Which "princess" meal is best???

[Picabo]

DD(3) is obsessed with Disney princesses! (Her faves are Snow White and Sleeping Beauty but she loves them all!) Originally, the plan was to go to 1900 PF for dinner, Akerhaus for bkfst. Now, with the economy as it is I'm trying to find some ways to cut back a bit so I may narrow the princess meal down to just one or the other. (We also plan to do Crystal Palace and Chef Mickeys)

So which is recommended more - my girls will be 2 1/2 and almost 4 when we go in December. I know that what you "pay" for is the character interaction but at the same time, we don't want to eat cruddy food either. I hate the idea of paying $30 per person for bkfst (Akerhaus) but not sure how good the dinner/lunch food would be - the menu somehow doesn't appeal.

I've been reading about Akerhaus and how it's not worth the money that's paid - and not a ton of interaction with the princesses. But then I also have read that the interaction at 1900PF is good but the food is horrible. So I'm at a loss as to what to do! From what I can tell, the stepsisters are what makes the interaction so good at 1900pf. But would kids that young "get it" in terms of their bantering and humor? Is there also good interaction wtih Cinderella and Prince Charming?

HELP! I really don't know what to do and neither one seems the idea choice. On the flip side - maybe I should be considering CRT??? I hadn't thought of it before b/c of the cost (not on dining plan BTW) but now I'm thinking if we are just doing ONE princess meal, maybe that's a better way to go? Better interaction????? Which meal - bkfst or lunch??

THANKS!

 

[Shleedogg]

I've only eaten at 1900 PF and would say stay away! The food really was awful. I made a meal out of french bread and broccoli. The interaction was good, but it was all about the step-sisters and step-mother. Cinderella and Prince Charming were nice and took pictures, but were far out shined by them.

I just read a post about breakfast at Akershus (sp?) and would probably choose not to eat there as my fears were confirmed. None of the menus really appeal to me for any of the meals there and my poor DH would just be eating bacon. I think the problem for CRT for breakfast would be that the menu is very similar to Akershus with the exception of getting french toast at CRT. Is french toast really worth $6/pp and less characters? If it won't break the bank, I'd say maybe ditch CP and do CRT for lunch, the lunch and dinner menus look much better to me.

It makes me sad that there isn't a good selection to be had for princess meals as I have a daughter that will one day want to do them and a husband who is the pickiest eater ever, lol. Good luck with your decision!

 

[ms*mountaineer]

We love breakfast at Akershus! If you are looking for a variety of princesses - this is the place to go! There will be 5 princesses to meet - and it's common to see Snow White and Aurora (though not a guarantee). We think the food is very good - the potato casserole is great! The atmosphere is castle-like and relaxed. The princesses come visit from table to table and were very charming. We did not feel rushed at all.

1900 for dinner is only Cinderella. I've never done it - it sounds like fun - but the only princess is Cinderella and my girls like other princesses.

We've also done breakfast in the castle - which is 5 princesses and it was great. But Akershus is less expensive and a great alternative to the castle. If you are looking to watch your money - I would choose Akershus for breakfast to see the most princesses for your buck.

 

[phanomouse]

Obviously it depends on what you want to get out of it. For my family CRT is worth the money (yes the french toast is worth the extra $6/person). The interaction, the food, the nostalgia of the being in the castle culminates into a great experience every time we go. I also disagree with the pp about 1900 Park Fare. We've always had good food and great interaction, but this is just our experience. I don't think we'll ever do the breakfast at Akershus again only because it was fun but not spectacular and the food was good but not great.

 

[Hootch]

definitely drop 1900 Park Fare. The meal centers around the Cinderella story so your princess interaction is limited and I'm not sure how well my daughter would have taken the step-mother and step sisters at that age.

You'll see the same number of characters at both Askerhus and CRT. Cinderella always greets at CRT and it revolves at Askerhus. There are four princesses and/or leading ladies in the dining area. CRT is going to be more expensive because the demand is higher. (And your daughters will get little plastic wands and a wishing star).

At this point we do CRT lunch. I like the food and the characters. Snow White seems to be pretty regular and Sleeping Beauty a little less so. None are guaranteed outside Cinderella. My wife would prefer to cut other things before cutting that and I don't put up too much of an argument.

One thing to remember on princesses is that Toontown has a princess meet and greet. Also many of the princesses are in the country pavilions in the World Showcase. Snow White usually shows up in Germany and Sleeping Beauty in France. Toontown can have a wait but the Epcot meetings are less crowded.

Here is a link to use right before you leave for your trip. If you click the park titles at the top, it will show you major character greetings.

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We just ate at all 3 places on our last trip 3 weeks ago.

1900 PF- Great character interaction but the food was gross. DH and I are NOT picky eaters but seriously...it was just nasty. Even DH said the food was nasty and he NEVER complains.

