There have been a LOT of changes made to how we see and interact with characters at Disney World over the past couple years, and the changes seem like they will be continuing.
For the first time in forever, they’re back inside!
Many meet and greets were put on pause for a while and they have only just returned over the past few months. More and more character dining has also been coming back slowly. However, you still cannot stand next to a character and take a picture with them or go up and hug them — things are remaining physically distant for now. One of the most popular character meals in Disney World is over at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom, and there has been another change to how you meet the restaurant’s namesake princess!
Before the pandemic began, Cinderella’s Royal Table featured various princesses that would come around to your table and meet you.
Sleeping Beauty at Cinderella’s Royal Table
This has evolved into only Cinderella now being at the restaurant. And, guests were not allowed to get up and take pictures with her or interact with her — they could only greet her from a distance as she briefly walked around the dining area. She was not in the restaurant during the whole meal, but rather just made a quick appearance.
There she is!
But now, Cinderella doesn’t walk around the dining room at all — instead, she is available to meet and take photos in the lobby of the restaurant. When we went to check out the change, a Cast Member brought us, along with a small group, to meet Cinderella after we checked in for our dining reservation.
Meeting area
We then stood in a short line and were allowed to say hi and take pictures of the princess. But, you are still not allowed to get close to the princess to take pictures, which is probably why she is up on a slightly raised platform. The whole experience was pretty rushed though — we only got a quick moment to take our pictures and see Cinderella before we were taken upstairs to the restaurant.
Cindy!
We asked several Cast Members if we were able to meet Cinderella after our meal and we were told the only chance to meet her is before, right when you walk in to the lobby of the restaurant (where we saw her earlier).
Cinderella posing with guests
So, if you want to take pictures with Cindy (in front of her, physically distanced), you can only do it before you’re taken upstairs for your meal. We did grab a pictures of just Cinderella posing on our way out, but it’s not the designated photo spot — it was more just us passing by and snapping a quick pic!
On our way out
We’ll be on the lookout if any more changes happen with character dining, so stay tuned to DFB for news and updates.
Click here to check out our breakfast review for Cinderella’s Royal Table!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂
Do you like this change at Cinderella’s Royal Table or do you wish she still walked around during your meal? Let us know in the comments.
TRENDING NOW
Disney is now offering ground transportation as an add-on option for guests booking Disney World...
Is there a "best" airline to use to fly to Orlando? We asked our readers...
We're here with the TOP restaurants from Disney Springs! Find out where you'll find the...
Another Disney World hotel is getting some updates soon, and we've got all the details...
In our latest DFB Video, we're going through 31 EXCLUSIVE snacks you'll only find in...
Disney's CFO has commented about inflation and potential changes under consideration. See more details here.
One Disney World park has changed the way they give out FREE water!
We're back to dive into some of the BEST breakfast food options that most people...
In this DFB Video, we're ranking ALL of the Disney World Hotels. Check out more...
We dined at the recently reopened restaurant, Cinderella's Royal Table, in Magic Kingdom! Here are...
Don't want to wait in a super long line to get cookies from Gideon's Bakehouse...
Let's take a look at some of the best details in Disney World's Tower of...
The Disney Heroes & Villains costume exhibit is coming to Michigan!
Staying at a Disney hotel will have special perks when it comes to Disney Genie+....
One of our favorite restaurants in Disney World just got some NEW menu items! Check...
We asked our readers to rank Magic Kingdom's quick service restaurants and here's what they...
We're reviewing one of our FAVORITE restaurants in Disney World! Will it keep its crown??
From new restaurant hot spots to tried-and-true classics that only get better with age, consider...
See ALL the Disney World 50th Anniversary merchandise you can buy online right now! Spoiler...
Let's take a look at EVERY character meal that has returned to traditional service in...
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Subscribe via RSS
Subscribe via email
we just ate there last week. was not thrilled about the entire experience compared to in the past. didnt have the disney magic and very rushed, as if they didnt care.
Don’t love this.. When we went in 2019, we met Cinderella in this same spot beforehand, albeit not physically distanced. However, do you think this is in anticipation of the princesses returning to the experience a la pre-covid?
I think her hair 💈 could being fixs better 👍 which I redid it. Tou can see the difference in then the art work 💼 it self.
We’ve booked CRT for lunch. Is this change the case for breakfast and lunch and dinner? Pre-pandemic, were all those timeslots the same in terms of character meets?
I’m hoping they will announce more character interaction coming back before our trip. Fingers crossed!
Hmm, if they’re still doing this in July I think we’ll skip it. There’s a lot of great places to eat. I just hope they bring back Bippidi Bobbidi Boutique!
If rather her be walking around. Feels more magical to me!
Missed Cinderella when I went to the restaurant in January. She made an appearance at the edge of the
dining room but no real photo opportunity. I embarrassed my sons in 2015 when I made reservations here.
I had them pose for the photo with Cinderella. They were 21 & 26 at the time and towered over her. I got a good laugh out of it.
We had breakfast at CRT in September and Cinderella made several appearances. At least now we would be able to have a picture with Cinderella. Can’t wait to visit again this September.
Not worth it. The best memories I have are of my kids hugging their favorite characters. I hope one day we can get back to that.
Considering how expensive it is to eat there; this should not be the case. Will not be dining here again if this is permanent.
Interesting- this was how she was in 2014 or so (albeit you could actually be right next to her and stuff), with the OTHER princesses doing the tour of the restaurant. Now it seems we’re back to that, but NOBODY walking around.
I’ve been to Disney many times and we always did breakfast at the castle. We had a the characters walking around and taking photos. I hate the way their doing things now and its too expensive to take your kids to Disney and not have the full experience. I promised my granddaughter I was going to take her, but until things are back to the way they were before she may be grown before I actually take her because I’m not doing it with all these restrictions.
The ONLY justification for shelling out this kind of money here, is the experience. It isn’t the food which is ok but there are cheaper options with better food. It isn’t the location because the castle is very cool and centrally located but there are cheaper options with better food very close by. The pre-pandemic experience of several princesses that would come to your table, and my girls could get hugs, autographs and pictures. That is what we were paying for…..until it’s like that again, I couldn’t really understand any reason at all to come here. They see princesses at a distance all over the park(s) and resorts….¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
We love Cinderella s castle and hope to eat there this year and like to know if anyone is having trouble with the food blog loading slow
We agree there is so much wrong with doing on a vacation to Disney world we hope to go back the problem is to go there u have n on the electronics to do anything that needs to b changed we r annual Passholders and live out of state so it’s more expensive have to fly and always stay on property when people love n Florida they can go more often I k ow my sister
And her husband do cause they live there and the desantis and his co harts needs to leave Disney and reddy creek alone just cause he’s having a temper tantrum sounds like some one else we’ve heard of there I’ve said it
Hopefully that has changed since the meet & greets are coming back. In the photo that you shared in this article with her on her raised platform, it does not appear that she is a very happy Princess! I think she could use a hug! 😉😊