Best Disney World Character Meals in 2023 (Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

One of the things that many people want to include on Disney World trips are character meals, but there are so many to choose from that it’s hard to figure out which one (or ones!) to do.

In this post, we have listed all the character meals at Disney World with info on which characters appear, prices, menus, plus we have some handy transportation information on how to get to early breakfast reservations.

Let’s get started…

Are character meals back to normal?

Yes, they are!

Guests can once again hug characters and have them sign autographs.

At this time, all non-face (like Mickey and Minnie) character meals have returned.

2 character meals with face characters have not returned to their previous operations. Those 2 restaurants are:

• 1900 Park Fare (closed)
• Trattoria al Forno (open but no characters)

Can the characters sign autographs?

The characters can once again sign autographs!

What character meals are available?

Character Meal Comparison Chart (Graphic)

We go into more details below, but here’s a quick overview of how the current character meals compare to one another:

Click to open full-sized PDF

What is the best character meal at Disney World?

While we love the experience you can find at many of the character meals, Garden Grill at Epcot is still our favorite.

Not only can you get delicious food here, but the rotating restaurant is fun for both adults and kids, and the characters are adorable.

Plus, it isn’t a buffet, which we typically prefer simply because it makes for a more relaxing meal.

What is the best character breakfast?

A second favorite overall for us is Topolino’s Terrace (breakfast). The characters here are so freaking cute. Love the uniqueness of the costumes and the theming.

We also love that this restaurant is accessible via the Skyliner, which makes it a great option for guests staying at Pop Century, Art of Animation, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach resorts.

More on why we love both Garden Grill and Topolino’s Terrace down below, where we list out the pros and cons to all character meals.

When to schedule Disney World character dining meals

Trying to decide the best time to schedule a character meal?

Because character meals are a fun experience that (in our opinion) shouldn’t be rushed, we recommend you choose days and times when you can relax and fully enjoy it.

One great option for that is to book your character meals on non-park days. Just make sure you pick restaurants that are located at one of the resort hotels (and not a theme park) so that you don’t have to use a park ticket for entry.

Another great time for character meals may be your arrival and departure days.

Lots of people don’t like to waste a park ticket on their travel days, but they still want some of that Disney magic, and character meals are a great way to do just that. 

Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to (or from) the airport if you’re flying. 

If you opt to dine with the characters on a day you’ll be visiting one of the theme parks, we highly recommend you book your dining in the park where you’ll be (or at a nearby resort) to save transportation time. 

How long do character meals take?

You’ll want to budget 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 through anything.

It may take less time than that, but for planning purposes, 90 minutes is a good rule of thumb.

In a hurry? If eating at a fixed-price meal, ask for your check as soon as you sit down, so you can pay and then leave as soon as you’re finished eating.

What about character breakfasts?

Character meals for breakfasts are a popular way to start a day, but here are some things to keep in mind:

• If you want to maximize your park touring, you’ll definitely want to have the earliest reservation possible (which on most days is around 8:00 a.m.).
• Park hours can (and do) change, which means that pre-park opening breakfast might wind up not being before the park opens, which can throw off your touring plans for the entire day.
• Breakfasts are generally the least expensive character meals, so while they aren’t always a good value on the Disney Dining Plan (when available), they are a great way to save a few bucks if you’re planning to pay for your meal out-of-pocket.
• Some character breakfasts put you in a good position to be at the front of the line for a popular nearby attraction, so that is something to consider as well. 

How to book a character meal at Disney World

As you can imagine, character meals are very popular and many on the list below are some of the most difficult reservations to get in all of Walt Disney World.

If you want to dine with the characters you’ll definitely want to plan on making your Advanced Dining Reservations at that 60 day mark right when the booking window opens which is typically around 5:45 a.m. EST.

We have lots more advice for maximizing your chances of getting exactly what you want in our How to snag hard-to-get Disney World dining reservations post. 

Pros and cons of every Disney World character meal

First, it’s important to note that the Disney Dining Plan is temporarily suspended, but Disney has that dining packages are returning at some point in the future.

Please keep in mind that some photos below may not reflect current procedures and are intended for reference only.

