Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom is one of the most sought-after dining experiences in Walt Disney World. Being able to dine with Cinderella herself and eat in the Cinderella Castle Restaurant is every girl’s dream. Who doesn’t want to dine in Cinderella’s Castle, right?!?! The sheer idea of it makes many swoon. While we’ve resisted dining here simply due to the expense and its 2 dining plan credit price tag, this year we just had to see what all the fuss was about! Is Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table worth it? Does it live up to the hype? With Disney Princesses all in one place, it can help you make the most of your time at Walt Disney World. But, it is EXPENSIVE! So to get our feet wet we decided to try breakfast at Cinderella’s Table. A little cheaper, a little less risky. Here’s everything you need to know about dining in the castle at Magic Kingdom.
Contents
- 1 Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast at Disney World
- 2 Cinderella’s Royal Table Atmosphere
- 3 Cinderella’s Royal Table Characters
- 4 What Princesses Do You Meet at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom?
- 5 Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast Menu
- 6 Cinderella’s Royal Table Prices
- 7 How Much Does Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast Cost?
- 8 Is Cinderella’s Royal Table Worth It?
- 9 Would We Recommend Cinderella’s Royal Table?
- 10 Cinderella’s Royal Table Tips
- 11 Cinderella’s Royal Table Review
Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast at Disney World
It’s a well-known fact that Cinderella’s Royal Table Disney pulls out all the stops! You get several princesses, good food, amazing views, and royal treatment. We decided to try breakfast at Cinderella’s Table for two reasons. First, we love getting into the parks early, especially Magic Kingdom. No crowds in front of the Castle means it’s the perfect time to take photos. And there is just a nice calm in the air. To really maximize this experience we recommend everyone make a breakfast reservation before the park opens at least once during their vacation.
Where is the Entrance to Cinderella’s Royal Table Restaurant at Walt Disney World?
Believe it or not, you may completely miss the entrance to Cinderella’s Royal Table Restaurant at the Castle if you aren’t looking for it! It’s directly in the back of the castle to the right-hand side. The experience starts at check-in, like all of the table service restaurants at Walt Disney World. Once you receive your “invitation”, you are called back to wait in line for Cinderella herself!
How Does Dining in Cinderella’s Royal Table Work?
Dining at Cinderellas Castle in Disney World is an experience. And in all the excitement you may miss the things that make it extra special. Once inside the castle’s great hall, be sure to notice all of the details of the castle. The castle is beautifully decorated and really quite regal. We loved glancing up and seeing details like this adorable Jaq and Gus just watching from the rafters.
Cinderella makes a grand entrance down the spiral staircase and interacts with guests for a meet and greet and photo ops. The backdrop is a large fireplace just as you would find in the castle. It’s a similar experience to dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway at Epcot. That breakfast experience is another great opportunity to meet all the Disney princesses in one place. While Akershus is slightly cheaper, requiring only 1 dining credit on the Disney Dining Plan, it is a much easier Disney Character Restaurant Reservation to get. The food there is much heavier as per the Norway culture.
Once Cinderella arrives to welcome you you can snag the perfect picture with Cinderella in front of her fireplace in the great hall. She is, after all, the star of this show. Once your picture is taken you can ascend to the second floor of this Disney Castle Restaurant and be seated. Here you’re surrounded by arched castle windows and can take in the grandeur of this Disney castle restaurant.
You will recognize this dining room because this is the part of the castle you see from the back. With floor-to-ceiling arched windows. The dining room is much smaller than we had anticipated but it IS beautifully decorated for royalty. We loved that during this meal you get to eat on the second floor and you do feel like you’re inside a real castle. Which is so cool.
Do you need Dining Reservations for Cinderella’s Royal Table?
Yes. One of the most difficult reservations to get at Walt Disney World, Cinderella’s Royal Table should be booked as soon as your Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) window opens. Typically 60 days before your first day of vacation, at 6:00 AM EST.
Does Cinderella’s Royal Table Have a Dress Code?
While Cinderella’s Royal Table is a signature dining experience, there is No Dress Code at Cinderella’s Royal Table. As such theme park attire is appropriate.
How Long is Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table?
Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table is typically between an hour to an hour and a half. The breakfast service includes a pastry plate appetizer, along with beverages like juice, tea, and coffee. Then the main course entree. At some point throughout your breakfast, the Wishing Ceremony takes place.
What Time is Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table?
Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table is from 8:00 AM to 10:15 AM. And quite often, since Main Street USA is open an hour before the official opening time of the park, typically at 9 AM., you should have no trouble getting in for your reservation if it; ‘s at 8 AM. However, if you arrive a little early and the Magic Kingdom gates are not open, just let them know you’re there for breakfast and they’ll let you in.
