1st Trip to Disney! Help!

[dprynces1]

This is my first time posting. I sure hope you guys can help!

So we'll be going to Disney for on 5/30/08. This will be a first time for my husband and I in addition to my 3 1/2 year old daughter and 9 year old godson (YEAH). We are all very excited to say the least.

I am such a planner by nature, but this is so overwhelming! I want to make the most out of our 5 days there without driving myself (or my family )crazy. I thought I would seek some advise !

Question 1:

Is CRT really worth the 2 table service meals?

We have the Dining Plan (1 table service meal, 1 quick service, and 1 snack per day). I have made about 5 table service dinner reservations, and was able to obtain a breakfast reservation for 4 for Cinderellas royal table. I was suprised that I got it, as I've heard that they are highly sought after. But after reading some of the reviews on Allearsnet.com, I'm a little skeptical. My daughter loves all the princesses, so I'm wondering if I should just try to get reservations @ Akerhaus or 1900 @ the Floridian?

Question 2:
Is the food at the Character dining really that terrible? I guess there are some people that dont like anything, but I've read a number of negative reviews about the food.

Question 3:
What are the best character dining experiences?

We currently have CRT, Crystal Palace, Donalds Safari Breakfast, Play and Dine @ Hollywood & Vine and Chef Mickeys. Is this too much? I want the kids to have a nice time, but I'm wondering if these are too many character experiences?

I'm sure I will have a ton more questions, but I will post later

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tenny0317]

I really enjoy Crystal Palace good choice...especially obviously if you love Pooh and Friends...the food there was a little rich for me but my stomach can be funny...alot of cream sauces etc

I LOVE Liberty Tree Tavern!! It's my favorite bc I love colonial looking things and Thanksgiving type food. Two years ago my parents and I went there and it was for their 25th Anniversary. It was sooo nice they brought out a cake and gave them an anniversary ornament (which we found at a store for $30!!!) and the chef came out and had to see for himself a couple that was married for 25 years bc he found it rare!! It was sooo sweet my mom was crying haah.

Chef Mickey's is also really fun, the monorail going by adds to the atmosphere!!! Ohana's was yummy, best breakfast bread....!!!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Welcome aboard :wave:

You've selected 4 really good character meals - the only "dubious" choice is CRT. You either love it or hate it.

 

[kangaand2roos]

1. I would say yes. My thought is everyone should eat at Cinderella's castle once in their life. As many of the posters have said it's not the food that you are paying for it's the dining experience, that you can say you ate at the castle.

2. I don't think the food is that bad. I think buffet is a great choice for kids. Especially if you have picky eaters. That way there is always something for everyone. Don't expect 5 star quality but when would you ever expect that at any kind of buffet.

3. Too many character meals is a subjective call. We found alot of character meals worked for us ( my daugter was almost 2 and my son turned 4), but I can also see how it would get old fast with others. The kids loved the characters and it cut down on that standing in line for an autograph time, which can get tideious with a 2-5 year old. We also had my daughter that was petrified of the characters the first night at Chef Mickey's and we were like oh no we have like 4 more character meals planned, she's going to freak. But by the end of the 2nd night she was running up to them and hugging them.
We went to Chef Mickey, CRT, Crystal Palace, LTT and Hollywood and Vine. My favorite food wise was Chef Mickey (large selection), but the kids LOVED Hollywood and Vine b/c they got to meet Leo, June, Jojo and Goliath and could dance around.
FYI- start preparing your little one that Mickey is BIG not 12" tall like on TV and get her an autograph book, both my kids loved to give the characters autograph books so they just didn't stand there next to the huge mouse and have to smile at the camera.

 

[mro415]

1900 park fare has.. supercalifragilistic breakfast with mary poppins..

you can have mad hatter tea with the hatter and alice, this is only on certain days.

dinner at park fare has cinderella, her step sisters and step mother. the prince, and the two mice.

breakfast at beach club is AWESOME!!!!
you cant go wrong with that or chef mickeys, even donalds breakfast at the tusker house is great, i think your son would enjoy that most!

 

[eroyee]

All of everyone's opinion is great but I have a question. I have one boy and one girl. I would like to do 1 character dining but don't want to do just princess as my son won't be thrilled (he is the eldest). Any suggestions to please both (5 & 7 yrs)

Chef Mickeys.......

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

This is my first time posting. I sure hope you guys can help!

So we'll be going to Disney for on 5/30/08. This will be a first time for my husband and I in addition to my 3 1/2 year old daughter and 9 year old godson (YEAH). We are all very excited to say the least.

I am such a planner by nature, but this is so overwhelming! I want to make the most out of our 5 days there without driving myself (or my family )crazy. I thought I would seek some advise !

Question 1:

Is CRT really worth the 2 table service meals?

Personally it's not worth it. 1900 Park Fare dinner is a Cinderella dinner. It's wonderful and you'd get to see the Grand Flo.
My family does not care for the food at CRT. You'd get the same Cinderella experience with better food (love love love the strawberry soup) at 1900 Park Fare.
If you decide to stick with it, do some math to see if you're better off paying for CRT out of pocket rather than 2 TS meals.

Question 2:
Is the food at the Character dining really that terrible?

1900 Park Fare is very good. The Liberty Tree Tavern is my FAVORITE WDW meal hands down. The characters are great and the food is so good. :slurp: It's like having a bonus Thanksgiving dinner.
I don't like the food at the Lilo and Stitich meals @ the Poly. The Crystal Palace was nothing to write home about because it was so ordinary. I despise the Garden Grill not only because of the undercooked veggies but we also had a bad server.

Question 3:
What are the best character dining experiences?

The best is absolutely Liberty Tree Tavern. The seating is limited and the restaurant is smallish so the characters make the rounds several times. 1900 Park Fare is another fave of mine but I think the character experience at the Liberty Tree Tavern is better.

I'm sure I will have a ton more questions, but I will post later

Thanks in advance!

Have a great first trip! Ask for the first trip buttons.

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

Welcome to the boards!

I'm also putting a vote in for Liberty Tree Tavern.:sohappy::sohappy: I went for the first time last year with three other adults. We all really enjoyed the food and it was a good character dining experience that was a lot less chaotic since the food was brought to your table.
Sooooo true. You don't have nasty buffet mess to contend with either.

I haven't been to Akershus since it changed to the princesses. I have always loved the food there though. My mom took my cousin there last year, and my cousin really enjoyed meeting and getting her picture with all of the princesses.

I've never been to CRT, but I have been told by several people (correct me if I'm wrong guys!) that you should only go for Breakfast or Lunch.

I've been told you only get the Fairygodmother at dinner (and maybe if you are very lucky you'll see Cinderella.)

I heard that Cinderella is at 1900 Park Fare during dinner.

I booked 4 character meals & 1 dinner show for our 7 days stay and for us it was fine!!

best meals were donalds & ohana
worst was chip & dale @ garden grill (xtra loud & food medium)
I'm so glad someone agrees with me about the Garden Grill.
CRT was fun 1st time experience!!


over all i planned like crazy and think we got a great experience from it :king:

I can't stress reading the menus available on the net enough!

 

[happymom52003]

I can't stress reading the menus available on the net enough!

This is so true! This is why reading reviews or asking others opinions really does not help much. For example, you are I are the exact opposite!
I LOVE the food at the Garden Grill, love CRT, and thought 1900 Park Fare was just so so! :lol: