Royal Banquet review: Is it worth going?

If you're planning a trip to Disneyland Paris and are looking for a character dining experience, you may be wondering whether the Royal Banquet is worth the hefty price tag. In this guide, we share our Royal Banquet review and let you know if it's worth it.

What is a royal banquet?

The Royal Banquet is located inside the Disneyland Hotel, right at the entrance to the park.

The price tag clearly places this experience in the “special occasion” category. The experience costs approximately €100 per adult and €50 per child (3-11 years old). Price includes buffet and one drink (soft drink or water). Reservations are crucial as this is one of the resort's most popular dining experiences.

In this experience you'll meet Mickey and Minnie, as well as 2 other classic characters. It's either Pluto and Goofy or Daisy and Donald. The characters are dressed in royal costumes, including princes, princesses, clowns, etc. The costumes are very special. But is the experience worth the price?

Our experience

At the Royal Banquet we had the opportunity to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto. Each character came to our table at least once and the overall interaction was great. Goofy and Pluto are a real highlight for our kids – fun, engaging and energetic. Minnie's visit felt a little rushed, but she still found the time photo and autograph. All characters sign the autograph book, which makes a lovely keepsake.

The restaurant itself is divided into several themed rooms. The main restaurant where the buffet is located felt very busy and noisy and I think eating there might have detracted from the overall experience. Instead, we sat in a smaller side room with about six tables decorated with likenesses of Disney villains. While it's an interesting touch, it unfortunately lacks warmth or ambience – the space feels sterile and not particularly royal or luxurious. For a restaurant with a royal banquet theme, the ambience didn't quite live up to its grand promise.

Keep talking about food. Unfortunately, this is where the experience drops. The food on offer is very inconsistent and even weird at times. Even as a fairly adventurous group of eaters, we found some of the choices confusing.

The appetizer section included cheese and charcuterie, both good but nothing special. There's also a Middle Eastern selection featuring tabbouleh and hummus – but having lived in the Middle East, we found the authenticity and flavor of this section to be particularly mediocre. Overall, the starting lineup was acceptable but lacked any real excitement.

Moving on to the main course, expectations were high but the result was disappointing. The food was bland overall but a bit salty and the much anticipated roast duck was tasteless. I personally don't eat veal, which further limits the options. The cheese pasta was decent and great for the kids, but other dishes – such as octopus pasta (polpo pasta) and some Asian-inspired dishes – were impressive in taste and execution.

Surprisingly there is no dedicated buffet area for children. Suitable for children or picky eater The selection is very limited, consisting mainly of Mickey-shaped hash browns, chicken nuggets, and cheese pasta. While our picky eaters managed to find something to eat, really picky eaters might struggle here.

There's also a large fish and shellfish section, which looks impressive at first glance but ultimately doesn't deliver on flavor or freshness. NOTE: Lobster is only available for dinner.

dessert

When we entered, the dessert display immediately caught the kids' attention – beautifully plated, colorful and eye-catching to look at. Unfortunately, the taste didn't match the appearance. Most desserts are mousse-based and lack depth or character. While they looked elegant, the flavors were forgettable and none were particularly delicious.

Overall, is The Royal Banquet worth going?

First, the good stuff:

High quality roles

These characters are the undeniable stars of the show. You'll usually meet Mickey and Minnie, as well as Donald Duck and Daisy or Goofy and Pluto, all dressed in stunning royal costumes you won't see anywhere else in the park.

These are classic Disney icons whose regal costumes make interactions feel extra special. They took their time posing for photos at each table and greeted guests enthusiastically. This is a magical, perfect experience for families and character lovers. You're guaranteed to enjoy more classic characters than other head-to-head dining experiences at Plaza Gardens. My kids don't know the characters from Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, or Pinocchio, so there are definitely better characters out there for our family.

unique clothing

Seeing characters in unique royal costumes adds a sense of occasion and makes the experience feel different from other character meals. Mickey in his velvet cape and Minnie in her sparkling gown are pure Disney theater and undeniably charming.

Now let’s talk about the not-so-good parts:

Limited food variety

For a “royal” buffet, the food selection may be surprisingly limited. While the dishes include seafood platters, salads, meats and some vegetarian dishes, it's mostly geared towards fine dining palates rather than family favorites.

If you don't like seafood your choices quickly dwindle and we found the dishes to be inconsistent. The quality isn't bad, but doesn't live up to the grandeur or price tag.

Not suitable for picky eaters or children

Families with picky eaters may struggle here. There aren't many simple or familiar options like pasta, chips or chicken nuggets. The menu is clearly intended to be elegant and suitable for adults, but this may reduce its appeal to younger diners or those who prefer simple food. In fact, we found Auberge's table service option to be more customizable for the pickier members of our group, and we would definitely recommend it Inn More.

lack of atmosphere

Despite the beautiful surroundings of the hotel, the royal banquet lacked a distinct atmosphere. The restaurant, while grand, felt more like a large, busy function room than a truly magical royal feast. The tables are close together, when Dining room Fill it up and it gets noisy and feels rushed rather than relaxing.

Not a quality food experience

For 100 euros for a buffet, you expect something special. While the presentation of the food, especially the desserts, was lovely, the taste left much to be desired.

this figure Brings the magic, but without them, restaurants would have a hard time justifying their high cost.

Slow service

Service is hit or miss. Plates were often left on the table for too long before being cleared, and the staff seemed a bit disengaged from the experience. This was again in stark contrast to our experience at Auberge.

High cost

There's no denying that royal banquets are expensive. Even by Disney standards, the buffet price of 100 euros per adult is too high, especially when the food doesn't quite match the price. You're paying primarily for character experience and environment, not culinary excellence.

So, is it worth it?

There is no doubt that the royal banquet is a feast for the eyes. The costumes and characters create wonderful photo opportunities and magical moments that families will cherish.

However, it's not quite the premium dining experience its price suggests. The food was bland, the atmosphere lacked the warmth and intimacy of a true royal celebration, and the service felt a bit unrefined.

If your goal is to meet classic Disney characters in unique royal costumes and take some unforgettable photos, this is the place for you. But if you're expecting a gourmet experience or a relaxed, atmospheric lunch, you'll probably come away wishing for a little more magic or at least a better dessert.

Would I come again – absolutely not! Do I regret going? Not exactly, but certainly the cost compared to our experience with the food was a hard pill to swallow and I feel like we should go back to Auberge again.

In short: come for the characters, not the food. If you can justify the cost of the characters you'll meet, then go ahead; however, if you're a picky eater, you might find yourself heading to Cathy's for a hot dog after a meal.