We all know the story: Cinderella gets left behind by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters and she doesn’t have a way to get to the ball.  Fortunately, her Fairy Godmother magically creates a way by turning a pumpkin into a golden carriage and friendly mice into the horses and coachmen. With the wave of her magic wand and the oh so famous words…

Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put ’em together and what have you got
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.

Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
It’ll do magic believe it or not
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

And just like that – the problem is solved…and a grand new adventure begins for Cinderella as she makes her fashionably late entrance to the ball! Created through the magic of her Fairy Godmother, the pumpkin coach plays a crucial role in carrying Cinderella to the Royal Ball, where she falls in love with Prince Charming.

Ah…fairy tales.  If only we had the power to turn pumpkins into carriages imagine the place’s we might go!

Many of us at of a certain age, know that Disney’s most treasured pumpkin is Cinderella’s Coach, her transportation to and from the royal ball. Over the years it’s become an icon that brides dream about – a symbol of dreams coming true.

The pumpkin coach debuted more than 25 years ago at Magic Kingdom Park and is used for parades and photo opportunities at Disney parties. Built in Burbank, Calif., in the early 1980’s it was inspired by the 1950 animated classic Cinderella, and has special touches like a glass slipper embossed in the glass and is ideally seated for two.

Well, now there is a way for all the little” Cinderella’s” to have their dream come true and sit in a magic pumpkin while enjoying afternoon tea.  The Macaron Tearoom in Woodmere, Ohio actually has a life size pumpkin carriage that you can reserve while indulging in an exquisite afternoon tea. My husband and I were there several week ago and while we were savoring our tea, we had the extreme pleasure of watching a family enjoy the experience of the pumpkin coach. It was truly a sight… a burly dad who rolled his eyes at us as he headed to the table, was accompanied by his wife and three wide-eyed, giggling little girls, ages maybe 3 – 8, all in their finest princess dresses. It was kind of a tight squeeze for mom and dad, since he really wasn’t pumpkin coach size, but they managed and with the little princesses across from them their magical afternoon began.  I ashamedly admit that I did turn around several times to sneak a peek as the family enjoyed their two-tiered cake stands and obviously each other’s company – each time I snuck a peek, dad was beaming from ear to ear.

I asked our server for the menu again, under the guise of choosing another tea, but wanted to see what was on their cake stands. The Nursery Tea… top tier; grapes and a miniature macaron, the bottom tier; was a choice of 3 sandwiches: peanut butter and jelly (choice of grape or strawberry), 3 chicken nuggets, Nutella, ham and cheese or cucumber with chive cream cheese. It also came with a pot of beverage of your choice and a cookie to paint. For a minute, I was jealous of the cookie to paint. 

We did in fact order an additional pot of tea, just to sit longer and delight in the pleasures that the Cinderella Family was experiencing in their Pumpkin Coach…and it was magical.