Princess meals... opinions needed!

[mollybug2]

I am taking my daughter to Disney World for her very first trip in November. I am going with a friend and her parents, and am taking the whole group to the Princess lunch in Norway. My daughter will be going to the BBB in Downtown Disney for her Princess pampering, and I started to feel sad that she would not get to go into Cinderella's Castle. The DTD appointment works better for us, so then I decided to spring for breakfast at CRT. Is this too much princess stuff? Too similar? Silly? My daughter is going to be newly 6 at our visit, and is very into princesses but I see it waning a bit (for example, now her favorite is Mulan due to all Mulan does, no longer Sleeping Beauty who is a bit boring). We don't plan to go back with my husband and younger son for a year or two, so I am guessing the princess interaction will be less exciting for her on a later trip. And I know she will want to go into the Castle. Any opinions would be appreciated, I am more than happy to pay for both but would love to know what others have done or suggest!

 

[Chloesmom]

We very much prefer Norway to CRT. Aside from the food ( CRT is awful IMO) and cost difference ( once again.. CRT is pricey) the character interaction at Norway has always been far better for us. We just went last month for breakfast and each princess srent several minutes talking to my DD who is 11 now. We used to do each place each trip when dd was younger and she couldnt et enough.. princess princess princess lol.. now we just do Norway and 1900 Park Fare for dinner since its the only place to see Prince Charming.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Is this too much princess stuff? Too similar? Silly?

No, no, and no!

We've never done the lunch or dinner at Akershus b/c the kids and I are picky eaters. We do however do both breakfasts and I love both of them. The food and interaction have always been good at both and little girls eating in the Castle!!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Definitely do CRT.

Eating inside the castle really is an experience. Your DD will LOVE it.

DD9 who is not into princesses any more (she was crazy about them when she was 4-5) still loves CRT, and asks to go.

Also, BBB is not a meal, and there is no princess interaction. DD will be given hair and make up (and more, depending on package).

The advantage of going to BBB at the castle is then DD would be all princessed up for eating at the castle. I would REALLY try and get a BBB appt at the castle before your CRT meal.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We did both meals our last trip and it was definitely not too much princesses for my DD4. I recommend trying breakfast at the castle.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

If it makes you feel any better, I've gone nuts with character meals for our kids. DDs will be 2 and 4 at the time of our trip. Lunch at CRT was my #1 priority b/c I wanted DD4 to go to BBB in the castle for the princess treatment just before we dined in the castle. I decided this just wasn't enough princess time...so I booked Cinderella's Happily Ever After dinner at 1900 Park Fare for the last night of our trip. Then, I decided to book lunch at Akershus mid trip...my parents are joining us mid trip and I started feeling bad that they wouldn't get to experience any character meals during the trip- so a 3rd princess meal was my solution.

We're also doing Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, and 'Ohana character breakfast...so, 6 out of 10 ADRs are character meals. I must be nuts!!!!

 

[cmusschoot]

Last trip we did both (breakfast), there were different princess at each and my daughter (3) loved every minute...soon she will not be too interested in the princesses...and until that happens we will see them as much as we can

Epcot princesses we saw were: Belle, Ariel, Snow White, Mary Poppins (???), and ..??

CRT: Cinderella, Jasmine, Aurora, Belle (in her work dress), Snow White

We loved it and I didn't think the food was too bad...CRT is table service, but all you can eat, and my daughter ate a TON!!!

Enjoy!

 

[MousePrincess]

We have been doing both and the 1900 PF dinner also because my DD cannot get enough of them. She is so in awe everytime and all she asks is when is she going to see the princesses again. If your daughter is still into it, I don't think it's too much.

 

[shannonstar]

We did CRT this year and are trying Akershus this year. We just really spend more of our time in Epcot anyway, so it makes more sense for us.
My son, however, is excited about neither. The food just isn't good enough to tempt him unless it's the breakfast. Last year he said "If one more princess tries to kiss me, I'm going to stab her with the sword they gave me." He was only 6, but I realized then that he's probably never going to be Prince Charming.
That being said, I have heard much better things about Akershus, at least for breakfast.

 

[DISNEY1975]

There is never too much princess stuff for a little girl! To me, the whole point of being at Disney is for the attractions and the characters. If I didnt go to the character dining spots, I might as well stay at home and go to my local favorite restaurants. I will assume you dont have any princess or character diining places where you live..other than maybe Chuck E Cheese. You should take full advantage of the unique dining experiences while you are there. You can do regular dining when you get home!

 

[neile45]

We have done Akersaurus in Epcot for Breakfast all 3 times we have gone in the past 5 years. We were able to get CRT for dinner for my DDs birthday last year. Being that my girls and I are picky eaters, it was not very good. We barely ate anything. It was a great experience, but we won't do it again, maybe for breakfast, but not for lunch or dinner.

In addition, at Akersaurus, you get to meet at least 5 princesses, while CRT, we only met Cinderella.

 

[mom2cinderella]

In addition, at Akersaurus, you get to meet at least 5 princesses, while CRT, we only met Cinderella.

At the CRT breakfast, you usually see four or five princesses.

 

[jacksmom]

We usually do both! They are very different experiences!

 

[scrappymel]

we did the princess storybook dining at epcot in october too (for breakfast) and BBB... dd (5) LOVED it. ALL of it. we saw belle, cinderella, snow white, aurora, and ariel as a human (a BIG deal to my dd). we're going again in december, dd doesn't want to do the castle this time b/c she had so much fun last year. i think your daughter will have a blast no matter what you choose!

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

We do both and love both! It's not too much. In fact, we are adding Cinderella's dinner at 1900 Park Fare this time, too. My little girl just turned 6 last month, and like you, I want to enjoy every minute while we can.

Funny that you mentioned Mulan, because my daughter just changed her favorite princess from Sleeping Beauty to Jasmine. She said it is because of Jasmine's tiger, but I think she likes the costume, too.

 

[ktlm]

We did Akershus DD's 1st trip because we booked just a couple of months in advance and could never get in the castle no matter how hard I tried. We did CRT her second trip. The 3rd trip she begged to do both (and Biergarten which she ranks right up there with princess meals), so we did. We did 1900 Park Fare her 2nd trip, and she did not want to go back there on the 3rd trip even though Cinderella is her favorite princess (probably due to the fact that we got there 30 minutes before our ADR and did not get seated until almost an hour after our ADR time).

I say go for both. It definitely was not too much for my DD.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

In addition, at Akersaurus, you get to meet at least 5 princesses, while CRT, we only met Cinderella.

It used to be that at CRT, you only saw Cinderella a the enrance, while at lunch and breakfast you had 5 of them.

Now, you get the 5 princesses at all 3 meals at CRT (Cinderella at the entrance, and others while you eat).

 

[Unca_Scrooge]

Norway is cheaper, has better food, and you see more princesses. I went to CRT once and it was "meh"

 

[MiceFan]

If money isn't an issue, do them both, you can never have too much royalty!

 

[mollybug2]

Thanks so much for all of the opinions! I do appreciate them!

My post was rambling, I know... To clarify, on Thursday she has the first morning appointment at BBB and then we have the Princess meal in Epcot scheduled for Thursday lunch. Logistically it just worked out better to have it that way. Friday we have the earliest CRT breakfast reservation. If she wants to be all princessed up for that meal, too, I think I can easily spiff her up. She is a super girlie girl and would likely love it.

Thanks everyone! I cannot wait! This is a surprise trip, too... she will find out one month before we go. I am ready to burst!