Princess Storybook Breakfast vs. Cindy's Royal Breakfast. Need Advice!

[gomudhens]

As a "first timer" with children, I thought it would be great (esp. for my 3 year old daughter) to dine with some princesses in the castle for our March 2003 trip. I have followed all the advice on this board for PS at Cindy's Royal Breakfast, but I have been shut out 2 days in a row now for my attempts for March 10th and 11th. March 12th is our last day at Disney, so, theoretically, I can try again tomorrow if I want to. However, after getting shut out yesterday, I arranged for PS for the Storybook Princess Breakfast on March 10th at Epcot, and I'm wondering if this might be better for my family anyway. As far as princesses go, Cinderella ranks about 5th on my daughter's list of favorite princesses, behind Belle, Aurora, Ariel, and Jasmine--so, Cinderella is not a priority. The CRO specialist indicated that the Storybook Breakfast will have 4 or 5 princesses (obviously not Cindy), which, from what I can tell, is at least as many, if not more princesses than the CRT breakfast. Am I crazy for thinking the Storybook Breakfast might be better for my family? I think my kids are too young (5 and 3 yrs) to truly enjoy Epcot, so I'd really be going just for the princess experience and then off to another park. And while I love the idea of eating in Cinderella's castle, is the CRT breakfast experience really be that much better? Is all the hype more about the dining in the castle or more about the meeting Cinderella? Looking for advice from those who have done both breakfasts. Thanks!

 

[KelliR]

We've done both breakfasts. If Cinderella is not a favorite...go for the Storybook Princess breakfast. My whole family enjoyed it. My little one loves doing the Kidcot Masks at EPCOT ...stopping at every country and getting the add-ons to the mask, etc. This is just a suggestion since you will already be at the park. She also enjoys the "shows" such as the Chinese acrobats, the Japanese drummers, etc.

You could try again to get the PS for Cindy's ...and if you don't, go with the Storybook breakfast. I thought the food at both was average, but my DH actually preferred the food at the Storbook.

 

[DisneyKidds]

It is a toss up. I think your daughter will enjoy seeing the Princesses in either place. To be honest, if she doesn't even know about eating with the Princesses in THE castle then she won't even care. The SBP breakfast is very nice. It is a more relaxed atmosphere than CRT. The princesses spend more time, and the servers don't rush you out. We enjoyed it very much and will do it again.

We did both CRT and SBP breakfasts on our last trip. We will try and do both on future trips. It is neat for our daughter to see the princesses in THE castle. As much as I don't care for the food at CRT (besides the cream cheese stuffed french toast), it is a little better than the SBP food.

If you do hit the Epcot breakfast there are things in Epcot they would enjoy. When she was 3 our daughter liked The Living Seas and Food Rocks. Now that she is 4 she likes Maelstrom, Rio del Tiempo, Living Seas, Land, and we will do Imagination on our next trip. For a 5 year old you could add a few more things. Since you will be there anyway, it might be worth spending a few hours.

 

[ugadog99]

We have done both and much prefer Princess Storybook. By the way, Cinderella was at our breakfast in Epcot on Christmas Eve. We didn't care for the cramped space, rushed character interaction, and poor food at Cindy's. PSB is much better in all areas. We had Snow White, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, Jasmine, and Belle. We will return to PSB if not on our June trip then definitely in November!

 

[mommie2angels]

We will be going to PSB next week and I was wondering about the space there. I have heard and just read here about the castle being cramped so we have not even tried to get reservations there. We have two daughters in wheelchairs and I am a little worried about having enough space at the table in Epcot. Do you think we will be OK? Thanks so much for you help and advice.

 

[beattyfamily]

We've done both and food wise they are about the same. The only thing I liked better at CRT was the stuffed french toast. Both meals are just OK.

I prefer the atmosphere of CRT but the other place is fine. I just felt that Storybook (where they seated us) was very a very tight squeeze! They put too many families too close together by us on our day! But I could see that you might not have that problem elsewhere in the restaurant.

I believe there were more Princesses at Storybook. Storybook had Princess Aurora, which CRT didn't have; Jasmine, which CRT didn't have except downstairs; Mulan, Snow White and Belle.

CRT had Cinderella, Snow White, Belle and Prince Charming.

There is now a Cinderella dinner that you could do if you really wanted to see Cinderella too.

Good luck

 

[zulaya]

We just did both in Dec and I have to say that I enjoyed PSB much better. Bigger restaurant, and wider variety of characters and MUCH better food. At PSB, we saw Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Aurora and Mulan. The food was so much better, I don't know why, it just was. And everyone was relaxed and having a great time.

Cindy's is crazy busy, the characters do see you but you can tell that that they have to be quick to hit the entire room. And the food is just okay. Last time the eggs were just blah. But for Cindy's you just go for the atmosphere almost.

Just my two cents

 

[Wade Shrader]

Just a reply to Mommie2angels: we have 2 sons with cerebral palsy, and a daughter who loves Cinderella! We've been to the Castle 2 times, and although it is a tight squeeze, they will be able to accomodate you with the wheelchairs.