Now, let’s dive in and look at the pros and cons of each character meal…

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

• Location: Epcot (Norway pavilion)
• Character meals available: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $53-$63 / Child $34-$41

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 2 Table Service credits (lunch and dinner only)
• Buffet?: No
• Link to menus

Characters (typically a combo of 5 from this list): Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora, Ariel, Tiana

Pros: Good way to meet multiple Disney princesses at once

Cons: Not a great use of a Table Service credit when using the Disney Dining Plan, expensive if paying out-of-pocket, waits can be long even with a reservation

Tips: Eat breakfast here if you have picky eaters since lunch and dinner feature foods that are a bit more adventurous and not as popular for families

• Read a review from our latest visit to Akershus

Be Our Guest (lunch and dinner service)

• Location: Magic Kingdom
• Character meals available: not a traditional character meal, but The Beast is available for pictures at lunch and dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $67 / Child $39

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 2 Table Service credits
• Buffet?: No
• Link to menu

Character: The Beast

Pros: Interesting French food options (we like the french onion soup and desserts the best here), this is the only place to meet The Beast

Cons: Service and food are inconsistent, waits can be long even with a reservation

Tips: The Be Our Guest lunch and dinner menus are a fixed price format that includes an appetizer, main entree, and dessert. Even though it is a Signature Table Service meal (meaning it is more expensive) it is still one of the toughest reservations to snag. Check out our tips for getting reservations for help.

• Read a review about dining at Be Our Guest

Cape May Cafe – Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast

• Location: Beach Club Resort
• Character meals available: breakfast
• Available: daily
• Current Average Price for breakfast: Adult $45 / Child $29

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: Yes
• Breakfast menu

Characters (can vary): Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Daisy (all dressed in beach attire)

Pros: Nice variety of foods to choose from, when characters are present, they’re dressed in beach attire, often easier to find a reservation here than other character dining locations

Cons: Fairly expensive for breakfast food

Tips: May be a good option before heading to Epcot or Hollywood Studios, which are both within walking distance.

Chef Mickey’s

• Location: Contemporary Resort
• Character meals available: breakfast, dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $42-$55 / Child $27-$36

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: Yes
• Link to menu

Characters (can vary): Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy

Pros: Family favorite due to the fun vibe plus being able to ride the monorail right into the building

Cons: Reservations are hard to get, can be loud

Tips: Request to be in the main dining room to get the maximum amount of fun. We’ve always felt left out when we were in the other rooms.

• Read a review from our most recent meal at Chef Mickey’s

Cinderella’s Royal Table

• Location: Magic Kingdom
• Character meals available: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $65-$79 / Child $39-$47

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 2 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: No
• Link to menu

Characters (can vary):

• Fairytale Dining – Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, and Jasmine
• Signature Celebration (not currently available) – Prince Charming, Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, and Jasmine

Pros: The experience, view, characters and some of the food is good too. Cinderella still makes random appearances, even though it’s not a current character meal.

Cons: Expensive, waits can be long to get in even with a reservation

Tips: This is a popular spot, since you get to eat inside the castle. Be sure to make a reservation when your booking window opens (60 days in advance).

• Read a review from our most recent experience dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table

Crystal Palace

• Location: Magic Kingdom
• Meals currently available: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Available: daily
• Current Average Price: Adult $45-$59 / Child $29-$38

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: Yes
• Link to menus

Characters (can vary): Eeyore, Piglet, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger

Pros: This is a Winnie the Pooh and friends character meal that has the benefit of having both good food and fun character interactions.

Cons: Can sometimes be a bit loud

Tips: The Cast Members here are known for providing great service, including recognizing special occasions, so be sure to note if you’re celebrating on your reservation and mention it when you check in as well.

• Here is a review of our latest meal at Crystal Palace

Garden Grill – WDW Prep Favorite (breakfast returns June 14, 2023)

• Location: Epcot (Land pavilion)
• Character meals available: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $42-$55 / Child $27-$36

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: No. Food is served family style.
• Link to menu

Characters (can vary): Pluto, Mickey Mouse, Chip, and Dale (dressed as farmers)

Pros: This character meal is served family-style and is all-you-can-eat with the meal including various meat entrées, veggies, rolls and dessert. While you eat, the restaurant rotates slowly and Mickey, Chip, Dale and Pluto stop by for a visit. This is a great use of a Table Service credit when using the Disney Dining Plan and WDW Prep’s top fave character meals at Disney World.

