The Ultimate Guide to Disney World Character Dining
The number one request my clients have after they’ve booked a Disney World trip (or even before they’ve finalized their vacation package) is that they wanted to book character dining.
Character dining is one of the most memorable parts of a Disney World vacation. It combines two things families love most—great food and face‑to‑face time with beloved Disney characters—without waiting in long park lines. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, celebrating a first visit, or simply want to feel the magic, character meals can be a fantastic addition to your trip.
At Magic Me Vacations, we help families decide which character meals are worth prioritizing, when to book them, and how to maximize value—especially when using the Disney Dining Plan.
What Is Character Dining at Disney World?
Character dining allows guests to enjoy a sit‑down meal while Disney characters visit your table for photos, autographs, and interaction. These meals are available at select restaurants in the parks and Disney resorts and typically feature:
Multiple characters at one meal
Character interactions
Indoor, air‑conditioned breaks from the parks
Fixed pricing (great for budgeting)
Meeting characters without long waits
All Disney World Character Dining Locations
Chef Mickey’s – Contemporary Resort
A classic favorite featuring the original Fab Five: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald. High energy, convenient to Magic Kingdom, and great for first‑time visitors. This buffet serves comfort food favorites for breakfast and dinner, but be aware that this location gets loud and boisterous.
Topolino’s Terrace – Breakfast à la Art – Riviera Resort
A more refined character breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy in artist attire. This breakfast is upscale while still being approachable for all families. With excellent food quality, this is one of the most popular reservations on property and easily accessed from EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and any of the Skyliner resorts.
Cinderella’s Royal Table - Magic Kingdom
Yes, this is a pricey meal even for breakfast, but you’re dining in Cinderella Castle and meeting approximately five princesses. This is definitely a must-do at least once.
Tusker House – Animal Kingdom
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this buffet‑style meal with Donald, Mickey, Daisy, and Goofy in safari outfits, is the perfect spot for a rest at Animal Kingdom. Though it offers a mix of familiar foods, it also has African-inspired dishes for the more adventurous diners.
Akershus - EPCOT
Want to dine with the princesses but have sticker shock from Cinderella’s Royal Table? Akershus is your answer. You’ll also be dining in a castle, but just not as grand as Cinderella Castle. In the Norway pavilion, you’ll meet approximately five princesses for all three meals and enjoy family-style meals with Scandinavian flare.
Hollywood & Vine – Hollywood Studios
Home to seasonal character dining experiences featuring Minnie and friends with rotating themes throughout the year. This location serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a convenient location in Hollywood Studios.
1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian
A whimsical buffet-style character meal with a special wish ceremony with Aladdin, Tiana, Mirabel, and Cinderella. This is another easy dining option for families looking for a break from Magic Kingdom or EPCOT.
Garden Grill – EPCOT
A family‑style meal that slowly rotates inside The Land pavilion at EPCOT overlooking Living with the Land, featuring Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale in their farmer’s best. An added bonus is that most of the plant-based dishes are grown in the Living with the Land greenhouses.
Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White - Wilderness Lodge
An immersive, Snow White–themed character dining experience with Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and the Evil Queen, offering beautifully themed, elevated dishes in a cozy storybook atmosphere.
Cape May Café (Breakfast Only) – Beach Club Resort
A fun breakfast with Minnie and friends in their favorite beach attire. This New England-style buffet offers loads of yummy breakfast fare, and each table is served pull apart rolls that I still think about. This is a great option not only for Beach and Yacht Club guests, but guests coming from a Skyliner resort or guests who rope dropped EPCOT and want a breakfast break before heading back into the parks.
Ohana (Breakfast Only) – Polynesian Village Resort
Ohana is best known for its family-style dinners with noodles and dumplings, but breakfast features family-style breakfast skillets, Lilo & Stitch, Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto. This is the only dining location where you can meet Lilo and Stitch. It’s perfect for monorail guests or if you’d like to have a hearty breakfast before heading into Magic Kingdom or EPCOT.
Crystal Palace – Magic Kingdom
It’s Friendship Day! Meet Winnie the Pooh and friends in a bright, Victorian‑style setting just steps from Main Street, U.S.A. with one of the best buffets at Disney World. This bright and airy location serves three meals a day with the Winnie the Pooh characters.
Best Character Meals for the Disney Dining Plan
When using the Disney Dining Plan, character meals can offer some of the best value since they typically include:
An entrée or buffet
A dessert
A beverage
Character entertainment included
Character meals tend to have higher pricing than other restaurants, therefore, those that are only one table service credit are typically great uses of your table service credits.
Best Table Service Credit Values
✔ Topolino’s Terrace (Breakfast) – High‑quality food + popular characters = excellent value
✔ Tusker House – Buffet pricing makes this a strong use of a table service credit
✔ Garden Grill – Family‑style service with characters and a unique rotating restaurant
✔ Chef Mickey’s – One of the most expensive character meals, making it a solid dining plan redemption
✔ Ohana Breakfast – Family‑style meal + rare characters = strong value
✔ 1900 Park Fare - Buffet dining with characters who are mostly unique to this location
These meals often cost significantly more out‑of‑pocket, so using a dining plan credit here can make a noticeable difference.
Best Tips for Booking Character Dining
Book Early: Character meals are among the fastest reservations to fill. We recommend prioritizing these as soon as booking windows open. You can also plan to book these for the end of your trip to have the best chances of getting these tough reservations.
Schedule Strategically: Breakfasts are great on park days. Brunch or lunch works well for mid‑day breaks. Dinner character meals can replace park time with a relaxing experience.
Consider Location: Resort‑based character meals are perfect on arrival days, rest days, or departure mornings. I also recommend prioritizing the locations that are at your resort or you can easily get to from your resort. You can also choose restaurants that are easily accessible from the parks for a break.
Know Your Family’s Style: High‑energy meals (like Chef Mickey’s) are great for kids, while quieter options (like Garden Grill) suit families who prefer a calmer pace.
Are Character Meals Worth It?
For many families, absolutely—especially when:
It’s your child’s first Disney trip
You want guaranteed character interactions
You’re using the Disney Dining Plan
You want to reduce time spent waiting in lines
They’re also a great way to build magical moments into your trip without rushing.
How Magic Me Vacations Helps
Character dining can feel overwhelming—from choosing the right restaurants to securing reservations and aligning them with your park plans. Magic Me Vacations handles all of that for you, helping families:
Decide which character meals fit their trip best
Maximize dining plan value
Book hard‑to‑get reservations
Create balanced daily itineraries
And best of all, our planning services come at no extra cost to you.
Final Thoughts
Disney World character dining adds unforgettable magic to a vacation—and with the right strategy, it can also be one of the smartest uses of the Disney Dining Plan. With expert planning, these meals become seamless highlights instead of stressful logistics.
If you’re ready to start planning or want help choosing the best character meals for your family, Magic Me Vacations is here to help make the magic easy.
