Character Dining: The Best Way to Meet Your Favorite Disney Friends!
- Cara Conte
- May 15, 2019
- 4 min read
Throughout my many years of working at Walt Disney World, I often got asked by guests "Where are the characters?!" Not many people visiting Walt Disney World realize that you actually have to wait in line to meet many characters - just as you would to ride an attraction! These guests are under the assumption that the characters walk around freely and will stop for a picture at your command! As a former character performer, this is extremely comical to me, but some people simply don't understand the chaos that would come with that!
Many popular character meet-and-greets can have very long wait times (at least an hour for the princesses at Fairytale Hall and Mickey Mouse in Town Square Theater), and some of these meet-and-greets are at specific times only, rather than ongoing such as waiting for a ride would be. A lot of families don't take into account waiting for hours to meet characters as part of their time management for a day in the parks, which usually consists of FastPass times, dining reservations, pool time, etc. Many restaurants at Walt Disney World have "character dining," where certain characters make their way over to your table for pictures and autographs while you enjoy your meal! This kills two birds with one stone, and makes going out to dinner much more enjoyable for the little ones! Here's a list of some of the most popular character dining spots:
'Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Village resort has not only one of the best character meet-and-greet experiences, but they also have delicious food! For breakfast only at 'Ohana, you can meet Lilo & Stitch, along with Mickey and Pluto! This is a very unique experience because it's the only place you're pretty much guaranteed to Meet Lilo & Stitch together, and you get to say hello to the Boss himself, in his tropical getup! The dining is family-style, and the menu consists of the Polynesian Resort's famous pineapple-coconut bread, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, pork breakfast sausage, fruit, and of course, Mickey-shaped waffles, which everyone must have at least once during their Disney trip (because everything tastes better when it's Mickey-shaped)!
If you're a fan of the princesses (I know I am) you're going to want to head to Cinderella's Royal Table inside Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom. This is definitely one of the most magical table-service dining experiences at Walt Disney World, and who doesn't want to dine inside THE trademark of Walt Disney World?! You can dine here and meet the princesses for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From the food, to the character interactions, the service at CRT is top-notch from start to finish (would we expect anything less?) Cinderella's Royal Table, however, is one of the most sought-after dining reservations at Walt Disney World, taking reservations six months in advance. If you're totally set on dining with the princesses but can't seem to get a reservation, try dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot's Norway Pavilion, which offers essentially the same experience in a different location!
Chef Mickey's is a must-do character dining experience if you want to meet the Fab Four, and Minnie, too! Located in Disney's Contemporary Resort, you can dine with your classic character faves for a buffet breakfast, brunch, or dinner. Chef Mickey's offers a wide variety of dining options, so there is literally something for everyone, and it's extremely kid-friendly!
Where are all my Winnie the Pooh fans at?! The Crystal Palace located in the Magic Kingdom is another buffet-style restaurant that has a character breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Meet your Hundred-Acre Wood friends while enjoying traditional American cuisine. Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet all make appearances at the Crystal Palace.
1900 Park Fare at The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers a "Supercalifragilistic Breakfast"which is buffet-style, and has appearances by Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger. This is a really fun character dining experience due to the many different characters that come to visit! For dinner, you can also enjoy a buffet-style meal and meet Cinderella and Prince Charming, along with some other royal guests such as Anastasia, Drizella, and Lady Tremaine!
Although Epcot is home to some of the best international cuisines, those restaurants aren't always at the top of the list for little ones to enjoy! At the Garden Grill Restaurant located inside The Land in Future World, you can indulge on buffet/family-style dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! This rotating restaurant with views of the attraction "Living With The Land" is home to Mickey and his pal Pluto, as well as Chip 'n' Dale!
Looking for a fun character experience in Disney's Animal Kingdom? Tusker House Restaurant offers a buffet/family-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but with exotic options such as Basmati Rice and Curry Chicken, along with your traditional favorites! These international food options are to go along with the theming of Animal Kingdom's Africa and Asia - while still giving guests the choice of their domestic favorites such as macaroni & cheese and mashed potatoes. At Tusker House, you can meet Donald and Daisy Duck, Mickey, and Goofy in their safari gear!
Hopefully after reading this, you'll make some character dining reservations to help save you time in the parks! Reservations are always recommended when dining at the Walt Disney World Resort. For any help with dining reservations, or any other vacation planning needs, please email us at pixietravelco@gmail.com or visit bit.ly/PlanWithPixie !
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