To castle or not to castle...?

[HLAuburn]

So that's the question.

We have ADRs for breakfast at CRT during our trip. We are on the DDP, but we would pay OOP (about $100) rather than use 2 TS. My DD will have just turned 3 at the time, and likes princesses, but isn't obsessed with them. DH and I have been to DW many times, but never eaten at CRT.

So I guess the question is: is it worth it just for the experience? I'm not expecting the best food I've ever eaten, but we're looking forward to eating in the castle. It's not like if we do it this trip, we can never do it again, but I wonder if we should wait til DD's a little older.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

--------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for your responses so far...I wanted to add that Norway isn't really an option for us. It sounds like a great princess experience, but since DD isn't quite "there" yet w/ the princess obsession, I think we'll wait a year or so on that. CRT would really be for the " castle experience" and the atmosphere only (not the princesses as much) - that's why we would be going this time around.

 

[heavenleigh412]

We ate in the castle for the first time 2 years ago... and it was a beautiful atmoshere and the princesses were attentive (not as attentive as Norway)
however, none of us were really impressed with the food... we liked Askershus, CP, Ohana and 1900 Park Fark MUCH better.

 

[clownfish1452]

We ate in the castle for the first time 2 years ago... and it was a beautiful atmoshere and the princesses were attentive (not as attentive as Norway)
however, none of us were really impressed with the food... we liked Askershus, CP, Ohana and 1900 Park Fark MUCH better.

I agree the princess are much more attentive at Norway. I really did not care for the food, but im going back just because we like the princesses. So maybe you want to go to Norway this trip instead it is only 1ts credit.

Sarah

 

[MissMickee]

We had breakfast there... which you really can't screw up so the food was ok.. not real memorable.

Your 3 year old would probably LOVE it. But I've also never done Norway so I have nothing to compare it to.

Boy, I was a big help huh?

 

[HLAuburn]

I added this to my original post, too...


Thanks for your responses so far...I wanted to add that Norway isn't really an option for us. It sounds like a great princess experience, but since DD isn't quite "there" yet w/ the princess obsession, I think we'll wait a year or so on that. CRT would really be for the "castle experience" and the atmosphere only (not the princesses as much) - that's why we would be going this time around.

 

[DisOrBust]

IMHO I would wait a year. It makes such a difference at that age. In a year you will all enjoy it more. I just did it, kicking and screaming at the price, with my 4yo DD and I hate it to admit it was worth it but she would not have been as interactive at 3yo.

 

[Jaime]

What time is your ADR?

We went twice.

The first time our dd was 18months and we went because we thought it would be nice to eat at the castle. Our ADR was for 10:35. We had a long wait to be seated...the food was cold...the server was no around at all...and we had our breakfast gone before we even had one princess come to our table. We were not impressed at all.

Then when our dd was 3 she asked if we could eat at the castle...we were on the DP and it was 1 ts then so we said yes. She wasn't a big princess fan but wanted to go to the castle! This time we got and ADR for 8:05am. We let her dress up in a cinderella dress we got at walmart. Our dd's also had a white baseball cap with a pink marker for all the princesses to sign. When we arrived at the MK we got to enter early as the park didn't open til 9:00. We were seated very quickly and served right way. The food was really good and warm. The princesses all came by and spent a few minutes talking to our dd's and they all signed there hats. We were finished breakfast by 9:00 and got to go on Dumbo right way...actually we got to go on all the fanasty land rides with no wait...it was great! We were so surprised and impressed by our second experience. We found the princesses to be so much nicer then the first time we went but then again they hadn't met 100's of other little girls already as there day just started!

So for us we would go again at the beginning of any TS meal...breakfast...lunch or dinner. We found all the characters at all the character meals along with food to be better at the beginning of the TS. So now we always try to get early ADR's.

Have a great trip!

 

[jpolak]

We always do PSB at Norway and have loved it every time. We ate at the castle once and we were really disappointed with it. When you add in how much it costs now I would vote no. Do the PSB and 1900 park fare for dinner and you get to see all of the princesses. Have a blast.

