Author: openjargon

It seems inconceivable that the final episodes won't feature Costner, given that he is the show's protagonist, but it appears that could be the case if a new contract is not negotiated. 

Last year, the 69-year-old actor revealed via court documents related to his recent divorce that he is "no longer under contract" for the drama and wasn't expecting to receive any further monetary compensation from the series apart from "back-end contractual participation rights."

When he later took the stand at a child support hearing, the Oscar winner said that a "long, hard-fought negotiation" about breaking season five into two parts was behind his exit, as it clashed with plans for his four-part Western saga, "Horizon." 

At the time, he stated his intentions to take the show's producers to court over a pay dispute.

More recently, Costner has changed tack. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in April, he said he'd "love" to be able to return to the show to wrap things up for his character, but no decisions had yet been made.

And in June, he said that he would still consider returning.

"I've always felt that… It might be an interesting moment to come back and finish the mythology of this modern-day family," he told People. "And if that happens, I would step into it if I agreed with how it was being done."

But the actor told People that "in the very end, I couldn't do it for more than I had already done."

The Hollywood Reporter reported in June that Costner was still unattached to the new batch of episodes at the time they began filming in May. 

There may be a question mark hovering around Costner's status on the show, but the rest of the cast will likely return. 

That means audiences can expect to see John's business-minded daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly), his adopted lawyer son Jamie (Wes Bentley), and the youngest and most wayward of the siblings, Kayce (Luke Grimes), all back at the ranch.

However, Reilly, Grimes, and Cole Hauser, who plays John's right-hand man, have requested significant pay increases to return, per a report from Puck's Matthew Belloni.

Paramount and 101 Studios are said to have pushed back on the proposed new salaries, which come close to the $1.3 million per episode Costner was paid during the first half of season five. No update has been given about their salary negotiations since February 2024.

Alongside them, there is also John's new girlfriend, Summer (Piper Perabo), his daughter-in-law Monica (Kelsey Asbille), and his long-standing adversary, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham).

Lastly, there's the ragtag group of ranch hands who make the Dutton spread what it is: Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), Ryan (Ian Bohen), Teeter (Jennifer Landon), and Walker (Ryan Bingham).

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the series cocreator hinted that the ending of "Yellowstone" will see Costner's character killed off.

Sheridan said that the "Field of Dreams" star's decision to leave the show "truncates the closure of his character," but added that the character's fate and the ending of the show had been planned since the early days of "Yellowstone."

Even before it was revealed that Costner has a "moral death" clause in his "Yellowstone" contract that prevents his character from dying in a way that would be embarrassing, Sheridan made it clear that John wouldn't be meeting his maker in that particular way.

Sheridan said audiences won't see John die in a conveniently timed car crash, like Patrick Dempsey's character on "Grey's Anatomy," or his own on "Sons of Anarchy."

"I don't do fuck-you car crashes," the "Wind River" director said of the technique often employed by writers as a way to kill off characters amid behind-the-scenes tension.

However, there's now a question of whether John's death will have to occur off-screen if Costner does not return to film scenes.

While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about the show's final run, Sheridan revealed that the number of episodes is not set in stone and that should it take more than six episodes to conclude the story, that wouldn't be an issue with Paramount bosses.

"If I think it takes 10 episodes to wrap it up, they'll give me 10," he said. "It'll be as long as it needs to be."

In a featurette clip that appears on the Blu-ray and DVD release of "Yellowstone" season five, part one, Reilly spoke about where she sees her character's storyline going and cast doubt on Beth and Rip's (Cole Hauser) future together.

"Beth is haunted by her past. She has a lot of regrets and she has a lot of secrets that he doesn't know," Reilly said. "So there is something that is under the surface that will one day, I'm sure, come, and she's probably certain that she will lose him."

Reilly added that Beth feels "immense guilt" over the fact that she will never be able to have biological children with Rip, since her adopted brother Jamie (Wes Bentley) accidentally had a doctor give her a hysterectomy as a teenager, leaving her infertile for the rest of her life.

