Eating dinner in the Castle

[mssparrrow]

Hi,

Good & bad reviews please. Is it sit down or buffet??

I will be graduating from college in May & want the trip to be special!! It will be my mom & I.

[cobbler]

Well its going to change in Feb and will be 40 bucks a person now. With princesses too.

I don't know what the new menu will consist of but I would assume since its a flat 40 a person that it would be somewhat family style.

[AFMom]

Before the changes it was quite nice. The food (for theme park fare) was very good, and the atmosphere couldn't be beat. They had minstrels playing! Even though we weren't at a character meal, the princesses, Fairy Godmother, and Mary Poppins were all in the foyer signing autographs before we went up to the restaurant to be seated. It was $$$$, so not something we would plan on doing often, but something I'm glad we did!

[mamaprincess]

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_crd.htm
Here is their dinner menu. I've had breakfast in the castle only and I personally would pay quite a bit for the pleasure of eating in the castle alone. I've only heard good things about the dinner. The fairy Godmother will be in attendance but that is it for the dinner as far as characters that I have seen listed for dinner.

It is a sit down dinner.

[bavaria]

We had dinner in the castle last year

The pro's:
- the food was excellent for MK
- service was good, we had a large party and they were very attentive; they adapted easily to 'off the menu' requests from several members of the gorup
- we were able to get a prime Saturday evening seating through the help of GF concierge

The con's:
- Cinderella was downstairs, so the kids only wanted to keep going down to see her, therefore not interested in eating
- no alcohol of course as it's MK

I can't comment on the upcoming changes, but it was great to have dinner there at least once....

[tjkraz]

We had a great experience there about 3 years ago. Of course, that was before the many changes occurred.

I got PS for the first time in the lunch dining block--I think it was around 11:30am at the time. We were the 3rd or 4th group seated, in an empty restaurant, for lunch dining. That got us a table right along the windows that overlooked Fantasyland.

With that view we were able to watch as they did the Sword in the Stone ceremony. Peter Pan even dashed by our window a couple of times, chased by Capt. Hook. I would guess that had something to do with whatever stage show was being performed in front of the castle at the time.

There weren't any characters at lunch back then, but the wait staff was very prim and proper. Meals weren't overpriced to the degree they appear to be now.

Sorry I don't have any more recent experiences to relate. I don't mind paying top dollar for high quality, but these new dining prices for CRT are ridiculous. If we knew going in that there was something like 95% chance of getting excellent food and excellent service, then I wouldn't bat an eye at the price. But as long as sub-standard reports are so easy to come by, I'll find another way to blow a big wad of cash at Disney.

[mssparrrow]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing! I'm not excitied yet. Oh well any other suggestions?

[idratherbeinwdw]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing! I'm not excitied yet. Oh well any other suggestions?

Are you trying to stay within a certain budget or is the sky the limit? Do you have any preference of where or is all of WDW a possibility? I'm sure we'll have some suggestions, but give us a little more info to work with.

[mssparrrow]

Are you trying to stay within a certain budget or is the sky the limit? Do you have any preference of where or is all of WDW a possibility? I'm sure we'll have some suggestions, but give us a little more info to work with.

Hi,

$$ isn't a problem but I want it to be good! Also close to MK so I can go to WISHES after!

[idratherbeinwdw]

Hi,

$$ isn't a problem but I want it to be good! Also close to MK so I can go to WISHES after!

California Grill, an award winning restaurant in the contemporary, would be the best bet closest to the MK, IMO. Excellent food, great view of the MK (it's on the top of the contemp). In fact instead of going to wishes you can time your ressies to watch the fireworks from the restaurant if that appeals to you. They dim the lights and pipe in the music when the show starts. If you do go mention your graduation celebration, you're more likely to get a window seat (and better view) that way. Here's the menu:

http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_cg.htm

[tjkraz]

Note that the menu at California Grill does change weekly. I'd probably love it myself, but I've always been afraid to take DW there since she's a picky eater.

[mickeyndvcfan]

The Artists Point ( Wilderness Lodge) has great food and a wonderful atmosphere. When you get done eating you can take the boat over to the MK to see wishes.

[WDWSTAR]

If you want to save a few bucks eat at the castle around the last seating at lunch time right before dinner. Basically the same food a little bit cheaper.
and have make sure you get a ps before you go. it fills up very fast.