BachataMan
Registered
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2017
- Messages
- 121
I think what I would like to do is go to CRT once a year, and this is my second time ever going. The first time I went was back in I think February of last year. I was relatively new to Disney dining, only having ate at Chef Mickeys and San Angel Inn beforehand. I thought the food was average but the experience was amazing - finally getting to see what was inside the Castle after all these years. I got to sit right next to the window for a pretty amazing view of Fantasyland with Beast's Castle in the distance, the server was awesome and really got into character with the theming, and of course the princess interactions were great.
So I go in over one year later since CRT reservations are very hard to come by and when they do come by I can't always fork over $80 upon reservation. The process is the same - unlike other Disney restaurants where you can check in 20 minutes early if you like, they will only check you in within five minutes at CRT. When they call you inside, they give you an invitation in the form of a paper receipt to hold on to. You get to meet Cinderella in the lobby and get your picture taken with her and then wait to be called. Once you're announced, you'll hand the hostess your invitation, who will give you another invitation and you head up the winding staircase (there's an elevator if you're handicapped). What I like is how the hosts and servers will be in character like you are really in a 19th century castle invited to a banquet.
One thing I noticed is that the menu completely changed from last time. They still had some of the same menu items, but it seemed like they had quite a bit more, especially on the alcohol front. Before, if you wanted an alcoholic beverage it was very limited in what you could choose and came at a pretty steep premium. Now they have a pretty good variety of red and white wines at reasonable prices. This was my first time having an alcoholic beverage at the Magic Kingdom, and what better place to do so than inside the castle itself?
Eating late at night is a pretty interesting experience. I imagine the restaurant being crowded and loud earlier in the day with the way it's set up and how popular it would be among kids, but late at night it's actually pretty relaxing. I was afraid at first that the princesses wouldn't come out, and I even thought I overheard one of the waitresses say that the princesses don't come out this late, but they did! Snow White, Aurora, Ariel and Jasmine. Snow White is my favorite to meet out of the four, but I remember as a kid having a crush on Jasmine and the idea of meeting her specifically inside Cinderella's Castle would have just blown my mind back then. I really had an awesome waiter who went out of his way to show up when the princesses came to my table to help take pictures.
Now what about the food? I remember the food from last time being overall average, maybe even a little disappointing the last time and it is the one thing this place gets dinged for by many guests for the same reason. One of the newer things is that instead of just getting the appetizer plate with all the meets and cheeses, they give you the choice to get that or either the soup of the day or the royal salad. I got the soup, which was beef stew mixed with mushrooms. My entree was the catch of the day, which is their signature dish. For dessert, which also changed since last time I went, was the Jaq and Gus cheesecake. The food overall was surprisingly VERY good. Like I think Disney actually got one of their executive chefs to run the kitchen. The fish was especially good. Everything else was definitely well worth it, topped with a glass of pinot noir.
So yeah, CRT has definitely upped their game since the last time I went and was worth every penny. I'd definitely go again soon if the opportunity arises. I haven't done breakfast yet, but I heard that's also pretty good.
So I go in over one year later since CRT reservations are very hard to come by and when they do come by I can't always fork over $80 upon reservation. The process is the same - unlike other Disney restaurants where you can check in 20 minutes early if you like, they will only check you in within five minutes at CRT. When they call you inside, they give you an invitation in the form of a paper receipt to hold on to. You get to meet Cinderella in the lobby and get your picture taken with her and then wait to be called. Once you're announced, you'll hand the hostess your invitation, who will give you another invitation and you head up the winding staircase (there's an elevator if you're handicapped). What I like is how the hosts and servers will be in character like you are really in a 19th century castle invited to a banquet.
One thing I noticed is that the menu completely changed from last time. They still had some of the same menu items, but it seemed like they had quite a bit more, especially on the alcohol front. Before, if you wanted an alcoholic beverage it was very limited in what you could choose and came at a pretty steep premium. Now they have a pretty good variety of red and white wines at reasonable prices. This was my first time having an alcoholic beverage at the Magic Kingdom, and what better place to do so than inside the castle itself?
Eating late at night is a pretty interesting experience. I imagine the restaurant being crowded and loud earlier in the day with the way it's set up and how popular it would be among kids, but late at night it's actually pretty relaxing. I was afraid at first that the princesses wouldn't come out, and I even thought I overheard one of the waitresses say that the princesses don't come out this late, but they did! Snow White, Aurora, Ariel and Jasmine. Snow White is my favorite to meet out of the four, but I remember as a kid having a crush on Jasmine and the idea of meeting her specifically inside Cinderella's Castle would have just blown my mind back then. I really had an awesome waiter who went out of his way to show up when the princesses came to my table to help take pictures.
Now what about the food? I remember the food from last time being overall average, maybe even a little disappointing the last time and it is the one thing this place gets dinged for by many guests for the same reason. One of the newer things is that instead of just getting the appetizer plate with all the meets and cheeses, they give you the choice to get that or either the soup of the day or the royal salad. I got the soup, which was beef stew mixed with mushrooms. My entree was the catch of the day, which is their signature dish. For dessert, which also changed since last time I went, was the Jaq and Gus cheesecake. The food overall was surprisingly VERY good. Like I think Disney actually got one of their executive chefs to run the kitchen. The fish was especially good. Everything else was definitely well worth it, topped with a glass of pinot noir.
So yeah, CRT has definitely upped their game since the last time I went and was worth every penny. I'd definitely go again soon if the opportunity arises. I haven't done breakfast yet, but I heard that's also pretty good.
