What is the Best Disney Character Meal?
One of the most common requests I get when planning Walt Disney World vacations is booking a character meal. A character meal is the Mom moment—the moment that your kids lock eyes with Snow White or Cinderella, wide-eyed and giggling as they watch characters from their favorite Disney movies come to life. Clients are usually taken aback when I ask “which one?”
There are over a dozen restaurants that offer character dining, and each one offers a unique experience. Some restaurants feature in-depth interaction with characters, creating meaningful memories that you wouldn’t get in the parks with a line behind you, while others rush through service. Some have fantastic food and are worth visiting even if characters didn’t add to the experience, while others slop some (mostly) edible food onto a buffet and charge you an arm and a leg because Mickey is there.
So, how do you know the difference?
In today’s post I am laying out all of your options, providing all of the details AND sharing the pros and cons of each experience.
1900 Park Fare
Grand Floridian (MK area)
Delight in breakfast and dinner buffets, plus a merry afternoon tea party, each hosted by Disney Characters. Supercalifragilistic Breakfast features Disney Friends for this fabulously festive, all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast buffet. Enjoy Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner with an enchanting buffet as the honored Guest of Cinderella and Prince Charming!
Open: Breakfast, Tea, Dinner
Characters: Supercalifragistic Breakfast – Mary Poppins, Pooh, Tigger, Alice, Mad Hatter; Happily Ever After Dinner – Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella
The Details: buffet, breakfast pricing: $58 per adult $37 per kid; dinner: $69 per adult, $44 per child; 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Mickey Waffles, Bananas Foster Pancakes, Mojo roast pork loin, Mongolian beef stir-fry, Mississippi fried catfish
My Favorite Dish: Cheese Blintzes and Strawberry Soup!
Good For: Families, adults who love characters
Pros: Some of the best character interactions at both meals; at dinner, the Tremaine family make the experience more fun than the other princess meals (especially for brothers of princess fans), and it’s a short boat ride from Magic Kingdom and a great escape from the park
Cons: Food is better but not the best, expensive for what you get
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
EPCOT – Norway Pavilion
Join Disney Princesses for Storybook Dining inside a medieval castle with soaring archways and cathedral ceilings inspired by Medieval Nordic castles.
Open: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Characters: Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora, Ariel
The Details: buffet; breakfast: $35-$59.99 per adult, $39 per child (ages 3-9); lunch and dinner: $69 per adult (ages 10+), $46 per child (ages 3-9); 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Kjottkake (Ground Beef and Pork Dumplings served with Mashed Potatoes, seasonal Vegetables, and Lingonberry Sauce), traditional Rice Cream dessert, traditional Norwegian koldtbord buffet (selection of prepared salads, sliced meats and cheeses), smoked fish
My Favorite Dish: The Kjottkake are amazing, they are basically Swedish meatballs in a berry sauce!
Good For: Princess Fans
Pros: Offers much better value than Cinderella’s Royal Table. If you’re looking for a princess meal without waiting hours to meet your royal favorites, this is my top recommendation! The interactions don’t feel rushed and make your dining experience just a bit more personal, and it’s great use of a Table Service credit when using the Disney Dining Plan.
Cons: Scandinavian food may be a little bit outside of picky eaters comfort zones, food is good but not great, and waits can be long (even if you have a reservation)
Best Friends Breakfast at Ohana
Polynesian Village Resort (MK area)
Lilo and Stitch, along with other friends, invite you and your ohana to an American breakfast influenced by Polynesian flavors.
Open: breakfast, dinner
Characters: Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, Pluto
The Details: Family Style, breakfast: $53 per adult, $33 per child (ages 3-9); dinner: $67 per adult, $44 per child (ages 3-9); 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: scrambled eggs, island-style fried potatoes, and Hawaiian pork sausages.
My Favorite Dish: pineapple bread
Good For: Guests of the Poly, school-aged children
Pros: Good food, activities for children
Cons: Takes a lot of time out of your morning that could be better utilized for park touring, incredibly loud and crowded, it can be difficult to get reservations, and there’s an extremely long wait for reservations
Bon Voyage Breakfast at Trattoria al Forno
The Boardwalk Inn (EPCOT area)
Jump-start your morning with a hearty breakfast featuring beloved characters from some of your favorite Disney fairy tales. Familiar faces from popular animated tales such as Tangled and The Little Mermaid will be drifting through the restaurant and stopping by your table to meet you while you dine on delicious morning staples.
Open: breakfast, dinner
Characters: Ariel, Eric, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider
The Details: Prix fixe menu; breakfast and dinner: $15-34.99 per adult (can be even lower for children); 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Egg white omelet with smoked salmon, goat cheese, spinach, mushrooms and tomato, Breakfast calzone with scrambled eggs, cured meat and a blend of cheeses
My Favorite Dish: Rapunzel’s Tower of Pancakes
Good For: Princess fans with brothers, Adventurers, Germaphobes
Pros: One of the few meals that is not a buffet, excellent food, and there are finally some male characters!
