Is Cinderella's Castle THAT great?

[HLAuburn]

We are going to be taking DD3 to DW in the Fall. Right now, she's sort of into princesses, but by no means obsessed. I'm debating whether the whole castle experience is worth the money/2 TS/effort to do. I've heard it's one of those things you must do at least once, but is it really that wonderful? If yes, what meal is the best?

Thanks!

 

[Bob P]

If you do a search on this board you'll find many similar threads. Here is one:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1404326&referrerid=&highlight="CRT"

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings for CRT
. . . food: 5-out-of-10
. . . atmosphere: 7-out-of-10
. . . princesses: 8-out-of-10
. . . price value: 2-out-of-10


1) We think CRT is an average or below average eatery.
2) The atmosphere is above average.
3) If you are into princess interaction, then it is good.
4) But, we think it is grossly overpriced.

 

[stitchlover]

We just went to dinner there March 16th. It was our first time and we didn't do breakfast or lunch with all the princesses, we did dinner. I have to say I thought this is going to be a spare and oh well maybe the food will be worth the 2 meals price. Our experience was incredible. It was the BEST last day at Disney dinner we have ever experienced. I was so touched by the Fairy Godmother's routine, the girl at the table next to us was proposed to during the meal, I literally cried during this meal. It was worth it at least once in your life. Will we do it again next March? Probably not. But now we can say we did it.

 

[pamouselover]

My first trip to Disney in 1982(thanks Aunt Dee) was disappointment because I could not wait to go into the castle. I was so sad that there was nothing there! So when I got older and found out you could eat in the castle I was excited! I visited Disney many times for years with no success of eating in the castle. My Mom retired to MCO and my Aunt work at MK. In 2000 I came across this web site (DIS) and found out why it was so darn hard to eat in the castle. In Oct. 2000 I called a million times trying to get a PR at the castle, without any luck. On our first full day we want to the MK and I told my DH lets not feed the DS and DD, let’s just try to get into the castle for breakfast! So we get to the castle and I sent DH up to see if they had any seats open. He comes back and said lets go! I was so overwhelmed, I was screaming and people most likely thought something bad had happened. I was in tears as I told the kids we are going to go eat in the castle! I was more excited then they were.
It was everything I could have imagined and more.
We had to sit at two different tables near the window, but I did not care I was finally eating tin the castle!
DH and DS sat at one two seat table and DD and I sat at the other. It was the most magical time I ever had at Disney world.
In 2005 we want back to Disney after a long 5 years of dreaming!
My Mom had moved back home, Aunt Retired, we bought a house!
We had the free dinning plan and were able to go eat again at the castle for breakfast; this time was not as magical as the first!
Our bus never came and we were late for our ADR!
So it put a damper on my oh we will get their early walk down main street!
Instead we ran to get to the castle.
I felt rushed, the food was not as great as I remember the first time (French toast).The princess seemed bored, and tired, and my DD just wanted to go wake up tinker bell.
So I think if you have never eaten at the castle, you need to. It is one of the things I would tell people to do before they die. Eat there twice well; nothing is as magical as the first time!
Wishing you a magical time at the happiest place on earth!

 

[Tommys Mommy]

Our group of 6 (me, DH, DS5, DD3 & my parents) ate at CRT in May 2006. It was a wonderful experience and our breakfast was great!! We had also read about mediocre food, but we did not find that to be the case at all. All of the food was delicious, fresh, hot; we had seconds on most items. We had breakfast reservations at 10:40 AM (which was the last time available for breakfast) and it worked out great. We didn't feel rushed to leave or anything. My DD was dressed as Cinderella and even got a bit of "ribbing" from Snow White about that. My DS loved the Princess interaction, too, and willingly got his photo taken with all of the Princesses.

With all that said and done, we will probably not eat at CRT during our next trip, but only because there are so many other character meals we want to experience. It is rather cool to eat in the Castle!

 

[DisOrBust]

This is IMHO. Having 3 DDs we have been doing CTR since 1999. The last outrageous price increase is when I said enough. My older DDs (9 and 12) agreed that the price was nuts but said we have to once more for the "baby" (AKA my 4yo). We went in November and they did love it but the character interaction was nothing like it use to be. The "baby" loved it but she would love Ahershus more especially if she sees Belle in her yellow ball gown. I still have to swallow twice when I think I spent 25$ so my 4yo could push some food around here plate.

 

[thptrek]

Yes it is. Check out my TR.

 

[Todd&Copper]

There used to be a thread called Cindy's Royal Rip-Off.
I have no opinion either way (b/c I ate in the castle once years ago, and since I do not make trips to WDW often, I tend to do the parks commando and avoid sit-down meals) but I thought the name of the thread was a hoot.

 

[LEO_Magic]

Our Ratings for CRT
. . . food: 5-out-of-10
. . . atmosphere: 7-out-of-10
. . . princesses: 8-out-of-10
. . . price value: 2-out-of-10


1) We think CRT is an average or below average eatery.
2) The atmosphere is above average.
3) If you are into princess interaction, then it is good.
4) But, we think it is grossly overpriced.