"She cannot switch that part of herself off," Reilly said, adding that "there's a tremendous sadness in that."

Reilly predicted that this storyline is "coming home to roost," and that Rip discovering this family secret could have dire consequences for not only Jamie but his and Beth's relationship too.

As John's last surviving legitimate son, Kayce (Luke Grimes) is the obvious choice to inherit the sprawling cattle ranch. 

According to Grimes, the fact that John asked Kayce to take over the day-to-day running of Yellowstone in the midseason finale suggests some exciting new developments in the upcoming episodes. 

"I think this a huge moment for Kayce," Grimes said. "It's his legacy, and I'm honestly really excited about this chapter for Kayce and Monica, because I think we're going to see a whole different side to them."

"Obviously it's going to put him in a position where he has to take on a lot more than he probably has been comfortable with," he continued. "With what John's got to go do, it's time for Kayce to step up." 

Costner also spoke about where the storylines are heading following season five's midseason finale.

In a Blu-ray and DVD featurette, Costner said that John's decision to step into the world of politics and become governor of Montana "provides a little bit of drama" that will continue to play out in future episodes.

"He's not a very good politician. He's a one-term politician, admittedly, so that makes him a little bit dicey for people to deal with," Costner said, adding that the career pivot makes sense for his character because John would do anything to preserve his land and his legacy.

"John has proven time and again that there's nothing he won't do to save the ranch even if that means in the twilight of his life, he takes a miserable job that's going to dominate him for four years," the actor said. "He didn't want it to be that way, but that's the way it was."

Reilly predicted how the show will end, but emphasized she doesn't "have any insight into what's going to happen," as Sheridan has not shared scripts with her.

"The main theme of protecting and sustaining this way of life in this land is the bottom of everything," Reilly said in a behind-the-scenes clip. "So I don't know which way it's going to go, but we're in season five, and who knows what's in store."

She said of the show's conclusion: "Though it will probably be beautiful and epic, I'm not sure it will be happy."

Her costar, Ian Bohen, recently echoed this last sentiment while speaking to Entertainment Tonight. Asked about the final run, he said: "The fans are going to get the [best] conclusion that could possibly be written."

He added: "I don't know that any show has finished this strongly, ever. We're expecting to have the best series finale in history. Overconfident maybe, but I think that's what it's going to be. We thank everyone for their patience. It'll be worth the wait, I promise."

Paramount announced that season five, part two of "Yellowstone" will begin airing on November 10 on Paramount Network. 

The series finale — which is to say, the very last episode ever — could wind up on screens on Super Bowl Sunday, according to one of the show's actors.

CBS has also acquired the rights to run previous seasons of the Montana-set series and attracted millions more viewers.

Paramount has also greenlighted two spinoff series, "1994" and "2024," both of which will be produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.

Charles, 75, wore a light-gray morning suit layered over a pale-yellow waistcoat and a striped collared shirt topped off with a black top hat. The king completed his look with a blue tie and pocket square, subtly coordinating with his date, Camilla, 76.

For her Royal Ascot day one ensemble, Camilla opted for a royal-blue coat and dress by Fiona Clare, accessorized with a brooch, a white clutch, gloves, and, of course, an eye-catching blue summer hat designed by veteran British milliner and go-to hat designer for the royals, Philip Treacy.

Camilla's day two ensemble consisted of a deep-blue long-sleeved Dior dress with lace detailing down the bodice and a pleated skirt.

According to WWD, she completed her look with a Dior handbag, a layered blue Philip Treacy hat, and a dazzling diamond-and-turquoise brooch that her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, wore on a royal tour of Malta in 2015.

The king paired his traditional gray morning suit with a baby-blue waistcoat, a black-and-white pocket square, and a tiny lilac flower on his lapel.

As is custom, he paired his look with a black top hat.

On Thursday, Camilla chose her most summery attire of the week: a white long-sleeved wrap dress and a coordinating white hat with a large floral appliqué.

She paired her dress with a matching handbag and added a pop of color with the Ladies of India brooch, a piece of emerald-and-diamond jewelry gifted to Queen Mary in the early 1900s, according to the Court Jeweller.

