Cinderella's Royal Table vs. Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures
Hi! My family and I had breakfast at Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at the Grand Californian at the Disneyland Resort in October 2025 and lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World October 2024, and I wanted to share my comparison of the two experiences for those who love Disney princesses and vacations as I am often asked to compare the two!
Ambiance/Setting
CRT had an unbeatable and beautiful setting inside Cinderella’s castle complete with grand staircase, stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings. There is a dedicated bathroom in the restaurant so you don’t have to go back into the park.
Unfortunately for us, Napa Rose, the Grand Californian’s premier dining restaurant where this breakfast is typically held, was still under refurbishment when we went. It was supposed to be done by the time of our breakfast but construction was delayed. So we dined in a conference room of the hotel. It was mostly windowless and looked like any conference room/ball room space you might attend a meeting in, or have cocktails in before a wedding. It was not great but it worked. If you needed to use the restroom they were in the hotel hallway and very busy. The men’s room was out of service at the time. This is a heavily trafficked part of the hotel. One nice touch worth mentioning is the food was served on very intricate and beautiful bone china with roses on it.
Price
CRT was $89 for adults and $54 for children 9 and under. It included a three course plated meal with several options per course and a fountain drink. Mocktails and cocktails were available for an additional charge. Tip and taxes were not included.
DPBA was a whopping $149 per person ages 3 and up. Children 2 and under are no charge. It included a three course meal (1st and 3rd course served at the table, 2nd course buffet) and a fountain drink. Cocktails and mocktails were available for an extra charge. Tip and taxes were not included.
Food
We found the three course meal at CRT to be delicious and we left quite full. There were several options to choose from for each course. The appetizer and main courses were savory and then a dessert. The fish and filet were of a high quality with unique and impressive seasonings and presentation. The kids meal included many healthy options like grilled fish or meat and plenty of veggies so it was very nutrient dense. There was only one kids dessert option (vanilla cupcake) but the adult portion was large enough to share with the kids who wanted something different.
At DPBA, we were served sweets, sweets and more sweets with few savory items sprinkled in. The first course was berry muffins, donuts, chocolate chia pudding, bite sized lobster rolls, and cheese bread. The second course was a buffet that leaned heavily on carbs and the only meat being carved was prime rib which was somewhat undercooked. There were chilled shrimp but no other lean protein options. There was plenty of fresh fruit but no fresh veggies or salad. There was one cooked veggie: asparagus that was really good but it was smothered in butter so not exactly healthy. The other hot items were all very heavy including mac and cheese, cheesy scrambled eggs, waffles, and fried chicken. The fried chicken looked very dry and overdone so I didn't try it. The final course was a giant dessert tray which seemed geared towards kids' palettes and included glittery vanilla cake pops, pink cream puffs of an unknown flavor and a berry mousse.
While the food was plentiful, since it so heavily leaned on sweets and we are not a big dessert family, we all left hungry. The tiny lobster rolls were great but we only got one each and I can only eat so much shrimp and fruit.
Service
Service was good at both places if not a little rushed. I have no meaningful compliments or complaints about the service at either experience. Everything went smoothly and the cast members were polite and handled things appropriately.
Souvenirs
At CRT all guests got a choice of a wand or a sword, and everyone also got a wishing star. The sword and wand are high quality and fun for kids to play with. The wishing star was a cool touch, and they did a “wishing ceremony” upon presenting it which was fun and interactive.
At DPBA only the children got souvenirs. They got a one page paper with an image of many princess signatures on it and a round button pin with “princess breakfast adventures” written on it.
Photo Pass
CRT had one photo pass opportunity. Cinderella was standing in front of roses on the ground floor of the castle and the photo was taken after you enter a queue and before you are seated for your meal. The backdrop was beautiful and we did not feel rushed when it was our turn for photos. The queue took a bit, maybe 10-15 minutes but it was a pleasant wait with lots to look at.
DPBA had two Photo Pass opps. Both were outside in front of flowers/shrubs. On the day we went the princesses featured were Ariel in her blue green ball gown and Rapunzel in her pink dress. There was no queue. We were tapped at our table when it was our turn to go outside and allotted ample time to interact and take lots of photos. That was definitely the highlight of the breakfast and the princesses were very engaging with the kids and the photographers did a great job getting kids to look at the camera and smile.
Princesses
At CRT we interacted with 5 princesses. We met Cinderella at the front entrance as previously mentioned, and Merida, Jasmine, Ariel, Jasmine, and Aurora came to the table.
At DPBA, we interacted with 8 princesses. Belle, Pocahontas, Mulan, Raya, Jasmine and Aurora all came to the table to chat and take pictures. The princesses were really fun with the kids and patient for photos. Then we had the 2 photo pass opportunities which I described above with Ariel and Rapunzel.
Final Thoughts and Would I do it Again
For me, CRT is always and will always be a must-do at Walt Disney World. The food, ambiance, and entertainment are all top notch. It is always a highlight of my trip. I recommend it for just about anyone!
As for the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure, while I am glad I tried it and the family had fun, it will be a one time thing for me. The princesses and photo opps were really great, and maybe it would have felt nicer and more enjoyable in Napa Rose versus a conference room, but I really need my meals to include food that is less dessert oriented and includes more lean proteins, healthy veggies and grains, to justify the financial and time commitment of the event. I would still definitely recommend it for anyone with kids who are crazy about princesses, as the interaction is really unique. Also, if you are someone who really loves desserts you may enjoy the food more than my family did.