The Lowdown On CRT

[bgohre]

Hey Dis'ers

I have read a lot about CRT, but was wondering if I can get your "expert" opinion on the place. We are debating about going but we want to make sure that if we're using 2 credits for it that it's worth it.

I have heard that it has great atmosphere but what makes it so great? What makes it so special for you?

Thanks all.

 

[knieriem]

We went to CRT on our Honeymoon for dinner one night. For me the whole experience of being in the castle was worth it. It was our first character meal so we didn't know what to expect. If I remember correctly we got a signed piece of paper from Cinderella congratulating us on our marriage.

I say go for it. It's definitely something I'd go back and do again.

 

[Heidijs]

I'd like to know too...the dinner menu doesn't seem that appealing so not sure if it's worth it for 2 points...plus I read it's almost impossible to get reservations even 90 days in advance...we're going the last week in January/first week in February...

 

[mollygirl13]

DH and I were there last month for dinner. We went with our 2 friends. We had no children with us. It was just 4 adults going to meet Cinderella and eat in the Castle! The only reason we went is because my friend wanted to go to CRT SO badly. She had never eaten in the Castle before and I swear this was her life-long dream! (BTW, we got ressies 2 weeks before our trip! WHEW!)

Anyway, we had the BEST time ever! We sat right at the window, overlooking Fantasyland! It was, IMHO, the BEST table in the restaurant. Our server was SO nice, the atmosphere was great and we all loved our dinners.

I'm not joking when I say my meal was up there on my "best meal at WDW list!" It was so delicious and the dessert was even better!

We loved the show that the Characters put on and even though we were 4 adults, we had the BEST time!

 

[kimysbug]

We took my mom 2 years ago and was one of our best memories.
Cinderella called her a queen and was so nice to us
Our waitress was so good to us that at one point the waitress and mom cried together about family and memories
The food was so yummy, We evan got extra pretzal bread for mom

This was so special to the three of us me ,my mom and husband well worth the money.
Mom passed away this summer and I have a picture of her crying at CRT because of how magical it was.

 

[catne]

we've eaten dinner there twice - May 2008 and September 2009. Enjoyed both times very much. Would probably not go to CRT every trip, but when we're taking people who've never been there it's a fine treat. The food alone is good, but probably not 2 table credits at dinner EXCEPT for the location. If you figure you're paying one credit for the meal and the 2nd credit for the photo with Cinderella & the experience of eating inside the castle then it is definitely worth it. Here's the link to my Sept. 2009 dining review, CRT is on post 121. Quite a few pictures so you can get an idea of what some of those dishes look like.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2255028&page=9

I would NOT pay 2 table service credits to eat breakfast or lunch there, though. That just does not sound like a good deal to me.

 

[TDC Nala]

CRT is like that real estate line "Location, location, location." It's all about the castle. I wouldn't go for the food (Disney knows the guests aren't there for the food) and you can see princesses elsewhere (in places with better food, yet), but CRT is the only place you can meet Disney princesses inside Cinderella's castle.

Use your 2 credits only if you want the castle experience. You can get food and princesses for one credit at 1900 Park Fare or Akershus.

 

[diamondpixienc]

I'm so glad someone has asked this question. I/we will be first timers to the world & looking forward to this dining exp. I don't know if this matters but I have often read more positive than negative feed back about CRT.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I would say that CRT Dinner is definitely worth the 2 TS credits. It was a really magical experience for us, and we are hoping to do it again next summer. Being in the castle at night is very special - if you are lucky enough to be seated near the windows, looking out over the Fantasyland lights is spectacular!

Breakfast OTOH, was fun but I doubt we'll do it again. I am glad we got to do it once just to see what it is like, but honestly the character interaction was better at Akershus (which is only 1 TS).

 

[Sleeping Becca]

CRT is all about location and atmosphere and should be done at least once. Keep in mind that the 2TS credits are NOT because of the food, nothing about the food is signature. The credits are for the location, period.

I have had breakfast, lunch, and dinner there. Characterwise breakfast is the best, foodwise dinner is best.

For families with children I recommend the breakfast, for adults I recommend the dinner.

CRT is not hard to get for lunch and dinner, getting breakfast is the challenge.

