The Scoop: Character Dining at Walt Disney World

When on vacation, who doesn’t love a nice sit-down meal? Especially on a hot day, it's lovely to sit in an air conditioned space, with less people, and have an incredible waiter or waitress serve your family a yummy meal. How does Disney make this experience even better? Mickey and the gang are ready and available to join in on the fun at select restaurants!

At Walt Disney World guests can enjoy a character dining experience with some of their Disney favorites... without having to wait in line.

With so many ways to dine at Walt Disney World, here is a quick recap of the dining options that Disney has to offer:

• Quick Service, also referred to as counter service, allows you to walk up to the counter to place your order and receive your food. There is also an option to order ahead via mobile ordering on the Disney app. This is a great way to quickly enjoy some food without needing any pre-planning or reservations. Quick service locations are scattered throughout the parks and at each resort. 

• Casual Dining restaurants allow families to sit down and relax, while enjoying a table service meal. Some of these include character dining experiences, which we will talk about more below. 

• Signature or Fine Dining offers a premium experience with gourmet menus, first-class service, and sophisticated ambiance. This is a great option for a date night or special celebration. It is important to note that some of the fine dining restaurants may have age restrictions or a dress code.

Let’s take a deeper dive into character dining specifically, and which restaurant may be a great addition to your next Disney trip. 

What is Character Dining? 

Character Dining is a themed dining experience where guests can have interactions with Disney Characters. Most character dining meals include meeting four of five characters in a rotation. One at a time, characters will come to your table for an interaction, picture, and autograph if you wish. Reminder to have what you want to sign out and ready to go. Sharpie pens work great!

There are 12 character dining restaurants at Walt Disney World, six in the parks, and six at resorts. Some restaurants have character dining all day,  while others only have characters during select meals.

These meals can be buffets, family style, or prix fixe menus, depending on the restaurant, and are included in the Disney Dining Plan. Typically, character dining meals take 60-90 minutes to complete. Reservations are strongly recommended, and you can make them up to 60 days in advance from your check in date. 

Who should consider Character Dining? 

While most anyone would enjoy a character dining meal, people who fall into these categories may find the most benefit from a character dining experience. 

• Families who want to be able to meet characters on their trip.

• Families who are traveling with younger kids, who may not be able to wait in line to meet characters in the parks (remember, there are no lightning lanes for character meet and greets). 

• Families who want to take a break mid-day in the AC for a sit-down meal and also have their children entertained.

• Families who want to make the most of a check-in, check-out, or a rest day without using a park ticket. 

• Families who are taking advantage of the Disney Dining Plan.

• Families who love certain characters and want to guarantee a meet and greet.

Character Dining in the Parks

Each park has at least one character dining experience. Below is the list of all character meals that can be found in the parks. It is important to note that while these characters are typically the ones that you will meet, they are always subject to change.

Magic Kingdom

The Crystal Palace

Meet Winnie the Pooh and friends in a green-house inspired restaurant, just off of Main Street. 

Characters: Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet

Meal Type: Buffet

Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

What we love about it: This is one of the most popular buffets, and with breakfast, lunch and dinner options and a large space for bigger groups, this is one of the easier dining reservations to get.

Tip: If you want to sit by the windows to have a view of the castle, we recommend checking in with the host/hostess early and asking if you can make a request. It is not guaranteed, but if available, they are wonderful with trying to make accommodations.

Cinderella’s Royal Table 

Dine with Royalty as you join Cinderella in her castle, along with other princesses. This is one of the most highly coveted reservations, and this dining experience does require a prepayment while booking.

Characters: Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White, Merida, and Ariel (specific princess appearances vary)

Meal Type: Prix fixe

Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

What we love about it: Is there anything more special than dining in Cinderella Castle?! We love making an early morning reservation here, and then getting pictures beforehand with little to no crowds in front of the castle.

TIP: If you can coordinate Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique prior to your CRT reservation, your princess will fit right in with the characters and have incredible pictures.

EPCOT

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall 

Located in Norway, here you can enjoy a Norwegian meal with princesses. 

Characters: Princess Tiana, Belle, Ariel, Rapunzel, and Aurora (specific princess appearances vary)

Meal Type: Family Style

Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

What we love about it: We love the location of this restaurant! Situated right next to Anna and Elsa's meet and great, and the Frozen Ever After ride, this is the perfect place to spend a few hours with any princess obsessed kid (or kid at heart).

TIP: Choose breakfast if you can for a more affordable experience versus lunch and dinner.

The Garden Grill

Join Chip 'n' Dale for a garden fresh meal, with vegetables grown as local as you can get- right in EPCOT. 

Characters: Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto

Meal Type: Family Style

Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

What we love about it: We love that the menu consists of fresh produce grown right in the Living with the Land greenhouses. Another bonus is that this is a rotating restaurant, so you get multiple views of the Land.

Tip: Great bang for your buck as it is only one table service credit if you have the dining plan. It's also easy to dress like the characters if you have overalls and a flannel! A fun themed experience.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood and Vine 

For breakfast, join Disney Jr. friends while they dance around the restaurant.

For lunch and dinner, join Minnie Mouse and friends as she hosts seasonally themed dinner parties. 

Characters (Breakfast): Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Doc Mcstuffins, Goofy

Characters (Lunch and Dinner): Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Pluto

Meal Type: Buffet

Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

What we love about it: We love the high energy of this restaurant! The character interactions are top notch, and so fun for Disney Jr lovers! For Minnie's dinner parties, we love that their outfits and themes change with the season.

