If your Walt Disney World dreams include meeting Disney Princesses and plenty of ‘em, there’s no better way to make those dreams come true! Here’s how!
Long, long ago, when we took our first Walt Disney World vacation, it was my little girl’s fondest wish to meet Anna and Elsa. In those days, that meant planning a trip to Princess Fairytale Hall courtesy of the late, lamented FastPass – easy, right? Not quite. As soon as it became clear that her primary mission was going to succeed, she rewrote her wish list to include as many of her regal heroines as she could. Didn’t matter which ones… as long as they were princesses! How did a noobie Disney Dad manage this feat without spending our whole holiday lining up for endless character meets in 4 different parks? With a magic wand called Disney World Princess Dining!
What Is Princess Dining at Disney World?
Princess dining is a type of Disney World character dining experience centered around Disney Princesses and other characters from classic fairytales. Guests enjoy a table-service meal while characters circulate through the dining room or appear at designated photo locations.
The experience is especially helpful for families with younger children. Character meals provide a more relaxed, climate-controlled way to meet several characters without building an entire park day around meet-and-greet lines.
However, Disney World princess meals are among the resort’s most popular and expensive dining experiences. Character appearances are also subject to change, so families should never book a meal solely to meet one specific princess.
Here is how the current options compare.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT
Photo by Laurie Sapp
Located in the Norway pavilion at EPCOT, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall offers one of the best opportunities to meet several Disney Princesses during a single meal.
The restaurant resembles a medieval Norwegian castle, with stone archways, high ceilings, chandeliers and richly decorated dining rooms. The setting feels suitably royal without being as formal or expensive as dining inside Cinderella Castle.
Akershus serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. All three meals are served family-style and combine familiar choices with Norwegian-inspired dishes. Breakfast includes foods such as scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, Norwegian waffles and cheesy potato casserole. Lunch and dinner feature options including Norwegian meatballs, grilled salmon, salad and shared desserts.
Disney does not guarantee a particular character lineup, but guests may encounter princesses such as Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora and Ariel.
How Much Does Akershus Cost?
Current breakfast pricing is:
- Adults ages 10 and older: $59
- Children ages 3 to 9: $38
Lunch and dinner currently cost:
- Adults ages 10 and older: $69
- Children ages 3 to 9: $46
Prices do not include tax or gratuity and are subject to change.
Does Akershus Accept the Disney Dining Plan?
Akershus accepts the Disney Dining Plan. Breakfast requires one Table-Service meal per person, while lunch and dinner require two Table-Service meals per person. The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan cannot be used for this experience.
Is Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Worth It?
Akershus is arguably the best overall Disney World princess dining experience for families primarily interested in meeting several princesses. Breakfast is generally the best value because it offers the same style of character interaction for less money and fewer Dining Plan meals.
It is also a convenient option for families already planning an EPCOT day. Just remember that valid EPCOT admission is required, and a dining reservation does not guarantee entry into the park.
Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom
Photo by Laurie Sapp
Cinderella’s Royal Table offers something no other Disney World restaurant can match: the opportunity to eat inside Cinderella Castle.
Guests check in from the Fantasyland side of the castle before entering the grand reception hall. The experience continues upstairs in an elegant dining room filled with stone arches, stained-glass windows and views overlooking Magic Kingdom.
Cinderella typically welcomes guests before the meal, while additional princesses may visit the dining room. Exact character appearances can change, but the location, atmosphere and castle setting remain the biggest reasons families choose this meal.
Unlike many character dining experiences, Cinderella’s Royal Table is not a buffet or family-style restaurant. Guests select from a prix-fixe menu with individually plated courses. Breakfast includes choices such as Mickey-shaped waffles, steak and eggs, and banana-stuffed French toast. Lunch and dinner feature more elevated entrées, including filet mignon, lamb chops and seasonal seafood.
How Much Does Cinderella’s Royal Table Cost?
Current breakfast pricing is:
- Adults ages 10 and older: $74
- Children ages 3 to 9: $45
Current lunch and dinner pricing is:
- Adults ages 10 and older: $89
- Children ages 3 to 9: $54
Tax and gratuity are additional, and prices can change.
Does Cinderella’s Royal Table Accept the Disney Dining Plan?
Cinderella’s Royal Table accepts the Disney Dining Plan and requires two Table-Service meals per person at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan is not accepted.
Is Cinderella’s Royal Table Worth the Cost?
Cinderella’s Royal Table is best viewed as a special experience rather than simply a character meal. Families are paying for the opportunity to enter Cinderella Castle, dine in a remarkable setting and enjoy one of Disney World’s most iconic restaurants.
Akershus may offer better value for families whose main goal is meeting princesses. However, Cinderella’s Royal Table is difficult to beat for a birthday, first visit or once-in-a-lifetime vacation.
1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Photo by CJ Ayd
Located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, 1900 Park Fare is a character buffet built around the theme of wishes and the Disney characters who make them come true.
Unlike Akershus and Cinderella’s Royal Table, the current lineup is not exclusively made up of princesses. Guests may meet Aladdin, Cinderella, Mirabel and Princess Tiana, although characters are always subject to change.