Cons: Difficult to get to before park opening, room is dark and difficult for photos, slow service
Chef Mickey’s
Contemporary Resort (MK area)
Enjoy a lively, all-you-care-to-eat buffet with Disney Friends in a bright, happy space. As the monorail whizzes by, Disney Characters mingle with Guests for photos and autographs and periodically lead diners in song and dance.
Open: Breakfast, Dinner
Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Goofy
The Details: Buffet; $59 per adult, $38 per child (ages 3-9); 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Breakfast features such favorites as Mickey waffles, buttermilk biscuits, fresh fruit and hickory-smoked bacon—while brunch offers everything from classic scrambles to our chef’s selection of seasonal vegetables. Dinner showcases buttered chicken, a seafood paella, glazed salmon, carving station selections and kids’ favorites such as macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets.
My Favorite Dish: The sundae bar!!!
Good For: Families with young children
Pros: Easy to get to from the Magic Kingdom, Nostalgic for many,
Cons: Extremely popular, extremely loud
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Magic Kingdom
Dine with Disney Princesses inside Cinderella Castle during this one-of-a-kind fairytale dining experience. Dine in a storybook setting surrounded by soaring stone archways, majestic medieval flags, and spectacular stained-glass windows overlooking Fantasyland.
Open: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Characters: Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Snow White (sometimes Aurora)
The Details: Prix Fixe Menu; $76 per adult, $47 per child (ages 3-9); 2 Table Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Steak and eggs, baked quiche and pastries for breakfast. Later, enjoy a main course with choices for adults ranging from roasted chicken breast and seared pork rib chop to the chef’s fish of the day.
My Favorite Dish: Stuffed french toast
Good for: Princesses
Pros: Ultimate Princess experience eating in Cinderella’s Castle
Cons: Extremely expensive, rushed character interactions, not impressed with food, books up at the 180 day mark
The Crystal Palace
Magic Kingdom
Join Winnie the Pooh and a few of his Pals for a willy, nilly, silly good time! Inspired by Victorian greenhouses of the late 1800s, The Crystal Palace brims with light, topiaries and tropical palms—and is an enchanting spot to meet some favorite Disney Friends!
Open: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Characters: Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet
The Details: Buffet; breakfast: $54 per adult, $35 per child (ages 3-9); lunch and dinner: $64 per adult, $44 per child (ages 3-9); 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Omelet Station, Breakfast Lasagna, Mediterranean Chicken, Paella, Soft Serve Ice Cream Bar
My Favorite Dish: Jalapeño Corn Bread
Good For: Families with toddlers
Pros: Inside the park, good food, good character interactions
Cons: Long waits, can be loud
Garden Grill
EPCOT – The Land Pavilion
Visit Chip ‘n’ Dale and their Disney pals as you dig into family-style dining and revolve around vibrant views from Living with the Land.
Open: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Characters: Mickey, Chip, Dale, Pluto
The Details: Family Style; breakfast: $35 to $59.99 per adult, approx. $33 per child (ages 3-9); lunch and dinner: $62 per adult, $42 per child (ages 3-9); 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: The menu here is all-you-care-to-eat. The rotating menu for lunch and dinner can include grilled steak, roast turkey, and sustainable fish of the day (at dinner only). The salad features items grown right in the Land Pavilion!
My Favorite Dish: the cinnamon bread
Good For: Guests with allergies and dietary restrictions, families with small children
Pros: Inside the park, can book for a pre-opening breakfast and walk right onto Soarin, easy to get reservations for
Cons: There are much better dining options within EPCOT
Hollywood and Vine
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Meet Disney Junior Characters during a memorable breakfast buffet—or Minnie and friends at seasonal dining parties.
Open: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Characters: Disney Junior Play and Dine Breakfast – typically Vampirina, Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins, and Roadster Goofy; Minnie’s Seasonal Dine Lunch & Dinner – Minnie and friends
The Details: Buffet; breakfast: $49 per adult, $33 per child (ages 3-9), lunch and dinner: $64 per adult, $44 per child (ages 3-9); 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: salads, soups, create-your-own pasta, fish of the day, carved and grilled meats, fresh fruits and breads (the menu changes often, so make sure to check ahead of time!)
My Favorite Dish: sundae bar
Good for: Disney Junior fans
Pros: only place to meet Disney Junior characters
Cons: food is the worst of any character meal, and the atmosphere is also lacking
Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at Cape May Cafe
The Beach Club Resort (EPCOT area)
Cape May Cafe’s breakfast is one of the best places to see some of the “Fab Five” characters outside of the parks. Minnie, Donald, and Goofy can often be found at Cape May Cafe, all dressed up for the beach!