 

[Tinkerbell63]

You don't really get to enjoy your food at CRT because there are always characters at your table and they seemed rushed too. Most of the time is spent on taking pictures. Don't get me wrong, my DD's loved the experience, but they were a little older.

 

[mickeymouse1017]

We are in the car right now on our way back from DW. We did the CRT for lunch and Norway Princess breakfast and loved both of them. As stated before, the CRT princesses are more for picture ops rather than interaction but the food was fantastic. The Norway princess breakfast had more interaction with the kids. The food there was also great. Since it sounds like you would really rather wait until your daughter gets older, I would save the credits and so something else. It will be more of a thrill for her when that is something that she is really into doing.

 

[Mommymcgee]

I don't know if this is an option for you or not but there's also CRT for dinner. It is somewhat easier to book than b/l as well so you may be able to change.

We did it last trip and loved it. It is not a "character meal" so there's not the rush of the princesses going from table to table. Instead it is a short singing and dancing show by the fairy godmother and the mice. It was really neat to see her sing "bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" and all the kids were dancing with their free wands and swords. You do get to meet Cinderella and take pictures in the lobby. It was a great meal if you are more interested in the castle than princesses. It was our family's favorite meal.

We also did Norway for the princess meeting. It was nice for DD to meet the princesses, but it was much more rushed and not a relaxing, special meal, like CRT.

 

[samandryanmom]

Another just returning from DW. My DD and I had an 8:20 ADR for breakfast that I paid for OOP. My DH and DS took a side trip to Daytona Raceway so this was our "girls" day. We got there at 8 and were seated right away, right by the window looking out onto Fantasyland. The food was good and I loved getting to the rides early.

In our situation, it will probably be several years before we travel to Disney again because there are so many other places my DH wants to go. Right now my DD is 6 so she really got into the Princesses and the Castle. If we hadn't done CRT now, she may not have enjoyed it as much in three or four years.

How soon will you be going back? If you're traveling again in several years, I would wait. For my daughter, she wouldn't have enjoyed it near as much at three as she did at six. But that's her. Who's to say you can't do it now and do it again next time too.

Good luck.

 

[LISAMWDW]

CRT is overpriced and overrated. I'd cancel and try to get in at Bfast in Norway at Epcot to see the princesses. Also, Park Fare in GF has a princess meal.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

I think you have to try it once before you know if you will like it or not. Yes, it's overpriced, but the atmosphere is cool.

 

[jeepgirl30]

Do it! I'm so glad I took DD for breakfast at CRT. The pic in my sig is from the wishing ceremony, she truly believed. At one point her shoe fell off and the Fairy Godmother came across the room and put her shoe on her foot. She was shaking her head and saying "Just like my Cinderella, can't keep her shoes on either" and went back over to where she was and continued her rounds. She did come back to do the sig and pics.

All the princesses were very attentive. We had an amazing breakfast. I don't really remember the food but it was so worth it! We had a window at the table. I can't remember the price and don't care anymore. Its something we both will remember forever.

 

[HLAuburn]

Do it! I'm so glad I took DD for breakfast at CRT. The pic in my sig is from the wishing ceremony, she truly believed. At one point her shoe fell off and the Fairy Godmother came across the room and put her shoe on her foot. She was shaking her head and saying "Just like my Cinderella, can't keep her shoes on either" and went back over to where she was and continued her rounds. She did come back to do the sig and pics.

All the princesses were very attentive. We had an amazing breakfast. I don't really remember the food but it was so worth it! We had a window at the table. I can't remember the price and don't care anymore. Its something we both will remember forever.

Aww...that's so sweet. How old was your daughter? The picture's so small, its hard to tell, but I can tell she's thrilled to be there!