 

[big_red_s]

If you have a little girl then I would say "yes".

Without I'd say a "maybe", then it's up to you.

It's a cool thing to do but the price is very steep, even though we used our 2 credits and simply had two quick serve meals one day instead of a "proper" sit down.

 

[Heidijs]

Where would you blow your 2 points? CRT or Hoop Dee Doo?

What kind of food do they serve at the CRT? From their website it didn't sound that great.

I understand the castle experience is what it's all about but my 4 year old daughter probably wouldn't care if we ate there vs the 1900 and saw the same characters or close to it. She doesn't know her princesses THAT well...and I highly doubt she's going to insist on eating in there. Just walking through it would thrill her enough. She's not a huge eater so not sure I want to blow 2 points on her meal in there either when we could go to 1900 and get almost the same experience minus the castle. I mean you can see and do things in the castle other than eat right?

 

[eventamy]

I've been for both lunch and dinner and we LOVE CRT! I've actually had REALLY good food there. Have loved the appies, loved my entrees (vegetarian both times) and love the dessert. My mom has really liked hers too. DH love his Major D. pie last time, the year before he enjoyed his prime rib but it wasn't the best prime rib. My girls have loved seeing the princesses and they've been so nice!
You just can't beat eating in the castle and I say everyone who goes to WDW needs to experience it at least once!

 

[catne]

Where would you blow your 2 points? CRT or Hoop Dee Doo?

What kind of food do they serve at the CRT? From their website it didn't sound that great.

I understand the castle experience is what it's all about but my 4 year old daughter probably wouldn't care if we ate there vs the 1900 and saw the same characters or close to it. She doesn't know her princesses THAT well...and I highly doubt she's going to insist on eating in there. Just walking through it would thrill her enough. She's not a huge eater so not sure I want to blow 2 points on her meal in there either when we could go to 1900 and get almost the same experience minus the castle. I mean you can see and do things in the castle other than eat right?[/QUOTE]

we've been to both...no comparison. 1900 park fare is just the characters, there's not really any "ambiance" to the buffet there. The castle, though, looks very much like a "real" castle...take any castle from a Disney movie and make it "real", there you have it. By the way, you really cannot see or do much in the castle unless you're going to the meal -- there is the big walkway/hall through the middle that's open sometimes (they block it off when there's a show going on the castle stage) There are big mosaic tile scenes on the wall of that hallway you can look at , but when the hallway is open, there's a lot of people walking through so you get just a limited view of the tiles mosaic. But there's no way to see the throne room or the upstairs dining room -which really looks like a castle - unless you have a reservation, access to most of the castle is very restricted.-you can't wander around in there at all. That said, I agree I would not take a 2 year old unless I had money to burn...they will not remember the experience 10 yrs. later. I would wait until over age 4 or 5.

 

[helloconnie]

CRT vs. Hoop-De-Doo - they are two totally different experiences. So, you need to ask yourself what you want. The food at both are not signature dining food. It's the character interaction / castle effect or the corny, silly, make you laugh show that makes it worth the 2 TS credits.

The menu at CRT is limited. There is prime rib, roasted pork, lamb chops, Lemon Lavendar Chicken, and Salmon. It's not bad. You won't be disappointed. But it's not the culinary equivalent of a Citrico's, California Grill or Le Cellier. Cinderella greets you in the throne room on the lower level. Here you get pictures taken which is included in the 2 TS. It is a nice souvenier. She gives the boys a dagger and the girls a wand. My son loved it. Cinderella kissed him on the cheek and he blushed! Then you are taken upstairs to the dining room. The fairy god-mother, the mice and I think the step-sisters, put on a show. It made me tear up.

If you don't want to leave the park for dinner AND you want the memory of eating in the castle, it's worth it.

Hoop-de-Doo is located at the Camp Wilderness grounds so you will need to leave the park. The show is very corny but very fun. The food is basic comfort food, fried chicken, BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans all served in cast iron buckets family style. You do not order from a menu. Dessert, if I remember correctly, is strawberry shortcake.

Hope this helps!

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

My family thinks an early breakfast ressie in the castle is one of the best things EVER.

We will try to do it every trip. Worth every penny--or ever credit--to us.