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!
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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.
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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! 😉😊