Princess Dining Advice

[jenhelgren]

Can any princess lovers tell me the differences between Cinderella's Royal Table and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall? Obviously the menu is different but is the Royal Table meal better than the Banquet Hall? Is there any reason to do both or will we see the same princesses all over again? Any information or advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[baler31]

Can any princess lovers tell me the differences between Cinderella's Royal Table and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall? Obviously the menu is different but is the Royal Table meal better than the Banquet Hall? Is there any reason to do both or will we see the same princesses all over again? Any information or advice is greatly appreciated!

We honeslty prefer the food at Akershus but the atmosphere of the castle is hard to beat. Everyone should eat there once. With the exception that Cinderella is always at the castle the rest of the princesses rotate just like Akershus. Our last trip we had Snow, Mulan, Jasmine, and Belle, these were at Akershus. Your kids will most likely be thrilled with either, I would take the Adr that best fits your plans.

 

[DaniB]

Another point, that may make a difference if you are on the DP, is that Cinderella's Royal Table costs 2 TS each and Akershus is 1 TS each.

 

[pumba]

we had the best time at the Princess breakfast in Norway. The princesses took alot of time with the kids and talked to all of us......we were not rushed thru our meal either......the food was excellent. The buffet part was with fresh fruit and blackberries and raspberries.and different items that would make any breakfast lover happy....

 

[distherapy]

We have eaten at both and prefer CRT. The tables felt much closer to each other at Akershus and the sound was deafening. It didn't help us that there was a screaming child at Akershus as we checked in (the kind of screams that give me a headache two years later). The pre-meal photo line-up at both is similar, although you do have nicer things to look at in the castle. I liked the wishing ceremony at CRT and the wands and swords they give the kids. I can't say it's twice as nice as Akershus so if you have a meal plan to consider, you may just want the 1TS meal.

 

[dmoore718]

We are paying OOP so we opted for Akershus. My daughters won't care much about the food, it's all about the princesses!! I have heard good things about the food, we are doing lunch there. I just liked the menu better for lunch and we don't have to rush, with 3 little girls, that would not be fun!

 

[Cafeen]

Did breakfast at both last year with my friend and her then 2 y/o daughter. All 3 of us preferred the meal at Akershus to CRT.

The actual food quality and selection seemed better at Akershus for us, the hot plate + buffet style also worked really well (They bring out a plate of hot food, and then you get cold food from buffet. This is different from other meals there though). The princesses at Akershus seemed a little more laid back as well, although they were great at both locations.

What really pushed Akershus over CRT was the service. Our waitress at Akershus was great. Attentive and giving us refills right when we needed them and all that good server stuff. CRT, not so much. The server was phoning it in and constantly was dripping stuff all over the table (and our stuff). Atmosphere-wise we were also sitting in the sun next to the window at CRT, which didn't help things (we were next to a window at Akershus too, but it was facing another direction).

Overall, we did prefer Akershus to CRT. Not to say CRT was bad, just somethings made Akershus the better experience for us. I am glad that we did do CRT though, it's a good experience to have once or twice (or more if you hit a good day).

 

[tallen429]

We've done both and I far prefer the Castle. Really disliked Askershus to be honest. Food (breakfast) was boring and awful and limited and we were VERY disappointed in the Princesses there.
We loved the food at CRT, but we had lunch, not breakfast.
We had the dining plan both times, so paying oop wasn't a factor.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have been to the Princess Norway Breakfast twice and each time the character interaction was priceless....my nieces were thrilled out of their mind and the still talk about it! The food was very good, it was a blast!

 

[Tisha_PA]

We've done breakfast and lunch at both and hands down prefer the Castle. Our food and our service were much better than at Akershus. DH really hated the food at Akershus and refuses to eat there again. Our DD liked both - pretty much saw the same princesses at each meal. The main difference was that Cinderella was in your photo at the Castle and Belle in her ballgown was in the photo at Akershus.

 

[whitney37354]

We saw the exact same set of princesses at both places, which wasn't a problem for us, since DD had no clue before we went that she would be seeing anybody!

Cindy's Castle: The interaction at both was good, but Cindy's castle was better--Belle & Ariel carried on lengthy conversations with DD. We didn't feel rushed to have our phot with Cindy before going upstairs to eat. Service was good and food was fine. We were able to get in before our ADR time and never felt rushed to leave.

Akershus: Interaction was good, not a long wait to get in and we we're there before our ADR time. I liked the atmosphere better here. This was on our last morning at WDW and we wanted to hurry and finish so we could beat the rope drop crowd to get FP's to Soarin, so we didn't take time to fully enjoy the meal. The platter was good & we didn't go to the buffet, except for me to get our plates. We were seated in the room nearest the door and the princesses came to our section quickly. Our waitress was obviously confused at our rush to eat and get out I'd like to go back again for dinner and take our time, but I don't see anything on the menu that DH would like.

