Disney character dining is one of the most popular things to do at Walt Disney World. Young kids love seeing the characters, and booking a character meal is a great way to avoid the lines and have more interaction. This combination of entertainment and dining can be a special experience for families and is worth the splurge.
When my kids were younger, I tried to book at least a few Disney character meals and they were always one of the highlights of our trips. Since they were too small for some of the more exciting rides and attractions, Disney character dining became the main event of our vacations.
Here’s everything you need to know about Disney character dining at Walt Disney World. Keep in mind that characters are always subject to change as are the character dining options, so check the website before making any plans. I tend not to promise specific characters to my kids just so they won’t be disappointed if things change.
Disclosure: I am a past member of the Disney Parks Moms Panel and have experienced some of these Disney World character dining opportunities during press trips (at no/limited cost) as well as personal trips (at my expense). All thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click-through may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Save money on your Walt Disney World theme park tickets by booking through Get Away Today. They offer vacation packages as well as individual ticket sales. Disney travel agents don’t charge guests an extra commission and can help you find deals.
Don’t forget your autograph book! You can purchase them right at the parks, or Amazon has a selection of some as well. It’s also a good idea to bring a larger pen that can be easy for the characters to grip.
Disney Character Dining Options
If you are planning to visit a Disney Park for the day, you may want to reserve a Disney character meal at that park. You do need valid park admission (as well as a park reservation) to access any of the restaurants within the park, so make sure you are planning to use a ticket that day (Beginning January 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets).
If you have the park hopper option on your ticket, that can be used to visit a second park after 2 pm (without needing a reservation for that second park). Like park reservations, this will change on January 9th.
It can sometimes be challenging to decide what park you’ll be in 60 days in advance (when you can book advance dining reservations), but they do book up well in advance. So you’ll want to plan ahead.
Garden Grille, Epcot
Surprisingly, this was one of our favorite Disney World character meals. Located in the Land Pavilion in Epcot, Garden Grill offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Served family style, much of the food from these meals is grown right there in the Land Pavilion. Meals are hosted by Chip ‘n’ Dale and friends, and you can enjoy your meal and your character interaction as the restaurant slowly revolves.
The food is delicious, and the restaurant is really fun. It’s one of the best places for character dining and is a good choice for families. We’ve been for dinner, but I’m sure all meals are great there.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Epcot
Princess lovers will want to have a meal at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, located in the Norway pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. This beautiful castle is a gorgeous venue, and you’ll get to see several princesses who come by and visit your table. For kids who consider princesses their favorite Disney characters, these can be the best character meals.
Akershus offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner includes some Scandinavian favorites like Norwegian Meatballs and Chicken and Dumplings. This was the very first character dining experience that we had with our kids – when my children were 9 months old and 2 years old. My daughter loved it.
This is an extremely popular experience, so make sure that you book right at the 60-day point.
The Crystal Palace, the Magic Kingdom
This is another one of my family’s favorites. The beautiful Crystal Palace, located in the Magic Kingdom, offers a delicious buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here, you’ll find Winnie the Pooh and Friends. During your meal, they’ll come to the table, and have a fun parade around the restaurant that kids can join in on.
While all three meals are offered, I usually prefer lunch – it’s the best time of day for a sit-down lunch. It’s a good break from the sun and the hustle and bustle of the parks. When my kids were younger, I especially appreciated the respite from walking.
You’ll find that many families try to do walk-ins for the Crystal Palace character dining, but it’s very popular and is often full. Book as soon as possible to that 60-day point to get your preferred date and time. The Crystal Palace is my favorite Magic Kingdom character dining option.
Cinderella’s Royal Table, Magic Kingdom
If you have princess lovers, you’ll probably want to make a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Located in Cinderella Castle right in the center of the Magic Kingdom, dining in this restaurant can be a dream come true.
You’ll first greet Cinderella as you head into the restaurant and then will be seated. There, you’ll be greeted by other princesses while you dine. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are offered. This is a signature restaurant, so there is a dress code.
The location can’t be beaten, but it’s expensive. Make sure that it’s something that your kids will really want to do, before making a reservation. Cinderella’s Royal Table is a small restaurant, so it’s something you’ll want to book early because availability is limited.
Tusker House, Animal Kingdom
You’ll get to see Safari Donald and his friends at this restaurant located right in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s a fun spot, and you can enjoy a buffet with lots of options. Don’t miss the Jungle Juice – it’s absolutely delicious.
