How to Dine with the Characters at Disney World
Dining with the Characters at Disney World is a great way to enhance the magic of your Disney vacation. Character dining experiences give you and your family the chance to enjoy an amazing Disney-themed meal, while also getting to meet some of your favorite Disney characters.
Why Should You Make a Reservation to Dine with Characters at Disney World
Character meals give you a guaranteed opportunity to talk with, get an autograph, hug, and take a photo with many of your favorite Disney characters. During Disney character meals, a selection of characters will enter the dining room and make their way to each table so each guest has a chance to meet them.
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One of our favorite perks of a Character Meal at Disney is that instead of waiting in a long, hot line at the Disney Parks to meet a character, you can enjoy an air-conditioned meal and still get to meet your favorite characters. I highly recommend booking at least one Character Dining Reservation during your first Disney Vacation.
Important things to know about character dining at Disney World
- You must make Advanced Dining Reservations. Character meals do require reservations, and the experiences can fill up quickly. Once you have booked the dates of your resort, you will want to book your character dining experience too.
- Disney Resort guests can make reservations 60 days before your check-in date. You can make reservations for the full length of your resort stay up to 10 days. If you change resorts during your stay, you will have to wait for the 60-day mark for the second stay before you can book reservations for those days.
- Children pricing is for children ages 2-9. Adult pricing is for ages 10 and up. Children ages 2 and under may eat off an adult’s plate or eat from the buffet for no additional cost.
- Because this meal is also a character experience, every person in your party must pay full price for the dining experience even if they are not going to eat. Children ages 2 and under can eat free (see above). This question gets asked a lot in different Disney World groups online.
- Adults must pay the adult meal price.
- Many Character dining locations are eligible with your Disney Dining Plan; however, some premium dining experiences, like Cinderella’s Royal Table, Storybook Dining at Artist Table, and lunch and dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. *These are subject to change.
- If you have a reservation for a dining location inside a Disney World Park (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom) you will also need to have a ticket for that park. Your dining reservation does not include your entry to the park. Annual Passholders also need to have a reservation to the park if the reservation is before 2 pm.
- You do not need a park ticket to eat at a character dining experience at the Walt Disney World resorts.
- Currently, character meals are available for many mealtimes, but not all locations offer character meet-and-greets all day. Some character dining experiences are only during dinner, while others are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. See my notes below for all of the details.
- While Disney Characters and cast members try to allow guests to get a photo and autograph, it is not always possible.
- I have not included Be Our Guest in this lineup because The Beast just walks through the dining room and does not usually stop for photos.
- Please remember to be kind to cast members and know that they will do their best to have the characters meet your table.
What restaurants offer Character Dining at Disney World?
- Character Dining in Magic Kingdom
- Character Dining in EPCOT
- Character Dining in Hollywood Studios
- Character Dining in Animal Kingdom
- Character Dining in Disney World Resorts
Character Dining at Magic Kingdom
Cinderella’s Royal Table – Fairytale Dining
Cinderella’s Royal Table is located in Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom. You will dine in a storybook fantasy, surrounded by stained glass windows and medieval flags. You are encouraged to dress up (little ones can dress up like princesses/princes for this special experience)
What Princesses are at Cinderella’s Royal Table?
- Cinderella (has a special photo opportunity)
- Snow White
- Princess Aurora
- Princess Jasmine
- Occasionally, Princess Ariel, Belle, or Medida will visit.
- *(Some characters are subject to change)
When are Character Meals Offered?
You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner with the princesses.
During the breakfast service, there is a set menu for both children and adults for you to choose from; these include beef tenderloin and eggs or Mickey waffles. During lunch and dinner service, there are three courses and you get to choose your appetizer, entree, and dessert. Adult entree choices include pork tenderloin, roasted chicken, gnocchi, and grilled beef tenderloin. Children’s entrees include chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, seared fish, or grilled beef tenderloin.
