Hi there, Kelly! Welcome to
planDisney, and thank you so much for reaching out with your question!
Based on my own experience, dinner at
Cinderella's Royal Table is not a quick in-and-out situation at all. From start to finish, the experience usually takes somewhere between an hour and a half to two hours. That timeline includes checking in, meeting Cinderella herself before heading upstairs, being seated, enjoying multiple courses, and soaking in the atmosphere. It's also very normal for Cast Members to seat Guests up to 20 minutes after the official reservation time, especially during busy evenings, so a 7:15 pm reservation doesn't necessarily mean you'll be sitting at your table exactly at 7:15.
Because of that, you should absolutely still be inside the castle when
Happily Ever After begins at 9 p.m., so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the experience without feeling rushed. Cinderella's Royal Table is well aware of the fireworks schedule, and they do not hurry Guests through their meals just because a show is happening outside.
That being said, I do want to gently set expectations. Cast Members won’t kick you out by any means, but once you've finished your meal, you'll be expected to leave the restaurant like every other Guest. Fireworks viewing from inside the castle is more of a beautiful bonus moment rather than a guaranteed full-show experience from your table.
Kelly, I sincerely hope this helps! If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. We're always available and more than happy to help here at planDisney. Have a magical day!
Warm hugs,
Ana Paula