Character Dining at Walt Disney World creates memories that last a lifetime. What could possibly be more exciting for a little princess than having Cinderella come to your dinner table? Or having Mickey and Pluto come by and join a little adventure Mouseketeer for breakfast?

Now you’re here because you are trying to decide which Disney World character dining restaurant will be best for you and your family, right? We’ve got answers for you right here!

What is Character Dining?

Character dining at Disney World is a chance for guests to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner with some of their favorite characters. Fan-favorite Disney characters come to the table, interact with guests, take pictures, and some will even sign autographs. Just keep in mind that who you get to meet will depend on where you eat!

When it comes to the food, there are many options to choose from such as buffets, prix fixe meals, and traditional table service meals. And, the best part? There are so many character dining restaurants to choose from both inside and outside of the theme parks!

When choosing a character dining experience, guests will have to decide what they value the most. Is it time? A specific character? Is it price? All of these can play a factor in what’s best for you.

Booking a Dining Reservation

Guests will need to make dining reservations for all character dining experiences through the My Disney Experience app or Disney’s website. While some restaurants may have walk-up availability, it is rare due to the popularity of these meals. Guests can cancel any dining reservations without penalty up to 2 hours before their reservation time.

If you want to eat at a character dining experience, we suggest making reservations sooner rather than later. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance and you’ll want to prioritize these. However, if you’re unable to get your preferred reservation, don’t lose hope! Keep checking Disney’s website for updated availability! We’ve had plenty of luck getting last-minute reservations, even some same-day reservations.

3 Types of Character Dining Experiences in Disney World

How your food is served will differ based on the character dining restaurant you choose. Currently, there are three different types of character dining experiences in Disney World. This includes:

• Buffet — A traditional buffet, all you care to enjoy, guests walk up and fill their own plates
• Family Style — All you care to enjoy, but food skillets or platters are brought to the table
• Prix-Fixe — Guests will have a set menu with options to choose from

Be sure to check Disney’s website for the most up-to-date information on how the food is served and peruse the menu before booking your reservation if you have any dietary preferences!

Character Dining in Disney World Parks

You can currently find character dining restaurants in all four Disney World Parks. These are a great option if you have certain characters your family is trying to meet or if you want a special sit-down meal mid-day. You will have the benefit of taking a break in the AC and getting a meal in while meeting them without having to wait in line.

Let’s dive in and break down where these restaurants are located and the differences between them!

Character Dining at Magic Kingdom

Cinderella’s Royal Table

• Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type of Meal: Prix Fixe Menu
• Price: Breakfast: $69 per adult, $42 per child (ages 3-9) Lunch and Dinner: $84 per adult, $49 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Cinderella, and a variation of Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, Jasmine

Here guests can dine inside Cinderella Castle during this one-of-a-kind Fairytale Dining experience.

For breakfast, guests will enjoy an assorted breakfast tray and then a choice of one entree, with options such as avocado toast, quiche, or caramel apple french toast! For lunch and dinner, guests will have the choice of one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert. Options include items such as soup and salad, lamb chops, fish, or beef, with kid’s options including favorites like mac and cheese or chicken strips.

The Crystal Palace

• Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type of Meal: Buffet
• Price: Breakfast: $48 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9) Lunch and Dinner: $61 per adult, $40 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Eeyore, Piglet, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger

At Crystal Palace, guests will dine in Victorian splendor in this greenhouse-inspired Crystal Palace, idyllically set on Main Street, U.S.A. with Winnie the Pooh and friends.

For breakfast, guests can enjoy traditional American breakfast options such as eggs, bacon, cereal, and pastries. BUT! Crystal Palace is the ONLY place in Walt Disney World where you can get the infamous Churro Waffles! For lunch and dinner, available is a traditional kids buffet of chicken, mac and cheese, and pizza with elevated adult options such as fried chicken, prime rib, seasonal pastas, and more.