The restaurant serves breakfast and dinner; it is not currently open for lunch. Both meals are all-you-care-to-enjoy buffets.
Breakfast includes familiar favorites such as Mickey waffles and Eggs Benedict. Dinner offers a wider variety of dishes, including prime rib, baked salmon, curry-roasted chicken, Tiana’s gumbo and the Grand Floridian’s famous strawberry soup. Kid-friendly foods such as pizza, chicken and macaroni and cheese are also available.
How Much Does 1900 Park Fare Cost?
Current breakfast pricing is:
- Adults ages 10 and older: $58
- Children ages 3 to 9: $37
Current dinner pricing is:
- Adults ages 10 and older: $69
- Children ages 3 to 9: $44
Prices do not include tax or gratuity and may change.
Does 1900 Park Fare Accept the Disney Dining Plan?
1900 Park Fare accepts the Disney Dining Plan and currently requires one Table-Service meal per person for either breakfast or dinner. The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan is not accepted.
Is 1900 Park Fare Worth It?
1900 Park Fare is a strong choice for families who want a character meal without using a theme park ticket. Since it is located at a Disney Resort hotel, you can schedule it on an arrival day, departure day or rest day.
It is also one of the better options for families who care about the food as much as the character interactions. The lineup is less princess-focused than Akershus, but the buffet offers plenty of choices for both adventurous and selective eaters.
Story Book Dining at Artist Point With Snow White
Dine with Snow White and friends at Story Book Dining at Artist Point. Photo by Laurie Sapp
Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White is located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and is the most distinctive option on this list.
Rather than featuring a broad assortment of princesses, the meal focuses entirely on characters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Snow White, Dopey and Grumpy visit guests during dinner, while The Queen appears at a separate photo location.
The restaurant is transformed into an Enchanted Forest-inspired setting with dramatic trees, twinkling lights and fairytale details. It is a particularly good choice for families who love Snow White or want to meet characters who are not always easy to find elsewhere.
Story Book Dining is available for dinner only. The prix-fixe meal includes shared appetizers, an individually selected entrée and shared desserts. Current entrée choices include prime rib, chicken, pork shank, beef stroganoff, fish and a plant-based gnocchi dish.
How Much Does Story Book Dining Cost?
Current dinner pricing is:
- Adults ages 10 and older: $67
- Children ages 3 to 9: $41
Tax and gratuity are additional, and pricing is subject to change.
Does Story Book Dining Accept the Disney Dining Plan?
Story Book Dining accepts the Disney Dining Plan and requires two Table-Service meals per person. The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan is not accepted.
Is Story Book Dining at Artist Point Worth It?
Story Book Dining is best for families who specifically love Snow White, want to meet Dopey and Grumpy or are excited about encountering The Queen.
It is not the best option for meeting a large number of princesses. However, it offers one of the most immersive dining rooms, a more adventurous menu and a character lineup that feels different from the other Disney World princess meals.
Which Disney World Princess Dining Experience Is Best?
The best princess character meal depends on your family’s priorities.
- Choose Akershus Royal Banquet Hall if your main goal is meeting several princesses in one convenient meal. Breakfast generally offers the best combination of cost, character, and Dining Plan value.
- Choose Cinderella’s Royal Table if eating inside Cinderella Castle is a bucket-list experience. It is the most expensive option, but also the most iconic.
- Choose 1900 Park Fare if you want a buffet, a mix of princesses and other characters, or a meal that does not require theme park admission.
- Choose Story Book Dining at Artist Point if your family loves Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or wants a more unusual character lineup.
How to Make Disney World Princess Dining Reservations
Advance dining reservations are highly recommended for every princess dining experience. Cinderella’s Royal Table and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall can be especially difficult to reserve during busy travel periods.
Guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel can begin booking dining reservations 60 days before check-in for their entire stay, up to 10 nights. Other guests may make reservations beginning 60 days before each dining date. New reservation availability for select restaurants generally opens at approximately 6:00 AM Eastern Time.
Disney Resort hotel guests may have an advantage because they can book multiple vacation days when their 60-day window opens. Consider placing the most difficult reservation toward the end of your stay, when fewer guests may have had an opportunity to book that date.
Reservations can be made through the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app. If your preferred meal is unavailable, continue checking. Plans change frequently, and reservations may reappear as other guests cancel or modify their trips.
Remember that dining inside Magic Kingdom or EPCOT requires valid admission to that park. A restaurant reservation alone does not provide park admission or guarantee park access.
Is Disney World Princess Dining Worth It?
Disney World princess dining is expensive, but it can provide significant value for families who plan to meet characters during their vacation.
Instead of waiting in several individual character lines, families can enjoy a full meal while multiple characters come to them. That convenience can save valuable park time while creating opportunities for photos, autographs and personal interactions.
For the best overall value, consider breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. For the most memorable setting, Cinderella’s Royal Table remains the clear winner. Families who prefer buffets should consider 1900 Park Fare, while Snow White fans will find an experience designed specifically for them at Artist Point.
Whichever restaurant you choose, make reservations early, keep your character expectations flexible and arrive with autograph books and cameras ready. A little planning can turn one meal into one of the most magical experiences of your Disney World vacation.