Following the dress code to a tee, William, 41, arrived in a black morning suit jacket, gray pants, and a black top hat. He paired it with a double-breasted waistcoat layered over a collared shirt and a blue patterned tie.

Although he arrived without Kate Middleton, who is undergoing cancer treatment but plans to attend several royal engagements throughout the summer, William wasn't alone at the races. Aside from the company of his royal family members, he was photographed smiling and chatting with his in-laws, Michael and Carole Middleton.

Anne, known for her unique and daring approach to fashion, opted to repurpose one of her favorite outfits for her debut at Royal Ascot 2024.

According to Hello! Magazine, she wore a botanical-printed cashmere and silk red coat designed by Shibumi. The Princess Royal, 73, accessorized with deep-blue gloves, a gold-chain black handbag, and a quirky turquoise hat.

Anne paired a royal-blue midi skirt with a white jacket with blue trim layered over a collared shirt.

Although her look was tame compared to her outfit on day one, she did accessorize with a sizable blue-and-white hat decorated with floral appliqué.

On Thursday, the Princess Royal opted for another botanical-embroidered summer coat at Royal Ascot. But unlike her day one ensemble, her outfit was designed in cooler blue and light-purple tones.

Anne accessorized with a trio of pearl necklaces, pearl earrings, and a lilac hat with a floral bouquet made of feathers.

Eugenie, 34, wore the sustainably made mint-green "Mallery" maxi dress by Diane von Furstenberg, which retails for $478.

The princess accessorized the sleeveless maxi dress, which features a high neckline and a cinched waist, with emerald drop earrings and a nearly flat light-beige hat by Emily London Headwear, according to Hello! Magazine.

Eugenie was all smiles on day two of Royal Ascot, wearing a midi dress made from cashmere and silk, designed by Gabriela Hearst. Dubbed the "Amor" knit dress, it retails for $1,550.

She paired the collared dress with another Emily London Headwear design: a pastel-pink hat completed with a single decorative tassel.

Beatrice, 35, arrived at Royal Ascot on day two in an elaborate Zimmermann midi dress, dubbed the "Matchmaker." The botanical-printed dress retails for $1,090.

The lightweight, long-sleeved gown, made from silk organza, featured a diamanté-decorated belt. The princess paired it with a gold clutch and a pink headband with floral pieces designed by Juliette Millinery, WWD reported.

Beatrice was photographed alongside her mother, the Duchess of York, who wore a navy skirt with a white buttoned-up Veronica Beard blazer.

The Tindalls took a note from Charles and Camilla's stylebook and opted for subtly coordinating looks on day one of Royal Ascot.

Zara, 43, arrived in a yellow dress designed by Laura Green. The "Masai" dress features sheer silk sleeves and a dramatic collar and retails for £1,900, or around $2,400.

Mike, 45, wore a morning suit and accessorized his jacket lapel with a canary yellow rose, a nod toward his wife's look.

Serving up another fashion masterclass for couples attending Royal Ascot, the Tindalls showed up in style on day two of the racing event.

Zara wore a white midi dress covered in red, pink, and light purple botanical prints. The $1,286 Angelika dress, designed by Anna Mason London, featured puff sleeves and long cuffs. Zara paired it with a light-pink fascinator, white pumps, and a metallic clutch in a similar shade of white.

Staying loyal to the men's dress code, Mike opted for a black morning suit jacket with gray-striped pants. He added flair to the look with a silk waistcoat, a pink tie, and a pink rose boutonnière.

Her latest look consisted of a Rebecca Vallance baby-blue midi dress with puff sleeves, a knot design around the neckline, and a built-in belt. Zara paired the dress, which was on sale for $367, with light pumps, a silver watch and jewelry, a clutch, and a coordinating fascinator.

Edward, 60, kept to the dress code, pairing a black morning suit jacket with a collared shirt, a light-yellow waistcoat, and a black tie. He did add a pop of individuality to his look with a bright-yellow tie.

