Disney 101: Character Dining At Disney World Parks & Resorts

What exactly is character dining and how does it work? Walt Express explains it all below!

What Kinds of Character Meals Does Disney offer?

Disney World has many options when it comes to dining with your favorite characters. From breakfasts with Mickey and friends to dinners with your favorite Disney Princesses, there is something for everyone! You can find character meals both in-park and at select Disney Resort Hotels, which means that you have so many options when trying to fit character dining into your plans!

What Are Some Important Things to Remember About Character Meals?

Disney World opens up dining reservations for everyone at 180 days before your trip. It is so important to schedule dining as early as possible so that you don’t miss out on your ‘must-dos’ for your trip! Dining reservations can be made via phone or online using your My Disney Experience account linked to your hotel reservation. (Also, when you use a Disney Travel Planner they will help you plan out and make these reservations, so you don’t have to wait on the phone and stress about getting your magical dining plans. They will take the stress out of it for you! (Grab a FREE quote here!)

If you are staying on property at a Disney World Resort, you are allowed the 180 days, PLUS you have a little bonus! You will be able to book your dining for the duration of your stay.

Where Can We Find Character Meals?

Character meals are available both in the Disney parks and the Disney Resort Hotels. We love having the choice to go to a meal at a Resort hotel because it gives a chance to explore other resorts during our stay. One of our very favorite things to do is eat at the three hotels on the monorail system near Magic Kingdom: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian. Each of these hotels offer its own unique dining opportunities, and it’s so fun to be able to enjoy the theming and the grounds of one of these resorts after a meal!

Here’s a quick list of some resort dining experiences, with the resort listed:

• Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast: 

Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort (featuring Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Ariel and Prince Eric)

• Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast: 

Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort (featuring Minnie Mouse and friends)

• Best Friends Breakfast:

Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort (featuring Stitch, Mickey, and friends)

• Chef Mickey’s Funtime Buffet:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort (featuring Mickey and Friends)

• Supercalifragilistic Breakfast:

1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa (featuring Mary Poppins, Alice, the Mad Hatter, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger)

• Cinderella’s Happily Ever Dinner: 

1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa (featuring Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine and the Ugly Stepsisters at lunch and dinner)

As fun as dining at a resort is, having a character meal in park also can be a HUGE time saver for your family so that you can have those amazing character experiences, but still fit in as much park time as possible! In-park character dining options are just as fun and the experiences are still high-quality, without sacrificing the time it can take to leave a park and make your way to a resort for a meal!

Here is a quick list of some in-park dining experiences, by park:

Disney’s Magic Kingdom:

• Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table (featuring Cinderella and her Disney Princess friends)
• The Crystal Palace featuring Winnie the Pooh and Friends
• Be Our Guest (featuring The Beast at dinner-this can change sometimes)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine Hollywood and Vine (featuring Disney Junior characters)-during breakfast.
• Minnie’s Seasonal Dining at Hollywood and Vine (seasonal meals and table activities!)-during lunch and dinner.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Tusker House (featuring Safari Donald Duck)-available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Epcot

• Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast at Garden Grill (featuring Chip, Dale, Pluto and Mickey)-available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (featuring the Disney Princesses)-available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

What Else Should I Know?

• When planning character dining, be sure that you have checked out how many table credits a meal uses! You also need to plan on paying tax and gratuity for every dinner except at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Here is a great guide that will help!
• Be sure to give yourself plenty of time for a character meal! Sometimes characters can take a little bit of time to make the rounds, so be sure to give yourself at least an hour so that you have a chance to spend quality time with each one!
• Disney photographers aren’t normally available at Character meals except for a designated picture taking area, so be sure that you have your own personal cameras ready to take pictures!
• If you need someone to take a picture for you, be sure to ask a cast member and they will normally be more than happy to help.
• If you are gathering autographs, be sure to bring your autograph books along too!

Don’t be afraid to try character meals both in and out of the Disney parks. Each one is unique with different food options and special touches that you can’t get anywhere else! Here at Walt Express we also have lots of reviews that you can check out before your 180 day booking window. We also can help you access menus so that you can take a look at food choices before you book! Character meals are perfect for getting a great meal, making memories, and getting 1-on-1 time with your favorite Disney characters. What’s not to love?

Looking for even MORE Disney information and fun? We have a wonderful Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE!

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