WDW

The Low-Down on Chow-Down:
My Take on Character Dining at Walt Disney World

By Casey Wooley

When visiting Walt Disney World, an absolutely must-do rite of passage is the high-five, hug, and subsequent picture and autograph with the main mouse himself: Mickey Mouse. Mickey is available to greet guests in all four theme parks: Magician Mickey at the Magic Kingdom, traditional Mickey at EPCOT, explorer Mickey at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Sorcerer Mickey at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. AND YES – that is THE Mickey Mouse. Through the magic of Walt Disney World, he is always in the park you’re visiting and is not anywhere else!

OK, that said, he’s not the only character you may want to rub elbows with. Whether Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto, Olaf, or any of the Disney princesses, meeting character can be exciting for kids of all ages. You may be on the hunt for that missing autograph from your collection, or you just really love a character so much that you want a picture! But, here’s the thing – so do so many other Walt Disney World guests. And, unlike the World’s counterpart out in Disneyland – characters don’t typically make random walk-around appearances. There are specific character spots where they will meet and greet guests, pose for pictures, and sign autographs. And, because of this, lines for some of Disney’s most popular characters can balloon to longer waits than even a standard attraction.

So, what’s a great way to cut down on your time in line but still get the character experience you’re craving? Disney character dining! And, with the return of the Disney Dining Plan, this is a fabulous way to also ensure you get the biggest value for what you pay. Afterall – think about it this way: you want to see/meet character; you have to eat; so why not combine it into one so you can use your time elsewhere waiting for other attractions or activities?

Character dining can be really pricey! And, depending on where you want to eat, it can also be…well, not worth it in my opinion while other opportunities are fantastic! But, with the Disney Dining Plan, this can maximize your value. Why? Well, let’s say a character meal will cost you $60+ per adult versus a regular sit down meal costing you only $34. You’re getting $25 or more in value, and also accomplishing meeting some of your favorite pals. If you opt into the Disney Dining Plan – the best way to soak up that one table service per day and maximize its value is to do a character dining.

So – let’s go through every character meal available at Walt Disney World and I’ll give you my honest take on a scale of 1 to 10. Here we go:

Princesses Character Dining

Akershus Royal Banquet All – dining with up to 5 Disney princesses including Belle, Jasmine, Ariel, and others at the Norway Pavilion in EPCOT. Meals include those with American and Norwegian flare. I love Akershus because it gives you the Princess Castle experience without the crazy pricing of Cinderella Royal Table. I’ll also add, I think the food is better too! Rating: 8/10.

Cinderella’s Royal Table – everyone wants to eat at Cinderella Castle and Disney made that a reality. This is a really tough reservation to score, but if you can, you’ll definitely be treated like royalty – with a royal price tag. Cinderella greets you at the entrance for pictures, and then you are whisked away to the dining room. From there, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But, beware, don’t come hungry because portion sizes are small and the food is mediocre. This place is built on the tremendous views of Fantasyland. But, given it’s one of the most expensive meals on property, and it costs 2 table service credits. I don’t think it’s worth it. Rating: 6/10.

Fab Five/Mickey & Friends Character Dining

Cape May Café Breakfast Only – Meet Minnie and all her friends during a Beach Bash at Cape May Café with Minnie and her friends. This is nice because it’s not in the park, so you can do it on one of your rest days, especially if you’re staying at the Beach Club Resort, or it’s nice to start your EPCOT day here. Great light, fun, airy atmosphere. The only drawback is paying up to $59.99 per adult for breakfast food. Rating: 8/10.

Chef Mickey’s – a classic character meal at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you can enjoy all you can eat at this breakfast or dinner buffet with Mickey and Friends. At one time, this was a tremendous offering, but it’s now dated, run down, and the food is just mediocre. And, given the price can exceed over $60 per adult, there are plenty of other great choices for you on property beyond this one. Rating: 5/10.

Garden Grill Restaurant – inside the Land Pavilion at EPCOT, find the spinning restaurant that overlooks living with the land. With food that is partly harvested right at EPCOT, you’ll get a chance to see people on the ride, as well as an alternate side of the house you pass by in the ride. And, you’ll meet Chip, Dale, Farmer Mickey (there he is again), and Pluto too! Rating: 9/10.

Hollywood and Vine – Inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios, enjoy an American buffet of breakfast, lunch or dinner, as you dine along with the Disney Junior crew or Minnie Mouse in seasonal outfits, along with her friends. For breakfast, you’ll find Disney Junior characters and at lunch and dinner, Minnie and her friends show up. The buffet is pretty good, though not perfect. I like the vibe, but it can be hard to swallow paying over $60 for a hamburger buffet. Rating: 7/10.

Topolino’s Terrace the Riviera – a specialty breakfast with Artist Mickey and the gang, this signature restaurant boasts one of the best breakfasts on property! That said, it comes in a very hefty price tag. Because it’s a signature dining experience, it will cost you 2 Table Service dining credits. But, the views are simply breathtaking! Rating: 8/10.

Tusker House Restaurant – located in the heart of Africa at the Animal Kingdom, dine with Safari Mickey and the gang on breakfast, lunch, and dinner! This food is African-inspired, with American favorites for those picky eaters. And, as one of the only locations on property to feature POG Juice (pineapple, orange juice, and guava), you can delight and refresh! I personally feel that Tusker House is THE BEST character meal on property for its location, cost, entertainment, food, and ability to get out of the hot sun in Animal Kingdom. Here’s a podcast I did all about it. Rating: 10/10!

Other Character Dining

The Crystal Palace – Overlooking the courtyard area of Cinderella Castle is a giant glassed building. Inside, find a buffet of American food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring Winnie the Pooh and other characters from the Hundred Acre Wood. This is a great place to each, especially if you can score a reservation right before the fireworks show as they will pump in the Happily Ever After Soundtrack. And, if you’re a Pooh fan – you’ll eat this place up. Rating: 8/10.

‘Ohana – Nestled on the second floor of the Polynesian Village Resort, a short monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom, you can either start your day with a bountiful breakfast or sit down to a Polynesian-themed dinner – both served family style. The best part is, that for breakfast, you can enjoy breakfast with Lilo and Stich!  ‘Ohana is a classic favorite among many guests and one of the hardest reservations to get on property. But, come hungry! 8/10.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Featuring Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy every evening, enjoy in American fare. And, if you dare, you can even meet the Evil Queen and pose for a photo with her! This is a rare one as you don’t get to eat with the villains often. This is a great place to check out as it’s a short boat ride away from Magic Kingdom. Rating: 10/10.

Ready to Plan?

Do any of these restaurants sound good to you? Then it’s time to plan your next trip! Reach out to me at caseywooley@mainstreetandmoretravel.com or fill out my planning blueprint here and we can get started! https://caseywooley.com/wdw-blueprint/