Cons: Can be a bit tricky to get to and strollers aren’t allowed after a certain point

Tips: It is often possible to get a reservation here when many others aren’t available.

• Read a review from our most recent meal at Garden Grill

Good Morning Breakfast at Ravello

• Location: Four Seasons Resort
• Character meals available: breakfast
• Available: Saturdays
• Average Price: Adult $48 / Child $28

• On the Disney Dining Plan? No
• Buffet? No. Prix-fixe menu.
• Breakfast menu

Characters (can vary): Goofy, Mickey Mouse, and Minnie 

Pros: Convenient for guests staying at the resort, beautiful setting, and food is great

Cons: Feels rushed, character portion lacking compared to other character meals available

Tips: Only make a reservation here if you’re staying at the Four Seasons Resort, otherwise it’s not necessarily worth it.

• Read our most recent review from Ravello

Hollywood and Vine

• Location: Hollywood Studios
• Character meals available: breakfast, lunch, & dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $42-$59 / Child $27-$38

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: Yes
• Link to menus

Characters (can vary): 

• Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine Breakfast – typically Vampirina, Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins
• Minnie’s Seasonal Dine Lunch and Dinner – typically Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy (costumes vary by season)

Pros: Lunch and dinner experiences changes with the seasons, meaning you get to see the characters dressed in different costumes during certain times of the year.

Cons: Can be loud

Tips: As the only character dining in the park, can be popular. Make sure to snag a reservation as soon as your booking window opens — 60 days in advance.

• Read our most recent review from Hollywood & Vine

Best Friends Breakfast at ‘Ohana

• Location: Polynesian Resort
• Character meals available: breakfast
• Available: daily
• Current Average Price for breakfast: Adult $45 / Child $29

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet? No. Food is served family-style.
• Breakfast menu

Characters (can vary): Mickey, Stitch, Lilo, and Pluto

Pros: Food options to please most people (all-you-can-eat American breakfast), including Mickey Waffles, eggs, sausage, and even a plant-based skillet

Cons: Popular spot so reservations are hard to get, check in can sometimes take a long time so maybe even consider arriving early for your reservation

Tips: Book ASAP if you are interested in eating here, breakfast hours extend until 12:00 pm which makes it a great place to grab a late breakfast

Story Book Dining at Artist Point

• Location: Wilderness Lodge
• Character meals available: dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $65 / Child $39

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 2 Table Service credits
• Buffet?: No
• Link to menus

Characters (can vary): Snow White, Evil Queen, Dopey, and Grumpy

Pros: This is one of the newest character meals offered, and it pairs delicious food with a chance to mingle with a villain (which is rare!). One of the best values of a Disney Dining Plan credit.

Cons: The menu may not appeal to everybody and only having 1 meal service/day can make reservations tough to get

Tips: The specialty mocktails and cocktails here are fun and very well themed

• Read our most recent review from Story Book Dining at Artist Point

Tusker House

• Location: Animal Kingdom
• Character meals available: breakfast, lunch, & dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $42-$59 / Child $29-$38

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: Yes
• Link to menus

Characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy

Pros: Lots of good food (standard breakfast items, various African dishes available at lunch and dinner)

Cons: On the pricier end of restaurant prices at Animal Kingdom, service can be inconsistent

Tips: This is probably the most popular dining reservation at Animal Kingdom. Be sure to book 60 days in advance, particularly if you want the much-coveted 8 a.m. breakfast reservation.

• Here is a review from our most recent dining experience at Tusker House

Topolino’s Terrace

• Location: Riviera Resort
• Character meals available: breakfast
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $42 / Child $27

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: No
• Link to menus

Characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy

Pros: This meal is served traditionally (no buffet) which can make it easier for families with multiple little ones (no getting up and down to fill plates at a buffet)

Cons: On the pricier end of restaurant prices for breakfast

Tips: This is a great character breakfast option for people staying at Pop Century, Art of Animation, or Caribbean Beach since you can take the Skyliner, which starts running as early as Topolino’s reservations begin. Be sure to tell the Cast Members working the Skyliner that you have a dining reservation. (more on transportation below)

• Read a review from our meal at Topolino’s

1900 Park Fare (Not currently available)

• Location: Grand Floridian
• Character meals available: breakfast & dinner
• Available: daily
• Average Price: Adult $45-$60 / Child $29-$39

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: Yes
• Link to menus

Characters (can vary): 

• Supercalifragilistic Breakfast – Mary Poppins, Alice, The Mad Hatter, Tigger, and Winnie the Pooh
• Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner– Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella

Pros: Fun character interactions and it’s a treat to have both sushi rolls and gummi bears at dinner (where else would that be possible?)