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at Cinderella’s Royal Table:
- Breakfast – 8:00 AM to 10:15 AM – $47 for children, $76 for adults
- Lunch – 11:00 AM to 2:55 PM – $54 for children, $89 for adults
- Dinner – 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM – $54 for children, $89 for adults
When you make a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table, you will pay upfront, including taxes and 18% tip. (You can cancel and get a full refund if you cancel 2 hours or more before your reservation.
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
Crystal Palace – A Buffet with Character
The Crystal Palace on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will have a chance to meet several friends from The Hundred Acre Wood, including Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore. Most of the characters will come to your table during your meal, but you may meet Pooh after your meal at a special photo spot.
This was our very first dining experience at Disney World in 2016 with our kids, and we all loved meeting the characters. I loved it so much, including the delicious food, that I’ve been back several times since. Especially the delicious Mickey-Shaped Churro Waffles – See more Mickey-Shaped Snacks in this post.
What Characters are at the Crystal Palace?
- Winnie the Pooh (has a special photo opportunity)
- Tigger
- Eeyore
- Piglet.
Pooh and his friends are at the Crystal Palace during breakfast, lunch, and dinner
The breakfast buffet options are classic American dishes like eggs, pancakes, biscuits, and gravy, pastries, fruits, and yogurt. During the lunch and dinner service, some of the options you might find are seasonal ravioli, fried chicken, shrimp creole, and assorted vegetables and desserts.
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at The Crystal Palace:
- Breakfast – 8:00 AM to 10:45 AM – $35 for children, $54 for adults
- Lunch – 11:00 AM to 2:55 PM – $44 for children, $64 for adults
- Dinner – 3:00 PM to 9:30 PM – $44 for children, $64 for adults
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
Character Dining at EPCOT
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Princess Storybook Dining
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is located in Epcot’s World Showcase, at the Norway Pavilion. You will dine in the medieval castle for a storybook feast with some of your favorite princesses.
What Princesses are at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall?
- Snow White
- Aurora
- Belle
- Cinderella
- Ariel
- Princess Jasmine
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are character meals at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
You can make reservations for breakfast, lunch, or dinner here. The meals are all you care to enjoy buffets, and there are both American and Norwegian foods for you to choose from. *
Dining Times:
- Breakfast – 8:30 AM to 12:10 PM – $39 for children, $62 for adults
- Lunch – 12:15 PM to 4:40 PM – $46 for children, $69 for adults
- Dinner – 5:25 PM to 8:05 PM – $46 for children, $69 for adults
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
Garden Grill – Chip ‘n’ Dale and friends
Garden Grill is located in EPCOT at the LAND. It is a unique rotating (very slowly) restaurant, which gives you a unique experience and different sights as you dine.
What Characters can we meet at Garden Grill?
- Chip ‘n’ Dale
- Mickey
- Pluto
- Please note, some Disney friends change occasionally
When are Character Meals Offered?
Garden Grill offers family-style all-you-care-to-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfasts include delicious cinnamon bread, scrambled eggs, Mickey-shaped waffles, a potato casserole, and other goodies! For lunch and dinner, you will enjoy Grilled beef, Sliced turkey and gravy, and lots of delicious vegetable dishes that are grown in the Disney Greenhouses at Living with the Land.
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at The Garden Grill:
- Breakfast – 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM – $42 for children, $62 for adults
- Lunch – 11:30 AM to 3:40 PM – $33 for children, $4 for adults
- Dinner – 3:45 PM to 8:00 PM – $42 for children, $62 for adults
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
Character Dining at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood & Vine – Disney Junior Play N Dine (Breakfast) Minnie Seasonal DinE
Hollywood & Vine is located on Echo Lake inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The theme of Hollywood and Vine is a seasonal dining event with Minnie and friends. Each season the theme changes as well as the characters’ cute outfits! Characters are at Hollywood and Vine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
What Characters can we meet at Hollywood & Vine?
