Our Guide to Walt Disney World Character meals was last updated during September 2019. The guide provides information on all the current Walt Disney World Character Meals, including helpful tips, tricks, and hacks.
Going to Walt Disney World? Are you going with kids?
If you are, meeting characters is likely to be a big part of your Walt Disney World Vacation. In fact, for many adults, it is also a big part of their vacation too!
It is difficult not to get involved with the fun of meeting the occasional Disney Character. However; one thing you will meet is long lines. One way to avoid these lines is to book one of the Walt Disney World Character Meals.
Character Meals are located throughout Disney World and are offered at each theme park plus several resorts. Whether it is Mickey Mouse, a Disney Princess or Winnie the Pooh, there is likely to be a character meal where you can meet your favorite character.
While they often don’t offer the best food character meals are always great fun.
Magic Kingdom Character Meals
Crystal Palace at The Magic Kingdom
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this impressive venue is located on Main Street USA.
This is your opportunity to meet Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. A great character experience which is popular with all little ones even if Piglet does not look much like Piglet!
Booking is essential for this Character Meal, and the Disney Dining Plan is accepted. A generous but not stunning buffet is available to go with your experience.
Cinderella’s Royal Table Magic Kingdom
Set upstairs inside Cinderella Castle this restaurant hosts a highly sought-after character meal. Advance Dining Reservations are essential and should be booked as soon as the 180-day booking window opens.
Characters do vary, but you can expect to meet Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora & Snow White. In addition, Jasmine or the Fairy Godmother often appear.
The Disney Dining Plan is accepted, but this is a Signature Location and costs 2 table credits. Payment in full is required on booking, and guests on the Disney Dining Plan will have the full cost deducted for a no show from their card.
The new Signature Celebration Package at Cinderella’s Royal Table offers the Ultimate Princess Experience at the Magic Kingdom. The event consists of 3 components: Dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table, priority fireworks viewing and a delightful dessert party—in addition to several sensational surprises.
Be Our Guest at Dinner
The very popular Be Our Guest is not a traditional character meal. However; on leaving, you can meet the Beast.
Dinner, at Be Our Guest, was changed during summer 2018 and is now a fixed price signature meal containing a selection of French Favorites. The meal is not cheap, costing around $60 or 2 table service credits on the Disney Dining Plan.
Be Our Guest is a Quick Service site for breakfast and lunch. Beast is not present at either lunch or breakfast, but the food is better than most Quick Service locations.
EPCOT Character Meals
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Located in Norway and open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Belle is your host who you meet on arrival. Also, you will see a selection from Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Mary Poppins, and Snow White.
Food is better than many of the other Walt Disney World Character Meals but might not be popular with picky eaters. If you are a little picky about your food, breakfast is probably a better choice.
The Disney Dining Plan is accepted and costs only one credit. Another popular venue but easier to book than the Royal Table.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is considered by many Disney World experts to be one of the best value meals on the Disney Dining Plan. This is probably my favorite of all the Disney World Character Meals.
Garden Grill
Served family-style and open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The usual characters are Mickey, Chip, Dale, and Pluto. The restaurant rotates and you get several views from Living with the Land as you eat.
The Disney Dining Plan is accepted, and reservations are usually easier to obtain compared to other character meal venues.
Hollywood Studios Character Meals
Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood and Vine
Hollywood and Vine character meals have changed several times in recent years. Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine is currently only available for breakfast. Characters do vary and the current characters are Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, and Roadster Racer Goofy.
This meal is excellent fun for little ones and costs 1 Table Service Credit on the Disney Dining Plan.
A Fantasmic Dining Package is also available and provides VIP seating to watch the show. The dining package, in my opinion, is only worthwhile if you are on the dining plan as it still costs one credit. If you are paying out-of-pocket, it does cost a bit more.
Many recent reports suggest food can be very poor at Hollywood and Vine. However, the kids will not care!
Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood and Vine
Now serving for lunch & dinner is this ever-changing seasonal feast. Minnie and pals are decked out in unique costumes that vary based upon the current season. The Disney Dining Plan is accepted, and Fantasmic Dining packages are available.
The following seasons are currently announced:
Halloween Dine
August 26, 2019 – November 7, 2019
Visit Minnie’s favorite happy haunt for a spooktacular Halloween feast that’s frightfully delightful.
Holiday Dine
Begins November 8, 2019
Deck the halls at a dazzling dinner party filled with holiday cheer and the joy of the season!
Likely seasons in 2020 are Minnie’s Silver Screen Dine, Minnie’s Springtime Dine, and Minnie’s Summertime Dine.
Animal Kingdom Character Meals
Tusker House
Donald’s Safari Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner at Tusker House is located in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom.
Donald is your host plus there is an opportunity to meet also Daisy, Goofy & Mickey Mouse. An excellent buffet accompanies your meal in an interesting environment.
