How did King's Stefan's Banquet Hall come to be at Cinderella Castle?

[DodgerGirl]

I love learning facts about Disney Parks and I wanted to know how King's Stefan's Banquet Hall came to be? I can't figure out why they named the restaurant after Princess Aurora's father when it was in Cinderella Castle and Disney got smart and renamed it Cinderella's Royal Table to fit the subject of the iconic castle. Who were the first characters at the very first character breakfast and dinner of King Stefan's Banquet Hall when it was first opened?. I also read in several Walt Disney World vintage travel books that Cinderella used to greet visitors at the restaurant entrance with the phrase "Welcome To My Castle" and the children's menus were pumpkin shaped and Cinderella would autograph them for the children. Was King's Stefan's Banquet Hall very popular before it became Cinderella's Royal Table? And is the menu at Cinderella's Royal Table the same food as King Stefan's Banquet Hall's or did they do changes to the menu when it was renamed Cinderella's Royal Table?

 

[erinch]

Lunch at King Stefan’s was awesome. They had a Major Domo pot pie that was delicious.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I don't know why they originally named it King Stefan's. You know, I hope, that they originally only had characters at Breakfast, right? Sometime (I think it was 2005) they added the other meals as character meals. Before that, lunch wasn't overwhelmingly popular (except by me!) but dinner was a signature dining-type of meal, and very difficult to get. The menus for both meals were different from what they are now. I can still remember my last lunch there in May 2005. I'd always loved their entree chicken caesar salad, but this time I took my mother, who wasn't "officially" vegetarian, but she liked vegetarian food. She also had a small appetite, so we shared a vegetarian entree at her request (it was her Mother's Day lunch). I always say "I'd better get my reward in heaven for that!" as my Grandmother used to say when she did something nice for someone.
Anyways, I think there was some steak that people raved about for dinner, because I also remember going there for dinner in 2000 with DH, and I was about a week-post carpal tunnel surgery, so I couldn't cut meat. They nicely cut my steak (or was it prime rib?) into little bite-sized pieces in the kitchen, then the server discretely served it to me (as a server at a signature restaurant would) so I wouldn't be too embarrassed by this plate of cut up meat.
Thanks for letting me ramble about my memories at King Stefans. Oh, one more-a couple times at lunch I got treated by Peter Pan and Mr Smee running around outside (where they'd wave down at people in Fantasyland) and they'd stop and wave at those of us sitting inside.

 

[leebee]

When DD was little, the Fairy Godmother was seated on a throne in the downstairs lobby and greeted the guests. My DD LOVED the Fairy Godmother! Cinderella was upstairs, greeting guests with the other princesses.

 

[DodgerGirl]

Fairy Godmother used to appear at the entrance of King Stefan's Banquet Hall? That's interesting to know. I wonder if that restaurant was the only place you could meet Fairy Godmother at the time in the Magic Kingdom? Were the children also given toys like wands and princess crowns at King Stefan's Banquet Hall too?

 

[Disnsyncey]

I worked there when we made the switch from breakfast only with characters to all three! I think.....it was around that time....

we did not have the wands to give to kids, and the Major Domo was probably the only thing I remember on that menu from so long ago

and yes, it was the Fairy Godmother a lot, but not always guaranteed

 

[erinch]

https://www.magicalrecipes.net/cinderellas-royal-table-major-domos-favorite-pie-recipe/

 

[lanejudy]

I wanted to know how King's Stefan's Banquet Hall came to be? I can't figure out why they named the restaurant after Princess Aurora's father when it was in Cinderella Castle

According to this article: "Apparently the Disney Imaginers wanted to give the restaurant a regal name to match the dozens of Coat of Arms on the wall. Since Cinderella’s father isn’t named in the movie, they decided on King Stefan."

 

[DodgerGirl]

Besides Cinderella and Fairy Godmother what other princesses used to be found at King Stefan's Banquet Hall? Also did they do any special entertainment there too like dancing with the princesses?

 

[Disnsyncey]

When I went there as a kid (in the 90s) there weren't any characters to meet in the lobby (or at least the times I went for dinner) and when I worked there in the early 2000s before they expanded princesses to all meals sometimes the Fairy Godmother or Cindy would be in the lobby....but it was never a guarantee....

 

[DodgerGirl]

I think in my eyes King Stefan's Banquet Hall was passed up by some people who visited Magic Kingdom because of the price of the food and many people thought eating at King Stefan's Banquet Hall was only worth it for the kids to meet princesses since that is a huge draw with kids especially little girls. But I think once King's Stefan's Banquet Hall became Cinderella's Royal Table they totally changed the image of the restaurant and once the princess breakfast was added when it was known as the Once Upon A Time breakfast the prices were lowered and the restaurant gained more visitors to it

 

[cruella4me64]

Close to 30 years ago, Peter Pan appeared in the dining room at breakfast. He jumped onto a railing and crowed. My son was amazed that he would behave that way in the castle. Being raised in a girl princess world, he loved anything boyish. Great memory!

 

[Disnsyncey]

I think in my eyes King Stefan's Banquet Hall was passed up by some people who visited Magic Kingdom because of the price of the food and many people thought eating at King Stefan's Banquet Hall was only worth it for the kids to meet princesses since that is a huge draw with kids especially little girls. But I think once King's Stefan's Banquet Hall became Cinderella's Royal Table they totally changed the image of the restaurant and once the princess breakfast was added when it was known as the Once Upon A Time breakfast the prices were lowered and the restaurant gained more visitors to it

I remember when I was a kid and it was very empty at dinnertime.....I even went the night before my job started at the castle for dinner and it was easy to get a last minute ressie....but I mean, those were the days I could get ohana in a 2 hour notice haha

 

[North of Mouse]

The menu years ago (1988) when it was King Stefan's Banquet Hall was terrific and the food nothing like it is today - was full at lunchtime that day. It was a sumptuous full meal with a lovely dessert. We were there with our then 4 year old son that was totally enamored with Cinderella. She kissed his cheek and he almost swooned lol, did not want the red washed off, had to wear off!!
We got the ressie morning of (had to line up at window there and give our names).
It was an experience we will always treasure.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

This week's episode of The Disney Dish podcast addressed this very question. This topic starts at 24:20 if anyone wants to listen. For those who don't, lanejudy got the answer correct above. Apparently, it was John Hench who named it. They wanted a regal name (it was never intended to be a castle belonging to Cinderella), Prince Charming's father's name is not provided in the film, there were 2 kings in Sleeping Beauty and picked Stefan (speculation it sounded better &/or was conducive to better graphics than Hubert), didn't think guests would really even notice or question the name.