- Minnie Mouse
- Mickey Mouse
- Goofy
- Pluto.
Below are photos of the characters from Minnie’s Springtime Dine:
Below are photos of the characters from Minnie’s Summertime Dine:
On the breakfast buffet, you will find Bananas Foster’s French toast, chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict, and bread pudding. There are also pastries, fruit, yogurt, and other classic breakfast items available. The lunch and dinner menu changes seasonally, but some buffet offerings you might find are shrimp, roasted turkey breast, mushroom risotto, whipped potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and assorted breads.
⭐️ Read our full review of Hollywood and Vine’s Dinner here.
Check Disney’s website to see when the different seasonal dining experiences are happening. Below is a list of the Seasonal Dining Experiences at Hollywood and Vine:
- Silver Screen Dine – Early January – Mid March
- Springtime Dine – Mid March – Mid May
- Summertime Dine – Mid May – Mid August
- Halloween Dine – Mid August – Early November
- Holiday Dine – Early November – Early January
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at Hollywood and Vine:
- Breakfast – 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM – $33 for children, $49 for adults
- Lunch – 11:30 AM to 3:55 PM – $44 for children, $64 for adults
- Dinner – 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM – $44 for children, $64 for adults
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
Character Dining at Animal Kingdom
Tusker House – Donald’s Dining Safari
Tusker House is located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Africa. You’ll meet Mickey and friends wearing their safari outfits.
What Characters can we meet at Tusker House?
- Mickey Mouse
- Donald
- Daisy Duck
- Goofy
⭐️ Read our full review of Tusker House here.
Meet Characters all day at Tusker House
You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Meals at the Tusker House are served family-style
For breakfast, you will find traditional breakfast items as well as hard-boiled eggs, Mickey waffles, honey Greek yogurt, and cardamom granola. During lunch and dinner, you can try tandoori chicken, chicken curry, marinated beef, and other traditional African dishes. You will also find kid-friendly favorites like macaroni and cheese, corn dog nuggets, and chicken legs.
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at Tusker House:
- Breakfast – 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM – $35 to $59.99 per adult
- Lunch – 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM – $60+ per adult
- Dinner – 3:35 PM to 7:00 PM – $60+ per adult
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
⭐️ See why Tusker House isn’t the only reason we love Animal Kingdom and why you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom on your trip to Disney World. Read the post here.
Character Dining at Disney World Resorts
Don’t forget that there are several great Character Dining experiences outside of the parks. This means you don’t need a park ticket to meet some of your favorite characters!
Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White
Artist Point is located in Wilderness Lodge (Resort). You can get to the Wilderness Lodge using Disney World’s free transportation. You can take a bus from any Disney World Park right to the resort. You can also take a boat from Magic Kingdom over to the resort.
What characters are at Artist Point?
- Snow White
- Grumpy
- Dopey
- The Evil Queen (has a special photo opportunity)
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are character meals at Artist Point
You can make reservations for this character dining experience for dinner only.
Dining Times and Costs at Artist Point’s Character Dining:
- Dinner – 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM – Costs: $43 for children – $69 per adult
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
⭐️ Read our full review of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort here.
Cape May Cafe – Minnie’s Beach Bash
Cape May Cafe is located in Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Join Minnie and friends for a beach bash while you dine. The characters will be all dressed up for a day at the beach!
We stayed at the Beach Club Resort last year and really loved the location; it was so quick to walk from EPCOT’s International Gateway (the World Showcase entrance to EPCOT by UK). You can also take a bus from any Disney World Park to the Beach Club Resort.
What characters can we meet at Cape May Cafe?
- Minnie
- Mickey Mouse
- Goofy
- Donald
- Daisy Duck
Meet Characters at Cape May Cafe during Breakfast Only
The only character dining offered here, for now, is breakfast. This is an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet with a selection of pastries, omelets, bacon, and sausage as well as other breakfast favorites to choose from. *
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at Cape May Cafe:
- Breakfast – 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM – $33 for children and $49 per adult
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
1900 Park Fare – Character Buffet
1900 Park Fare is located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and you can make reservations for a character meal for breakfast and dinner.
