Disney Character Dining has returned to Walt Disney World select restaurants. And with that comes new experiences, and one of the easiest ways to see your favorite Disney friends. Here are all the places to see characters as part of your Disney Dining Experience. And the ones we think are most worth your time and money.
Are you wondering how to get all those Disney Character Meet and Greets into your Disney day? Thankfully, with character cavalcades, parades, and shows, the chances you’ll see your favorites are pretty good. But what if you’re looking for something a little extra? Perhaps with a photo and autograph book? And what if you don’t want to wait in character lines all day? Thankfully, Walt Disney World has a slew of Disney Character Dining experiences that gets you up close, without the wait. And choosing a Disney Character Dining experience at Walt Disney World is one of the best ways to see multiple Disney characters at once. So, which character dining meals are worth it? We’ll share the details for each!
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Disney Character Dining at Magic Kingdom
Be Our Guest
Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest Restaurant is known for its hard-to-get reservations and gorgeous atmosphere inside the Beast’s Castle. And, if you book the dinner here, you may get a chance to see the Beast himself, visiting tables and welcoming you to dine. And as the Beast isn’t seen elsewhere in the park, if you’re a fan this is your only chance to see him. The caveat here is that Be Our Guest has a Prix Fixe Menu, which is neither cheap nor kid-friendly. While we loved Be Our Guest in the good old days before the prix fixe menu, when they offered a gorgeous breakfast and quick service lunch, the current menu leaves something to be desired. Much to be desired, in fact. The cost is $39 child/ $67 adult. Check out the Be Our Guest Menu before you go. Verdict? Skip It.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
This restaurant is on the second floor of Cinderella’s Castle and features many of the Disney Princesses, all in one place. If your plans include visiting every Disney Princess you can find, you won’t find a better place to just see them all. Luckily, as this is the home of Cinderella, guests to the castle get to meet Cinderella in the foyer and pose for a picture. Keep an eye out for little figurines of Jaq and Gus hiding in the rafters. Once inside the castle and seated, children are given their Wishing Star for the Wishing Star ceremony. After that princesses make their way around the dining room.
A few things to know about this character meal is that without a proper backdrop, almost every picture of your child with a princess will include other guests in some capacity. This is of course practically unavoidable with Disney character dining. That said, if you’re on a budget, we recommend trying breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table. While still expensive, it will cost less than dinner. Dinner Cost: $37 child/ $62 adult. Check out the Cinderella’s Royal Table Menu. Verdict? Skip it. Unless you really need to see the princesses all at once.
Crystal Palace
This Disney World Winnie the Pooh Restaurant offers buffet dining in a gorgeous conservatory atmosphere and features Winnie the Pooh and Friends. Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, and Rabbit are all part of the fun in this “Celebration of Friendship.” Read our Crystal Palace Restaurant Review for the details. With this type of dining setup, you can simply get food at your leisure, while the characters make the rounds to visit your table. As a Disney Character Dining experience, this is one of the better ones! It’s budget-friendly, with an easy atmosphere and a wide variety of foods on the menu. Cost: $29 child/ $39 adult. Check out the Crystal Palace Menu. Verdict? Book it.
Disney Character Dining at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood & Vine Restaurant
Hollywood Studio’s only Disney Character Dining experience is at Hollywood and Vine. This restaurant features Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. Offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this restaurant has themed meals throughout the year. Including Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine, and the Disney Junior Play and Dine Breakfast. One of the most kid-friendly dining experiences, this is a buffet, that offers photo ops. Check out the Hollywood and Vine Menu. Verdict? Skip It. Unless you’re hoping to see the characters in various holiday attire.
Disney Character Dining at EPCOT
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Another Disney Princess character dining restaurant, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is located in World Showcase Norway. Much like Cinderella’s Royal Table, you get all the princesses in one place. Unlike Cinderella’s Royal Table, this restaurant offers a buffet, with a variety of Norwegian foods. It’s also a little bit cheaper. And while this price point is great if you’re trying to see the princesses, the menu has heavy foods that may not work for everyone’s palate. Cost: $34 child/ $53 adult. Check out the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Menu. Verdict? Skip It.
Garden Grill Restaurant
Found in The Land building, Garden Grill Restaurant features Chip and Dale’s Harvest Feast for lunch and dinner. This is a family-style meal, offering all you care to enjoy. The menu includes turkey breast, steak, stuffing, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and more cozy dishes. We love this restaurant for the chance to see Chip and Dale, who are so fun to be around! As one of the more budget-friendly Disney character dining restaurants at Walt Disney World, if you’re looking for a chance to see our favorite chipmunks, this is it. However, the restaurant itself is very dated, and a traditional American harvest menu may not appeal to all palates. So be sure to check the menu before you go. Cost $36/ $55 adult. Check out the Garden Grill Menu. Verdict? Book it.
Disney Character Dining at Animal Kingdom
Tusker House
Animal Kingdom’s only Disney Character Dining experience is at Tusker House Restaurant. This African-themed buffet restaurant is tucked away just to the left of Africa’s main midway. Once checked in, you are ushered to one of the restaurant’s many rooms. Very well-themed, you can see interesting artifacts, books, and decor. As a character dining experience it is considered one of the best, simply because you get Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy in their safari gear. The menu is a selection of varied African dishes, offered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, served family-style. A nice bonus here is that they offer a plant-based menu and kid-friendly options. However, due to the higher price tag, we’d suggest choosing breakfast at the $27/ $42 price point. Lunch and Dinner Cost. $36 child / $55 adult. Check out the Tusker House Menu. Verdict? Book it.
Disney Character Dining at Disney Resorts
Some of the Best Disney Character Dining experiences can be found at the Disney Resorts. And frankly, almost all the best restaurants in Walt Disney World are found at the Disney Resorts anyway. Plus, the fact that you can have any Disney character dining experience at the resorts, means you don’t have to buy a park ticket. Always a bonus!
Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Another restaurant that has hard-to-get reservations, Chef Mickey’s Restaurant features Mickey and Friends in their chef attire. With a fairly basic menu, Chef Mickeys offers basic Mickey waffles, breakfast foods for breakfast, and a variety of basic foods at dinner. Geared primarily towards small children, the menu offerings here are fairly bland. Generally, this restaurant is somewhat chaotic and the experience feels rushed. Even for all the hype, we would not recommend this restaurant. If you’re looking for a better way to see Mickey and Friends Tusker House or Topolino’s Terrace are better choices. Check out the Chef Mickey’s Menu. Verdict? Skip it.
Story Book Dining at Artist’s Point
The Artist Point Restaurant can be found at Wilderness Lodge Resort and features the Evil Queen, Snow White, and the Seven Dwarfs as part of the Storybook Dining Character Dinner. This is the only place at Walt Disney World where you’ll get the chance to see this group of characters. By far one of the best character dining experiences at Disney, the atmosphere feels like you’re in the woods, with a menu to match. A little eclectic there are items on this menu for both kids and adults. And getting to see the dwarves, and pose with the evil queen make this a unique dining experience. Cost: $36 child/ $60 adult. Take a look at the Story Book Dining Menu. Verdict? Book it.
Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Topolino’s Terrace is located on the top floor of Disney’s Riviera Resort. By far one of the best Disney Character Dining Restaurants, this Breakfast a La Art with Mickey and Friends offers great food at budget-friendly prices. Pastries, steak, and eggs, omelets, specialty waffles, and more are all on the menu. Dinner does not include characters but is just as good. Topolino’s Terrace features a French and Italian menu and characters include Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy in fun outfits befitting the arts! We also love that this restaurant has an outdoor terrace offering views of the Caribbean Beach Resort. Check out Topolino’s Terrace Menu. Cost: $27 child/ $42 adult. Verdict? Book it.
1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort features character dining at 1900 Park Fare Restaurant. Another unique dining experience at dinner you can meet Cinderella and Prince Charming, the Evil Queen, Drizella, and Anastasia. And at breakfast, you can meet Alice and the Mad Hatter. Both meals are great. A buffet-style meal, the offerings are typical, with a variety of starters, entrees, and desserts. But all the food options are wonderful and the experiences here are hilarious. Breakfast is $29 child/ $45 adult. Dinner Cost: $39 child/ $60 adult. Check out the 1900 Park Fare Menu. Verdict? Book it.
Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.
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