Cons: Fairly expensive, especially since the food isn’t super good (you’re definitely paying for the experience)

Tips: If you arrive by monorail, it may not be obvious where this restaurant is located. When you exit the monorail, go down to the first floor and you’ll find the restaurant entrance there.

Garden Grove (Open, but not currently a character meal)

• Location: Swan hotel
• Character meal usually available: breakfast
• Available: daily (when character breakfast is running, it’s available only on Saturdays and Sundays)
• Current Average Price for breakfast (minus characters): Adult $35 / Child $22

• On the Disney Dining Plan? No
• Buffet?: Traditional (à la carte offerings)
• Link to menu

Characters (can vary): Goofy, Pluto, Chip, and Dale

Pros: Typically not very busy so it is an easy reservation to snag last minute or a great option for families that require a quieter place to dine, convenient for those staying at the resort

Cons: The food isn’t all that great and the Disney Dining Plan is not available here, pay a parking fee if you’re driving

Tips: Skip it

Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast at Trattoria al Forno (Open, but not currently a character meal)

• Location: Disney’s Boardwalk
• Character meals usually available: breakfast
• Available: daily
• Current Average Price for breakfast (minus characters): Adult $38 / Child $22

• On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 Table Service credit
• Buffet?: No
• Breakfast menu

Characters (can vary): Ariel, Prince Eric, Rapunzel, and Flynn Rider

Pros: When a character meal, this is a unique experience to see the princesses and princes together.

Cons: Can be difficult to get to, however, if you are staying at a resort with Disney Skyliner (gondola) access you can take that to Epcot and walk over.

Tips: May be a good option before heading to Epcot or Hollywood Studios, which are both within walking distance.

Everything Else

Perfectly Princess Tea Party (Not currently available)

• Price (adult/child): $0/$334
• Location: Grand Floridian Resort
• On the Disney Dining Plan? No

Link to menu

Pros: A whole event rather than just a meal that includes each child receiving a doll, tiara, bracelet, rose, scrapbook plus food and entertainment (boys receive a crown and plush bear). The $334 price includes 1 adult and 1 child. More children can be added for an additional cost.

Cons: Only available Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00am-10:30am.

Tips: Party goers are encouraged to dress up as their favorite princess or prince.

Wonderland Tea Party (Not currently available)

• Price (adult/child): $0/$49
• Location: Grand Floridian Resort
• On the Disney Dining Plan? No

Link to menu

Pros: 1 hour tea party from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday for ages 4-12 where kids get to make and eat cupcakes, hear a story, have tea (juice) with the characters and make flower bouquets.

Cons: Kids do this event without parents so parents should plan to do something nearby like stroll the beach, order a drink, explore the resort, etc.

Tips: The price of this tea party makes it a popular option so be sure to book early if you’d like to attend.

VIDEO: Disney Character Meals you DON’T Need a Park Ticket For

What about PhotoPass photographers?

We’ve slowly started to see PhotoPass photographers returning to character meals.

Here’s where you can find them:

• Story Book Dining at Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge)
• Chef Mickey’s (Contemporary Resort)
• Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom)

Several other restaurants (like Tusker House) used to also have a photo op; however, there are no PhotoPass photographers there currently.

You don’t get a physical copy of the photo, but it will be added to your PhotoPass account and will be available to download – and the photos taken are included with Memory Maker, too.

Also – there are no PhotoPass photographers at the tables themselves, so you’ll need to be ready with your own camera or phone if you want your picture taken.

Buffet – yay or nay?

As you go through the pros and cons of all the character meals above, you’ll find that lots of them are buffets.