There is an elevator, and tiered seating, but the servers will help you stay on the top tier (with the elevator).

 

[autumnblue]

mommie2angels

If you haven't already have them try to make a note on your PS that your two children use wheelchairs. I use a wheelchair myself and the seaters tend to go out of their way to get me in a convenient spot, but sometime the most ocnvenient spots already have non-disabled guests seated in them. You may just want to let them know that way they can keep the more accessible spots open for you. As you probably know it is generally easier to negotiate tables that are on the preriferal edge rather than the center.
Don't be afraid of your girls missing out. As a child when characters saw me in my wheelchair they often made a bee line over to make sure I got the oppurtunity to meet them.

 

[meeko_33785]

Out of the Princesses you mentioned, Aurora and Jasmine usually appear at SPB more often that CRT. Belle is usually at either and Ariel doesn't appear at either. I would recogmend SPB. Hope you enjoy whatever you decide to go to.

 

[SueM in MN]

About wheelchairs, I second the advice to let them know about the wheelchairs. You might want to call back to have them add it to your PS. Then when you arrive to check in for your PS, mention it again. We haven't been to SBP, but have been to the castle several times. Some spots in restaurants are tight, but we have nver had a problem with them not seating us in a good spot. Don't worry about it.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Cinderella ranks about 5th on my daughter's list of favorite princesses, behind Belle, Aurora, Ariel, and Jasmine--so, Cinderella is not a priority.

In that case- I'd choose SBP. I am not the perfect judge of this, mind you, because I've only done the SBP so far! LOL
This is who was there the day we went (without a PS yet seated within 2 minutes TOPS) on Dec 26th- we got pics, lots of time with them and autographs btw:
Jasmine
Mulan (apparently I've read she's hard to find sometimes but she was there! autograph & pic to prove it. HAHA)
Aurora
Mary Poppins (and she was the BEST- boy was she a hoot. She played the part to the LETTER and my kids really thought she was really really the REAL Mary Poppins- like came right out of the movie and visited us during breakfast! The others they were "suspicious" about before that- but when Mary Poppins came by and acted the part so well- they started believing the "magic" and thought they were all real. All mom mom!! it's the REAL Mary Poppins! Can you believe that? Right here at our breakfast! The REAL Mary Poppins! (all wide eyed and stuff. LOL)
I have videotape of her "correcting" my children on a few things... and let me tell you- she even got my youngest who is 2.5yrs old to actually EAT HER FOOD! The pickiest eater in the world who I can't for the life of me figure out how she even has so much chunkiness to her since she eats like a bird every meal... although she was recently weaned so she might start thinning out now at the rate of eating she's at right now- but Mary Poppins talked her into eating right then and there. It was so cute!!! That is probably one of the best moments of our vacation. *I am going to have to find that part of the videotaping from that day and figure out how she managed that... without getting stressed out. Even if I have to dress up like Mary Poppins I might do it if it would get this child to EAT! LOL*
Snow White
I think Belle was there too and that might be the autograph that I'm not too sure of in the autograph book. Whoever it was... I can't remember. Would have to view the videotape and/or pics to figure it out.
It was GREAT! Highlight of our trip.

OH and btw- our kids enjoyed Epcot all day and we didn't even do everything! Rides that even my 2.5yr old could ride (instead of constantly passing her over to one another and us riding seperately) and they really enjoyed the parade there also.

 

[eeyore0062]

My dd thoroughly enjoyed the Storybook Princess Breakfast, and it was no big deal to her that is wasn't in Cinderella's castle... and let me tell you, getting the PS was a heck of a lot less hastle. Also note that they are now offering a Cinderella dinner at 1900 Park Faire, and if it is anywhere near as good as the breakfast they serve there, you are in for a treat. Can't wait to try it myself!

 

[eeyore0062]

My dd thoroughly enjoyed the Storybook Princess Breakfast, and it was no big deal to her that is wasn't in Cinderella's castle... and let me tell you, getting the PS was a heck of a lot less hastle. Also note that they are now offering a Cinderella dinner at 1900 Park Faire, and if it is anywhere near as good as the breakfast they serve there, you are in for a treat. Can't wait to try it myself!

 

[eeyore0062]

My dd thoroughly enjoyed the Storybook Princess Breakfast, and it was no big deal to her that is wasn't in Cinderella's castle... and let me tell you, getting the PS was a heck of a lot less hastle. Also note that they are now offering a Cinderella dinner at 1900 Park Faire, and if it is anywhere near as good as the breakfast they serve there, you are in for a treat. Can't wait to try it myself!

 

[Prince Eric1]

Just got back and did both. At the Storybook Breakfast we saw Snow White, Belle, Mulan, and Jasmine. At CRT we saw Aurora, Snow White, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Mary Poppins, and the Fairy God Mother. I personally thought the food was much better at the Storybook Breakfast than the CRT, but my wife liked them both equally. Both of my daughters said they liked the Storybook breakfast better, and they both ate more at that one. I personally wouldn't do the CRT again, but I would definately do the Storybook again.