Would you take 3 1/2 yr old to CRT?

[Kyle+Breanna'smom]

It is that time to start thinking about my adr's for our Nov trip. My DD loves princesses and I plan to take her to Akershus for one meal. I also have a DS who tolerates princess meals at this point. I can't decide if I should try to get a ressie for CRT this trip or wait until our next trip. It is really expensive but I do want to take them at least once. For our Nov trip she will be 3 1/2 and DS will just have turned 6. Our next trip will probably be in April 2012 and she will be a few weeks from her 5th birthday and DS will be 7. Would you wait until she is older?

 

[scrappingizlife]

My daughter will turn 2 during our trip and also loves the princesses. I have Ressies for her and I to do the Breakfast CRT. I say go for it, especially if she enjoys them now. Kids' taste change so fast it's not funny.

 

[graceesmom]

My child LOVED CRT at 2 1/2 and at 3. She's 3 1/2 now and we'll be back at CRT week after next. She just asked to watch Hannah Montana for the 1st time last week so I know princesses could be gone in the next couple of years. I'm taking full advantage of her awe of the princesses while it lasts.

 

[marmalade]

My DD went when she was 3 and 4 and DS was 2 and almost 3. 1st time we did lunch where all the princess go from table to table to meet with the kids. 2nd time was dinner and the only princess was cinderella downstairs and the fairy god mother did a show with the mice. Never been for breakfast.

But it was great my kids still talk about it. So no I don't think 3.5 is to young.

 

[MomofSixinSC]

My youngest will be 3.5 when we go and I would do CRT in a heartbeat if I could afford it.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

go now because it will cost even more in 2 years lol!

 

[Elmo888]

I'll be the one that says no!

I wouldn't take a 3 1/2 year old to CRT on purpose. If there were older girls that needed to go, I would go. Since you plan to go back when she's a little older, but not out of range, I would save your money and take her to Akershus on this trip. She can still see princesses, and you can save your money.

Yes, it is a huge deal to eat in the castle, but I would take her when she is older and will remember it for a long, long time!

I did take our 2 year old DD, but we had a 6 year old DD, too, (she was a month from turning 7) who was in prime time princess mode. I don't really want to go back - too much $$ and way to orchestrated. I have pics of the 2 year old at CRT, so I'm going to use those for as long as possible to show her that she has already been (she's 5 now, and we aren't going back for a few years).

Have a great trip!

 

[maryloubsw]

My 4 year old LOVED it, the 20 mth old at the time not so much, she was more interested in the food than the princesses but my 4 yr old DD did not stop smiling the whole time.

 

[Fall1]

We'll be taking our 3 1/2 year old twins in October. I would go now and if you like it, you can always go back.

 

[Kyle+Breanna'smom]

Thank you all for your responses. I am leaning towards going. I am hoping DS will enjoy it a little still at this age too. Thanks!

 

[ktlm]

I say go. I think your DS will like it too because they will give him a sword ( and most of the little boys we saw there seemed to like the Princesses just because they were pretty girls.) We took our DD to Akershus at 2 yrs 10 months (couldn't get an ADR at CRT). The look on her face when the 1st princess came out the door to start greeting people was priceless. After that, our household became All Princess All the time, which it remains now that she is 4. At the younger age, everything is real to them and it is so special. We were lucky enough with all the discounts they had last year when DD was 3 to get to go to WDW in May and December. We hit CRT both trips, and it was wonderful. DD absolutely loves it. I really don't see her forgetting it. You never know what is going to happen between now and April 2012. I'm all for living (within your means), in the now. Something may happen and you don't get to take your trip; someone's health could have issues; your DD may suddenly decide she is already too old for princesses. She will absolutely love it and you will have the memory of how wonderful it was for her, even if she forgets which I doubt will happen (you'll have the pictures to shake her memory). I don't believe you should keep children from having fun experiences just because they might not "remember" them when they are older. It will mean a lot to her now. Plus, while I hope my DD will always believe in Disney Magic, at age 4, she is already starting to figure things out. We went to an Easter Egg hunt at a natural history museum and she saw the Easter Bunny and a Dinosaur, which she was thrilled to see, and then she came home and called her grandma and to my surprise I heard her say " I got my picture taken with a guy dressed up like a Dinosaur and a guy dressed up like the Easter Bunny"

 

[Tommys Mommy]

We also took our DD when she was 3 (actually 3 yrs, 3 mos). She definitely remembers it & thoroughly enjoyed herself!! At the time, my DS was 5.5 - he enjoyed it, too.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

We took my dd when she was 3, and she loved it. The next time we went, she was 5 and she was totally not interested in princesses. We went because I really wanted her be "my princess" again, but it really wasn't worth the money at that time. I was glad it was just the two of us for that meal!

I would say go now, especially if she is really in to the princesses. You don't know what she'll be interested in when she's 5.

 

[Mom2Capnhook]

We took DS when he was 3 and his brother was 16 months old. They both did really well, and DS(3) loved it! He broke the sword pretty soon after we left the park and he still misses it. We're going back in July, and already have the reservations. He is 4 now, and looking forward to it. I say go for it!

 

[brandylouwho]

If you can afford it and want to go, why not?

If this is a once ever thing and want her to have some big, special memory of it--I would not go this trip.

I took my 3 1/2 year old and she didn't LOVE it. She was too shy to interact with the princesses, although she wasn't that princess crazy to being with.

My current 3 yr old (the little sis) would absolutely love it. But she loved Akershus last year and it was quite a bit cheaper. The whole eating in the castle & overpaying for subpar food is something we adults make a big deal out of---a 3 1/2 old doesn't care.

 

[gilliansmommy]

Yes, yes, yes. My dd was 3.5 when we took her. She was amazed. She didn't even eat anything because she was in heaven with all of the princesses. She is going to be 5 next month and she still talks about eating in the castle with the princesses. And honestly, is that what is it about? We have ADR for this trip for CRT and she is super excited. And we tried Akerhaus last year and it wasn't as big of a hit as CRT.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

Definately not too young, she'll love it

 

[Kelrykengab]

Yes!!!! My 3 1/2 year old daughter LOVED it and we all had tears in our eyes as she met the princesses. She is now 5 and remembers every minute. Really a huge highlight of our trip. My 6 yo son put up with it at the time too. This time we are doing Akershus and we will do CRT again next visit in 2011 or 2012 when my 1 year old DD is a little older.

 

[lumpy08]

Our last trip our DD was 3. We were unable to get a ADR at CRT. We did the Akersaurs and 1900 Park Fare (Cinderella & Stepsisters). I also did the Bippidi Boppity Boutique. When we returned from our trip everytime we saw the Castle on the tv DD would say "Oh that is where I had my hair done!" The food at 1900 Pare Fare was excellent as well. If your DD is a Cinderella fan she will love the dinner with the Stepsisters. They are really interactive.

We are going again in a few months and my DD is 5 now. I did get ADR for CRT time. So for me I am actually glad I didn't get the ADRs the first time. This time she is even more excited to do BBB and also get to eat at CRT. Also since now there are princesses at CRT at dinner. When I called they told me the princesses for dinner at CRT are Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, and Jazmine (But of course subject to change)

I would say if you have the money and are able to get an ADR than do it. I know you mentioned that you will probably go again in a few years. But, what happens if in a few years you are not able to get an ADR when she is older.

 

[Beckypooh1972]

Yes take her for a princess meal! Dress her up and post the adorable pics!