Character Dining

Making your dining reservations 180 days in advance is extremely important, especially for character meals.

If you are getting close to your trip (within two months) and you want to make some dining reservations, call (407)939-3463 and tell them the dates of your trip and where you'll be spending each day.  They can often help find a match, even if you aren't able to get your first choice.  Character dining reservations often book up quickly, so don't wait! You can always cancel them or call to try and change them later if you need to!

Character dining provides your child with a chance to meet several Disney characters in one sitting and you can eat while they do it, rather than standing in lines for long periods of times and getting no refreshment out of it.  My kids ended up with more autographs in their books from dining than standing in line on our last trip and it was such a great way to do it.

Here are my thoughts on a few character dining locations:

1. Cinderella's Castle (Magic Kingdom)  While eating in Cinderella's castle provides a certain charm that no other location can duplicate, you will pay an arm and a leg to do this.  I highly recommend doing it at least once, preferably after your child is old enough to remember the delightful experience.  You pay 100% in advance (a flat rate) when you make your reservation and order off the menu (prince includes a non-alcoholic beverage).  Little princesses receive a wishing star and get to take part in an adorable "wishing ceremony."  If you can get yourself up early enough to it, I always try to make a reservation for a time before the park opens (usually in the 7:45-8:00 range) and on a day when there are not morning "Early Magic Hours" for Disney Resort guests at the Magic Kingdom.  Breakfast is the cheapest meal, you get the full character experience, and you are in the heart of Fantasyland when the park opens at 9 giving you maximum ride time in that first hour of the day before the park begins to fill up.
2. Norway's Princess Breakfast (EPCOT)Norway's Princess Breakfast is a wonderful experience, as well.  The food is an all-you-care-to-eat buffet and the princesses spend more time with you here than they do at Cinderella's Castle.  The food is good, the atmosphere is very nice, and it's very open and relaxed.
3. Chef Mickey's (Disney's Contemporary Resort) is a delightful place for a character breakfast or dinner.  The food is excellent and you get to see all of the classic Disney characters (Goofy, Minnie, Mickey, Donald, and Pluto).
4. Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom) has excellent food and you can meet all of the classic Winnie the Pooh characters.  Sometimes your kids need a chance to sit down in the Magic Kingdom and take a break and character dining at lunch time in the Crystal Palace is a great way to convince them to slow down for a few minutes, especially if you don't plan on heading back to your hotel for a nap.
5. Hollywood and Vine (Hollywood Studios' only dining experience) is a chance for kids to meet some of their favorite Disney Junior characters at breakfast or lunch.  Currently Sofia, Handy Manny, and Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates are there.
6. Tusker House is the Animal Kingdom's only character dining spot and is hosted by Donald and other classic Disney characters at an all-you-can eat buffet.
7. If your little princess love Cinderella, 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort is a fun opportunity to meet Cinderella and Prince Charming.  You might even run into a few cute mice and evil step-sisters!

Cape May Cafe (Disney's Beach Club Resort), the Garden Grill (EPCOT), Mickey's Backyard BBQ, Garden Grove (Disney's Swan Hotel), and O'Hana (Disney's Polynesian Resort) also provide fun character greeting opportunities.