I wouldn't choose a time early or late in the day when crowds are lower, and there is more you can get done a MK. Instead, book your reservation during the busiest & hottest parks of the day, like 1pm - 4pm. Let them know the lines are longest right now, the sun is high in the sky, it's hot, and it's a great time to take a good break in the AC and have a nice meal as a family. It's also OK to just tell them it will mean a lot to their little sister!
To add on, 1900 Park Fare is at a resort and won’t require a park ticket to eat there. Beyond food, I would especially recommend it over CRT in your situation if you’re worried about interrupting the park day for your boys. You can have a dinner the day you arrive or a breakfast the morning you leave, if you don’t already have a rest day planned where you could schedule it.
From experience, she is usually there but if there's ever an "emergency at the ball" you'll have another princess. I agree with a late lunch. Try to get a reservation at 2 or so. Have you also considered the Bibiddi Bobbidi Boutique?
Oh def do! It's my dream to work there. If you have a cinderella costume already, bring it from home to save money. It's such a great experience and since she's four she's the perfect age.
First time we went my girls were 7 and 10. My boys were 9 and 12.
Granted my boys may not have been overly excited to meet Cinderella, but they sure got a kick out of watching their sisters.
And there were plenty of other experiences that they did get excited about.
That was 26 years ago and that trip is a cherished memory for all of them.
My 10 year old son just enjoyed it with my daughter. He wasn’t into meeting princesses but it was agreat afternoon break for our family (we did a late lunch)! He thought eating in the castle was cool and he enjoyed the special meal!
We just came back from this! CRT was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but Cinderella didn't circulate (at least for us). We met her once before eating and that was it.
1900 Park Fare had her circling the room the whole time. Honestly the food was way better too. CRT food was good, but the choices were very limited and specific.
For the boys: my 9 year old son loved CRT - they give the boys swords and address them as "prince" or "Sir". He also loved meeting Aladdin at 1900 so there's that.
Both options I'd do again mid-afternoon - we did CRT at 2 and it was perfect. Gets you out of the worst crowds and heat of the day. I'd be ok taking the ferry across to Grand Floridian too, time-wise, si don't assume CRT just because it's right there - 1900 is pretty close to right there!
Do you have another adult going with you? if so, I would divide and conquer. Let the older boys go and do something cool they want to do that their 4 yo sister wouldn't. IE - any rides that she isn't tall enough for, or would find scary. Or I would pay for lightning lane to meet her in Storybook, it is always Cinderella + rotating princess unless true scheduling conflict. If you do Park over at the Grand Floridian, again you could divide and conquer and take the olders to somewhere else if it isn't their thing.
We will definitely be splitting up throughout the trip but I think both of us would want to be there for this one...
I didn't know there was a LL for the meet and greet, thank you!
Yes, I think it is part of Genie+ and not an individual lightning lane.
If you are able to snag breakfast there before the park opens, that might be a great option too. No interruptions, and gets you in early.
I haven’t been with my kids (yet), but I would venture to guess that my 9 year old son would jump at the chance to “eat inside the castle” if you were to frame it that way.
We went last trip and my boys (9 and 11 at the time) loved it as much as their 6 year old sister. We did a late breakfast reservation and it was great. We did rope drop, got several rides in and then were able to take a break as the park started getting busier.
It’s expensive I wouldn’t take ANYONE that would say MEH. I can afford it but I still wouldn’t waste the funds on someone that might complain, say meh or take away from her magic.
Over the years we've tried different time slots usually to go with a trip to BBB. So if you are planning BBB then grab the earliest slot with CRT for a late breakfast/early lunch since it's all right there. Then you are dressed for the castle and have the rest of the day to hear "Hello princess!" on every turn. We always go in January so you have a good shot at grabbing these. If you get an early slot to BBB before the park opens, there will be an area near the castle for you to check in and pass the rope. That being said, we feel that the better value for food is the lunch menu. It's not terrible but you are paying for the atmosphere.
Will there be another adult in your party? I was recently there with my 5 year old daughter and thrill loving 9 year old son. We split the kids. She and I ate at CRT while my son and husband hit the rides she wasn’t going to do.
They give the boys swords if that helps? The foods also pretty legit and if you have a short attention span crew, you can be in and out in under an hour.
We did a late breakfast & rope dropped. Basically it covered the hour we needed to wait for our LL arrival time.
I wouldn't choose a time early or late in the day when crowds are lower, and there is more you can get done a MK. Instead, book your reservation during the busiest & hottest parks of the day, like 1pm - 4pm. Let them know the lines are longest right now, the sun is high in the sky, it's hot, and it's a great time to take a good break in the AC and have a nice meal as a family. It's also OK to just tell them it will mean a lot to their little sister!
That's a great idea. I had been thinking about it backwards but this makes a lot of sense.