Character Dining at EPCOT

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

• Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type of Meal: Family Style
• Price: Breakfast: $55 per adult, $35 per child (ages 3-9) Lunch and Dinner: $67 per adult, $43 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mary Poppins, Mulan, Princess Aurora, and Tiana, on a rotating schedule

At Akershus, join Disney Princesses for Storybook Dining inside a medieval castle with soaring archways and cathedral ceilings.

For breakfast, this Norwegian-inspired menu includes Norwegian pastries, potato casserole, Norwegian waffles, and classics such as scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage. For lunch and dinner, guests can indulge in items including traditional KjØttkake (Norwegian meatballs), chicken and dumplings, salads, salmon, and kid-friendly items such as macaroni and cheese and corn dog nuggets.

Garden Grill Restaurant

• Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type of Meal: Family Style
• Price: Breakfast: $47 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9) Lunch and Dinner: $62 per adult, $40 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Chip, Dale, Mickey, Pluto

At Garden Grill, see Chip ‘n’ Dale and their Disney pals as you dig into family-style dining and revolve around vibrant views from Living with the Land. That’s right, this restaurant actually rotates (very slowly) while you’re eating! Many of the veggies served at Garden Grill are actually grown right there in the Living with the Land greenhouses!

Serving American-style classics, for breakfast guests can find the likings of fruit, eggs, Mickey waffles, steak and eggs, and more. For lunch and dinner, guests will be served shareable salads and breads, and platters of mac and cheese, BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, chimichurri beef, and veggies.

Character Dining at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Hollywood & Vine

• Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type of Meal: Buffet
• Price: Breakfast: $47 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9) Lunch and Dinner: $63 per adult, $40 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Disney Junior Breakfast featuring Doc McStuffins, Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, and Roadster Goofy. Lunch and Dinner features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy in seasonal outfits throughout the year

At Hollywood & Vine, celebrate breakfast with Disney Junior Stars or enjoy lunch and dinner with Minnie and friends at seasonal dining parties.

For breakfast, guests can enjoy pastries, waffles, bacon, sausage, omelets, and more. During lunch and dinner, offerings switch to breads, salads, peel-n-eat shrimp, herbed chicken, potatoes, and more.

Character Dining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Tusker House

• Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type of Meal: Buffet
• Price: Breakfast: $47 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9) Lunch and Dinner: $62 per adult, $40 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Donald, Daisy, Mickey and Goofy

At Tusker House, graze on a bountiful buffet brimming with African-inspired flavors and see host Donald Duck and his Disney friends in their safari outfits.

For breakfast, guests will feast on classics such as Mickey waffles and Simba waffles (the only place to get Simba waffles on property!), bacon, sausage, and fruits. For the adventurous eaters, guests can enjoy African-inspired breakfast dishes such as cardamom granola and egg curry.

Lunch and dinner do share a menu including a variety of breads and dips and salad offerings, African-inspired entrees such as Tandoori chicken, chicken curry, Harira soup, and more. For the pickier eaters, Tusker House offers classics such as mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, corn dog nuggets, and more.

Character Dining at Disney World Resort Hotels

While guests don’t need park tickets to enjoy these character dining options, you do need a plan on how to get to them if you’re not already staying at the hotel. Guests are able to park at any of the Disney Resort Hotels with a valid dining reservation. So, if you don’t have a car, you will have to use Disney’s complimentary transportation. Or, you also could use Uber, Lyft, or the Minnie Van service. Disney recommends that you plan for it to take about 90 minutes to get from place to place, so plan accordingly!

Resort character dining is a great option for the rest day of your vacation (which you should absolutely have!). This is also a great option if you are only planning on doing a half day at the parks or staying at a hotel with one of the restaurants inside. If this is your plan, we suggest planning to visit a park that is conveniently located nearest to your dining reservation. For example, if you are going to Topolino’s or Cape May Cafe for breakfast, visit EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios since you can just hop on the Skyliner. If you are dining at Chef Mickey’s for dinner, you should go to Magic Kingdom that day and just hop on the monorail. Convenience is key!

Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

• Meals Served: Character Appearances at Breakfast Only
• Type of Meal: Buffet
• Price: $47 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Daisy, Donald, Goofy, Minnie

At Cape May Cafe, Minnie Mouse and some of her friends are gathering to start the day with Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast. They’re dressed up in their beachy best—and you’re invited to join in the fun.

Serving breakfast favorites such as Mickey AND Minnie waffles, eggs, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit and pastries and more. The star of the show here is the omelet station — they make them all fresh to order!

Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

• Meals Served: Breakfast, Dinner
• Type of Meal: Buffet
• Price: Breakfast: $54 per adult, $34 per child (ages 3-9) Dinner: $66 per adult, $41 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, Goofy

As one of the most popular and well-known character dining locations on property, Chef Mickey’s lets guests enjoy American-style offerings in the main atrium of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Guests can meet Mickey and friends while watching the monorail pass them by.

Breakfast includes your standard breakfast fare, plus a carving station with rotations such as ham and brisket. Dinner offers salads, peel-and-eat shrimp, strip lions, orange chicken, mac and cheese, and more.

‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

• Meals Served: Character Appearances at Breakfast Only
• Type of Meal: Family Style
• Price: $49 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, Pluto

At ‘Ohana, Lilo and Stitch, along with other friends, invite you and your family to an American breakfast influenced by Polynesian flavors.

Served family style, guests can enjoy starters including fresh fruit and pineapple-coconut bread, followed by all-you-care to-enjoy breakfast skillets including traditional eggs sausage, Hawaiian inspired ham and potatoes, Mickey waffles, and biscuits.

Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort

• Meals Served: Character Appearances at Breakfast Only
• Type of Meal: Prix Fixe
• Price: $49 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Daisy, Donald, Mickey, Minnie

At Topolino’s Terrace, guests can start their day with birds-eye views from the rooftop restaurant with Mickey and friends!

Breakfast offerings include starters of breads and pastries, then guests choose an entree including options like quiches, waffles, steak and eggs, and more.

StoryBook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

• Meals Served: Dinner
• Type of Meal:  Prix Fixe
• Price: $65 per adult, $39 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, The Evil Queen

At Artist Point, guests will enter the enchanted forest and dine in a rustic setting, featuring Snow White and friends!

Guests start off with shared appetizers including things like shrimp cocktail and mushroom bisque. Then, choose an entree from options such as prime rib, herbed chicken, poached fish, beef stroganoff and more.

1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

• Meals Served: Breakfast and Dinner Only
• Type of Meal:  Buffet
• Price: $54 per adult, $34 per child (ages 3-9)
• Characters: Aladdin, Cinderella, Mirabel, and Princess Tiana

Step back into the early 20th century inside the recently reopened (and re-designed) 1900 Park Fare! You’ll have the chance to meet a whole new lineup of characters including Mirabel and Princess Tiana in her new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attire!

This buffet-style meal serves up classic breakfast fare that everyone in the family will love in the morning. For dinner, be sure to try Tiana’s Gumbo! And, we can’t talk about this restaurant without mentioning the famous Strawberry Soup which is served for both breakfast and dinner — it’s that popular!

Our Top Picks for Best Character Dining in Disney World

While “best” is a subjective word, hopefully, this has given you insight into what will be best for you and your family on your Disney World vacation. You can’t go wrong with any of these options, but we have a few “favorites” and are excited to share them with you!

Best Bang for Your Buck Winner: Crystal Palace Dinner

You have a huge variety of food options here for your picky and adventurous eaters alike. It’s also the only place you can meet Eeyore outside of special events in the parks like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Best Quality of Food: Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera

Is this the most cost-efficient breakfast? Not really. It’s not an endless amount of food, but smaller food production means better quality. The steak and polenta are to die for!

Best Experience: Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White

The restaurant itself is intimate and the only place you will be able to meet Dopey, Grumpy, and the Queen. The food is also great and the atmosphere is top-notch!

Comments

What is your favorite character dining restaurant in Disney World? Let us know in the comments if you prefer the restaurants in the parks or the resorts and why!