Cinderella’s Royal Table is a desk service princess character meal inside Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. This Walt Disney World eating overview options meals photographs, our ideas on lunch & dinner on the restaurant, and whether or not the expertise is definitely worth the cash. (Updated December 19, 2022.)
The menu consists of American delicacies that’s nearly fine-dining caliber. Between the menu and the eating contained in the fort, Cinderella’s Royal Table is arguably the flagship restaurant within the Magic Kingdom (solely Be Our Guest Restaurant surpasses it in reputation), and one of the crucial distinctive eating places in all of Walt Disney World. Aside from spending an evening within the Cinderella Castle Royal Suite, it’s your greatest likelihood at coming into the park’s icon.
As Walt Disney World’s extended phased reopening continues, issues proceed getting again to regular. Traditional meet & greets have returned with autographs, hugs, and excessive fives. With this, most character eating has returned from its modified kind. At least, so far as characters are involved–meals is one other story completely. However, issues are a bit totally different at Cinderella’s Royal Table, with good and unhealthy modifications impacting the restaurant by means of late February 2023…
December 19, 2022 Update: First, the unhealthy. Unlike Breakfast à la Art at Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera and Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White (our two favourite character meals at Walt Disney World proper now), Cinderella’s Royal Table has not returned to regular. Per Walt Disney World, the “princesses are taking a break from their royal duties greeting guests” and this isn’t technically a personality eating location.
This will probably be an enormous blow for a lot of households, who dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table for the princess encounters. However, the excellent news is that Cinderella does greet visitors upon arrival within the foyer earlier than heading as much as your desk (see photograph under). Note that since that is unadvertised, it might change or be eliminated at any time–it’s been like this for some time now, so we don’t anticipate that.
Previously, Cinderella greeted visitors downstairs and some different visiting princesses roamed the principle eating room, making the rounds for photographs. None of the opposite princesses have returned to the eating room, which we’ve heard is as a result of Walt Disney World is presently experiencing a pronounced ‘princess shortage.’ (Not to break the phantasm or something.)
The different excellent news is that Walt Disney World has lowered the worth because of the lack of characters. Pre-closure, the fee was $75 per grownup and $45 per baby for each lunch and dinner. Currently, it’s $67 per grownup and $39 per baby–and that’s after a number of value will increase.
The even higher information is that Walt Disney World has introduced that characters will formally return to Cinderella’s Royal Table on February 28, 2023! While full particulars have but to be launched, our expectation is that the setup would be the similar as earlier than for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
One change will undoubtedly be a value enhance. As famous above, the pre-closure price was $75 per grownup and $45 per baby. That made Cinderella’s Royal Table the most costly character meal at Walt Disney World, a crown it could nonetheless maintain at these very same costs.
Upon reopening, Walt Disney World lowered costs considerably, and has since raised them twice. All else being equal (which means there’s no menu overhaul), our guess is that Cinderella’s Royal Table costs will enhance to $89 per grownup and $49 per baby on February 28, 2023. That might sound actually excessive, however Disney has had no hassle filling eating places at absurd value factors.
One factor that has not modified is that Cinderella’s Royal Table requires prepayment in full for safe an Advance Dining Reservation.
It’s a bit stunning that this coverage continues to be in impact, which beforehand discouraged ADR-hoarding, as the recognition of Cinderella’s Royal Table is just not what it as soon as was with Be Our Guest Restaurant now being the highest attract Magic Kingdom.
The massive query proper now’s whether or not Cinderella’s Royal Table is definitely worth the lowered price given the environment and meals alone for many who are usually not involved in character eating.
We’ll attempt to reply these questions first, after which flip to the conventional “Fairytale Dining Experience” for households contemplating Walt Disney World journeys in 2023, when issues return to regular…
I can nonetheless keep in mind wanting within the Walt Disney World ebook I had as a child and seeing the star-filter enhanced photograph of King Stefan’s Banquet Hall, and considering how superior it could be to eat inside Cinderella Castle. On that foundation alone, we satisfied ourselves to present it a strive anyway.
Suffice to say, we have been downright shocked by Cinderella’s Royal Table…
In phrases of ambiance, Cinderella’s Royal Table is spectacular. It regarded prefer it had been pretty unchanged because it was King Stefan’s Banquet Hall, and I actually suppose that’s most likely for the very best. The restaurant continues to be in nice situation, from the carpet to the intricate particulars to the flags overhead.
I hope Disney’s Imagineers by no means change the look or really feel of the restaurant, as a result of it feels very regal, fantastically designed, and most of all, like an genuine European fort. I belief within the Imagineers, however I actually hope they don’t go for a “modern” refresh, as that’s completely pointless right here.
The visitor ambiance was additionally surprisingly good. Now, this undoubtedly is a ‘your mileage may vary situation’, however there have been no crying youngsters, and the restaurant general was not loud like we anticipated. We’ve been to some chaotic character meals, and this didn’t have that feeling in any respect.
It wasn’t peaceable or subdued like a high quality eating expertise late at evening may be, however it was shockingly relaxed. Perhaps Disney has utilized materials and different sound-dampening strategies, or perhaps we simply bought fortunate. Regardless of why, we have been surprised and impressed.
On to the meals. Note that Cinderella’s Royal Table is not all you possibly can eat. You order off of a prix fixe menu, with quite a lot of appetizer, entree, and dessert choices. (Note that the menu has modified considerably since our final meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table.)
Dinner began out with bread service. This was moderately pedestrian.
I began with the Crawfish and Shrimp with Grits. This consists of crawfish and shrimp in a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce with goat cheese grits.