If you really want to see Cinderella, I'd do 1900 PF for dinner, then do Akershus to see other princesses. These are only 1 dining credit, and the castle is 2. However, I'd encourage everyone to eat in the castle at least once, just to say you've done it.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We did both of them our last 2 trips and one time we had a great experience at Akershus and not so great at CRT, and the next time it was the opposite.

I really think your experience at character meals depends a lot on timing. My advice is to not get an ADR that is near the time that a particular mealtime is ending. For example, our first trip we had an ADR at Akershus at 8:10 am. We had a lot of interaction from the princesses and great service. Our second trip our ADR was at 10:35 near the time that breakfast was ending and lunch beginning. We did feel rushed through with the princesses this time since they needed a break before lunch.

I also wish I was a little more assertive at character meals. I usually get the one picture with both kids, but I always wish I had asked them to pose with each child individually or with me or DH. For the cost, I don't think it is too much to ask.

For us we will probably be heading back to Akershus in the future when DD wants to eat with the Princesses. CRT is just so overpriced.

 

[BeachMama13]

For us we will probably be heading back to Akershus in the future when DD wants to eat with the Princesses. CRT is just so overpriced.

I think we'll be trying Akershus this trip too. I think CRT is much too overpriced for dinner, especially.

 

[indimom3]

I would do Akershus hands down. I think the food, atmosphere, and princess interaction are better there.
We saw the same princesses at both. Cindy, Belle, Aurora, Snow, and Ariel.

 

[mommalissa]

I cannot comment on CRT since we are going there for the first time this fall.

We went to Akershus for breakfast last November and it was one of the best character meals we had. The princesses were great and took their time with all of the kids at our table. Food was also great!

 

[mickey&minniealways]

If you are looking for character interaction I would do dinner at 1900 park fare at GF. The food is good, try the strawberry soup. The interaction from Lady Tremaine and the Stepsisters is priceless. If you haven't seen them in action yet it is a must do. They will have you in stitches. Princesses are always nice but this bunch is a riot and much more enjoyable for the rest of the group. My DS's went last time for their little sis. They are not so little now but have stated that if they have to go to a character meal that is the one they will do as it is actualy funny.

 

[Iceman13]

Our family has done both, and we prefer the food at Akershus. We have been to CRT twice, and though it is not bad, we felt a bit rushed both in eating and character interactions. This was not true at Akershus, and we are planning to go there again in October.

 

[hellokittiemama]

We have done lunch in CRT and even with an ADR had a big wait for pics with Cinderella before being seated. The lunch was OK but not our favorite on the trip in terms of food. The kids fought across the table the whole time with their sword and wand but had fun doing so My husband and I enjoyed the castle environment and we had a window seat which was priceless. The princesses we saw that day were Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine and Belle in her blue & white dress. The princess visits felt rushed. We are glad we did it but we won't use 2 TS on it again!!!!

At lunch in Akershus it was Belle in her yellow dress out front and then Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, Snow white and Alice! I didn't know Alice counted as a princess but she actually turned out to be a favorite in terms of personality that day! In fact, so much that we later booked the Alice tea party for my daughter!!!! The food at Akershus wasn't my favorite aside from the dessert! my husband liked the food, I ended up having a sandwhich made from the cold buffet because I ordered what the server recommended which was totally odd (kjattkake (sp). The princesses here spent a lot of time and made up for the food though!

Dinner at Akershus on a different trip we had great food and I skipped the kjattkake but my hubs ordered it and loved it (he had eaten mine from lunch the previous trip and liked it!) The kids pizza seriously downsized from the previous trip, but my daughter was too busy with the princesses to eat. the princesses visited so much again and this time it was Belle in her yellow dress out front and then at the tables we had Ariel in her ballgown, Jasmine, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty!

This trip coming up, we booked Akershus again for princesses

My daughter's favorite princess meal actually was at 1900 park faire where we had Cinderella, Prince Charming, the Stepmother and Fairy Godmother and Mice were outfront. We had been hoping for the stepsisters but they weren't there that meal! The stepmother however was such a pill - it was great!!!! My DD was dressed as Cinderella and she commented over and over how she looked better in the dress than Cinderella herself. Cinderella and Prince charming danced with the kids and it was so magical for my daughter - moreso than the castle! The kids also did better because it was a buffet and we didn't feel rushed. If your DD is a Cinderella fan I'd consider park faire!!!