The Wishing Ceremony at Cinderella’s Royal Table
Every child at Cinderella’s Royal Table gets a Wishing Star Wand. This little wand can be kept, and is used to help “Make Wishes Come True!” Lights flash around the castle as all the princesses take part. It’s a bit of extra magic and the perfect addition to this magical breakfast. We did get the adorable plastic star for G, which was a perfect souvenir. However, we were unable to even hear the wishing ceremony taking place due to the loudness in the restaurant. We’d recommend you ask your server when the ceremony will take place so that you can be ready for it. While this little plastic wishing star wand is by no means a free Disney souvenir, we love that it’s a special way to commemorate the experience for little ones.
Cinderella’s Royal Table Atmosphere
If you’ve been wondering what makes the Cinderella Restaurant at Disney World special, it’s the atmosphere. For us, actually, the ambiance of this restaurant was a little chaotic. And we were rather shocked by that. We had sort of expected soft music, a royal setting, and all the families adhering to what we consider appropriate Cinderella Castle restaurant behavior. But, obviously, that wasn’t the case at least not on a Saturday morning.
As a children ‘s-focused dining experience, there were many small children who were undoubtedly very excited. So it was very loud and also very crowded mostly just due to the size of the dining room. What made this worse was that the servers and princesses also felt harried.
Even in other similar settings, take Crystal Palace for example. Our waiter there came by, sat down, chatted with us, and didn’t remove our plates before we were done eating off of them. Here, we felt rushed, which was not a great feeling when spending 180 dollars on breakfast. Again, this could have just been our experience, so take it with a grain of salt. And hopefully, it’s the case for dinner when the meal price is even higher. The service overall was also slightly lacking, but again, that’s not a concrete statement. The overall hectic atmosphere probably just had everyone on edge.
Cinderella’s Royal Table Characters
Meeting the characters at Cinderella’s Royal Table is the main reason for having any meal here. Especially as this meal typically includes more Disney Princesses than you find together, anywhere else. One of the biggest draws is so many princesses in one place! The princesses come around, sign your autograph book, and pose for pictures. As with all Disney Character Restaurants, these princesses show up throughout your meal, while you eat. As a result, there is almost a constant flow of interruptions while you eat. No doubt adding to that chaotic feeling. But, knowing this before you go, can help you be ready for it.
What Princesses Do You Meet at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom?
So, what princesses do you meet at Cinderella’s Royal Table? At our breakfast, we met Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, and Jasmine. It sure beats waiting in several different princess character lines just to get the photos. But do keep in mind that these are the dining room and restaurant pictures. So if your autograph book is more your concern, you’re golden. If you really want the perfect pictures in front of a nice backdrop, you should probably wait in those meet-and-greet lines. Because every pic with the princess could easily have the dining room or other guests in the background. Note that the Disney Princesses available are subject to change.
Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast Menu
Ok, now down to the nitty-gritty truth. The Cinderella’s Royal Table Menu is actually quite lacking for breakfast! It’s also important to keep in mind that all of the items are the same price, except the kid’s menu items. Let me repeat that… All The Items Are The Same Price. Because it’s a cost-per-meal situation, it doesn’t matter if you get the salad or the steak, both cost the same. So, choose wisely.
Breakfast Pastries Course
Since we were here at breakfast, they brought out a plate of pastries to enjoy while waiting for our server. It includes small muffins, croissants, danishes; everything you’d expect to find on a pastry plate at Cinderella’s Castle.
Breakfast Entree Options
Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast Menu includes a variety of options for both kids and adults. And does have an allergy-friendly menu as well.
We ordered the Beef Tenderloin with Broccolini and Egg, the Caramel Apple-Stuffed French toast, and Royal Avocado Toast. Sadly, while the steak was fantastic, the other two dishes were meh. G actually didn’t like the caramel apple stuffed toast at all and only maybe ate a few bites. And you can see from the pic below how small it actually is too. The French Toast here is more like a bread pudding, and not the delicious one you can find at Ohana at The Polynesian either. While we all thought the french toast sounded delicious, both Rochelle and I tried it as well and it just wasn’t to our liking.
Our biggest complaint was that the meal itself, the Royal Avocado Toast, while delicious, would have probably cost less than $5 to make at home and was definitely not worth the $65 price tag. And since we recently tried the same dish over at Trattoria al Forno for like $17, was a little disappointed in this one. If you’re here for breakfast, hoping to get your money’s worth and enjoy meat, we highly recommend the Beef Tenderloin and Egg as it is most likely the best value for the money and was pretty tasty.
Kid’s Menu
The Kid’s Menu at Cinderella Royal Table is for Children 9 and Under. However, if you have an older child who wishes to order from this menu, they are welcome. However, since this is a fixed-price meal, the adult rate is still charged. Each child can Pick ONE ( 1) Entree and TWO ( 2) sides from the menu. The meal is served with a choice of Small low-fat milk or small Minute Maid® Apple Juice. As you can see, it’s very basic food options at this age.
Entrees
Kid’s Sides ( Choose 2)
Cinderella’s Royal Table Prices
By far one of the more expensive restaurants at Walt Disney World, Cinderella’s Royal Table Prices are different for breakfast than they are for lunch and dinner. Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table costs $39 per child and $65 per adult. For Lunch and dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table, the cost is $47 per child and $79 per adult. And while the sticker shock may send you reeling keep in mind that this experience is more about getting to dine in Cinderella’s Castle and Meet the Princesses than it is about the food.