I liked this appetizer, which had a very distinctive taste (totally different than normal shrimp and grits). The seafood in it was good, and wasn’t rubbery as is usually the case when it’s blended in a concoction like this.
Sarah had the Strawberry Salad for her appetizer. This consists of strawberries, feta cheese, arugula, almonds, balsamic glaze, and olive oil.
She discovered the standard of the salad to be very excessive with a terrific mixture of complimentary components, and a refreshing style.
We ‘fought’ over who bought to order the Beef Tenderloin. Since we all the time order totally different meals for the sake of critiques, we couldn’t each order it.
I “won” this time, however don’t really feel sorry for Sarah…she normally wins.
Wow is all I can say about this.
Cooked medium-rare to perfection, the meat was nearly tender sufficient to chop with a fork, the reduce of meat was wonderful, and the glaze gave it a wealthy taste. The potatoes have been equally out of this world.
Sarah as an alternative opted for the Slow-roasted Bone-In Pork, which is served on a couscous medley. She was stunned at how flavorful, tender, and juicy the reduce of meat was.
I attempted it, and I used to be equally stunned–particularly concerning the juciness. I believe Sarah might have gone for a barely leaner reduce, however I believed it was the proper quantity of lean meat versus fats.
For dessert, Sarah ordered the ‘Clock Strikes Twelve.’ Awesome presentation, however I can’t say it actually wowed both of us. Really wealthy, and that was actually the dominating “flavor.”
It wasn’t unhealthy–and perhaps it simply wasn’t for us.
I had the Chef’s Dessert Trio.
Same deal–superior presentation, form of ‘meh’ desserts. I actually did just like the pistachio dessert within the center. The others have been form of lackluster.
Finally, let’s wrap this up with a fast take a look at the princesses for these planning a Walt Disney World trip beginning February 28, 2023 and debating a meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table.
Normally, Cinderella greets visitors downstairs with a devoted photograph backdrop whereas Aurora, Snow White, Ariel, and Rapunzel meet visitors upstairs within the eating room.
I’m not an enormous fan of assembly face characters. It additionally appears like an ungainly expertise, and whereas I’m comfy cheesing it up with fur characters, I don’t have that consolation degree assembly actual individuals.
But, that’s my downside. These characters have been nice, and Sarah had lots of enjoyable with them.
She particularly appreciated Snow White, who had a little bit of sharp wit about her, with out breaking character.
In truth, I loved watching her character interactions with every of the princesses. Most did a very good job, and have been fairly good representations of the characters depicted.
The actual “dessert” or comfortable ending to our meal was the fireworks (one other factor you received’t expertise in the course of the phased reopening). In our Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Guide, I wrote that I don’t take care of areas exterior of Main Street for viewing the fireworks.
While I nonetheless want these areas, and would completely suggest these spots for a primary time customer or somebody who will solely see the fireworks as soon as throughout their journey, for us, seeing them from inside Cinderella Castle was fairly particular.
The downside for viewing the fireworks from inside Cinderella Castle for a primary timer is that you simply’re not even getting near the complete expertise of Disney Enchantment nighttime spectacular. You’re lacking the projections, soundtrack, the close to bursts, and extra.
However, it’s a reasonably cool expertise should you’ve already seen Magic Kingdom’s fireworks a pair–or a pair dozen–occasions. The manner the totally different pyro bursts illuminate the within of the restaurant, basking everybody in several colours all through the meal is one thing particular. The lovely gothic structure of the inside plus the glow of the fireworks was pure Disney magic. Putting apart the characters and even the higher than anticipated meals, this alone made the excessive value “worth it” for us.
In regular occasions, Walt Disney World considers Cinderella’s Royal Table a “Fairytale Dining Experience.” which I believe simply refers to the truth that you possibly can meet Cinderella and different visiting princesses right here. The meal additionally features a photograph of your occasion and Cinderella taken by PhotoPass photographers.
Also usually, Cinderella’s Royal Table accepts Tables in Wonderland for a 20% low cost (you obtain a refund whenever you current your card within the restaurant for the quantity of the low cost), and participates within the Disney Dining Plan as a 2-credit Signature meal. Due to that, it isn’t a sensible choice should you’re attempting to maximize your worth on the Disney Dining Plan.
Ultimately, I’m of two minds about Cinderella’s Royal Table. While the meals is surprisingly good, it’s overpriced even by Walt Disney World requirements. However, you’re clearly not paying for simply the meals whenever you dine right here. Just as a lot part of the meal because the meals is the truth that you’re eating inside Cinderella Castle and doubtlessly assembly princesses.
If neither of these items matter to you, there’s merely no motive so that you can dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Even given our reward for the meals on this overview, you will get higher meals for much less cash elsewhere. However, if princess eating and/or a meal in Cinderella Castle is interesting, it is perhaps simpler so that you can justify this restaurant as a splurge. In the tip, it actually comes down as to if you’re comfy spending this a lot on a meal that I’d peg at only a rung under high quality eating.
If you’re a household on the lookout for a “fine family dining experience” and are keen to pay accordingly, Cinderella’s Royal Table is the Walt Disney World restaurant for you. If you’re a pair on the lookout for a romantic restaurant have been delicacies is paramount, you may need to search for one of many Signature Restaurants within the Magic Kingdom resorts.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part it is advisable to know!
Your Thoughts
Have you carried out Cinderella’s Royal Table at Walt Disney World? What did you suppose? Worthwhile for the characters, ambiance, meals, or all the above? Is this meal one thing you’d wish to strive? Any particular suggestions? If you might have any questions or ideas to share, please submit them within the feedback. We love listening to from readers!