A good meal, but it is not the cheapest character meal. Disney Dining plan is accepted and costs one credit.
Dining packages are available which include seating at Rivers of Light. When using the Dining Plan it still costs 1 credit but is more expensive when paying out of pocket.
Disney World Resort’s Character Meals
1900 Park Fare at Grand Floridian
1900 Park fare is open for breakfast and dinner, but two quite different character meals are served.
At breakfast, you can meet Alice, Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Tigger, and Winnie the Pooh. We have recently visited 1900 Park Fare after a several years break and have created a review of our experience. The breakfast buffet, in our opinion, is one of the best in Walt Disney World. During Holiday Seasons this meal is extended into brunch.
Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner has culinary selections that are representative of several “kingdoms” from around the globe. Cinderella is your host and is usually supported by Prince Charming, Anastasia, Drizella and Lady Tremaine.
The Character meals at 1900 Park fare are not the cheapest but have some great characters which you can’t meet elsewhere.
The Disney Dining Plan is accepted for all meals.
Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Only the breakfast served at Ohana is a character meal. The meal features Lilo, Stitch, Mickey & Pluto. It is a popular location with a good family-style breakfast. The restaurant accepts the Disney Dining Plan and Advance Dining Reservations are essential.
Plenty of family fun throughout your visit. Ohana is very popular for good reasons, and we have more information in our review.
Storybook Dining at Artist Point Wilderness Lodge
Artist Point was one of the finest signature restaurants at Walt Disney World and did not need changing. However, it is now a character meal featuring Snow White and the Gang!
Somewhat surprisingly, this only costs 1 credit on the Disney Dining Plan and appears to represent excellent value for money. Guests share a selection of appetizers and Desserts and pick their own entree. The dishes do sound delicious but are rather underwhelming. In addition, some of the gluten-free dishes served to Mrs. Modernlifeisgood, in our recent visit, were inedible.
The meal features Snow White, the Evil Queen, Dopey and Grumpy. It is the characters which make this meal worth attending, and they are great fun.
Currently, the restaurant is extremely popular and you must book your Advanced Dining reservation early.
Read our review of our experience with Storybook Dining at Artist Point.
Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort.
Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Chef Mickey’s is a very popular and noisy character experience.
Not the best food, but an excellent opportunity to meet Donald Duck, Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto. This location is very popular and should be booked as soon as possible. The Disney Dining Plan is accepted.
Our review of Chef Mickey’s has further information.
Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort
The usual characters are Donald, Goofy, and Minnie dressed in their beach gear. Often a quieter venue which means more time with characters but usually there are only 3. We think a character meal should have at least four characters.
Disney Dining Plan accepted but perhaps not the best value use of a table service credit.
Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast at Trattoria al Forno
Located on Disney’s Boardwalk this Character Meal offers a rare opportunity to meet the Disney Princes.
Current characters are Rapunzel and Flynn Rider & Ariel and Prince Eric.
Wonderland Tea Party at Grand Floridian
A Kid Only(4-10) Tea Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter. Kids get the opportunity to make cupcakes and have tea with the characters.
The Disney Dining Plan is not accepted. The experience lasts for 1 hour and parents do not stay during the party.
Perfectly Princess Tea Party at Grand Floridian
Rose Petal is your host for this costly experience with a guest appearance by Aurora. During this major event, girls receive a Princess Aurora doll, tiara, bracelet, rose, scrapbook, and food. Boys get an alternative selection of gifts.
Disney Dining Plan is not accepted. The experience is not available on Tuesday and Thursday.
Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera
Opening in December at the new Riviera Resort is Topolino’s Terrace. A new character breakfast will be available at the restaurant. Breakfast will consist of pastries and a choice of freshly prepared entree. The meal will cost 1 credit on the Disney Dining Plan.
Characters are likely to be Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck.
In the evening the restaurant will become a Signature Dining Location.
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ Closed
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness closed in 2018. The site of the BBQ has now been demolished and will not be returning.
Non-Disney Resort Character Meals
There are Disney World Character Meals at several non-Disney properties:
Ravello’s Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals at the Four Seasons
Garden Grove at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Covington Mill located inside Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Letterpress at Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
Lakeside at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
The Disney Dining Plan is not accepted for character meals at non-Disney Resorts. However, several of these meals are significantly cheaper than Character Meals at Disney owned resorts.
Learn More about Disney Dining
Our Guide to Meeting Characters at Walt Disney World is full of hints & tips.
Do you want to know more about the Disney Dining Plan? Have a look at our useful guide.
We have created a Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World, which explains all the options available.
Our Guide to Walt Disney World is an excellent resource for planning your Disney World Vacation.
Hi
Ohana looks really good fun. Is evening meal different?
Yes. Has no characters. It does look good fun though
The evening meal doesn’t have characters, but it does include games for the kids to play, like swatting coconuts across the floor with brooms