It takes more than a little bibbidi-bobbidi-boo to get a seat at this table. No wonder Cinderella’s Royal Table reservations are always in high demand. 

Where else can you experience fairytale dining in one of the most famous and recognizable castles in the world? 

The guest-favorite restaurant has been enchanting diners and dreamers of all ages since 1997. It’s still the hottest ticket at Magic Kingdom … and notoriously difficult to score a table.

So what’s the best strategy for booking your own Cinderella’s Royal Table reservations? Let’s break it down. 

Which Princesses Are At Cinderella’s Royal Table?

Guests can meet Cinderella herself at Cinderella’s Royal Table! Photo by Laurie Sapp

No doubt the biggest draw of the Cinderella’s Royal Table experience is being able to rub shoulders with real Disney Princesses. 

As soon as the trumpet sounds, the banquet hall welcomes Cinderella and 4-5 of her friends to the festivities. Ariel, Snow White, Jasmine, and Aurora are all on the guest list. 

Tip: Have your camera, autograph book, and pen at the ready. While the Princesses do make a point of stopping at each table, the rotation can happen quite quickly (and may leave your little ones or even you feeling starstruck). So have your autograph book and phone in hand so you don’t miss capturing every magical moment.

COVID-19 Brings Changes To Character Dining Experiences

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a lot of changes to the Parks. As a result, character dining experiences at many locations have been modified to ensure guest safety.

As of May 2022, character dining is still unavailable at Cinderella’s Royal Table.  

Cinderella remains the only Disney Princess at Cinderella’s Royal Table at this time. However, you can still get some facetime with her. You’ll find her at her familiar photo-op spot in the lobby before you enter the dining room. 

But as far as making the rounds in the banquet hall, that’s still a no-go.

As soon as something changes, we’ll let you know. Watch this space and follow WDW Magazine on Google News for the latest updates.

How to Get Reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table

If only we had our own Fairy Godmother to pull some strings for us … Photo courtesy of Disney

Wishing you had your own Fairy Godmother who could make Cinderella’s Royal Table reservations for you? Ya, us too.

For a hot spot like this, the chances of walking in and getting seated without a prior reservation are pretty slim. Like … being a Disney Villain and thinking you can get away with it slim.

Disney recommends that anyone looking to dine at an in-park table-service restaurant gets an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) up to 60 days in advance (and a valid Magic Kingdom reservation for the same day, of course). 

That’s where we’ll get a little help from our friend, the My Disney Experience app.

Use My Disney Experience to monitor dining reservation availability.

You can make a breakfast, lunch, or dinner reservation through My Disney Experience. Your other options are to book through the Walt Disney World website or by calling (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463).

But remember, a dining reservation doesn’t guarantee entry into the park. So you’ll need reservations for both the restaurant and Magic Kingdom (a valid ticket or annual pass will do). 

If this sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is. 

So why not have your very own Disney World Travel Agent make the reservation for you? Our friends at Destinations to Travel will help build your dream trip around your meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Now that’s pretty close to having a Fairy Godmother!

What Is The Best Time To Eat At Cinderella’s Royal Table?

You can use Disney Genie to check out the busiest times for Cinderella’s Royal Table. Screenshot by Timothy Moore

That’s a question for the Disney Genie service.

Genie compiles data from other guest itineraries to give you the most accurate recommendations. You’ll be able to see the busiest times for Cinderella’s Royal Table plotted out on a graph so you can plan accordingly. 

You may also want to consider the dynamic of your dining party and what everyone wants out of their day at the park. 

• Want to fill your park day with attractions instead of lengthy meet-and-greet lines? Breakfast’s your best bet. 
• Is watching the fireworks from inside Cinderella Castle on your bucket list? Make it a dinner reservation.

Those are only two examples, but you can start to imagine how you may want to structure your own ideal park day around your Cinderella’s Royal Table reservation. 

Tips For Booking Cinderella’s Royal Table

These booking tips apply not just to Cinderella’s Royal Table, but to all hot ticket character dining experiences on Disney property. 

• Mark your 60-day window on your calendar. The My Disney Experience app will let you make an Advanced Dining Reservation 60 days out from the day you want to book your meal (NOT the day you’re arriving in the park if you’re planning a multi-day trip). That goes for everyone regardless of resort booking.
• Set your alarm for 6 AM ET. Early birds on the East Coast have the advantage here. You can start refreshing the My Disney Experience app as soon as 6 AM ET. If you’d like to get in another hour of sleep, the phone line at (407) WDW-DINE opens at 7 AM ET.
• Refresh, refresh, refresh. The constant (and we mean constant) refreshing of the app or online booking page can be a pain, but you could luck out and take advantage of a spot opening up due to a cancellation. 
• Sign up for Disney dining alerts at MouseWatcher. This independent, third-party site will send you instant text and email alerts when tables at Cinderella’s Royal Table open up (be prepared to pay a service fee). 
• Use a Disney World crowd calendar to plan your trip. You’ll increase your chances of finding an opening if you schedule your visit during a park’s low crowd month. 
• Park hop at your own peril. Sure it’s tempting to spend your morning on safari in Animal Kingdom, grab lunch at EPCOT, and then swing back to Magic Kingdom for dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table. But you’re taking a BIG risk because park-hopping entry into another park is never guaranteed. If you were lucky enough to score a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table, we recommend starting and ending your day in Magic Kingdom.

Is Cinderella’s Royal Table Worth It?

Us showing up to our Cinderella’s Royal Table reservations. Courtesy of Disney

Getting the royal treatment definitely comes at a high cost. So the question of whether or not Cinderella’s Royal Table is worth it depends on what you want to get out of your trip. 

For many guests, the medieval ambiance and one-of-a-kind character meet-and-greet experience justify the cost and extra hassle to book reservations. You’re dining in an authentic Disney castle after all!

But … then there’s the COVID-19 of it all. With health and safety regulations limiting character interactions to ONE princess, you may reconsider booking a reservation … at least right now. (Especially if you have your heart set on meeting Jasmine, Snow White, or one of the other princesses in the pre-pandemic rotation.)

If character interaction isn’t the make-it-or-break-it of your dining experience, you may prefer to choose a restaurant where it’s easier to get an advance reservation. 

Plus, there are plenty of other Disney Princess attractions at Magic Kingdom if you still need your royal fix. 

Your Turn. Do You Have Any Tips?

Our readers are a smart bunch. So if you’ve got your own tips, we’d love to hear ’em! Sound off on our Facebook page and share your strategy with other Disney Parks fans.