The prince was accompanied by his wife, Sophie, 59, who wore an ivory dress designed by Suzannah London. The "Keres" dress, which retails at $4,950, features a sheer tulle layer covered in mini daisies over a simple crepe dress. The Duchess of Edinburgh paired it with a wide-brimmed white hat and a coordinating handbag.

His full name is Jacaerys, though everyone calls him "Jace." 

Jace was born sometime in the 10-year gap between episodes five and six of "House of the Dragon." Though Rhaenyra and her allies insist on publicly claiming that Jace is the son of Laenor Velaryon (Rhaenyra's first husband and future king-consort), his real father is the late Harwin Strong.

Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon is another of Rhaenyra's children she had with Harwin Strong, though the realm is meant to believe he is the second son born to Laenor and Rhaenyra.

Luke was the kid who cut Aemond's eye (we'll get to Aemond and his siblings soon) in episode seven, "Driftmark." In the finale, the pair face off again with their dragons, Vhagar and Arrax. Unfortunately, this time their fight ends badly for Luke.

Joffrey was named after the man who was in a secret relationship with Laenor when they were both teenagers. Even though Joffrey (like Jace and Luke) was really Harwin Strong's son, his faux-father chose the name shortly after his birth in episode six.

Joffrey is bonded to the dragon Tyraxes. 

Aegon II (also called "Aegon the Elder" in the "Fire and Blood" book by George R.R. Martin) was the first boy born to King Viserys who survived childbirth.

Aegon the Elder is the son of Queen Alicent, and many lords in the realm of Westeros argued that he should ascend the Iron Throne after Viserys dies, surpassing the named heir: Rhaenyra. After Viserys dies in episode eight, the Green Council crowns Aegon with the conqueror's crown, before word can reach Rhaenyra.

Aegon II is bonded to the dragon Sunfyre. 

Helaena was the first girl born to either Alicent or Rhaenyra. In between episodes, Helaena was married off to her older brother, Aegon the Elder.

Helaena is bonded to the dragon Dreamfyre. 

In the ninth episode of "House of the Dragon" season one, we saw a glimpse of the blonde twins when Alicent went into Helaena's room.

The twins come back into play in the season two premiere after Daemon hires a pair of assassins known as "Blood and Cheese" to kill Aemond. When they're unable to find Aemond, they decide to kill Jaehaerys instead while Helaena runs away with Jaehaera.

Aemond was the last of his siblings to claim a dragon, though taking Vhagar for his own cost him an eye after a fight broke out among all the children in season one, episode seven. 

In season one, episode eight, Aemond is now a confident swordsman and seemingly more capable than his older brother, Aegon the Elder. In the finale, Aemond reveals that under his eyepatch, his eye has turned bright blue, similar to the White Walkers in "Game of Thrones."

By season two, he — and more importantly, his extremely large dragon — are a big asset for Aegon II's side of the war. 

In episode eight, we see that Baela has been sent to live at Driftmark as a ward, learning the ways of the court from her grandmother (Rhaenys). She was betrothed to Lucerys Velaryon before his death. 

Baela is a dragonrider, and bonded to the dragon Moondancer.

Daemon and Laena married and had their two children in the intervening 10 years between episodes five and six. By episode eight, Rhaena was happily living with Daemon and her new stepmother, Rhaenyra. She was eventually betrothed to Lucerys Velaryon, prior to his death. 

Unlike her family members, Rhaena isn't bonded to a dragon. 

Aegon was also named after Aegon the Conqueror, adding to some confusion about which Aegon is which.

Since Aegon III is just a toddler in season one, episode eight, with Aegon II in his 20s, the books refer to him as Aegon the Younger. 

So Aegon the Elder is Alicent's son with Viserys, and Aegon the Younger is Rhaenyra's son with Daemon (and also Aegon the Elder's half-nephew). 

In "Fire and Blood," Aegon the Younger is bonded to the dragon Stormcloud. 

Named for Rhaenyra's dad (and Daemon's brother) King Viserys, little Viserys II was introduced in season one, episode eight as an infant. 

