Princess Dinner Dilemma!

[lolobug]

Hi!
Our family is returning to the world for our second trip in April 2016. On our first trip, our oldest DD turned 5 at Disney and had a BBB makeover followed by dinner at the castle. It was the best part of the trip for her, she was glowing! Our younger DD was 2 and too little for the makeover. So... Both girls are eagerly awaiting their makeovers at BBB and would like to dine with the princesses, again.
Akershus would be a new experience (and less expensive!) BUT we are not breakfast eaters and I don't think the Norweigan menu options appeal to any of us. I want the girls to dine with the princesses but I also don't want to spend $$$ and not be happy with our meals.
Also, I think the MK is a magical location for a makeover but we will not be park hopping so I'm thinking we would have to go to dinner the next night? Thoughts? Suggestions? Besides the cost difference, is the food/princess experience better in one location rather than the other? Thanks!

 

[amomma23]

You could do dinner with Cinderella, Prince Charming, and the Ugly Stepsisters at 1900 Park Fare in The Grand Floridian. Just another option if Akershus doesn't appeal to you.

 

[AshleeH]

As one of three girls, I would go to CRT, unless you want to hear about it 20 years down the road when your second daughter is looking at pictures of your Disney trips and wondering why big sister got the better treatment .

 

[cjappert]

We are doing BBB pre park, CRT late breakfast (1030) and dinner at 1900 PF with Cinderella and prince charming. We are doing all our princess stuff in 1 day, then moving on to other things. lol

 

[Capang]

We did CRT our first trip and our second trip we did Akershus and then BBB followed by dinner at 1900 PF. We did not care for the food at Akershus or 1900. We all agreed we missed CRT. DD did not seem to mind not eating at the castle but the adults did. If we can afford it on our next trip we will go back to CRT. The princess interactions at Akershus were great. You could always do BBB at downtown Disney and then go eat at Akershus. That could be another option.

 

[lolobug]

As one of three girls, I would go to CRT, unless you want to hear about it 20 years down the road when your second daughter is looking at pictures of your Disney trips and wondering why big sister got the better treatment .

That is precisely why I am stuck on this issue! Lol

 

[AshleeH]

That is precisely why I am stuck on this issue! Lol

Ha! To be fair, I'm the younger of my sisters - it's my job in life to cause guilt . Kidding! Mostly .

 

[lolobug]

We are doing BBB pre park, CRT late breakfast (1030) and dinner at 1900 PF with Cinderella and prince charming. We are doing all our princess stuff in 1 day, then moving on to other things. lol

Great idea! I think a pre park BBB appointment is a great idea. What time us your ressie for BBB in order to make a 10:30 breakfast? I'm thinking if breakfast us late enough the kids might eat like it was lunch (we are all light breakfast eaters, hardy afternoon eaters!)

 

[lolobug]

We did CRT our first trip and our second trip we did Akershus and then BBB followed by dinner at 1900 PF. We did not care for the food at Akershus or 1900. We all agreed we missed CRT. DD did not seem to mind not eating at the castle but the adults did. If we can afford it on our next trip we will go back to CRT. The princess interactions at Akershus were great. You could always do BBB at downtown Disney and then go eat at Akershus. That could be another option.

I thought the palace was lovely, I think it's crazy $$$! However, if I'm going to spend the money (and we would do it for the younger sister, naturally) I want yo enjoy my food.

 

[lolobug]

Does Ariel ever attend CRT? Last time we went it was Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora and Jasmine.

 

[Capang]

Ariel was at CRT when we went in 2014.

 

[lolobug]

Ariel was at CRT when we went in 2014.

Yay! My oldest is hoping to see her in her ball gown

 

[lolobug]

Can anyone tell me if they do a photo package in the morning at CRT? That's one reason why I'm seriously considering returning to CRT and not Akershus (we have a photo from 2 years ago, I'd like to have an updated picture). Thanks!

 

[itchin2go]

We have done both Akershus and the 1900 Park Fare Cinderella dinner. By far, the best character interaction we have ever had was at 1900 Park Fare. The pictures are priceless, but your kids have to be into those characters. We were worried about the food but found plenty to eat. It's an extensive buffet.

We had lunch at Akershus, and found the food to be better than we had hoped. It's not terribly exotic. The pictures with Belle in that beautiful ball gown are gorgeous. I don't remember all the princesses, but we did meet Ariel, Pocahontas and Sleeping Beauty. My husband had the turkey sandwich, which he liked a lot, and I had whatever the vegetarian option was. The cold board is bigger, and had more yummy stuff, than we expected.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either for princess enthusiasts.

For comparison, we did CRT for breakfast on our first trip. It was fine. Being in the castle is a singular experience. But the cost was crazy ... and all cost in Disney are crazy, but this one was just beyond. To be fair, we only have one princess.