Disney Dining offers a wide variety of choices and experiences, build your own burritos, hot dogs with exotic toppings, and the beloved by all (okay, by most) – chicken fingers and fries. But nothing beats a character meal for kids and kids at heart!
Character meals are an opportunity for photo ops and autographs with characters that you might otherwise stand in line for hours to get. And often there’s singing and dancing that goes along with the character interaction. So, what are the top 5? Let’s get started!
By far the most sought after character meal reservation, Cinderella’s Royal Table, inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is open breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While it is currently closed for refurbishment until March, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it. Various Disney princesses make appearances at the different mealtimes. Some you might expect to find are: Cinderella (of course!), Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Ariel, and Jasmine. The Fairy Godmother occasionally pops in at dinner time. Unlike many of the character meals, Cinderella’s Royal Table is not a buffet, but instead a choice of entrees from the traditional to the exotic, so there’s something to suit everyone’s taste.
2. Ohana
Another definite favorite character meal takes place at the Polynesian Village Resort very close to Magic Kingdom and on the monorail line. The “Best Friends” breakfast features Lilo & Stitch, but of course Mickey, Pluto, and other Disney pals are also often at this meal. This character breakfast is all you care to eat and is served family style (all the items are brought to the table, and you can dish them up yourself). Mickey shaped waffles are among the favorites here, and there are other kid-friendly breakfast offerings.
If you’re a fan of the friends from the Hundred Acre Wood, this is the character meal for you! Crystal Palace is located in the Magic Kingdom, and is designed to be reminiscent of Victorian greenhouses. Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger visit guests here at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy the buffet, and get those photos and autographs!
If the main Mouse is who you’re looking to spend a little time with, look no further than breakfast or dinner at Chef Mickey’s, located at the Contemporary Resort, within walking distance of Magic Kingdom, and on the monorail line. Here, Mickey and his closest pals, Goofy, Donald, Pluto, and Minnie, not only pose for photos with guests, and sign autographs, but also occasionally sing and dance with guests. Expect traditional American breakfast foods, and some favorite comfort foods, along with some healthy offerings for dinner.
5. Tusker House
Located inside Animal Kingdom, Tusker House offers an all-you-can-eat buffet with a Safari theme, and Donald, Daisy, Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy to visit with. Breakfast has everything from cereal to spit-roasted, bone-in ham, while lunch ranges from hummus, to corn-dogs, to salmon. You won’t want to miss the Jungle Juice! And, coming in March, 2015, dinner will be an option!
There are, of course, many other character meal options at Walt Disney World. What’s your favorite?
I’m Jeri and I’m a Disney Addict! I’m also an Independent Travel Specialist with World of Magic Travel Services, the preferred travel agency of Chip and Co. and Disney Addicts! If you can’t wait to try one of these or several other character meals at Walt Disney World, I’d love to help you book your vacation and make those advanced meal reservations for you so that you have the most magical vacation ever! Contact me at jeri@worldofmagictravel.com today!
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I think that the Princess Storybook Dining at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot deserves honorable mention. Although nothing beats eating in the castle, this expereince is easier to get into then Cinderella’s Royal Table, only requires one table service on the dining plan (CRT requires 2), and it is cheaper if you are not on the dining plan.
I am so glad you had O’Hana listed. That is definitely a favorite for my family. We had the last seating for breakfast and the kids were able to spend extra time with the characters since there wasn’t a rush to turn the tables over. The highlight was the conga line with Mickey, Lilo and Stitch. Another favorite not listed is the character brunch at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian. When we went we were able to meet Alice, The Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Bert, Piglet and Pooh. It was great fun and more Mickey Waffles (can never have too many)