A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

Yesterday we talked about our cute little Ashlyn at the Fall Festival. Today we want to start right into our Disney experience. We're going to go a little bit out of order because I can't wait to talk about our special lunch! Right off the bat on our full day at the Magic Kingdom, we received a little bit of Disney magic. We really wanted to eat at Cinderella's Royal Table (a restaurant INSIDE Cinderella's Castle), but for a reservation like that you usually need to make it 180 days in advance (the furthest out you can make reservations). Well, we didn't know exactly what days we were going to go and other details like that so we waited to try and make any kind of reservation. We started calling about it just a few months out and, of course, it was booked. We walked into the Magic Kingdom and were going straight to Fantasyland Thursday morning. We passed the restaurant and Aaron decided to stop by just to see in case there were any cancellations. He said, "I already know the answer, but do you have anything available today?" The guy said, "Breakfast or lunch?" We thought he was asking so he could check so we were telling him whenever. He said, "No, tell me, breakfast or lunch?" I guess there were a few cancellations and we got a lunch reservation for that afternoon! We were so excited!

When you walk in for your reservation, you first enter Cinderella's throne room. You wait in line and get your pictures taken with Cinderella! A professional picture package of your pic with Cindy and a pic of the castle come with the price of lunch. Ashlyn was such a big girl and we took the picture of just her and Cindy. She wouldn't smile, but she didn't freak out either. (She was incredible this whole trip by the way. We were super impressed.) This isn't the professional pic that was taken. That one she isn't pulling away. :)

If you know Disney, you know they really pay a lot of attention to detail. Hidden in the rafters right above where you get your picture taken are Jaq and Gus Gus (the two main mice in the Cinderella movie). Too cool!

While you are waiting in line they call your name and hand you your Royal Invitation. You take that up the spiraling staircase to maybe the third or fourth floor of the castle and show it to be seated.

There is a fabulous view of Fantasyland out the gorgeous castle windows.

Ashlyn was very impressed with everything and felt right at home eating like a princess in a castle.

The food was fantastic. First thing you got a tasting plate with some yummy bruschetta, salad, cheese, and other things. Aaron had Major Domo's Favorite Pie (like shephard's pie but upscale). He was already thinking about ordering it when the waitress suggested it so that sealed the deal. He was not disappointed! It was delicious. I had the pork tenderloin with cabernet sauce and vegetable couscous. The pork was incredibly tender and everything was super good! They even brought out some buttered noodles and apple juice for the little princess. :) She didn't want the noodles but loved drinking her apple juice from a straw like a big girl! She also did some coloring! She colored for the first time the night before when we had dinner at Rainforest Cafe (more on that in a different post) but we helped her out a little to get her started. At the castle she did all the coloring all by herself! We are going to keep it forever. :) Dessert was a chocolate cake with a cream cheese like filling and streusel on top. Soooo yummy.

At the lunch, little princesses get wands and little princes get swords and each child gets a wishing star. There is a ceremony where the announcer tells all the kids to hold their wishing star and their wand or sword, close their eyes, and make a wish. It is very, very sweet. Also, four princesses are announced one by one (with maybe 10 minutes or so in between each princess) complete with trumpets and make their way around to each table to meet and greet each kid. It was really cool and Ashlyn did wonderfully. She wouldn't always pay attention to the camera because there was so much going on, but the pictures turned out really cute.

She met Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)...


... Snow White...

(Looks like a certain Disney princess has some competition to be the fairest one of all!)

... Belle...

... and Ariel (The Little Mermaid).

It was an incredible experience. It made us choke up seeing little girls (like 5 or 6 years old) walk into the restaurant for the first time and their eyes just light up. We would love to take Ashlyn back again when she is a little older.

That's it for this post. Tomorrow I will be back talking about our first night arriving to our hotel and checking out Downtown Disney!