Right on the money!!! My Wife & I feel the same way as Rusty.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Every year, I think...."we need to eat in the castle". Then, I look at the menus and I just don't see anything that just jumps out and says "book a table right now!" Even the kids' menus don't look that great. We've been to WDW 11 times in the last 9 years and we still haven't eaten at Cinderella's Royal Table. We're heading back to WDW in 56 days and I don't have reservations for CRT this year either. I wish I could just walk in, take a good look around the castle and leave. Lisa

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

... It was a wonderful experience and our breakfast was great!! We had also read about mediocre food, but we did not find that to be the case at all. All of the food was delicious, fresh, hot; we had seconds on most items. We had breakfast reservations at 10:40 AM (which was the last time available for breakfast) and it worked out great. We didn't feel rushed to leave or anything...With all that said and done, we will probably not eat at CRT during our next trip, but only because there are so many other character meals we want to experience. It is rather cool to eat in the Castle!

I agree with Tommys Mommy totally! There were nine of us, and we all enjoyed it...even the boys. We had read about the food, and found it to be quite good. We had a really good time. I think it is worth it to do it once. We don't have it booked again for the next trip, but we will definitely do it again sometime.

 

[mjh8955]

I guess I always felt we had to try it just once. Our kids were old enough to remember it (for that price they better). The meal itself was just o.k. but to see my kids' faces was worth every penney. Even my 7-year-old son who didn't want to go was mesmerized. He got a kiss on the cheek from Cinderella and didn't wash the lipstick off all day!! My hubby who only went along to humor me even said it was great and he was glad we did it. Especially because we got the earliest reservation possible and were then right inside Fantasyland for the rope drop. But do not expect a leisurely fine dining event. It's all about the characters. Your kids probably won't even be interested in eating and you and your husband won't be able to focus on eating because you will be busy recording the event by camera or video!! Just as long as your expectations are real The Crystal Palace character breakfast was a lot more relaxed, in my opinion.

 

[rdsx28]

I would suggest if she likes Cinderella to go to the Park fare at the Grand Floridian. My DD 7 loves Cinderella and she was thrilled here. The fairy God mother greets you outside and Cinderella, Prince Charming and the 2 mice circulated the room. We had pictures and Cinderella spent a great deal of time interacting with the kids WONDERFUL! The food was excellent as well and the kids bar is great too.

 

[beth_cam]

Remember dinner isn't exactly a princess meal. You see cindy before you eat in the lobby. you wait in line and there is always a line so when your turn comes it is still a bit rushed the photographer snaps a shot and off you go. The dinner entertainment is the fairy godmother and mice skit...when we went there was little/no interaction with guests but it seems there has been some increased interaction but it is still on they fly kind of thing/part of the routine not strolling through the room talking to the guests. And they come do the skit and leave. If you are too quick you will miss them. They came out right as we were seated. It took us a very long time (slow - not bad- service and hubbie ordering well done didn't help). I thought for sure they would come again but they didnt. The food was fine but not great or even very memorable. But the treat for my dd being in cindy's castle was worth it. We wont be back. We can see the princesses elsewhere cheaper and enjoy the meal atleast as well. We really like 1900 park fare for dinner and seeing cinderella/fairy godmother/prince charming (no he isn't at the castle)/and the mice...where we actually get to talk to them all. We also liked (not loved) akershus for the princesses at breakfast. We simply aren't breakfast people. If you dd isn't going to get a huge thrill i'd probably hold off till she is a bit older and do some of the other meals. My kids who have never had any interest in pooh absolutely love seeing the pooh characters at crystal palace.

 

[Dianewes]

I think if you have small girls that would love to sit on Ciny's lap, go for it!! But don't expect a fantastic meal. I thought the food was just ok, and we were in the back of the restaurant, so no view for us. I did however really like watching all of the kids interacting with Cinderella before our meal, it was very cute and she was very sweet to the kids.

 

[nbodyhome]

Before the price increase, I had a very nice lunch at CRT (though really, I preferred CRT lunch when it was ala carte and no princesses).

Last year, I was there for dinner - I didn't pay for it, I was there on someone else. Even though I had a nice time, it wasn't worth the money and/or table service credits for me to repeat it. And I'd not personally spend the $ for breakfast or lunch either. I think 1900 Park Fare is a better value, better food.

 

[mmcguire]

We didn't think so, and that was before the price hike. We took DS13 to the breakfast when he was 3 or 4, and just didn't get what all the fuss was about. We have a DD4 now, and it hasn't even crossed our minds to do it again, even if they hadn't raised the prices to such obscene levels.

We did take DD to Cinderella's Gala Feast dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the GF and found it to be a much more pleasant, unhurried experience. As an added bonus, 1900 PF is a buffet, so we were all able to get as much of what we liked vs. the pre-plated "all we care to bring you" castle meal.

 

[scrump]

If you are not into the princesses, it is overpriced. I think the food is pretty average. But the atmosphere is pretty cool!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

We had dinner in Dec. and loved it. We got the table right by the window overlooking fantasyland. Service was fast and professional. Food was pretty good. Free pics were nice.