One of the most iconic things about Walt Disney World is Cinderella’s Castle. It’s beautiful and stately and a magical centerpiece for the park. You can walk through the castle at various times throughout the day, but it’s not often you get to go up inside it. Unless you get really lucky and win a stay in the suite inside the castle, the only way you can go inside is to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant. I may not be a little girl anymore, but the thought of getting to go inside Cinderella’s Castle gets me excited!
This dining experience is pretty popular so you’ll want to book your reservation well in advance of your trip. The check-in is just inside the archway on the back side of the castle. (The Fantasyland side!) They seem to seat people in waves, and will only check you in 5 minutes before your scheduled time. Once you check in, you get in line to meet Cinderella. Unfortunately with my last visit, there was no Photopass photographer there so I just had to use my phone and the quality wasn’t the best. The downstairs area is on the dark side and is themed with Gothic arches, stonework, wooden beamed ceilings, and several Medieval tapestries. Once you get to meet Cinderella, you go up a spiral staircase to the dining room.
The dining hall fairly large and divided into sections by the various pillars. It can get a little noisy, like most Disney restaurants, but it’s not too bad. The windows on the far side of the room overlook Fantasyland and if you happen to get seated next to them, it’s quite fun to sit and watch life rush by below you. The dining hall is themed well and makes you feel like you’re in an old castle.
Cinderella’s Royal Table currently comes with 3 courses and free soft drinks. The appetizer was a little sampling plate of hummus, salad, cheese topped with honey, and crispy pita bread and crackers. Everything was good – the honey on the cheese is different, but tasty and the dressing on the salad is quite light and refreshing.
(The menu changes from time to time, so the particular dishes I show may not still be available when you go.) The food is beautifully presented. Even though the room may be filled with children, they know how to cater to adults too. The chicken was nice and tender and the polenta was cheesy and delicious. The gnocchi with vegetables was good and quite filling, though it had a little too much sauce for me. It’s nice to get some vegetables that aren’t fried at a theme park! The cheesecake with lemon curd was very light and refreshing. The chocolate cake with toasted marshmallow fluff was moist and quite dense. The berries on the side helped to freshen it up.
The princesses rotate through the hall from table to table. They don’t spend as much time interacting with you (particularly if you’re a table of adults) as they might when you meet them throughout the park. I went with a friend and they would make a short comment or two and take a photo and be off. So if you’re wanting to really interact with the princesses, this might not be the best place. On the positive side, you get to see a lot of princesses without having to wait in many different long lines. I’ve been to Cinderella’s Royal Table twice in the past 2-3 years and have seen the same princesses both times – Snow White, Aurora, Ariel, and Jasmine. (As well as Cinderella downstairs – she doesn’t roam the dining hall like the rest of the princesses.)
It’s a pricey dining experience, but it’s fun to do for something special. As a big Disney fan, getting to go inside the castle is super fun! And I still enjoy meeting the different Disney characters. While there are lots of kids in the dining hall and it can be noisy, the room itself is beautiful and the food is great and feels more high-end so it makes for a special and fun experience even for adults.
Let me know if you’ve been to Cinderella’s Royal Table and what you thought of it! Would you consider going on a future trip?
