Is the CRT really worth it?

[Meredith Girl]

We are traveling in December and I am looking ahead for our dining plan. DD will be 7 and likes princesses (not as into them quite as much as she used to be) am I am curious to know if the CRT really worth the money or are the other experiences just as good. If you would recommend CRT, what meal should we shoot for? If don't recommend it, is 1900 Park Fare a good alternative? Thanks!

 

[dixonismydog]

After all the hype....we were so excited to go to CRT.
It was a total disappointment. Worst meal of out vacation. And you really only see Cindy. We had free dining....but if I was paying OOP, I would have been ticked. I would take DD to meet the princesses and pick somewhere else to eat a nice meal. JMO......

 

[mdelano4]

We took DD at age 6 and 7. She loved it both times, as we did. I am not sure why PP only saw Cinderella. Both times there were other princesses. Belle, Aurora, Snow White and Alice (ok, not a princess, but she was there).

If you are worried about not getting the most for your buck, try Askerhaus. There we saw Belle (it's her place), Aurora, Snow White, Jamine and Mulan

I say go for either one for breakfast.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

It's been 15 years since we've been there, but we loved it. I was just as excited as the kids. It is a very magical setting. Don't expect gourmet food, but you can't beat the atmosphere. We're going again this year. We are traveling with friends who have two little princesses. I'm really looking forward to it. It's the kids' reaction that I love.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I have done both CRT and Akershus. Both are nice meals BUT after Akershus, my DDs still wanted to see inside the castle. We went to CRT last week and it really was a wonderful experience. You go inside the Castle and meet Cinderella. Then you go up this winding staircase with stained glass windows and enter the dining room. The dining room is small and has a very castle-like feel with a high ceiling and arches. We found the character interaction to be better at CRT compared to Akershus, but I think that varies from person to person. We saw the same characters at both meals. The only differences were that Belle was in a gold gown and was the princess in the picture area at Akershus and Cinderella circulated the tables at Akershus, wheras Cinderella was downstairs for the first picture at CRT and Belle was in her blue dress in the dining room. Both meals include a picture in the cost (or two if your party is 5-8 people). When you add the number to photopass you see various poses.

As for the food, we had breakfast at Akershus but lunch at CRT, so I can't compare from that perspective. We enjoyed Akershus' breakfast - I asked for my eggs well done, but otherwise, they are kind of runny. The cheesy potatoes were great. Lunch at CRT was good too. DH and I both had Major Domo's Favorite Pie, which is pot roast and julienned vegetables served over a puff pastry with mashed potatoes. We had better meals during our trip for 1 TS credit (or half the cash price) but we ate everything and did not leave hungry. DH and I thought the food was good and would have happily paid $18 for the same meal at another restaurant. What made CRT special and worth the high cost was the atmosphere. You're paying for the experience of being in Cinderella's Castle and for a little girl who believes in princesses, it's amazing to watch. I wish CRT were cheaper, but unfortunately it is very pricey. Whether it's worth it is very individual. FWIW, we paid OOP for the adults (the price was $51 per person for lunch, including tax and tip) but used DDP credits for the kids.

EDIT: At both CRT and Akershus we saw Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Ariel (in her green dress), and Snow White.

 

[DizGirl20]

Do it now while your daughter is young. You will turn around and she will be a teenager and have no interest in going. The food is just OK, but the look on your daughter's face will be priceless! I thought the atmosphere was pretty cool too. How often do you get to eat in THE CASTLE?!?!

 

[3pletprincesses]

The experience is worth it but not the food. Nothing beats eating at the castle but if you want to save $$ Akershus would be a good option as would be 1900PF

 

[Freiden8]

I've been there twice.. once as a tween and once as an adult. I wasn't impressed either time. I was thisclose to booking it for our upcoming trip but ultimately decided against it. There are just so many other locations I'd rather eat at.

 

[the electric mayhem]

I went to Aekershus(spelling) in March 2010 for dinner and CRT February 2011 for dinner. Both were excellent character experiences but the food at Aekershus was bad. Breakfast would be a better choice. I loved the experience and food at CRT. We had a photo taken with Cinderella and we saw Belle,Ariel,Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty at our table. I am not sure why the other poster did not see any princesses. It was fun to dine in the castle and a great time. I will definitely take my girls back there. We had the Deluxe Disney Dining plan so it took up two credits per person. I felt it was worth it beacue we ate a big lunch that day and had an ice cream snack. We were fine for dinner.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

After all the hype....we were so excited to go to CRT.
It was a total disappointment. Worst meal of out vacation. And you really only see Cindy. We had free dining....but if I was paying OOP, I would have been ticked. I would take DD to meet the princesses and pick somewhere else to eat a nice meal. JMO......