Buffets are great for picky eaters, and the nice thing about Disney World buffets is that they all have a section of kid-friendly options like mac and cheese and Mickey Waffles. However, kids are also welcome to eat from any of the food stations available.

The downside to buffets is that they are often a bit loud and if the number of kids in your group outnumbers the adults, getting everybody’s plates filled in a timely manner can be tricky. 

If buffets aren’t your thing, Disney does have character meals that serve food family style (like Garden Grill) or ones where you order off a menu and the food is brought to your table (like Cinderella’s Royal Table) so keep your preference in mind when making your selections.

How do you get to character meals?

You’ve booked a character meal, but have you thought about how you’ll get there?

Some places can be trickier to get to than others, so make sure you check out the information below you’ll need to make it to your reservation on time.

Transportation to early morning character meals at Disney World

The only time we ever recommend breakfast is if it’s before the parks open (if you eat any later, you end up eating during prime park touring time), but it’s confusing to understand how to get to the dining reservations.

Although Disney will often tell you that transportation begins 1 hour before the parks open, there are earlier options for people with early dining reservations (and those who want to rope drop).

Here’s what’s available for early morning transportation at Disney World:

Bus

While we used to recommend arriving at the bus stop 60 to 75 minutes before Early Entry begins, after testing the timing out many times, we now recommend 90 minutes. That 90-minute window is especially important if you:

• want to be on the first bus (which we recommend), or
• if you are staying at a large resort like Art of Animation, Pop Century, or the All-Stars, or
• if you are staying at a resort with multiple internal stops, like Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs.

Expect the first bus of the day to arrive between 1 hour to 75 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry starts. The goal is to be on the first bus of the day, and the lines for the buses will get very long, very fast. Arriving 90 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry will get you to the front of the pack, and likely on that first bus.

Skyliner

For the Disney Skyliner, aim for 75 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry begins if you don’t have to transfer, and 90 minutes if you do. Both the Hollywood Studios and Epcot lines start up about 1 hour before Early Entry begins.

Monorail

Plan to get to your monorail stop about 60-75 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry. For reference, the Resort Monorail Loop goes:

• Transportation and Ticket Center
• Polynesian Resort
• Grand Floridian Resort
• Magic Kingdom
• Contemporary Resort

Boat

If traveling by boat, 60-75 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry is probably good.

Walking

Walking? You’ll have it the easiest!

Guests that walk are typically allowed to line up at the tapstiles around 60 minutes before the park opens for Early Theme Park Entry. If you want to be at the front of the pack of the walkers, plan to arrive ahead of that. (If you arrive before they begin allowing people to line up at the tapstiles, you’ll be held back by security.)

Car

When traveling by car, plan to arrive at the parking lot entrance about 70 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry. If the parking lot booths are not open at that time, you should be able to just wait for them to officially open up. But, don’t show up too early because they may not let you wait for the booths to open and instead will force you to turn around and come back closer to opening.

Want to learn more about Disney World buses, boats, monorail, and more?

Take a look at these handy posts for even more information on how to get around Walt Disney World.

• How to Navigate with Disney World Transportation
• How to Get Anywhere on Disney World Property (WDW Prep Navigator)
• Complete Guide to the Disney Skyliner
• How Minnie Vans Work
• How to use Lyft or Uber at Walt Disney World
• Renting a Car at Walt Disney World

Are character meals a good value on the Disney Dining Plan?

You can now add the Disney Dining Plan to Walt Disney World vacation packages that include a Disney Resort hotel stay with arrivals on or after January 9, 2024.

If you end up doing several character meals, the Disney Dining Plan might make a lot of sense. Review our post on maximizing Disney Dining Plan credits to see which restaurants offer the best value.

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Will you be doing any character meals at Disney World for your trip? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

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• Disney Dining Plans are officially available to purchase at Disney World
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Is Reopening November 4
• Disney Dining Plan returns January 2024 (plus park reservations ending for date-based tickets)
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Allyson Koerner

Allyson was able to take her lifelong love of Disney and her education (Bachelor’s Degree in English/minor in writing and a Master’s Degree in Print & Multimedia Journalism) and turn it into a career writing about all things Disney parks. Her writing can be seen in a few places, including her site, Magically Main Street. Email Allyson

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