Princess help - Castle or Norway

[WDWjen]

Question - a friend has ADRs for EASTER at WDW for both 1pm Lunch at the Castle in the MK and a 6pm Princess Dinner at Norway in Epcot. Help her decide which one to keep ...

A) Castle is hard to get, she can't believe she got it for Easter, but B) I told her I think the MK will be WAY more busy on Easter Day. But C) If she does Norway she might be disappointed with the food choices...and D)then again they will be in Epcot for Illuminations for her b-day.

PS They are celebrating her 6 yr old daughter that day and they dont have park hoppers this trip..so they have to choose which park for that day.

 

[TheGeddings]

I would recommend Norway. The castle is all hype and not a lot of substance in our eyes. You pay for more than you get there. But it is the castle, and if you haven't done it, you need to if you have girls.

In Norway you get a lot more attention and a lot more princesses on site, and it is not near as expensive as the castle.

HTH

 

[Sandy321]

Who is the child's favorite Princess?

for my dd she was not impressed with the Castle or Cinderella - because my dd is all about Belle and Aurora -

but if its simple, first visit - I wouldnt turn down the Castle - but, for many reasons, and the child will never know that she missed an opportunity, or that you can even eat in the castle - Since I dont like huge crowds I may be tempted to suggest -

The Norway Experience!!

 

[FireDancer]

The only advantage that the castle has over Norway is the setting. The food is MUCH better in Norway and the meal is much less rushed. The castle is all about getting you in and out to feed as many people as possible. Norway feels much less rushed and on Easter MK will be more crowded than WS.

If she really wants to eat in the castle keep that one. If they are more interested in the princesses and enjoying a meal go Norway.

 

[Darcy03231]

I've done both and would definitely do Norway over the castle. We didn't enjoy our experience at the castle at all. Princesses were rushed and food and service were poor. At Akershus the princesses all took their time, the food was good and the service was excellent.

 

[mitsybella]

for the value Norway is better, for the character interaction I found both to be about the same, I like the food in both, my husband like the food better at Norway, my daughter was 4 when we went last year and we did both, when I asked her which resturant she wanted to go back to this year (out of all the places we went) her first response was the castle, so for memories and for the experience I would say go to the Castle, but for value and the food Norway.

 

[marcielm]

A) Castle is hard to get, she can't believe she got it for Easter, but I told her I think the MK will be WAY more busy on Easter Day..

Have you checked the Touringplans.com for this? I agree for a busy day, the best place to be is EPCOT (larger park to handle larger crowds).

C) If she does Norway she might be disappointed with the food choices...

Norway's food was good enough for us... but I have to say, some people don't like the food. Be sure and have your friend check out allears.net for the menu. If she doesn't think she will care for the food, then I say skip Norway.

D)then again they will be in Epcot for Illuminations for her b-day.

Is she willing to swap her EPCOT & MK days? Or did she really want to see Illuminations ON her b-day?

PS They are celebrating her 6 yr old daughter that day and they dont have park hoppers this trip..so they have to choose which park for that day.

Without the park hoppers, I agree that you need to plan your day according to what is most important to you... a certain rest. on your b-day, or a particular show, etc.

Has she asked the daughter if it is important that she eats IN Cinderella's castle? She might try talking to the DD about what is more important, Illuminations on a certain day, or the Castle to eat at.

 

[djp0630]

I guess I am in the minority here, but I would choose the castle. We ate at both the castle and Norway, and yes, I did feel more rushed at the castle, but it's just more special at the Castle. I liked the food better at Norway, but how cool would it be to celebrate your 6th birthday at the Castle. Both were great, so I don't think she could go wrong, but my vote is the castle.

 

[Neesy228]

Another vote for Norway. We love it there! Been there three times and have had an excellent experience each time.

We did the castle once and I doubt that we will ever do it again. Horrible service, horrible food ...and $170 for less than an hour. Yep, never again.

The only way I'd recommend the castle is if your friend has a DD who REALLY wants to eat in the castle or who REALLY loves Cinderella (although, Cinderella has been at all three of the Norway meals)....

 

[kydisneymom]

The Castle is WAY over-rated. We did it for our last trip and liked Norway 100% better. The princess interaction is better and the food is better as well for a LOT LESS!

 

[PearlySwan]

We did both during our trip and loved both experiences. It's true you get to see all the princesses at Norway and the food there was fantastic, but for a 6 yr. old girl, going to the Cinderellay Castle might just the the highlight of her year.

 

[momof2cutegirls]

I would recommend Norway. The castle is all hype and not a lot of substance in our eyes. You pay for more than you get there. But it is the castle, and if you haven't done it, you need to if you have girls.

In Norway you get a lot more attention and a lot more princesses on site, and it is not near as expensive as the castle.

HTH

My thoughts exactly! Couldn't agree with you more!

 

[Forever Fairy]

What it all comes down to is what princess you want to see. I would only do the Castle if Cinderella is most the favorite.

I was told when I made the reservations that at the Castle, you may get Cinderella and her "court". Which meant Cinderella is the only real princess we would see.

I took my niece a couple of years ago to Norway and we had the best time. At Norway you get 4-5 princesses in any setting. And although she didn't get to meet her favorite princess Aurora, she still was thrilled to meet Belle and Jasmine and get her pictures with every princess and autographs from all.

We have never been for dinner but the food for breakfast, esp the potatoes were the best!

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

I have never been to either so I can't give an opinion on the food...but I have a 3 year old & a 6 year old granddaughter that loves princesses! And they have been to the castle [lucky kiddos!!] & that is the one place they want to go back to next year.

I'd base my choice more on which park she would like the best that day. Most kids that age would go with Magic bigtime over Epcot. If she likes Magic best with the fireworks & cute parades I'd go with the Castle & the pricesses there. If she like the Epcot setting I'd pick Norway.

Both have princesses so she gets that either way. Most little kids don't care very much about if the food is wonderful but the setting & the fun is what they remember anyway. I know I love both parks but sure is hard to beat the Magic of MK & I'm not even a kid.

 

[momandkidslovedisney]

We did lunch at the castle in 2006 and a Norway breakfast in 2008. We did like both settings.

Castle:
The castle was really special for DD. We didn't go for the food, although the food was good. The atmosphere was WONDERFUL. We loved being in the castle and looking out the windows at the Magic Kingdom. Has the castle changed things? When we went Cinderella and many of the other princesses were present for lunch. We saw Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White, the fairy godmother and prince charming.

Norway:
Our Norway breakfast had a bunch of princesses. The food was fine. The atmosphere was neat.

If I had to choose based on atmosphere, hands down it would be the Castle. But, I do NOT like crowds, so I am not sure I would go to the Castle on Easter sunday. I might opt for Norway and do the Castle on my next visit. Good luck with you choice!!!

 

[kpgriswold]

Norway! More princesses, better food, better service, and IllumiNations to boot.