You see 5 princesses. It used to be that Dinner was with Cinderella in the lobby and then mice and the fairy godmother, but currently, all meals feature several princesses.

 

[tink2]

if your dd has never been and likes princesses, she will LOVE CRT. My dd, now 11, thinks it is a 'must' every trip. We've been many times~ I think 5~ and have never had a bad experience or walked away disappointed. Now, we go primarily for DD and the experience. We've had lunch and breakfast and we prefer breakfast, but lunch was good too. The experience is magical. Eating in the castle, the waiters/waitresses addressing you as royalty, overlooking fantasyland from the dining room. It is magical and like no other. The look on my daughter's face as the princesses arrive and are introduced is worth the price~ you see 5 princesses~ Cinderella downstairs and 4 upstairs~ generally Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine~ with one or two being different. A few years ago DD literally teared up when the princesses came out. To me, it is priceless and to her, one of the most important parts of the trip. Go, while she is young! But, I'm not sure my DD will ever 'outgrow' it!

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

I think so, at least once anyways. Just don't do what we did. I had Adrs for the first night at I think 9 or 9:30. We were sooo tired, we just wanted to sleep. I have a lot of pictures if you want to see them.

 

[Hootch]

been to the lunch three times and will be going again this summer so I would say we're in the yes category for is it worth it.

We're really not big, early breakfast eaters and the first three times dinner had the mics anf The Fairy Godmother (saw her at one of the lunches).

I considered dinner this time around with the changes mentioned above but the dinner menu didn't really seem that interesting to me. So we will be back there in June and I'll be eating the Major Domo's Favorite Pie.

 

[Magic3forme]

we just went in Feb. We went to breakfast when my girls were little.

we went for my daughters bdays... 11 & 13.
We were thrilled! Our food was really good! alot better than we expected! My son even enjoyed the food. (and some of the princesses.)
we are hoping to go back in Dec....
it was our best meal this time... it was better than Kona this time!

 

[mdsd8700]

7 is such a good age for this sort of thing and I agree that the food is just okay. However there is something really cool about eating in Cinderalla's Castle and seeing her and her other princess friends. There maybe other opportunities to meet the princess' at other character meals but think CRT should be done at least once. The experience is worth the money in my opinion.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[KungFoomF]

I feel like it is worth the money to experience it once. Or more accurately. to make sure your kids experience it once at the appropriate ages. It is a special thing to be in the castle and to have the various princesses visit you. The food isn't memorable though, but you do get 1 on 1 time with Cinderella and are given mementos (wands for the girls, swords for the boys). Plus, if you eat an early breakfast you have a head start before the park opens.

So bottom line, yeah, it's worth it once. After that you'll have to decide.

 

[lucyem]

We did CRT & 1900 last fall.

CRT my meal at lunch was surprisingly good. So good I took half back to my room for dinner. (I was going right back after the meal) I had the beef dish with mashed potatoes. Eating in the castle was cool. We had great interaction with Cinderella downstairs since we were literally the last table sat for lunch so were alone with her for a while. The interactions with the rest of the princesses were sweet but quick. I went because my 5 yr old DS REALLY wanted to eat in the castle and see the princesses. He is begging to go again.

1900 was fun. The food typical blah buffet but enough food that you will certainly find something to eat. The characters were a lot of fun, especially the step sisters. You get more of a show as they interact with each other quite loudly and at one point Anastasia danced with my son. My husband really enjoyed it.

Of the two I think CRT has the whole castle atmosphere and is more princess geared. 1900 is maybe for the sort of princess crowd with some really fun antics by the stepsisters. So maybe better for the older princess fans who might find the quick meet and greets by the princesses too dull now. I hope I am making sense.

Anyhow I do think CRT is worth it at least once

 

[Sugar Jones]

We had a great experience when we were there in September. We went during free dining. Even though we loved it, if I had to pay for it out of pocket I don't think i could stomach the cost.

 

[silva5]

We did CRT and loved it. We did a late lunch. We have 2 boys and 1 girl and they all had a great time. We will be booking again when we go in September.

We also did dinner at Akershus. It was nice...a buffet. The only problem was it was the exact same Princesses we saw at the Castle. We expected to see a few others. Kids hated Epcot so we will not be going back!

 

[ChrystalUnicorn]

I took my 7 year old dd there for breakfast Sept 2010. It was Magical, a must! Yes it was pricey but you are not going for the food but for the atmosphere and of course the Princesses! We met Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Belle, and Snow White. I will never for get my dd's face when she met Belle, Worth every cent!