What characters can we meet at 1900 Park Fare?
- Cinderella
- Aladdin
- Mirabel
- Princess Tiana
When are Character Meals Offered?
You can meet characters at 1900 Park Fare at breakfast and dinner. 1900 Park Fare is an all-you-care-to-eat buffet. It is one of my favorite character meals! You can read my review of 1900 Park Fare and find out why here.
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at 1900 Park Fare :
- Breakfast – 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM – $37 for children, $58 for adults
- Dinner – 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM – $44 for children, $69 for adults
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
Chef Mickey’s – Character Buffet
Chef Mickey’s is located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and you can make reservations for breakfast and dinner here. Mickey and friends will be dressed in their chef’s clothes serving up food and fun!
What characters can we meet at Chef Mickey’s?
- Mickey Mouse
- Donald Duck
- Goofy
- Pluto
When are Character Meals Offered?
You can meet characters at Chef Mickey’s at breakfast and dinner. Chef Mickey’s is an all-you-care-to-eat buffet. At breakfast, you will find charcuterie boards with meats and cheeses, waffles and pancakes, eggs, fresh fruits, and pastries.
If you attend the dinner service, you will find NY strip loin, roasted pork, a carving station with select meats, shrimp and grits, roasted vegetables, and of course kid favorites like chicken nuggets and corn dog nuggets.
Character Dining Hours and cost at Chef Mickey’s:
- Breakfast – 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM – $37 for children, $58 for adults
- Dinner – 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM – $44 for children, $69 for adults
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
‘Ohana – Best Friends Breakfast
‘Ohana restaurant is located at the beautiful Disney’s Polynesian resort. You can get to the resort from all parks using Disney transportation services. The buses can take you from any Disney World Park to the Polynesian. You can also get there from Magic Kingdom by using the Monorail.
What Characters can we meet at ‘Ohana?
You will see Lilo, Stitch, Mickey Mouse, and Pluto during your meal.
When are Character Meals Offered?
‘Ohana offers Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch. This all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast buffet includes a lot of fresh fruits, as well as warm pineapple-coconut breakfast bread, and the ‘Ohana breakfast skillet with ham, eggs, potatoes, sausage, Mickey waffles, and biscuits! ‘Ohana is also open for dinner service, but there are no characters present for dinner.
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at ‘Ohana: *
- Breakfast – 7:30 AM to 12:15 PM – $33 for children, $53 for adults
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
⭐️ Read our full review of ‘Ohana’s Character Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch here.
Topolino’s Terrace – Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends
Topolino’s Terrace is located at the Rivera Resort. You can get to the Rivera Resort by taking a bus from any Disney World Park or taking a ride-share, Uber, Lyft, or Minnie Van. [We’ve had great luck using Lyft while at Disney; you can also reserve a Minnie Van from Lyft. If you’ve never used Lyft, you can use my referral link and save $8 ]
What Characters can we meet at Topolino’s Terrace?
- Mickey
- Minnie Mouse
- Donald Duck
- Daisy Duck
What meal at Topolino’s Terrace is a character meal?
While Topolino’s offers breakfast and dinner services, you will only meet the characters during breakfast. Breakfast at Topolino Terrace is a prix fixe menu. Some of the choices include Quiche, Waffles, Smoked Salmon, Two Eggs, and much more.
Character Dining Hours and Pricing at Topolino’s Terrace:
- Breakfast – 7:30 AM to 12:15 PM – $35 for children, $54 for adults
* Times, menu, and pricing are subject to change
Character dining at Walt Disney World will make your already amazing vacation even more magical. It’s an experience that your family will talk about for years to come!
Have you ever tried a character dining experience at Walt Disney World before? Share your favorite character dining restaurant in the comments below.
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