Is the rumor true about the ROYAL TABLE???

[Feelslikeadream]

I ran across a disturbing thread, and woould like to know if there is any truth behind it.. Has the quality of the Royal Table Character Dining experience decreased recently? I was going to go there for my birthday breakfast, but I am reconsidering. Is there another breakfast I can go to with Cinderella and other princesses???

 

[julia & nicks mom]

The price has gone up - probably prompting the feeling that it is no longer worth going

you can go to the Princess Storybook breakfast at Akershus - we love their breakfast - odds are you won't see Cinderella there - but I believe Belle would be there in her gold dress!!

 

[eeyore45]

Well there are lots of varying opinions on the Cinderella Castle Experience - Breakfast is still 5 "Princessess" and Cinderella is one of them - the price has certainly increased, and when you call to book, you must pay by credit card up front, if you choose to use 2TS on the Dining Plan they will credit your credit card when you eat at the Castle...

Now for other options - Epcot in Norway has a Princess Breakfast, Aurora, no Cinderalla, from the reports -

For a nice relaxed character interaction with Cinderalla, Prince Charming Fairy Godmother and 2 mice (suzy and perla) 1900 Park Fair at Grand Floridian, BUT its only for dinner...

Good luck in planning... Many people still believe in the magical experience in dining in the castle, with Cinderalla no matter the cost - the price increase is due to including a photo package, good or bad...

 

[beattyfamily]

I ran across a disturbing thread, and woould like to know if there is any truth behind it.. Has the quality of the Royal Table Character Dining experience decreased recently? I was going to go there for my birthday breakfast, but I am reconsidering. Is there another breakfast I can go to with Cinderella and other princesses???

Breakfast food is the same as it's always been BUT the price went up dramatically Feb 1, 2006. It now includes a photo package and each child gets either a wand or a sword. You must prepay for it all and if you are on the dining plan it's 2 table service credits.

Not worth it to me anymore.

 

[DeirdreTours]

The food was always mediocre, but now the service is pretty mediocre too. Expect almost cafeteria style service--The waitress will bring you a plate, but will be far too busy to check back or replenish coffee/juice/ food in a timely manner. You should also expect to find chunks of food on the floor and possibly crumbs/dirt on your table.

 

[Blondie]

We have a reservation for CRT in early May that I might end up cancelling if I continue to read negative reviews. They will ask for a credit card # to secure the reservation, but it won't be charged against your account. At least I haven't seen it yet.

 

[Texa]

My account was charged, almost right away. And like you I am considering cancelling our June CRT breakfast. I have yet to read a really positive review!

 

[thelionqueen]

unless you are using the Dining Package. This new service began this year (Feb. I think). So as soon as you make the reservation, the entire cost for the entire party will be charged immediately.

The food has always been mediocre, you're really paying for the privilege to eat in the castle. However, I recently cancelled my coveted 8:10 am breakfast in June due to the lack of service, deteriorating food quality and price.

I'm sorry, even though we are on the dining package, I will not use 8 credits for such an unmagical experience. I've also heard that the photos are not very good, and you "get what you get" Sorry, but no thanks.

 

[Splash Mountain Fan]

We like the breakfast at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary. We have had lunch twice at Cinderella's and were not impressed.

 

[Blondie]

I just checked my online statment. I used a debit card for the reservation and it just today showed up! There's only two of us going, but $96.34 was a little hard to see in black in white for something I haven't used yet! Oh well, one less thing to pay for I guess.

 

[bicker]

Clearly, the intent was to make the price more align with how much guests value the Royal Table experience. I had originally thought that Disney's increase in price was too much -- that it would result in lots of availability at breakfast, but I was wrong. It is still hard to get reservations, sometimes.

Unsurprisingly, they seem to know what they're doing!