Rhaenyra, who was pregnant with her third child with Daemon at the start of the season finale, tragically went into early labor and delivered a stillborn daughter, named Visenya, after learning about her father's death.

For more, read our breakdown of the best details you might have missed in the season one finale.

In "Fire and Blood," Alicent and Viserys have one other son: Daeron, the youngest of their children. Daeron is bonded to the dragon Tessarion. Daeron has yet to appear in "House of the Dragon."

Aegon II and Helaena also have a third child in the book: Maelor, a son, who is younger than Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. 

Arguably the No. 1 Olympic TikToker is rugby player Ilona Maher, who has 1.1 million followers.

Maher, 27, first went viral three years ago during the Summer Olympics in Tokyo thanks to sharing a behind-the-scenes view of the Olympic Village and its notorious "anti-sex beds."

Now, she shares everything from her fashion and advice, to, most notably, body positivity content. As an accomplished rugby player with World Championship and Olympic experience, Maher has been vocal about her love for her body.

NCAA.org reported that at the Team USA Media Summit in April Maher said she tries to show her audience that they don't need to sacrifice their femininity or beauty to play a physical sport like rugby.

"That's a little bit why I wear the lipstick when I play. I can tackle hard and run hard but also, you know, still feel beautiful and still bring that into it. It's not like you have to sacrifice that," she said.

Her talent and outspokenness have led to collaborations with brands such as L'Oréal, Brooks Running, Delta, and Maybelline as she promotes #beastbeautybrains.

As they continue final preparations for Paris, Maher and her rugby sevens teammates will be striving to beat their sixth-place finish from three years ago and make it to the podium for the first time in US women's rugby history.

Find her TikTok here.

2023 US Open champion and 2024 Roland-Garros women's doubles champion Coco Gauff, 20, is poised to return to Paris for her Olympic debut after a positive COVID-19 test forced her out of competition in Tokyo.

As the WTA Singles No. 2 women's player in the world, Gauff has already qualified for the Olympics.

Her 632.6K TikTok followers should expect to see plenty of outfits, thrift hauls, competition highlights, and dances throughout the tournament.

Find her TikTok here.

British diving legend Tom Daley has returned from retirement for a fifth and final Olympic Games. Since his debut in 2008 at just 14 years old, Daley has become an Olympic fan-favorite known not only for his incredible skill but also for his poolside hobbies, knitting and crocheting.

He shares all of this, plus parenting content, funny trends, and collaborations with brands like Rimmel London, Adidas, and Casper, with his 1.3 million TikTok followers.

Find his TikTok here.

If you've never heard of synchronized swimming, allow 22-year-old Daniella Ramirez to be your introduction.

Ramirez is a third-generation synchronized swimmer, following in the footsteps of her grandmother, mother, and sister, per Team USA. This summer, Ramirez and her teammates will represent USA Artistic Swimming at the Olympics — the first time the team has qualified since 2008.

While she shares behind-the-scenes looks at her life and partnerships with L'Oréal, she is best known on TikTok for her Knox ASMR content.

Knox is a brand of clear, flavorless gelatin that synchronized swimmers use to coat their hair to keep it perfectly intact during competitions. Her videos of putting on the substance and, more importantly, taking it off have garnered hundreds of millions of highly satisfying views from her 480.9K TikTok followers.

Find her TikTok here.

WNBA rookie Cameron Brink is ready to add another accomplishment to her belt this year as she prepares to compete in the Olympics' 3×3 basketball tournament.

"My first dream before being a WNBA player was to be an Olympian, so it's amazing. It's one of the highest honors as a basketball player, so I don't take it lightly," she told the Los Angeles Times in June 2024.

Brink has been a member of USA Basketball since 2017. She won gold in the 2018 FIBA U17 Women's World Cup and the 2019 FIBA U19 Women's World Cup, as well as in 2023 at the FIBA 3×3 Women's World Cup where she was named MVP.

Since joining the Los Angeles Sparks in April 2024, Brink has become known on social media for sharing her game-day fashion, dance videos with teammates, and partnerships with brands like Skims, Optimum Nutrition, L'Oréal, and New Balance.

