Cinderella’s Royal Table review

The dream of dining with royalty can come true for Walt Disney World guests in Disney’s The Magic Kingdom. When visitors first lay their eyes upon Cinderella’s Castle in the middle of the park, they are always in awe of its spectacular beauty and magical existence.

The question that always sits in the back of their mind however, is, “can we go inside Cinderella’s Castle?” The answer is, absolutely! When you dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside the castle itself, you are a royal guests of the Princess Cinderella and all her friends! Believe me when I say that it is an abundance of pure Disney magic through and through.

Cinderella’s Royal Table review

Let’s first begin this review by discussing the atmosphere of this restaurant.

Atmosphere

Cinderella’s Royal Table has a beautiful atmosphere that sets guests right in the middle of a “storybook” castle. From the moment you step inside the castle, stone walls and arched windows that are decorated with colorful tapestries. Different shields and banners accompany the tapestries as well, giving the entire environment a medieval feel.

Though it is a medieval feel, there is definitely a whimsical, storybook feel to it, causing guests to feel like they stepped into a fairytale. In the greeting area, there is a chance you can spot Jaque and Gus Gus watching guests being welcomed into the castle.

The greeting area of Cinderella’s Royal Table is completely separate from the dining area. Once your party’s name is called, you will head up a spiral staircase that leads to the dining room on the second level. The bathrooms will be to your left as you head up the stairs.

While the bathrooms are easy to find, it is a smaller space until you get into the actual restroom, and it is right at the top of the steps. It can be a little crowded with people passing each other on the stairs and coming in and out of the restroom.

The dining room itself is beautiful, with big glass windows near the back, in which you can see the park outside. The ceiling is made of the medieval archways that creates a soaring ceiling above you as you dine. Stain glass windows adorn the arched ceiling along with colorful flags and a beautiful chandelier right in the center.

The entire atmosphere is very magical, but it is actually more casual than one might think of Cinderella’s Royal Table. However, it is definitely fancier than say, a casual buffet. I have only dined here once, and we had gone for dinner, so I felt more compelled to dress up a little more than meals during the day. This was my personal choice, however, so if guests wanted to dress up they can, or they can dress more casually. The Walt Disney World website does say that younger guests are encouraged to dress up for the dining experience.

Entertainment

The entertainment is the absolute best aspect about Cinderella’s Royal Table. It is what makes the experience! In my opinion, it is one of the best options of character dining at Disney World. Cinderella’s Royal Table is located in the entrance of the archway through the castle on the Fantasyland side.

After you check in and go into the waiting area, you immediately are in line to be greeted by Cinderella. She’s very welcoming to all her guests and is always so excited to have you dining in her beautiful home! Once you visit with Cinderella, you wait for your party’s name to be called and then go up to the second level to the dining room.

During my visit there, our food was actually brought out before the other princesses came to visit us. This can be nice because you have time to eat before you can visit with the princesses. The only negative about this is that it can make you feel kind of rushed. My suggestion would be to not let yourself feel too rushed and take a moment and just enjoy the environment and the dining experience.

After a little bit, the princesses will make their entrance and walk around and greet guests at their table. The princesses that visit are Snow White, Sleeping Beauty or Aurora, Ariel, and Jasmine. According to the Mouse for Less Blog, Rapunzel can sometimes make an appearance. However, I have not heard about her being there recently. Before each princess makes their entrance, a narrator tells each princess story to the crowd over a speaker, and later everyone was instructed to make a wish during a small program.

I loved this touch, but a dislike of mine was that I could barely hear the narration due to it being very loud in the restaurant. This was slightly disappointing because I wanted to hear the stories, but there was so much going on. This could vary depending on the time of day you visit. We ate later at night, so we could hear it more clearly, but it was still not clear enough, and we really had to listen hard to hear what was being said. I’ve heard that during the day, it can be slightly worse. However, though it can be annoying, it did not deter from the experience.

If you happen to be at dinner during the Happily Ever After fireworks, the music from the show is piped into the restaurant for you to enjoy. I will say that this music is loud enough for you to hear clearly. The only disadvantage is that you are not able to really see the fireworks unless you are by the windows. Even then, since you are in the castle, you can’t see the entire show, of course. However, you can see part of the fireworks over Fantasyland.

Service Quality and Organization

It is no surprise that the service is impeccable, so Cinderella’s Royal Table staff absolutely matches Disney expectations when it comes to customer service. They are dressed to impress in their royal uniforms of burgundy, navy blue, and gold and are always there to help guide you to where you need to go. Cast members are there to greet you and check you into your reservation, and they also have a little gift for you!

According to the Disney Food Blog, every prince receives a plastic sword, and every princess receives a magic wand with a star on top! Then they lead you inside through the meet and greet with Cinderella and then up the stairs to the dining hall when your party’s name is called. I will say, due to the size of the waiting room, it can sometimes be crowded and loud due to the meet and greet with Cinderella and people sitting and waiting for their name to be called.