Personally, we’ve always enjoyed going to Tusker House for breakfast. It’s a great way to start the day, and I love some of the Animal Kingdom quick-service restaurants for lunch and dinner.
Hollywood and Vine, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
One of my fondest memories from when my kids were younger is our experience at the Hollywood and Vine. This character dining experience includes favorites from Disney Junior. They’ve changed over the years as new shows become more popular. Food is served buffet style in this fun diner, and younger kids especially will love seeing their favorite characters come to life.
The Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine experience is offered for breakfast at the Hollywood and Vine. Then, during select times of the year, they also offer Minnie’s Seasonal Dining hosted by Minnie Mouse. This experience is themed based on the time of year.
Disney Character Dining at the Resort Hotels
Disney character dining is also offered outside the parks, at some of the Walt Disney World resort hotels. If you don’t want to use a park ticket or aren’t sure where you’ll be for the day, these can be a great option. Just remember that the Walt Disney World resort transportation doesn’t typically go from resort to resort, so you’ll want to have a plan.
Like the restaurants located within the theme parks, you will be able to make dining reservations 60 days in advance for these restaurants.
Chef Mickey, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
This is one of the most popular and classic character dining experiences. Located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Chef Mickey offers an all-you-care-to-eat buffet for breakfast and dinner.
The Contemporary is also located on the monorail loop, so it’s an easy stop if you are planning a day at the Magic Kingdom. Meals at Chef Mickey are hosted by the Fab Five – Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald Duck, and Goofy. It’s a lively experience and one that young kids especially will love. This is another very popular experience so book well in advance.
‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
My son always loved Stitch when he was young, so we made sure to book this delicious breakfast several times when he was younger. Located at ‘Ohana in Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch is only offered for breakfast.
The delicious food is served family-style and includes eggs, potatoes, sausages, and ham. It was always one of our favorite experiences. The Polynesian is on the monorail and is also near the Ticket and Transportation Center, so it would be easy to have breakfast here first and then go to either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. If your children love Lilo and Stitch, this is a must do and it’s one of the best restaurants.
Cape May Cafe, Disney’s Beach Club
We love staying at Disney’s Beach Club during our Disney vacations, so we booked Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at the Cape May Cafe several times when my kids were younger. Because the Beach Club is a little tucked away, I’ve found that this character meal is a bit more low-key than the others. But keep in mind that it may not be easy to get to if you aren’t staying near the Beach Club.
While Cafe May Cafe is known for its delicious seafood buffet, that is only offered during dinner and doesn’t include characters.
Story Book Dining at Artist Point, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
One of the newest character dining options is the Story Book Dining at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. While Artist Point was a signature restaurant in the past, it’s been transformed into the newest place to eat with the characters at Disney World.
Currently, guests will see Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy. Only dinner is offered, and reservations can be made 60 days in advance.
Best Character Dining at Disney World
Everyone wants to know the best character dining at Disney World. The reality is that it depends on the ages and interests of your kids.
In general, I think one of the best experiences is at Chef Mickey. If you aren’t sure what characters your kids would prefer, that’s probably the best option because it features classic Disney characters. Otherwise, I’d choose the experience that has the most characters that your kids love.
Our favorites are ‘Ohana, the Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey, and the Garden Grill. Those have a great combination of great food and fun character interactions.
Best Princess Dining at Walt Disney World
Everyone with princess-loving kids wonders what is the best princess dining at Walt Disney World. Akershus has always been our favorite. It’s easier to get reservations, and I prefer the food to the food at Cinderella’s Royal Table.
If your child loves Snow White, the best princess character dining option will be Story Book Dining at Disney’s Artist Point.
Best Preschool Disney Character Dining
We loved the Play ‘n Dine at the Hollywood and Vine when my kids were preschoolers. If your kids watch Disney Junior, they’ll probably love seeing their favorites in person.
Other great options for preschoolers are ‘Ohana, Chef Mickey, and the Crystal Palace.
Frequently Asked Questions about Disney Character Dining
It is not a character meal for any of the meals offered there.
Akershus in EPCOT and Cinderella’s Royal Table have several princesses and are the traditional “princess breakfasts”.
Yes! While you may be lucky and find last-minute availability, we recommend that you get reservations as soon as possible. These meals book up quickly.
Unfortunately, you can’t, so you’ll want to book your reservation at a different time than the fireworks if you want to do both.
What is your favorite Disney character dining experience?