Fans should expect many more runway-worthy looks and behind-the-scenes adventures from Brink and her teammates as they go for gold in July.

Find her TikTok here.

The veteran libero from Honolulu has gained a large following on TikTok sharing training highlights and behind-the-scenes looks at life as a professional athlete.

Shoji has been a member of the US Men's National Volleyball Team since 2013 and won a bronze medal during the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, according to USA Volleyball.

He now plays professionally in Europe, where he's won two Champions League titles with the Polish team ZAKSA, as well as four Polish league trophies.

Find his TikTok here.

Twins Lina and Laviai Nielsen are British track-and-field athletes who compete in the 400-meter hurdles and 400-meter dash, respectively. They are also training to compete on the same 400-meter relay team, as they did at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March, where Great Britain placed third.

The sisters have a combined TikTok following of more than 160,000 and more than 16,000 subscribers to their joint YouTube channel, "The Nielsen Twins." Together, they document their lives training and competing, as well as funny trend videos and partnerships with brands like Bulk.

Both Lina and Laviai have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and they hope to show others what they can achieve despite the disease.

"A lot of people assume MS automatically leads to disability, but it does not. For a lot of people living with MS, they can continue normal activity and exercise. If we can shine a light on that side, then it can start to change that narrative," Lina Nielsen told The Daily Mail in June 2024.

Great Britain's official athletics team for the 2024 Olympics won't be announced until July 5.

Find Lina's TikTok here, and Laviai's TikTok here.

And for good reason.

The 27-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, is a seven-time Olympic medalist with four gold, one silver, and two bronze; as well as a 30-time World Championships medalist with 23 gold, four silver, and three bronze, making her the most decorated gymnast of all time, per Olympics.com.

Now, Biles is a favorite for her third Olympic team following an impressive first-place all-around finish at the 2024 Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships earlier this month — dominating every event with a first-place finish, per NBC Sports.

The star has been relatively quiet on TikTok in the lead-up to the Olympic trials on June 27. Still, we're hopeful she'll return to social media to share inside looks at Team USA, her gymnastics teammates, and her husband, Jonathan Owens (if he's in attendance), with her 884.7K TikTok followers.

Find her TikTok here.

Fred Richard, 20, from Stoughton, Massachusetts, is ready for Olympic trials on June 27.

In 2023, he became the youngest individual world medalist in US history after finishing third in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, per USA Gymnastics — and he hasn't slowed down since.

Richard finished second overall at the 2024 Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships earlier this month. He also placed first on the floor exercise and second on the high bar — his favorite event — per NBC Sports and USA Gymnastics.

Richard shared clips from the competition with his 662.3K TikTok followers and is known for posting his training highlights and Olympic countdown videos. In May, he even shared how he collaborated with Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Noah Lyles to improve his running technique for the vault exercise.

As a favorite to make Team USA Gymnastics, Richard will be looking to make more history and help the men's team medal for the first time since 2008 when they took home bronze.

Find his TikTok here.

Long-jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall isn't new to the Olympics. The 25-year-old debuted in 2021 in Tokyo but finished the competition in a disappointing sixth place.

Now, she's ready for bigger and better — in March 2024, Davis-Woodhall won gold at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

A month later, she told Olympics.com she feels "more joy" preparing for these Olympics than she did for Tokyo.

"Now, I'm living with my husband in Arkansas and we just enjoy life to the fullest. We have so much fun with everything that we do," Davis-Woodhall said.

She and her husband, Paralympian Hunter Woodhall, have established a large social media following across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. They share their daily lives in Arkansas, training schedules, and other fun relationship insights.

Davis-Woodhall has 266.3K TikTok followers and 474K Instagram followers, as well as 778K subscribers to the couple's YouTube channel, "Tara and Hunter."

Olympic trials for women's long jump begin on June 27, so it's only a matter of time until Davis-Woodhall's return to the Olympic stage may be secured.

Find her TikTok here.

Lee made history at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first woman of Asian descent and the first Hmong-American to win the Olympic gymnastics all-around title. She also won a silver medal in the team event and a bronze for uneven bars.