Depending on how crowded it is, it can seem a little chaotic. Keep in mind, there is limited seating, so unfortunately, some people will have to stand while they wait. However, if you made a reservation, your wait time should not be that long. We had made a reservation, and our wait time was only about 10-15 minutes.

Cast members who are servers are excellent and timely, always asking if you need anything and what else they can do for you. They are always there for specific dietary needs any guests might need. Suggestions will be made to you by the servers. Sometimes separate menus all together can be available at some Disney World restaurants. I”m not sure if Cinderella’s Royal Table has any separate menus, but servers will tell you other options for your needs regardless.

Menu Options

Alright, the time has come to discuss the menu! Starting with breakfast, (because one should always start their day with a magical breakfast) the menu varies from a traditional breakfast to more unique options. Breakfast is usually served from 8 AM to 10:15 AM. (The times for the meals are subject to change throughout the year due to seasons, but it usually stays around the same time with maybe an hour or two difference.) You will be brought a plate filled with assorted breakfast pastries, and then each member of your party can make their individual order. The breakfast menu includes:

Traditional Breakfast
Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast
Healthy Choice (oatmeal, mulit-grain croissant and poached egg)
Beef Tenderloin and Egg
Shrimp and Grits
Baked Quiche
Assorted beverages

Magic Kingdom is a dry park, so there are only certain places within it where you can get alcoholic drinks if you so wish. Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of those places, and the breakfast options are listed below.

Specialty Wine Cocktails

Mimosa with Paul Cheneau Lady of Spain Cava and Orange Juice
Bellini with Canella Prosecco and Peach Juice
Beso Del Sol Red or White Sangria

For younger royal guests, a kids menu is available with options of egg white frittata, scrambled egg, fruit and seed oatmeal, waffle, and assorted cold cereal. Breakfast sides for kids include, yogurt parfait, home fries, bacon, seasonal fruit, turkey sausage, and pork sausage.

Next up, lunch! Lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table is served from 11:40-2:50, and here are the menu options:

Appetizers

Soup of the Day
Charcuterie
Castle Salad
Seared Scallop

Entrees

Seared Pork Rib Chop
Chickpea Panisse
Tenderloin of Beef
Protein Bowl-Choice of Beef, Chicken, or Plant-Based Protein
Roasted All-Natural Chicken Breast
Chef’s Fish of the Day

Desserts

Jaq and Gus (whipped cheesecake)
Peanut Butter Case
The Clock Strikes Twelve
Lemon Sorbet

Kid’s Menu

Let’s begin with appetizers.

Appetizers:

Sliced Apples
Garden Salad
Bite-sized Cheddar Cheese and Grapes

Entrees

Roasted Chicken Leg
Beef Tenderloin
Chicken Nuggets
Seared Fish of the Day
Turkey Pot Pie
Macaroni and Cheese

Sides

Seasonal Vegetables
Cauliflower Fried Rice
Buttered Corn
Rice Pilaf
Mashed Potatoes

Desserts

Build-your-own-Cupcake (vanilla cupcake with Cinderella’s blue icing and decorations to garnish the cupcake)
Seasonal Sorbet
Yogurt Parfait

Last but not least, it’s dinner time! The dinner menu is actually the same menu as the lunch menu, and it is served between 4-8:50 PM. On weekends, however, it will be served until 9:50. I’ve had the pleasure of eating dinner here a few years ago, and the food was good, but it wasn’t my absolute favorite that I’ve had.

I can be a picky eater sometimes, so that is part of the reason why it was not my favorite. However, it still was good, and my family thought the food was good as well. The desserts are beautiful and delicious as well. My brother ordered The Clock Strikes Twelve which is a chocolate dessert with a decorative chocolate clock on top, and I instantly had dessert regret.

Now, like I have mentioned before, Disney menus always have alternate options for those with specific diets. All you have to do is ask your server, and they will take care of you.

Reservations and Pricing

Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of the most popular dining experiences in all of Walt Disney World. The reason for the huge draw is due to being able to actually enter and spend time in Cinderella’s Castle. For this reason, I recommend making reservations as soon as you possibly can, because the longer you wait, they become harder to find at a time you would prefer. Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance. Set your calendars and timers!

I will warn you that this dining experience is on the more pricey side of the dining spectrum at Walt Disney World. For adults it costs about $65 per person, and for children, it can range from $35-$39.

Overall Opinion

There is no question that Cinderella’s Royal Table is a unique experience that gives you nothing but pure magic. I mean, who wouldn’t want to dine in Cinderella’s Castle with all of the classic princesses? This is what makes it truly memorable. The food, in my opinion, wasn’t absolutely amazing, but it was still good.

However, if you book Cinderella’s Royal Table, keep in mind that it is more for the experience rather than for a meal. Overall, I believe this character dining is worth it. It is something that you need to do at least once, and it’s perfect for everyone, no matter what age!

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Cinderella’s Royal Table review