Are your little girls or little boys obsessed with Disney princess characters? If the answer is yes and your family is planning a trip to Disney World soon, read on! If you have young kids or even not-so-young kids, I highly recommend having breakfast. lunch, or dinner in the dining room of Cinderella’s Castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. I can’t rave enough about the dinner experiences we had at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Disney World.
What You Need to Know About Eating Dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table
Photos with Disney royalty – Cinderella, herself – and the excellent dinner services all while the grand fireworks show was going on outside and through the dining room windows of a Disney restaurant make for a memorable night!
If your experience is anything like ours, this dinner will be one to remember!
Where is Cinderella’s Royal Table Restaurant Located?
Cinderella’s Royal Table Restaurant is located in Cinderella’s Royal Castle in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The entrance to the restaurant is at the back of the castle. We had some confusion about how to enter since the front and sides of the castle were already being roped off for the 9 p.m. fireworks show. And tons of people were already claiming spots around the castle. Go around to the back of the castle near the Regal Carousel ride and check in with an attendant at the front of the Mickey PhilHarMagic building.
Book Your Reservations for Cinderella’s Royal Table EARLY!
Reservations are required for this character meal AND they are difficult to secure. Of all the character meals I attempted to get, this one was the one that was the trickiest as this fun and kind character dining experience at Cinderella’s Royal Table makes for a very popular restaurant. Of course, you must have a valid park admission to Magic Kingdom in order to make a reservation at Cinderella’s castle.
You have to pay the full Cinderella’s Royal Table cost of $250 on a credit card when you reserve through the My Disney Experience app (Yes…I did say $250. That was the cost at the time of my booking. I’m sure this might change over the years. I moaned and groaned about that cost until we were in that spectacular storybook banquet hall having dinner, and everything was absolutely magical. I have no regrets. It was a highlight of the entire trip to Walt Disney World Resort.)
When I made our reservations using the My Disney Experiences app, the only reservation I could secure was for 9 p.m. I was worried about such a late reservation with elementary-aged kids. My kids did great and we didn’t have a single meltdown. I think the girls realized how special this dinner was in the castle of one of the beloved Disney princesses. The two-hour break we took in the hotel from 4:00ish to 6:30ish definitely helped. (Read on for more information of why this 9 p.m. reservation time is so optimal!)
If you prefer to have this character experience with Cinderella earlier in the day, you can make Cinderella’s Royal Table reservations for breakfast and lunch through the My Disney Experiences app.
Time Your Dinner with the Grand Fireworks Extravaganza
As I mentioned, I originally wasn’t happy with our confirmed dining reservation of 9 p.m. However, it wound up being the best possible time of them all because we actually got to be on the inside of the dining room while the fireworks were going on outside of the dining room stained-glass windows! I suggest scheduling your Cinderella castle dinner to coincide with the grand fireworks show outside the castle like we did.
While we were eating, the fireworks began. The restaurant employees dimmed the lights so we could better see the larger fireworks outside the windows. A window seat is optimal for seeing, but you can see the fireworks from various areas of this castle restaurant. You will not be able to see the projections against the castle like the crowd in front will see so I still suggest attending the actual fireworks show outside on a different night of your stay.
What is the Dress Code for Cinderella’s Royal Castle Dining? What to Wear to Cinderella’s Royal Table…
Princess dresses are encouraged for the little ones. Even some teenage girls and entire families dressed in Cinderella theme! There were some impressive outfit games going on! I packed a Belle dress for my oldest daughter and an Elsa gown for my younger daughter. We don’t have any Cinderella dresses. They were perfectly fine in what they had on. There were some children at the dinner wearing regular clothing, and they were just fine.
My husband seemed a bit too casual when posing with the rest of us in the Cinderella photo below. But he was perfectly fine for the restaurant itself. I’m sure the restaurant welcomes diners dressed in all degrees of formality since people are coming in from the Magic Kingdom Disney park. However, if we were to do it over again, I would have both my Hubs and myself is some type of coordinating “royal” attire to go along with the girls’ princess dresses. But I’m kind of extra like that!
Of course, I believe in being festive with the occasion so I am glad my girls were dressed up in their princess garb. It is my understanding that many little girls get makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Unfortunately, the boutique was still closed down from the pandemic at the time of our visit so we didn’t have that option (which saved me a pretty penny I’m sure).
Take Photos with a Cinderella Cast Member
You will need to arrive early so you can have a photo shoot with Cinderella in the downstairs of her royal castle. You can use your own cell phones for the pictures. The photo area is a bit dark just because the castle is dark on the inside. There is no need to be concerned about getting there at a certain time to capture daylight for good photos with natural light as there aren’t isn’t whole lot of window light in the photo area (lobby) anyway.
The line moves fairly quickly for photos with Cinderella. Cinderella was so sweet and patient with all of the children who came through the magnificent castle lobby.
When finished taking photos, we were invited to have a seat on the long wooden benches as we awaited our names to be called for our reserved time. This castle with its spiral staircase, stone archways, and stained glass windows is indeed the perfect place for princess. We were happy for the short time we spent waiting so we could admire all the wonderful details of the castle.
What Kind of Food is Served at Cinderella’s Castle Dinner?
Unlike some of the other character meals that serve meals family style, the adults and children order off the menu for this Cinderella castle dinner. I believe the menu items change throughout the year with seasonal flavors.
Our meal included an appetizer (salad is considered an appetizer), entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage (though alcoholic drinks are offered optionally). I ordered a seasonal salad, chicken breast and pasta skillet dish, and cheesecake.
The Hubs ordered a seasonal salad, beef tenderloin with sauce bordelaise, a seasonal vegetable, and cheesecake.
Our visit occurred during the 50th anniversary celebrations at all of the Disney theme parks, and my pasta was a temporary 50th anniversary speciality item (I think).
The girls ordered typical kid things from the kids menu like mac and cheese, fruit, mashed potatoes, a cookie and cream cheesecake mousse, and a make-your-own-cupcakes dessert.
Before finalizing our trip, I saw some other Cinderella’s royal table review posts complaining about the food. Everything we ordered was quite good. I wouldn’t say we had an unforgettable main course or a “best I’ve ever had” dessert, but we most definitely enjoyed a good meal in a super special atmosphere. No complaints. The tip for our server (our server…Karen…was awesome!) was included in the $250 cost we paid up front when we reserved.
Although we didn’t eat a Cinderella’s Royal Castle breakfast, the menu seemed to offer delicious breakfast fare. There is a traditional breakfast with eggs, bacon, and potatoes. There is also a quiche and a tenderloin of beef and egg dish, among other things. The Cinderella castle breakfast for kids includes Mickey Mouse waffles and other things.
From what I understood, the same menu is offered lunch and dinner and both are the same price. At the time I write this post, the breakfast at Cinderella’s castle is a good bit cheaper in price than the lunch and dinner meals. Allergy-friendly menus are offered for all three meals.
Does Cinderella Dine with Her Guests?
Cinderella only made one quick appearance at the dinner when she entered the ballroom and then headed straight into the kitchen. It would have been nice to have seen more of her during the actual dinner.
Once you head back out into the Magic Kingdom park in the dark, don’t forget to get a picture all dressed up with the princess outfits in front of the lit up castle!
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If you enjoyed checking our dining experience at Cinderella’s Royal Table, don’t miss the rest of our travel posts – including more Disney World posts!
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