Just last year, though, an Olympic return seemed uncertain as she dealt with a kidney disease that put her training on pause, she told Self in October 2023.

Lee made her return to elite competition at the Core Hydration Classic in August 2023 and qualified for the US Championships. There, she finished fourth overall — just 0.15 points behind third-place finisher Kayla DiCello — with a second-place finish on the balance beam and a fourth-place finish on uneven bars, NBC Sports reported.

With 1.5 million TikTok followers and counting watching her leotard reveals, get ready with me's, and partnerships with brands like Marriott, L'Oréal, and Amazon, all eyes are on the 21-year-old as she aims for another shot at Olympic gold.

Find her TikTok here.

Although Victoria & Albert's only received its Michelin star in April, it opened at Disney World 20 years ago.

The restaurant has also previously received accolades, such as several AAA Five Diamond awards and the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star award.

In other words, it's been a highly coveted reservation for years.

My reservation was scheduled for 5:30 p.m., and I was promptly escorted to my table.

The main dining room, which had 14 tables, had a blue theme and a giant chandelier in the middle of the ceiling.

My table in the front corner was lovely. But it was close to the entrance, and I could hear the outside noise from the resort.

In addition to the main dining room, there's Queen Victoria's Dining Room and the Chef's Table. Both have limited capacity and are uniquely themed to enhance the experience.

For example, the Chef's Table is in the heart of the kitchen, so you can see the food being prepared right in front of your eyes.

Both additional rooms are more expensive than the main dining room, with Queen Victoria's starting at $375 and the Chef's Table starting at $425.

My server, Sherry, came over and gave me a personalized menu to take home.

Since I had never dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant, I had lots of questions. Luckily, all the servers were enthusiastic about providing answers and sharing their love of the establishment.

After I was seated, a server came over with a nonalcoholic spritz to cleanse the palate. It was cherry-flavored with edible flowers mixed in.

I don't drink alcohol, and I didn't opt for the add-on alcohol or nonalcoholic pairings. But this was a welcome treat to start the night with.

I'm glad I came with an empty stomach because there were 10 courses to enjoy.

Each course was timed perfectly over the span of about four hours, and the combination of flavors made for a delicious evening.

Some highlights included the dashi with fava beans and white asparagus, the garganelli with sugar snap peas and saffron, and the cauliflower gazpacho blanco with Marcona almonds.

I've been to my fair share of top-notch restaurants in New York City and beyond, but I've never had food prepared quite like this.

The chicken course was moist, and the risotto (made from sunflower seeds) had a unique texture that led to an explosion of flavors in my mouth.

It was easily my favorite thing I ate.

A harp player sat in the center of the dining room, playing music to fit the upscale ambiance.

Most of the songs were from Disney movies, such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Mary Poppins," "Tangled," and "The Little Mermaid."

She played intermittently, about every 20 minutes or so, and even walked around to the tables to take requests. I asked if she could play "I See the Light" from "Tangled" — it was one of the highlights of my night.

After all the decadent courses, including the main candied carrot dessert, the server brought a few small (but absolutely delicious) treats to say farewell.

The opera cake blew my mind.

Additionally, I ordered a chamomile tea, which was made tableside with plenty of fanfare.

I don't think I'd spend $295 on any meal other than one at a Michelin-starred restaurant at Disney World.

All Disney restaurants can be pricey, especially character meals. But this was nearly three times the price of a meal at Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's. Those cost about $65 a person.

Frankly, I was happy that the meal was under $300 before tax and gratuity. It's still a lot, but I can try to justify the price since it's a highly regarded restaurant. When all was said and done, I paid about $375.

I also don't feel the need to splurge even more on meals in the other two dining rooms — this was just right for my needs.

Of all the restaurants I've dined at in Disney World, I've never been to one quite like Victoria & Albert's.

The food was spectacular, the servers were friendly and knowledgeable, and the overall ambiance and experience were unique.

If you're looking to celebrate a special occasion or simply want to enjoy a high-quality meal at Disney, I'd definitely suggest trying to get a table.