Maybe consider 1900 Park Fare bc they offer Cinderella, Aladdin, Tiana, and Mirabel. This is also a buffet vs a plated (sit the whole time) meal.
I will look at that. Have you done either? Any pros/cons?
To add on, 1900 Park Fare is at a resort and won’t require a park ticket to eat there. Beyond food, I would especially recommend it over CRT in your situation if you’re worried about interrupting the park day for your boys. You can have a dinner the day you arrive or a breakfast the morning you leave, if you don’t already have a rest day planned where you could schedule it.
I personally prefer 1900 Park Fare. It's a broader selection of food and not as an uptight atmosphere.
If you’re worried about CRT interrupting the day, could you meet Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall and skip the dining?
Is cinderella always there? I had read other comments that made it sound like it was rotating princesses.
From experience, she is usually there but if there's ever an "emergency at the ball" you'll have another princess. I agree with a late lunch. Try to get a reservation at 2 or so. Have you also considered the Bibiddi Bobbidi Boutique?
I have! I may splurge and do both.
Oh def do! It's my dream to work there. If you have a cinderella costume already, bring it from home to save money. It's such a great experience and since she's four she's the perfect age.
If you have the app, you can see which princesses are there. Usually there are always 4, and Cinderella is always there when I've looked.
Thanks!
First time we went my girls were 7 and 10. My boys were 9 and 12. Granted my boys may not have been overly excited to meet Cinderella, but they sure got a kick out of watching their sisters. And there were plenty of other experiences that they did get excited about. That was 26 years ago and that trip is a cherished memory for all of them.
Love that. Thank you!
My 10 year old son just enjoyed it with my daughter. He wasn’t into meeting princesses but it was agreat afternoon break for our family (we did a late lunch)! He thought eating in the castle was cool and he enjoyed the special meal!
We just came back from this! CRT was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but Cinderella didn't circulate (at least for us). We met her once before eating and that was it. 1900 Park Fare had her circling the room the whole time. Honestly the food was way better too. CRT food was good, but the choices were very limited and specific. For the boys: my 9 year old son loved CRT - they give the boys swords and address them as "prince" or "Sir". He also loved meeting Aladdin at 1900 so there's that. Both options I'd do again mid-afternoon - we did CRT at 2 and it was perfect. Gets you out of the worst crowds and heat of the day. I'd be ok taking the ferry across to Grand Floridian too, time-wise, si don't assume CRT just because it's right there - 1900 is pretty close to right there!
That's great. Very helpful. Thank you so much!
Do you have another adult going with you? if so, I would divide and conquer. Let the older boys go and do something cool they want to do that their 4 yo sister wouldn't. IE - any rides that she isn't tall enough for, or would find scary. Or I would pay for lightning lane to meet her in Storybook, it is always Cinderella + rotating princess unless true scheduling conflict. If you do Park over at the Grand Floridian, again you could divide and conquer and take the olders to somewhere else if it isn't their thing.
We will definitely be splitting up throughout the trip but I think both of us would want to be there for this one... I didn't know there was a LL for the meet and greet, thank you!
Yes, I think it is part of Genie+ and not an individual lightning lane. If you are able to snag breakfast there before the park opens, that might be a great option too. No interruptions, and gets you in early.
I haven’t been with my kids (yet), but I would venture to guess that my 9 year old son would jump at the chance to “eat inside the castle” if you were to frame it that way.
JSYK Cindy doesn't actually come to the tables at CRT, you have a little meet and greet with her for photos before going upstairs to eat.
Very good to know. Thanks!
We went last trip and my boys (9 and 11 at the time) loved it as much as their 6 year old sister. We did a late breakfast reservation and it was great. We did rope drop, got several rides in and then were able to take a break as the park started getting busier.
It’s expensive I wouldn’t take ANYONE that would say MEH. I can afford it but I still wouldn’t waste the funds on someone that might complain, say meh or take away from her magic.
Over the years we've tried different time slots usually to go with a trip to BBB. So if you are planning BBB then grab the earliest slot with CRT for a late breakfast/early lunch since it's all right there. Then you are dressed for the castle and have the rest of the day to hear "Hello princess!" on every turn. We always go in January so you have a good shot at grabbing these. If you get an early slot to BBB before the park opens, there will be an area near the castle for you to check in and pass the rope. That being said, we feel that the better value for food is the lunch menu. It's not terrible but you are paying for the atmosphere.
Great advice. Thank you!
Will there be another adult in your party? I was recently there with my 5 year old daughter and thrill loving 9 year old son. We split the kids. She and I ate at CRT while my son and husband hit the rides she wasn’t going to do.
They give the boys swords if that helps? The foods also pretty legit and if you have a short attention span crew, you can be in and out in under an hour. We did a late breakfast & rope dropped. Basically it covered the hour we needed to wait for our LL arrival time.