reviews here but it was a big highlight of our trip!!!

K in SA

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

We are going to Disney 12-16 to 12-25 and I already plan to make reservations at Cinderella's Royal Table.

Personally, I could care less if the food is average simply because it's the atmosphere that we're there for. Plus, it's prepaid so I don't have to worry about "dishing it out" during our vacation.

The look and excitement on my daugther's face is worth any amount of money in my opinion.

 

[beattyfamily]

With the price increase, 2 TS credits, pre-paid (if not on dining plan), regardless of the food quality (we all go for the princesses/atmosphere), it is now only worth doing ONCE for the atmosphere as in a once in a lifetime experience.

I would never do dinner there anymore since it doesn't have princesses circulating.

I also would rather pay OOP than use the dining plan since I do not think its worth 2 TS credits, especially for breakfast.

My girls prefer PSB breakfast, thankfully. To each their own.

 

[Sabbie]

Nice atmosphere.. but totally not worth it. Instead, if you want to meet princesses, go over to the tents at Toontown and meet them there.. you get more than 5 seconds with them also.. Plus, if you get there early.. no wait!

 

[Luv4Disney]

We paid OOP for CRT for lunch. I have to say, we thought it was excellent and we had a great time. We'll definitely be doing it again!

 

[TupperMom7]

We went to dinner at Cinderella's castle in 1998 and at that time our daughter, age 10, was into the princesses big time. Her younger brothers, age 8 and 5 we not so much into princesses, LOL! So we weren't sure if they would behave during dinner, but it was great! They had a lot of knights in armor and the castle has that medieval kind of feel to it, so the boys were happy.
In 2005, we ate breakfast there. The food was just so-so, but my dd age 5 loved princesses, so it was a great atmosphere for her to see them. I must say, it took forever for them all to get around to the tables and some people were princess hogs and kept them at the their table taking picture after picture (can't say I blame them though - wanting to get their money's worth!). You can meet the princesses in a tent too and you don't have to pay for that!

 

[Minnie824]

We've done both Cinderella's Castle and the Akershus Princess Breakfast. DH, myself, and our DDs enjoyed the one at Akershus much more. Sure its cool being in the castle, but DH & I thought the food was better at Akershus. And, for DDs, they didn't really care about Mary Poppins or even the Fairy Godmother so much...they wanted to see princesses, which we saw more of at Akershus.

 

[bnorm27]

As you can see, asking anyone their opinion on a restaurant will yield a wide variety of results. I don'tthink a single thread exists on these boards where a restaurant received 100% positive reviews. So to further complicate your life, here is another opinion. We went during free dining last year, so I did not think that using 2 TS credits for dinner was a big deal. They were free anyway, plus, for our first night at POP we wanted to get settled in, have a quick bite to eat, and hit the pool. It was a long travel day. So the extra TS credit issue was a wash for us. The atmosphere of the castle is truly great. My DD's were in full princess garb when we went for dinner. They spent several minutes with Cindy in the lobby of the castle at the photo op. (PLEASE NOTE: at dinner, you only see Cindy in the lobby. No other princesses come to your table. Only the FG and Suzy and Perla come around to your table. At Breakfast and lunch, there are generally three or four princesses that come to your table). Compared to other character meal food, I think the offerings at CRT were above average. This is not a buffet. The show put on by the FG and mice was cute, and quick, so you got to enjoy your dinner without the multitude of interruptions as at other character meals. The service was very good, and the picture package is included in your dinner price. As another posted stated earlier, if you have never done it, then I would recommend it highly especially if your child is into the princesses. I would also recommend the Princess Storybook meals at Akershus in Epcot as well. There we had lunch and had 5 princesses! Ariel greeted us at the door, and then Cindy, Aurora, Jasmine and Belle came to our table. Picture package there was $30 + if I recall correctly.

Hope this helps in making your decision!

 

[scrapbookworm]

We ate in the castle for breakfast on 05/05/05 (and after being there that particular day- the big Cinderellabration, I was EXTREMELY lucky to get that ADR) for my DD's 5th birthday. The food was good. Certainly not 5-star restaurant quality, but it was better than Shoney's breakfast IMHO. My stepmom's 'cold plate' was the best- everyone else got the hot plate. Which was good too.

This time, I've made ADRs for the dinner. We should be finished just in time for Spectromagic and Wishes. My parents weren't too thrilled about the price, however I managed to talk them into it this one last time. DD is 7, and next year we may go to US or take a cruise.

I say it is worth it to do it one time, even at the outrageous prices.

 

[Tink3Belle]

I would wait till its more of a demand than a request.

 

[quiltymom]

We did it last trip after being at PSB at Epcot. I thought the princess interaction & food was much better at Akershus. We weren't crammed into the place like sardines and the princesses spent a lot more time with us.

I contemplated doing it again this year, but re-read my meal report and then remembered how much I didn't like Cindy's in comparison. It was nice to say we've done it once, but the kids really didn't care where we ate, as long as we ate.

If you want to do it once, then I'd say wait until your DD is a bit older and can remember it better. DD was 4 when we went and doesn't remember a thing.

 

[fishteam]

We took our DD9 last June for breakfast and the atmosphere was great, we had a window seat overlooking the carousel! We did an early morning time so we got to go inside MK before it opened which was too cool! We were one of the first ones to the resteraunt which meant not a long wait and the only reason we got a window seat. There were not many. It was very proper and elegant but we really did not enjoy the food. We did however get out quick as well and get to ride all the rides around the castle, which usually have an hour wait, with less than a 5 minute wait. Other than that we had more fun and better character interaction and much better food at Chef Mickey's! No princesses though.

 

[sleeping beauty 2]

We have done this breakfast 3 times - with the last most recent last year. My oldest son age 7 didn't really enjoy it this time, as he is growing up. But my daughter 6 & youngest 3 and husband loved it. The food is really very good and the interaction with the princess is great. Now you also get a picture with Cinderella when entering, which is a nice souvenir.

Planning a fall trip and may not do it this year - but highly recommend it to newbees.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We ate there for breakfast in January 2007 with our 2 and 5 year old daughters. It was a pleasant experience. The girls enjoyed it, the food was fine and the princesses were nice. I'm glad we did it, but I would prefer to try dinner with Cindy at Park Fare next year (1 credit, easier to book).

However,now my girls think every visit to WDW must include breakfast with the princesses at Cinderella's castle! I will try to book it again for our next trip, but if we can't get it I probably won't shed too many tears. I'll just tell the girls that some other little girls need to have a turn.

 

[darkcyber]

I agree with rdsx28.

Last year when we arrived we called to make reservations for CRT and it was available...then they told us the price

We then opted for the 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian and did we make the right choice. Our DD4 was so beside herself the whole time. There couldn't have been a better dining experience for her. The characters, including Cinderella and Prince Charming come around and spend 1 on 1 time with the children.

 

[SavvyMom]

We did it last trip after being at PSB at Epcot. I thought the princess interaction & food was much better at Akershus. We weren't crammed into the place like sardines and the princesses spent a lot more time with us.

I contemplated doing it again this year, but re-read my meal report and then remembered how much I didn't like Cindy's in comparison. It was nice to say we've done it once, but the kids really didn't care where we ate, as long as we ate.

If you want to do it once, then I'd say wait until your DD is a bit older and can remember it better. DD was 4 when we went and doesn't remember a thing.

I agree totally. We went there for dinner with our two daughters (7 and 11). They thought it was cool, but didn't like the food. Having said that, my girls would rather have McDonalds than anything else...ever. We're planning another trip and both said they didn't want to go there again. I'm glad we did it once, but it's kind of a been there done that kind of thing now.

 

[Laren]

A lot of how your experience goes at the castle, i've found, is directly dependant on your server.

If Scott is still there- I will tell you that he is the most magical server we've ever had in WDW. He served our group of 18 on our wedding day when we took everyone to the castle for snacks. Even though there had been a glitch with our reservation, the staff went out of their way to make it up to us and we had wonderful food, and a great time.

But that was eight years ago.

The last time we ate there, was in 2003- and the experience we had with the waitstaff turned me off. Then I found out that the food was pre-plated (that explained my stone cold prime rib).

BUT.

You don't really go to eat there for the food. You go for the experience. I would recommend going if your child (or the child in you!) has always dreamed of doing it. We've had really magical meals there, and some not so.

But it's Cinderella Castle. There is noplace like it in the world. If you're going wanting five star dining- then go to California Grill and meet the princess someplace else. If you're celebrating a special occasion or you want to see the look on your child's face- then just do it, and whatever you do, once you get there do NOT think about the money.

If you go into it thinking that you won't get what you pay for, you'll be dissatisfied no matter how wonderful it is.

Oh, and we've tried the Cinderella dinner at GF (it was truly grand!) and the Askerhaus breakfast (did that twice) once was great, second time princesses were fly-by- but the food was great both times and so were the servers.

Hope that helps a little!
Laren

 

[MagicMe]

Personally, I loved it when it was King Stefan's. My boys grew up eating at least one dinner in the castle every trip. They used to serve on "pewter" type dishes and the boys loved it! In 2002, I went to WDW with my brother and his kids and we went to the princess breakfast. My neice loved it. At that time all the princesses were there and took their time coming around to every table. Since I don't have any young girls, I would probably not do it again. However, in SEP05 we did dinner there (my youngest DS had his girlfriend with him and it was her first time ever at WDW). It was still just a regular restaurant where you ordered off the menu at that time. We thought the food was good but felt it a little pricey. But figured they were factoring in the "experience" of eating up in the castle.

We don't plan on doing it again soon (at least until I have a grand DD and she's old enough to enjoy it).

My initial reaction was that 3 is a little young and it's a lot of $$ but then I remembered taking my youngest DS to WDW at 3 and I remember that his eyes were wide with wonder the entire trip. He doesn't remember much of the trip (except from the photos) but it's one of my best memories.

Guess only you can decide about your DD. Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great trip and a fantastic experience!!

 

[jamimb]

I feel that it is my life's mission to tell people not to do this character meal. We did it this past December and I will NEVER do it again! I would have thought that it was terrible had we spent $50 on the meal but we spent $150 on the meal and it was so not worth it. We had lunchand the food was awful(VERY COLD) they only gave my daughter two choices(she hated both of them and barely ate anything at all. You would think that for that kind of price you would at least get some bread or something with your meal but nope! The character interation was the worst we have had in all our yrs of character meals (we have done almost all of them) we were so rushed. we got the impression that thye wanted us in and out of there as quic as humanly possible. Try 1900 Park fare or Ashkerhus(spelling??) we thought both of these were great!!! and alot less money(and they food was hot) . Our server was great but and the castle beautiful but not worth the hassle and price!!!!!