Breakfast returned to Cinderella’s Royal Table this morning, and I was happy to get to celebrate its return in person. With my hungry tummy. For the very first time. If you’d like a peek at what breakfast is like in Cinderella Castle, keep reading!
First of all, let’s stop and soak in the fact that we’re eating breakfast in Cinderella Castle. Inside. Cinderella. CASTLE. Yes, for a Walt Disney World fan, it’s a pretty big thing. The space is just as you’d want it to be: regal and opulent without being stuffy. This is Cindy’s place, after all. She’s not a stuffy kind of gal.
The large windows that line the back of the restaurant wash the space in natural light, and it was the perfect spot to start the day. The cast members were lovely, and the service was excellent.
Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table begins with a plate of assorted breakfast pastries, and I have to say that each pastry was very good. See those mini chocolate croissants? You’re gonna want to gobble those up and shove extras into your pockets. They’re just so good. A note: I was happy to see two of each pastry on the plate. Pastry baskets and plates on Disney World property often only feature one of each and you’re left deciding who gets which one. I was there with my hubby, and I was glad that we didn’t have to split up pastries (or have an arm wrestling match) in order to allow both of us to have our own.
The menu has a little something for everyone. The Beef Tenderloin and Egg and Shrimp and Grits were recommended to my hubby and I, and the recommendation was spot on. Yes, the two choices are more brunch-y than breakfast-y, but I was so glad that we chose them. And our server graciously brought us an order of the Caramel Apple-Stuffed French Toast to share. This dish is incredibly sweet and on the smaller side, so I was glad that I didn’t order it for my entree.
The Beef Tenderloin and Egg dish features tenderloin atop a potato and egg frittata. If you’re a cheese fan, it’s worth noting that that frittata is covered in Boursin cheese sauce. Let that sink in. Yummm. The frittata is light and airy and the tenderloin had a fantastic char flavor. The dish comes with broccolini, which was prepared perfectly.
The Shrimp and Grits dish was equally good, and comes with smoked Gouda cheese grits, tomato jam, a fried egg, buttered shrimp, and garlic bread. If shrimp and grits are your thing, this dish will make you incredibly happy. The grits were creamy, the shrimp were cooked to perfection, and the tomato jam? That jam BRINGS THE HEAT. If you lean toward spicy food, that jam will be your, well, jam. The only knock I’d give the dish is that I would have enjoyed a couple of additional shrimp. This is Cinderella’s Royal Table. Let’s give the people more than four shrimp.
As I mentioned earlier, the Caramel Apple-Stuffed French Toast is very sweet. It’s French toast stuffed with sweet cream cheese and spiced apples, drizzled with caramel sauce and served with two pieces of bacon. The layers of apples and spices used in the French toast were nice, but I definitely couldn’t have finished the dish by myself due to the level of sweetness. And I love sweets, so that might tell you something. When it’s stacked against dishes like the tenderloin and shrimp and grits, it just doesn’t compare.
If you’re planning to make a stop at Cinderella’s Royal Table in the near future, keep in mind that Cinderella is greeting guests from afar. She welcomes those dining from the perimeter of the restaurant, and guests are asked to stay seated while she’s out and about. She appears roughly every 30 minutes and takes plenty of time to allow guests to take pictures from their tables. Also, at this time, Cinderella is the only princess who appears to meet guests. It’s a good thing to know going into it.
Also, in the past, guests were given wands and wishing stars for a special wishing moment with Cinderella. The special time, along with its special effects on the restaurant’s ceiling still occurs, but wands and stars are not being handed out. Guests are given an autograph card that has a lovely mosaic portrait of Cinderella on one side and her signature on the other.
Depending on the day, breakfast will run you $35-$59.99 per person, and you must prepay for the meal. Coffee, tea, juices, and sodas are included, and speciality wine cocktails, including The Royal Breakfast Flight that features a mimosa, a sparking peach cocktail, and a glass of sangria, are extra.
All in all, this meal was magical. I just couldn’t believe that I was eating inside of the castle. And the food was incredibly good, so while I might have thought we’d be paying for location over food quality going into the meal, I have to say that was most certainly not the case. The environment, the food, and the service were excellent. And I wish that I could’ve stayed there all day.
Have you had the chance to eat a meal in the castle? If so, what did you think? If not, is a visit to Cinderella’s Royal Table on your must-do list? Let me know in the comment section below!