Open: Breakfast, Dinner
Characters: Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy
Details: Buffet; $49 per adult, $33 per child; 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: fresh Yogurt bar with fun toppings, Mickey waffles
My Favorite Dish: I like the cinnamon roll (but it’s not as good as the one at Gaston’s)
Good for: Guests of the Beach Club, last minute reservations
Pros: Easy to get a reservation when other character meals are full, convenient if you are staying at an EPCOT area resort
Cons: Expensive for basic breakfast food, no Mickey ):
Storybook Dining at Artist Point
Wilderness Lodge (MK Area)
Experience Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White—a delicious, fanciful dinner with visits from Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy and even The Queen!
Open: Dinner
Characters: Evil Queen, Snow White, Grumpy, Dopey
Details: Prix Fixe Menu; $69 per adult, $43 per child; 1 Table Service Credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Roasted chicken, beef stew, prime rib
My Favorite Dish: Slow-braised pork shank
Good For: Adults, the Whole Family
Pros: This is my favorite character meal by far! The atmosphere takes you to an enchanted forest, the specialty cocktails are creative and delicious, it’s easily the best food at any character meal, and one of the best-value meals at only one dining plan credit!
Cons: Reservations are difficult to get, Characters may not be as popular with little ones, expensive if you are paying out of pocket, must take a boat from the Magic Kingdom (could be a pro if you are looking for quiet relaxation time)
Topolino Terrace
Riviera Resort
Start your morning with breakfast at this beautiful rooftop restaurant offering an exclusive storybook dining experience. The prix fixe menu offers delicious choices to please everyone in the family.
Open: Breakfast, Dinner
Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy
Details: Prix Fixe Menu; breakfast and dinner: $54 per adult, $35 per child (ages 9 and under); 1 Table Service Credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Breakfast begins with fresh pastries—delicious Danish, croissants, blueberry scones, or Epi bread—a rustic pull-apart baguette shaped like a wheat stalk. Your choice of entrées follows: Quiche Gruyère with house-made pancetta, Sour Cream Waffle, Wood-fired Butchers Steak, Smoked Salmon, Spiced Sausage Hash, Two Eggs Any Style, plant-based “Egg” Omelet and more.
This is a brand new restaurant that opened in December 2019. Due to park closures I wasn’t able to try it in April as planned but have a reservation for my October trip, so make sure to follow me on Instagram (@showcasetheworldtravel) for real-time updates!
Tusker House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Join Safari Donald Duck and friends at this colorful Harambe marketplace eatery for a wild Character Dining experience regardless of time of day—from breakfast and lunch to the family-style dinner buffet—all brimming with African flavor.
Open: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Characters: Can vary but a combination of: Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Daisy, Minnie
Details: Buffet; breakfast: $52 per adult, $35 per child; lunch and dinner: $64 per adult, $42 per child; 1 Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
Popular Menu Items: Carved sirloin, rotisserie pork and chicken, chicken curry, seafood stew, spiced tofu
My Favorite Dish: Bobotie and Watermelon Salad
Good for: The Whole Family
Pros: The best table service option in Animal Kingdom, great food, best meal with Mickey & Friends
Cons: May not appeal to picky eaters
Tips and Tricks for Character Dining
While many know character meals because they started as a breakfast-only affair, choosing lunch or dinner options are a much better use of time. The parks are least crowded in the morning, so take advantage of that time to try out new attractions! If you’re looking for a more wallet-friendly option, breakfast is your best bet—try to snag a pre-park opening or the last reservation right before lunch to optimize your park time. If you’re planning multiple character meals, consider adding the Disney Dining Plan; character buffets offer great value for a single dining credit!
Additionally, you’ll want to plan about 90 minutes (plus travel time) for your meal. That gives you time to check in, be seated, and then time to eat and see all the characters without racing to make it before the end of a Fastpass window.
Character dining can feel overwhelming when you’re staring at a dozen different options, but with the right guidance, it becomes one of the most magical parts of your Disney vacation. Whether you’re dreaming of a princess-filled breakfast, a classic Mickey moment, or a meal that’s as delicious as it is memorable, there truly is a perfect fit for your family.
If you’re looking for more delectable dining experiences, check out my guide on restaurants worth going out of your way for at Disney. And if you’re ready to make a reservation or want help choosing the best character dining experience for your kids, I’d love to take planning off your plate. Book a Dream Trip Chat or explore my reviews linked in this post—and let’s make those storybook moments come to life.
Who is Christina?
Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists. After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation, too!
She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, and Europe, and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old daughter, Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.