Akershus breakfast was DELICIOUS! Piping hot food. The potatoes were awesome! We had Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Snow White and Ariel. Good interaction.

CRT lunch- Great food. The atmosphere was awesome. In the castle..of course! We had Cinderella, Belle in her blue dress, Snow White, Jasmine and Aurora.

Next time we go we are just going to do CRT. It's IN the castle and it's a guarantee for Cinderella. I did not feel like we did princess overkill (DD LOVED it!!) but we would like to try new places too. I say this now but we may end up doing Akershus AND CRT but I'm really trying to be firm and just do CRT!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We enjoyed breakfast at Akerhaus and once was enough for me. The food was great, especially the Cheesy hashbrown casserole, and the interaction was good, but not great. The place is small and you practically have to crawl over the poeple at the other tables to get to the buffet. We have't had any other meal there.

1900 Park Fare Breakfast was out of this world Wonderful and I am going back in June for my Birthday. But no Princesses. The dinner was really nice and I am sure the food was really good, but I was having a bad night, so I didn't eat much, but what I did eat was really good. Cinderella was Awesome and so were the other characters, they were really into their parts and the interaction was great.

We have had breakfast at CRT, worth it once to say we have done it, but not really worth that much money. We went for our 5th Wedding Anniversary Breakfast, so it was a special occasion, and we left with engraved champagne flutes, but as I said the food was not worth a second trip. We haven't had any other meals there.

Suzanne

 

[dancin Disney style]

If it were me and I could only do one.....I would go for CRT even though its a few dollars more.

If that's not an option my vote is for Akershus....maximum princesses.

 

[MandM-Mom]

We had a great time at CRT, its being in the castle that makes it so great, we had a good time at Ackershus but felt very rushed and waited 1 hour for our table and none of us really liked the menu choices! The character interaction at Cinderellas Gala feast was above and beyond for my girls, the royal introductions of each character the dancing it was all just great our meal was ok, not horrible!

 

[Ctsplaysinrain]

It makes me sad that there isn't a good selection to be had for princess meals as

I'm sorry this made me laugh.. As the mom of boys, there seems to be too much selection of princess meals.. I would love to eat in the castle sometime just because it's the castle.. BUT, there is no way my boys will even consider r walking close to it now when they see and hear all the "princesses." They are 11 and 13 but have been mortified about the princesses for awhile now...LOL It would be nice if some of the emaphasis was taken off all the princesses and there were some boy meals or just a regular nice meal at the Castle.

 

[2kids1dog]

I would say Princess Storybook in Norway. We've done it three times now and have enjoyed it all three times. Potato casserole is delicious, as well as the cinnamon rolls.

We did CRT once, and I'm glad we did just to have the experience, but the character interaction was extremely rushed and the food was mediocre at best.

 

[Crystal_27]

If I had to pick a princess meal, it would be CRT for breakfast. The food is fabulous and we've always had great character interaction. When we went in March we weren't able to get an ADR for CRT breakfast, so we just skipped doing a princess meal all together. I know it's more pricey than the other meals, but I think that it's well worth it. Anyway, good luck with your decision!

 

[dancin Disney style]

It makes me sad that there isn't a good selection to be had for princess meals as

I'm sorry this made me laugh.. As the mom of boys, there seems to be too much selection of princess meals.. I would love to eat in the castle sometime just because it's the castle.. BUT, there is no way my boys will even consider r walking close to it now when they see and hear all the "princesses." They are 11 and 13 but have been mortified about the princesses for awhile now...LOL It would be nice if some of the emaphasis was taken off all the princesses and there were some boy meals or just a regular nice meal at the Castle.

Even though I have daughters, no sons, I do agree that there is nothing geared toward boys. With PoTC being so hot there should be a pirate meal. I would love that as would my girls. Maybe since there are now pirate rooms at CBR we are not far from a pirate breakfast.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We have done CRT, Park Fare and Princess Storybook. DD6 LOVES Snow White, and the Snow White on our day at PSB was the perfect Snow White. DD (5 at the time) skipped through Epcot after breakfast and said it was her "bestest day ever". Food was fine - fresh fruit, cinnamon rolls, breakfast meats, eggs and a very yummy potato casserole. I think it's hard to mess up breakfast.

We saw Belle greeting, then Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine, and Mulan came to our table. We don't usually see Mulan, so that was a nice treat. DD is all about Snow White, so that was the one princess who mattered, and she was wonderful.

It has been a few years since we did CRT, but I remember the food being about the same quality. We saw Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Belle in her blue dress, Snow White, Aurora, and Alice, I think. If you have Cinderella fans, CRT is a great place to be. What better place to see Cinderella than in her castle? It's hard to beat that if you are a princess fan.

Park Fare was OK. Prince Charming pretty much had no presonality, but Cinderella was great. We saw Suzy and Perla when we went, but now it is Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella. My girls would love to see them. The food was not good - no one ate very much.