How Much Does Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast Cost?
- Breakfast is $65 for adults and $39 for children
- Lunch is $79 for adults and $47 for children
- Dinner is $79 for adults and $47 for children
How Many Dining Credits is Cinderella’s Royal Table?
Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table is Worth 2 Dining Credits on the Disney Meal Plan. Obviously, the food is not the only reason we came here. Being able to meet all of the Disney Princesses in one, the air-conditioned setting is always a plus if it can be managed. The princesses come out one by one, announced every few minutes, and make their way around to the tables. So, have your autograph books and cameras ready! As for being worth it, we’d have to say, the food wasn’t WOW! enough for us to spend 2 dining credits. And we could find better options at Ale and Compass, and Be Our Guest for much cheaper. But, if you really need all the princesses in one place to help maximize your day, then $65 dollars may feel ok to you.
Is Cinderella’s Royal Table Worth It?
First, let us just say, that the food here is OK. Not really anything to write home about. Frankly, the amazing chicken at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, has us talking more than this food did. Second, realize that you’re not paying as much for the food as you really are for the experience. Third, every family has their own tastes and budgets. So, we can’t say that we recommend it, it’s important to weigh the cost vs. the experience and make your decision based on that.
What’s so Great about Dining at Cinderella’s Castle?
Cinderella’s Royal Table has Extra Magic everywhere, you get to eat inside Cinderella’s Castle and the Disney Princesses are at the ready to sign autographs and take pics. What’s not to like? That said, Cinderella’s Royal Table offers a unique dining experience you can’t get anywhere else. The decor is stunning and transports you back to what a “real” castle must have felt like. For children, the chance to meet the princesses will be more impressive than the tall arched glass windows. Is it expensive? Yes. Do we think you can find better food elsewhere? Yes. Will you get another experience like this one? Not likely.
Would We Recommend Cinderella’s Royal Table?
As an experience, you can only have at Walt Disney World, we’d recommend trying it at least once. And if you’re on a budget, try Cinderella’s Royal Table for Breakfast, instead of dinner. We chose breakfast because it was cheaper, and would have had a similar experience at lunch or dinner. Will we be going back for dinner? No, probably not. The food over at Toledo at Coronado Springs has this place beat by miles. And since we’ve already had the experience of the decor, food, and princesses, we don’t need it again. However, the castle is iconic and dining here should be on your Disney Bucket List. Because being inside the castle and seeing the view is something that can really only be done if you dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table Restaurant.
Cinderella’s Royal Table Tips
Be sure to double-check the Menus and Prices BEFORE you go. You can view the Cinderella’s Royal Table Menu here and decide for yourself if it’s worth the splurge. Prices can fluctuate with peak periods as well, so keep that in mind.
If you’re planning to eat here book a reservation as soon as your Disney Dining Reservation window opens. Yes, we recommend that you be up at 6:00 a.m. for this on the first day you’re allowed to book.
If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan, this reservation will cost you TWO Credits. Yep, 2 Table Service meals for this dining experience. Since we go often and usually on a budget, we aren’t really willing to give up that extra entitlement for one meal, when we can actually get two meals later. On the flip side, it’s pretty expensive to eat here so if you want the illusion of not paying, then go for it and just grab a Disney quick-service meal for dinner on another day.
If you do not have a dining plan applied to your account upon booking, you will be required to pay for this meal IN FULL with your credit card on file when booking. Definitely keep that in mind if you are booking for a large number of people.
Cinderella’s Royal Table Review
Ok. So what’s the verdict for our Cinderella Royal Table review? While we did enjoy this breakfast, the portion sizes were considerably smaller than we’ve grown accustomed to at Walt Disney World. And that’s coming from girls who normally eat less anyway. But for many, the smaller portions may be disappointing. Especially if you’re used to the buffet all-you-care-to-enjoy dining found elsewhere.
We also wouldn’t recommend this restaurant as a way to get a head start on your Magic Kingdom day unless you can get the 7:55 a.m. time. Even that could be cutting it close. It took an hour and a half for us to meet Cinderella in line, meet Jasmine, Ariel, Snow White, and Aurora at our tables, and be served our breakfast. So by the time we were done with the whole experience, we were really no more ahead than anyone else. It was close to 10 a.m. at that point.
If you’re looking to get an early breakfast and an early start at the parks, we recommend the 8 a.m. buffet at Crystal Palace. As you can get in and out much faster to start enjoying Magic Kingdom.
Overall, we did like dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table simply for the experience of being inside the castle. It’s been a Disney bucket list item for us for a while and we’re glad that we were able to do it. Seeing how we spent almost half of a normal month’s food budget in a single setting for one day, we doubt we will return any time soon. But we were glad that it was something we were able to experience, even if it was just once. Have you been to Cinderella’s Royal Table? Do you think it’s worth the splurge? Let us know!
Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .
