Is the rumor true about the ROYAL TABLE???

[beattyfamily]

I don't recall them charging my credit card first (like Hoop Dee Doo).

I'd say go to CRT...just expect to pay a lot and relax before you go.

Just wanted to add that when you went, the policy was that they didn't charge your CC first (like Hoop Dee Doo) except for a deposit per person ($10 per adult and $5 per child) but they do charge for the whole price now...as of February 1, 2006 and they also include the taxes AND tip in that charge and if you don't have a CC, you are out of luck.

It's now 2 Table Service credits for all 3 meals.

It's now ALOT more money then you paid in September as well. A major price hike, IMHO.

Not worth it to us anymore, but so glad we got to experience it before all the February 1 changes.

Just wanted to clarify that.

 

[DeirdreTours]

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.

Our experience was just like that.....except that our table was dirty, there was fruit chunks under the table (smashed my sandal into them and got my toes gushy, ugg), the princesses stayed at our table for about 15 seconds each (sign book, take picture, move on), the server barely paused long enough the slap the plates down (I couldn't even get more coffee) and there were no streamers and such. But aside from that it was just like the experience you describe!

 

[momof2cutegirls]

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

I would have to agree with you! As hard as CRT is to book, I was disappointed. Food was alright, but I felt like my girls had more time with the princesses at Toon Town vs. CRT. For all the hype you hear about CRT, it didn't live up to my expectations.

We absolutely loved Chef Mickey's for breakfast! It was so much more fun with the kids all dancing waving their napkins. The food was great and I didn't feel as rushed.

I'm thinking about the Norway Princess breakfast this year, but still undecided. We will definitely go back to Chef Mickey's!

 

[ptmmg]

I booked a week ago for the end of August and I am doing the dp I was told my CC would NOT be charged and so far it has not.

 

[La2kw]

It's been my experience that when the characters move in, the quality of the food goes down.

 

[momof2cutegirls]

It's been my experience that when the characters move in, the quality of the food goes down.

It may be just coincidence, but I have found that WDW buffets usually mean a better meal vs. pre-plated dinners. What do you all think?

 

[Tinker74]

oK Now Iam worried? I am on the DP and I gave my CC number to book CRT but I think this was just a hold in case of a no show..as we haven't been charged.
However ...we are now thinking of paying out of pocket for this one will this still be Ok?

 

[bicker]

It's been my experience that when the characters move in, the quality of the food goes down.

I believe this is not really the case. Rather, when characters move in, the new meal is generally a lower-quality meal by intent, as was the case at Akershus. The price may stay the same, but remember that includes at least $5 per person for the entertainment.

 

[Markstudy]

It is worth the first trip... just to see inside

That is the sneak peek that is so interesting to 1st timers.

 

[Markstudy]

I went in Jan before price went up.

 

[Markstudy]

Here is my funny spin on whats going on

Disney wants to stop people that go over-and-over again, and open up more seats to people that have never gone.

I had been to Disney 12 times before trying the Royal Table. It is a must-do for all 1st timers.

Seen it! Been there! Glad I did!

But Disney never had enough seats. So to get rid of all the people that are going for their 7th time.... Disney rasied the price and dropped the service.

Not worth going more then twice at the most now. But still great fun for all first timers!

Disney is so smart. The Royal Table is for everyone to do once. And this is how they are hinting to you 8th time return guest Make More Room for 1st Timers.

(Kind of sucks if you ask me )

 

[TwinTinks]

It is a must-do for all 1st timers.

Seen it! Been there! Glad I did!

But still great fun for all first timers!

This is good to 'hear'. We will be there in June as first timers to WDW. My girls are princess crazy and I can not imagine going to WDW without visiting the castle. I can't wait!

 

[bicker]

Disney wants to stop people that go every year over and over again, and open up more seats to people that have never gone.

Well, even their best efforts don't seem to be having that effect. Repeat guest are evidently finding other restaurants.

 

[TiggerandBelleFanMom]

We just went on Monday, March 13th, and I thought it was great.

I am not talking about the food. The food was definitely the worst of the three character breakfasts we had. (I liked Crystal Palace's food the best, with 1900 Park Fare a very close second.)

There was a very nice fruit cup, which was thrilling, as fruit is one of the only things my daughter will eat. There was also a bread basket with some nice enough choices. I had something that might have been a gingerbread biscotti. It was nice, whatever it was. The eggs were only warm, not hot; the breakfast potatoes were kind of mushy and had some bacon-y stuff in them. The french toast-like item with sweet cream cheese filling (?) and blueberry topic was okay, albeit a little heavy for my tastes. I don't eat bacon and don't eat or even like to look at sausage, but I can tell you from visual inspection that the bacon was far from crispy.

The great part was the atmosphere and the entertainment! The downstairs scene for the Cinderella pictures is a bit of a shambles, as Cindy has to finish performing in Cinderellabration (I guess) and then come back, at which point there is a huge line. But they announce each family "We have an invitation for the Royal Carpenter Family, an invitation for the Royal McMurphy family, and an invitation for the Royal Cho family!" Call us cornballs, but we liked that! Then you walk up this red carpeted winding stone staircase with stained glass windows on the way. Our daughter really liked this.

Our daughter was presented with a magic wand and a wishing star as soon as we entered. We were seated in the prime seat right at the window! Our server, David, made us feel special, and made it clear he would bring us whatever we wanted, e.g., if we needed more fruit, just ask. They announced each princess before she circulated around the room, and we clapped. (Actually, at first I think I was the only person in the dining room who started clapping--see earlier note about being a cornball--but other people joined in, and David approved and said we could stay for lunch!) The cast the morning we went was the Fairy Godmother, Belle, Snow White, and Aurora. The interaction with each was good. It was neither lengthy nor rushed.

Late in the meal, they have a little ceremony where kids get to wave their wands and swords. The dining room is divided into threes: The Land of Imagination, The Land of Happily Ever After, and (okay, I forget the third one), and each group gets a turn. They also get to say Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Boo along with the Fairy Godmother, and then I think some lights start flashing, although frankly it was pretty light in the room, so I barely noticed the special effects. But my daughter liked this whole wand-waving.

We left a $20 tip, as we felt the service had been really good and we appreciated our prime seats...but the good service wasn't over. Our daughter walked down the stairs, touching each stair with her magic wand and counting. At a certain point, we realized our server David was behind her and counting too. It turns out we left her sippy cup on the table and he came down all those stairs to give it to us! How nice is that?

So to recap: if you want good breakfast food, I wouldn't recommend this place. I've done better at Denny's. But if you want a magical experience with enough edible food to get your through to lunch, then this might be a nice treat. I WOULD definitely do it again. My grades would be
FOOD: C.
EXPERIENCE: A.

If you have yet to book, I might recommend TRYING to get an earlier time, as then one wouldn't be competing with Cinderellabration for Cindy's attention down at the photo station. (We had a 10 AM ADR, and Cinderellabration ran from 9:40-10.) Then again, I had wanted 8 AM and got 10 AM, so sometimes one has to take what one can get!

 

[pooh2001]

French toast with blueberries and cream cheese ? No plain french toast ?
My DD is allergic to blueberries.

2 weeks before we go to our 8:10 AM Cindy (expensive) breakfast I will call and ask about plain french toast.

Thanks for the heads-up

 

[momof2cutegirls]

Our daughter was presented with a magic wand and a wishing star as soon as we entered. We were seated in the prime seat right at the window! Our server, David, made us feel special, and made it clear he would bring us whatever we wanted, e.g., if we needed more fruit, just ask. They announced each princess before she circulated around the room, and we clapped. (Actually, at first I think I was the only person in the dining room who started clapping--see earlier note about being a cornball--but other people joined in, and David approved and said we could stay for lunch!) The cast the morning we went was the Fairy Godmother, Belle, Snow White, and Aurora. The interaction with each was good. It was neither lengthy nor rushed.

Late in the meal, they have a little ceremony where kids get to wave their wands and swords. The dining room is divided into threes: The Land of Imagination, The Land of Happily Ever After, and (okay, I forget the third one), and each group gets a turn. They also get to say Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Boo along with the Fairy Godmother, and then I think some lights start flashing, although frankly it was pretty light in the room, so I barely noticed the special effects. But my daughter liked this whole wand-waving.

This is what I thought this meal was missing...fun and interaction with the children. I think that is why I was so impressed with Chef Mickey's. When we went in December 2005, CRT was cute but not fun. Glad to hear it is now!

I also agree with the poster who mentioned something about CRT being great for one time, but no need to go back and that was possibly the reason for the price increase. I'm glad we did it, but once is enough. I would like to try the Norway Princess breakfast, and I'm sure I'll be thinking the same thing after that, but I am such a sucker for this stuff and my girls are only young once!

 

[momupnorth]

We tried CRT for lunch last week for our first time. It wasn't the best meals of the week by a long shot, but it was an experience that I would not have missed for the world.
My DD (6) was amazing that she got to eat at Cinderella's house and even my DS (8) was quite happy with his sword and even admitted that it was fun. The picture package was very nice and we got great pictures with the other princesses and Fairy Godmother. Snow White went out of her way to make my Mom feel special as it was her 60th birthday, and told her she had a great animator.

I did feel rushed by the server and the appy plate were on the table before we had even sat down. Overall I think it is a once in a life time experience but I am not sure I would bother with it again.

 

[bicker]

it was an experience that I would not have missed for the world

That pretty-much sums it up.

 

[KimR]

If you have yet to book, I might recommend TRYING to get an earlier time, as then one wouldn't be competing with Cinderellabration for Cindy's attention down at the photo station. (We had a 10 AM ADR, and Cinderellabration ran from 9:40-10.) Then again, I had wanted 8 AM and got 10 AM, so sometimes one has to take what one can get!

We have a 9:45 ADR so what does that mean? Are we going to have to wait half an hour before Cinderella even shows up?

 

[keishashadow]

As a mom to 3 DS's, princesses aren't a priority (for them).

However, I insisted on dining @ the castle last year for dinner, even though all the reviews were dismal. Was lucky to see Cindy on throne before dinner (got my fix, I was happy), Capt. Hook & Peter Pan running past our window seat & a view of the park - pricless .

We were on dining plan. Prime Rib was above avg., DS hated chicken strips but, it only took 1 TS credit & I'll remember it forever. magical!

Now, WDW is cutting out alot of folks from the experience not only factoring in cost factor but, forget eating Major Domo Pie for 2 TS credits...yuck, IMO a waste.