If you are wanting to see lots of characters but not stand in a lot of lines, then Walt Disney World Character dining may be for you. Disney World offers quite a few character dining options that you and your family might enjoy.

Character Dining Restaurants

Walt Disney World has lots of character dining restaurants to choose from. Most character meals offer the chance to see four or five characters.

Magic Kingdom Character Dining

Cinderella’s Royal Table -Princess dining experience inside of the Cinderella Castle.

• Menu – American, Ala Carte
• Characters you might see – Fairy Godmother, Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, Jasmine, Rapunzel
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 2 Table Service Credits per person

Crystal Palace – Fun dining experience with views of Cinderella Castle.

• Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Characters: Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit Per Person

Be Our Guest – This is not technically character dining, but, I am adding it because the Beast does make an appearance and you are able to get a picture with him as you exit the restaurant. No other characters are present.

• Ala Cart Menu
• Characters: the Beast (picture opp only)
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit Per Person

Epcot Character Dining

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – This character dining experience fit for a princess is the cheaper of the two princess character themed dining options.  The reservations are a little bit easier to get.

• Menu – American & Norwegian. Breakfast is served family style all you care to eat with a small buffet featuring yogurt, fruits, and pastries. Lunch is ala carte accompanied with a small salad/cold cut buffet.
• Characters you might meet – Belle (greeter), Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Snow White, or Mary Poppins.
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit per person

Garden Grill – Harvest feast featuring Chip n’ Dale.

• Menu – American, Family Style all you care to eat.
• Characters – Chip n’ Dale, Mickey, Pluto
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit per person

Hollywood Studios Character Dining

Hollywood & Vine – Playhouse Jr. breakfast and stunning Mickey and gang dinner.

• Menu – American, Buffet
• Characters; Playhouse Jr. characters for breakfast: Sofia the First, Handy Manny, Doc McStuffins,  and Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Mickey and the gang for lunch and dinner. Their attire is centered around the current holiday or season.
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit Per Person

I am looking forward to the potential of Star Wars character dining when Star Wars land is completed.

Animal Kingdom Character Dining

Tusker House – Safari themed buffet with Mickey and friends.

• Menu – American, Buffet
• Characters – Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy
• Location – Africa
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit per person

Resort Character Dining

1900 Park Fare – Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, Wonderland Tea Party, and Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner.

• Menu – American, Buffet
• Characters you May Meet – Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh during breakfast. During lunch and dinner, you may meet the Fairy Godmother Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella, Cinderella, and Prince Charming.
• Wonderland Tea Party – Disney Characters from Wonderland invite kids 4 to 12 years of age for an hour of games, stories, and cupcakes. To sip on, kids are given a special “tea” that tastes remarkably like apple juice. The pint-sized partygoers also get to decorate cupcakes, make a craft to take home with them, and have their photos taken with their very merry hosts.
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit Per Person

O’hana – Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

• Menu – All you care to eat served family style.
• Characters – Lilo, Stitch, Minnie
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit Per Person

Chef Mickey’s -Fun time with Mickey and the gang at Disney’s Contemporary resort.

• Menu – American, Buffet
• Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit Per Person

Cape May Cafe – Goofy’s Beach Club Breakfast in a quieter setting.

• Menu- American, Buffet
• Characters – Goofy, Minnie, Donald
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 1 Table Service Credit Per Person

Garden Grove – Character dining experience at Disney’s Swan Resort during dinner and weekend breakfast times.

• Menu – American, bufet
• Characters – Goofy and Pluto
• Disney Dining Plan – No

Mickey’s Backyard Barbecue – Fun character dining experience where you can dance with the characters at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Campsites.

• Menu – American, Buffet
• Characters- Chip n’ Dale, Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie
• Disney Dining Plan – Yes, 2 Table Service Credits per person
• Cost – See seating chart below.  This is a prepaid meal. 

Trattoria al Forno – An all-new character dining experience will debut spring 2017 at Disney’s BoardWalk, with appearances by adventurous royal couples from beloved Disney films! This is a breakfast only character dining experience.  It’s a hearty “bon voyage” celebration, featuring popular characters from favorite Disney stories like “Tangled” or “The Little Mermaid.” This unique, new character breakfast is slated to begin in late spring.

Character Dining Tips

Book Early – Character dining is very popular, so it fills up fast. Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest, and Akershus are extremely popular and get booked for prime times very quickly. You can reserve meals six months in advance. Though I have snagged reservations the day before (since people cancel to avoid a no-show fee) I would not count on that.

Money Saving Tip – Breakfast prices are usually cheaper than lunch and dinner prices.  Plus, when you plan an early breakfast it takes less of your paid park time.

Get Autographs – Characters will sign autographs while visiting your table. (Related Post: 20+ Items Disney Characters will Sign)

Communicate with Cast Members – Sometimes characters may miss your table. They may take a break and then return in a different spot, you may get up to get something at a buffet. It is not intentional. Just kindly let a cast member know that you missed seeing someone and they will gladly fix it.

Scheduling Tips – It usually takes about one and a half hours to get through a character meal. Make sure to schedule enough time to get to the dining location. Traveling around using Disney transportation can be a little time-consuming. If you have a question about the best way to get somewhere on Disney property, join the Pixie Dust Disney Fans Facebook Group and ask.

You can get into the parks early for early morning reservations. Even though the Welcome Show at the Magic has been moved to the Castle, you can still grab the earliest reservations and get awesome nearly empty Main Street pictures.

Don’t Book More than 1 Per Day – Walt Disney World Character dining is fun, but since the meal does take a while if you book 2 meals in one day you are spending 3 hours of your day plus travel time devoted to eating rather than riding rides and other experiences.

Extra Special Moments – Though not guaranteed Disney characters love when children dress like princes and princesses and will shower them with extra attention. The same goes for adults who Disneybound.

You are Paying for the Experience – I do think the food at character meals is ok, some of it I love, but it is not amazing. I keep going to character meals because it is worth the experience to meet all my favorite characters without standing in a line. If you are looking for amazing, decadent food then look for meals without characters. One of my favorites is the California Grill.

Character Dining Reviews

• Crystal Palace
• Chef Mickey’s
• More reviews coming soon!

Looking for more Walt Disney World Character Meet and Greet Fun? Check out these posts highlighting my top character picks for each park. 

• Top Magic Kingdom Character Meet and Greets
• Top Animal Kingdom Character Meet and Greets
• Top Hollywood Studios Character Meet and Greets
• Top Epcot Character Meet and Greets 

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