 

[MinnieGi]

Then when our dd was 3 she asked if we could eat at the castle...we were on the DP and it was 1 ts then so we said yes. She wasn't a big princess fan but wanted to go to the castle! This time we got and ADR for 8:05am. We let her dress up in a cinderella dress we got at walmart. Our dd's also had a white baseball cap with a pink marker for all the princesses to sign. When we arrived at the MK we got to enter early as the park didn't open til 9:00. We were seated very quickly and served right way. The food was really good and warm. The princesses all came by and spent a few minutes talking to our dd's and they all signed there hats. We were finished breakfast by 9:00 and got to go on Dumbo right way...actually we got to go on all the fanasty land rides with no wait...it was great! We were so surprised and impressed by our second experience. We found the princesses to be so much nicer then the first time we went but then again they hadn't met 100's of other little girls already as there day just started!

I agree with the above. We have done CRT four times. Only one of those times was after the 8:00 hour. I always make sure or try anyway to get an ADR for the 8:00 hour on a day MK opens at 9:00. It makes it even that more special to walk down Main St practically by yourself and be one of the first to arrive at the castle. You get seated right away and after your meal you are one of the first in line for Dumbo and the other Fantasyland rides.

My DD is going on 7 in a few months and her princess stage is coming to an end, sadly. Now she has replaced it with Tinkerbell and the other fairies which is great, but I'm so glad we took her to the castle so many times when she adored the princesses!!!

 

[tink2]

I say do it. DD is now 8 and we are traveling to WDW in Jan. She wants to eat in the castle- still thinks it is a must that Cinderella invite us- but I know this will probalby be the last trip in which she truly 'believes'. She ate with the princesses in the castle at 2 1/2 years old. Wow- she loved it and was adorable. My family will always remember it. She really didn't know all of the princesses- had no idea who Jasmine was at the time- but knew Snow White and Cinderella- both whom were there. Snow White declared her the 8th dwarf b/c she was so excited and didn't want to let go of her. It was priceless. Fast forward a few years to age 4. Really into princesses then- LOVED the breakfast and it was the highlight of her trip. She overheard me on the phone making the reservation and I told her Cinderella was inviting us to breakfast with her friends in the castle- she truly believed it and it has been going on for all these years now. Age 5 trip- again, loved it and was in Heaven- priceless again- but nothing beat the first two trips. I think she was younger and more 'innocent' then- more believing. We are going to do the castle one more time and hope we can capture that magic again. I say go for it- one day the magic will be different- don't know if it will ever be 'gone', but the day will come when she realizes they aren't 'really' the princesses. I dread that day and hope to capture as many memories as possible.
We ate the Norway breakfast when she was 5. We were very disappointed in this one- the princesses were practically running between tables- Jasmine never really stopped- paused quickly for a picture before skipping to the next table. But, I've read both good and bad reviews for both breakfasts. We may have just caught an off day. While Norway served the purpose of meeting the princesses, nothing beats the atmosphere and experience of eating in the castle with your daughter. My dd kept wanting to go upstairs to see Cinderella's bedroom- ha! I say your daughter is only this age once and you can never get that time back. If you are definitely coming back in the next year or two, maybe you could wait. But, if it were me and DH, we'd do it every time until the 'magic' of those years leave.

 

[tink2]

And I forgot- I agree with everyone who says get the earliest time available. We've done this twice and it also is a great experience- getting into the Magic Kingdom early, walking down Main Street without many people- makes you feel even more special as you walk to the castle to eat. Plus, you get very fresh food and princesses and will probably be through just in time for rope drop at Fantasyland. Gives me chills just thinking about it!

 

[pinktink23]

I always make sure or try anyway to get an ADR for the 8:00 hour on a day MK opens at 9:00. It makes it even that more special to walk down Main St practically by yourself and be one of the first to arrive at the castle.

I totally agree with this! I always try to make my ressie for the 8:00 hour. that way you get in early, and if you are planning on getting a pic in front of the castle this is the BEST time to do it. you won't have any strangers in the background! also your little one could wear a costume and that would be cute in the pic. I love to go to the princess breakfast and i usually get the "healthy" breakfast so i know the food isnt worth the money. However, i really love eating in the castle. I think if you're lucky enought to have a reservation (they can be REALLY hard to get!) keep it!