TIP: Pay close attention to time of day that you are booking because the characters vary.

Animal Kingdom

Tusker House

This African themed restaurant in Animal Kingdom allows you to visit with Donald, Mickey and friends as they prepare for their next safari adventure. 

Characters: Donald, Mickey, Daisy, Goofy

Meal Type: Buffet

Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

What we love about it: Do not miss this one! The food is incredible, one of the best buffet menus by far. The African theme adds a nice touch too, with such a fun environment.

TIP: This is a popular reservation in Animal Kingdom. If you don't get it with your first attempt, keep trying as people cancel and opportunities pop up.

Resort Character Dining 

Some resorts also have character meals. This is a wonderful benefit, which allows guests to enjoy a character meal without having to enter the parks. This means if you are having a rest day, and not using a park ticket, you can still enjoy a character meal. You also do not have to be staying at the resort to make a character dining reservation. 

It is important to note that if you are dining at a character meal that is at a resort, you will be given a time limit (usually 3 hours) for parking, if you choose to drive yourself. You can also use Disney’s complimentary transportation or take a Minnie Van. 

The character dining locations within Disney resorts are listed below: 

1900 Park Fare - located at the Grand Floridian

Make a wish with Aladdin, Cinderella, Mirabel, and Princess Tiana in the beautiful Grand Floridian.

Characters: Aladdin, Cinderella, Mirabel, and Princess Tiana

Meal Type: Buffet

Meal Times: Breakfast and dinner

What we love about it: The food is delicious, and we love this variety of characters.

How to get here? If you are staying on Disney property, you can take the free transportation to the Magic Kingdom, and then either take the walking path or the monorail to the Grand Floridian. 

TIP: Recently re-opened, this is a favorite of families and also has the yummy POG juice available during breakfast.

Cape May - located at Beach Club Resort

Join Minnie, Daisy and friends for Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast.

Characters: Minnie, Daisy, Donald, Goofy

Meal Type: Buffet

Meal Times: Breakfast

What we love about it: This restaurant is so bright and airy, and the costumes are so fun! The energy of the characters are contagious here, and in our opinion this is one of the most underrated character dining experiences.

How to get here? Depending on where you are staying, it may be best to take the Skyliner and get off at the EPCOT stop (don't go in the park), and then walk to the Beach Club Resort. If not staying on the Skyline, you'll need to either drive or take a Lyft (we prefer the polka dot ones ;)).

TIP: With a large buffet of options, it is easy to try everything or, for picky eaters, have a variety so they will find what they prefer and also be satisfied. This is also a great excuse to see the Beach Club as it is an experience in itself!

Chef Mickeys - located at the Contemporary

Join Mickey and friends as they help cook up a meal for all to enjoy. 

Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy

Meal Type: Buffet

Meal Times: Breakfast and Dinner

What we love about it: The location is great, it's very easy to have breakfast here and then go to Magic Kingdom for the day, or leave Magic Kingdom for dinner in the AC before heading back for an evening in the parks.

How to get here? If you are staying on Disney property, you can take the free transportation to the Magic Kingdom, and then either take the walking path or the monorail to the Contemporary. 

TIP: Be on the lookout for when the monorail comes through! It is a highlight to watch while also eating yummy food and seeing your favorite friends!

Ohana - located at the Polynesian 

Meet Lilo and Stitch for a breakfast influenced by Polynesian flavors.

Characters: Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto

Meal Type: Family Style

Meal Times: Breakfast

What we love about it: This is a guest favorite and it's no secret why! This is one of the only places you can meet Lilo and Stitch, and the food is absolutely incredible. The energy is amazing here as well.

How to get here? If you are staying on Disney property, you can take the free transportation to Magic Kingdom, and then take the monorail to the Polynesian. 

TIP: Characters are ONLY at breakfast, so make sure that is when you book if you want to see them.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White- located at the Wilderness Lodge 

Enjoy an enchanted dining experience with Snow White and a few of the seven dwarfs.

Characters: Snow White, Grumpy, Dopey and the Evil Queen. 

Meal Type: Prix Fixe

Meal Times: Dinner

What we love about it: This unique dining experience is one of the only places you can meet Dopey, Grumpy and the Evil Queen.

How to get here? If you are staying on Disney property, you can take the free transportation to Magic Kingdom, and then take the bus or water taxi over to the Wilderness Lodge.

TIP: This reservation can be harder to secure, but if you can get in, the ambiance is wonderful especially as it turns into nightfall and the lighting changes.

Topolino’s Terrace - located at Riviera Resort 

Join Mickey and friends at this rooftop restaurant or a guest favorite breakfast.

Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Donald

Meal Type: Prix Fixe

Meal Times: Breakfast

What we love about it: The rooftop views really take this character meal up a notch.

How to get here? If you are staying on Disney property, you can take the free transportation to a skyliner pickup (EPCOT or Hollywood Studios if you are not staying at a Skyliner Resort), and then take the Skyliner to the Riviera Resort.

TIP: Go out on the balcony after your meal for some fabulous views of surrounding Walt Disney World.

Adding a character dining experience to your Walt Disney World vacation is a way to enhance the fun while also enjoying delicious food in a fun and unique atmosphere. Thank you to our fabulous AMAAB advisors for sending us pictures of your magical experiences!

Our AMAAB Travel Advisors are ready to help you get started planning your next Walt Disney World Vacation, and can even help you book character dining meals.

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