 

[harmonium]

We have eaten at the Castle every year since 2003 and I have felt less magic with this last visit. I think it had more to do with the service than the food quality though. Not much attention paid to refills and not as "magical" as the past 3 years. The food was still better than counter service and well, we were in the Castle.
Our other character dining experiences that we have also done for the past four years, Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, and Cape May Cafe, have kept up with customer service and food quality without any problem. DW was not impressed with Ohana's, but I would still like to eat there again considering the food was good to the best of my recollection and Lilo and Stitch are there now.

 

[vascubaguy]

We had ADR's for dinner and even with the DDE discount it was around $84 for 2 adults. This was charged to my credit card immediately. However, after reading the numerous bad reviews and then taking a 2nd and 3rd look at the menu, we decided to cancel our ressie. We've eaten in the castle before the change and have pics with Cindy at the throne, so we don't really need the picture package.

Also, I don't like the idea of taking a picture that I'm stuck with, even if I hate it. So, instead of having dinner at 4pm at CRT, we are gonna head over to the Contemporary to have lunch around 2pm at Concourse Steakhouse. The menu looks more appetizing and will cost about half the price.

I'm hoping they will at least axe the "character dinner" and go back to a regular meal. If that happens, we'll go back in October.

 

[jwfla422]

I don't think there is anything "magical" about the food, service (unless David is your server) or the outrageous price increase of this breakfast, never thought the food was more than mediocre. Most of the time it is a good wait to get 2nds or refills on coffee and juice. We boycott this one now.

 

[Alztybrn]

So...here is a weird question...Can you go and not eat? NOt all of us, we have a party of 6, but some may (grandparents) definately want to go to spend experience with their grandchildren, but do not definatlely want to pay the price, or use the dining credits.

So...can a couple of you go and just enjoy the "experience"?

 

[bicker]

There is an entertainment charge of $5 for anyone who is not eating, but the restaurant reserves the right not to accommodate spectators at all. Check at the podium when you arrive.

 

[abaldacci]

I hate it. will never go back not worth the price service is awful and food just ok. And I went before the increase. JMHO

 

[dancemomnj]

I was hoping to go in November. I wanted to go for lunch.(The breakfast menue would not work with my picky 4 yr old.) My girls will be 4 & 6 and I thought they would love it. Does anyone think lunch in worth it?

 

[Lindy Loo]

We went to the breakfast before it was changed ( we went April 05) I only booked it cos it seemed THE ONE to do. Getting an ADR or PS as it was known then, was soooo hard, we rang from the UK 6 days running. We were reallt disappointed with the whole experience. It was cramped and there was a big un organised queue to have photo taken with fairy god mother. The food was the worst of all the Disney meals we had. The character interaction was poor. My daughter was devastated Belle wasnt in her yellow gown ( she wore her white shirt and blue apron.... Husband thought she was a server!)
We LOVED Chef Mickeys, 1900 Park Fayre ( were Cinderella came around 3 times!) and Crystal Palace.
IMHO disney can charge what they like, as its the experience of eating in the castle. Ok so weve done it, wont do it again, thats for sure.
We go back in Oct, and will make adrs for CM, 1900 PF and CP only.
Hope this helps

 

[chigirl]

Wow...we went in September with our 7 year old son and daughter who was turning 13. We went for lunch at the last minute...I thought my daughter was "too old" to enjoy it, but when we were at the park on Tuesday she said she wanted to go there! So I was able to get Saturday for lunch. We had a great experience...we did use the dinning plan. I don't recall them charging my credit card first (like Hoop Dee Doo). Our server was GREAT...don't remember his name but he was Hispanic and very sweet. The princess interaction was great, they were all pretty and sweet and Wendy from Peter Pan stayed with us for a long time. The food was good...I think the price was high, but we are from Chicago were everything is high, so no shock there. No problem at all with refills. The table was decorated with streamers and confetti and that was nice, plus a little cupcake dealie for my daughter. It was seriously sweet...I think maybe some of the problem with Disney overall is that people build a hype in their heads that NOTHING can touch, I don't know....I was afraid our trip, our first as a family after years of saving, etc would stink, but it was magical from start to finish. Now we are going back! I'd say go to CRT...just expect to pay a lot and relax before you go.