Torn about Fairytale Dining Breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table

[LinaNate]

Help me work through what is best here... I got a 9:15am breakfast reservation on a day when the park opens at 9am.

The backstory: I have two daughters, ages 7 & 5 and a toddler boy, age 2. This will be our 2nd time to CRT, last year we did an after dark dinner (8:30pm) that was hard to enjoy because we are a family with 3 young kids and everyone was sooo exhausted. Basically my son was so cranky that he and my husband had to go hang out in the bathroom/ royal hall while me and my daughters ate a rushed, guilt ridden meal. We did get my husband's meal togo and we enjoyed the princesses but sadly we didn't get to enjoy the experience much

I happen to snag the CRT breakfast reservation and I'm not totally convinced it's worth it. For starters, we have an Akershus lunch on our departure day- so we can meet princesses there. We also have a 1900 Park Fare dinner....

So, how early do you think we'd get in to Magic Kingdom? I'm sure not early enough for rides but perhaps early enough for some good main street castle pictures? Are the memory maker photographers on duty before rope drop anyway? MK is said to be crazy busy the day we got our reservation and we'd planned to visit a less busy park (AK) on that day, so we'd have to park hop (factor in the park hopping transportation madness/ headaches).

We're on the dining plan, so I'm not jazzed about the 2 credits per person cost of CRT-especially since it sounds like the food is unremarkable but I'm thinking visiting CRT during daylight hours might offer a whole slew of good experiences (views of the park, better princess pics due to better lighting, better views of the dining room decor) plus the kids will be amped up and not totally dragging after a long day in the parks... and perhaps the girls can really dress up in princess attire for the meal.

All things considered, would you do it? Is it worthwhile or am I just buying into the hype here?

 

[OhhBother]

I'd say no. You won't get in to Magic Kingdom any early with a 9:15 reservation. And the food is unremarkable. Since you're already seeing princesses elsewhere, I'd skip it and use those precious early minutes for uncrowded park touring in a less crowded park.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

I'm curious as to when you're going, in case that 9am opening will become an 8am one. Only because it would mean you could do an hour of RD touring before breakfast, but overall, I'm with the PP. But I'm someone who has never been to CRT, and believe the people who say it's generally not "worth it" if you're going to Akershus. You should use your previous experience to decide if it would be really nice to have a do-over in that castle ambiance. (I have four kids: I know what it is to have a special dining experience be ~memorable for all the wrong reasons.)

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You will not get in early for a 9:15 ADR in a 9:00 open. There will be no Main Stret pix pre-rope drop.

 

[OtherFigment]

We had an 805a reservation for an 8a park opening and were initially not allowed in early. I did find a very nice cast member who allowed me to beg and let us in at about 755a, but I would most definitely not count on that happening again.

 

[LinaNate]

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking we will probably skip CRT then. Pretty optimistic about Akershus & 1900 Park Fare food and characters and the kids aren't torn up about not doing CRT. Thanks for chiming in and helping with my indecision. LOL.

 

[babyruth]

I'm on the fence about this very thing. If you are only going to MK that day to eat and leave, I wouldn't do it especially with a toddler. Transportation time is so precious. My strategy at the moment is to try for CRT later in our trip after we've already explored MK and eaten at Akershus so that I will know by then if it's worth it. I guess we will see if I can get the ADR to back up that plan LOL. I have read that the step sisters at 1900 Park Fare are hilarious and I am wondering if for a family with multiple kids and hearty appetites if that isn't a better option anyway.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Do it only if you really want to meet the princesses. Don't do it for the food or to get into MK early (your reservation is past MK opening time so you won't get in early anyway - no time for pre-opening photos on Main Street)

 

[LSUfan4444]

I happen to snag the CRT breakfast reservation and I'm not totally convinced it's worth it.

In my opinion...it's not.

If you can move it to a lunch I think it's a MUCH better value.