Character Meals

Having breakfast, lunch, or dinner with the Disney characters is quickly becoming a tradition for many folks that visit Walt Disney World.  Just a few years ago, only a small handful of character meals were available.  Since then, there's been an explosion of interest...and as a result, a huge increase in the number of restaurants that offer meals with the celebrities.

Don't get the idea that any of the characters will camp out at your table for the entire meal.  They actually play the field, moving through the restaurant to greet all of the guests that are there.  When they do come by your table, though, they'll give you plenty of quality time providing autographs and posing for pictures with the whole gang.

Priority seating is a necessity for any character meal.  You can make priority seating arrangements by calling (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) or by pressing the priority seating button on your WDW resort phone or in person at the restaurant on the day that you'd like to have your meal.  It's not very likely that you'll be able to get a priority seating time at the most popular restaurants unless you make them well in advance (again, see the priority seating page for more information on the rules, quid pro quos, etc.).  There is some special information there that may help if you want to have a character meal at one of the more popular venues.

Most of the meals are all-you-can-eat affairs.  In some cases, a buffet is provided.  For some restaurants, a family-style (but still all-you-can-eat) is the norm.  A third possibility are meals that are served French style (already served up on your plates).

Be aware that that you don't get to rub elbows with Mickey at Breakfast (or any other character for any other meal) cheap!  Character meals are PRICEY.  Breakfast will generally cost $16 or so for adults and $9 or so for children ages 3-9.  Dinner Will likely cost you $24 or so for adults and $13 or so for children ages 3-9.  Is it worth it?  Only you can decide...but take your camera and plenty of film.  If you have kids with you, you'll get a ton of photos that you'll cherish for a long, long time.

(Please note that each of these character appearances are subject to change, that any given character might not appear on a particular day (even if they normally do so), and that the costume of the characters often changes depending on the restaurant or event.  If you're looking for a specific character, check out the list below.)

All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner):

• Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom, at the North end of Main Street), Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet, Buffet

• Chef Mickey's (Contemporary Resort), Mickey, Goofy, Chip & Dale, Buffet, breakfast seatings start at 8:00am and Dinner seatings at 4:00pm

Breakfast (generally seating between 7:30 and 10:25am):

• 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian Resort), Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter, Pinocchio, and Geppetto, Buffet

• Cape May Cafe (Beach Club Resort), Chip & Dale, Goofy, and Pluto, Buffet

• Olivia's Cafe (Old Key West Resort), Winnie the Pooh and Tigger -- but only on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday mornings, French Service

• 'Ohana (Polynesian Resort), Mickey, Goofy, and Chip & Dale, served Family Style.  Note that this replaces the Minnehune Breakfast that used to be hosted by Minnie.

• Cinderella's Royal Table (Magic Kingdom, in Cinderella's Castle), "Once Upon a Time Breakfast," Cinderella, her Fairy Godmother, Belle, Snow White, and Peter Pan, served Family Style

• Restaurantosaurus (Animal Kingdom, in Dinoland USA), "Donald's Prehistoric Breakfastosaurus," Donald (the only character meal where the inimitable duck appears), Mickey, Pluto and Goofy, Buffet

• Coral Cafe (WDW Dolphin), Goofy, Pluto, and Chip & Dale, Buffet (Sundays from 7-10:00am, walk-in only, no reservations accepted)

• Garden Grove (WDW Swan), Goofy and Pluto, Buffet (Saturdays from 8:30-11:00am, walk-in only, no reservations accepted)

Breakfast & Lunch:

• Hollywood & Vine (Disney-MGM Studios, on Vine Street), Chip & Dale, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Buffet, breakfast seatings start at 8:00am, Lunch seatings at 11:30am, and Dinner seatings at 4:00pm -- but Dinner is NOT a character meal!

Afternoons:

• 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian Resort), "Wonderland Tea Party," Alice in Wonderland, Monday through Friday at 1:30pm.

• Garden Grill (Epcot, Land Pavilion), Mickey shows up for ice cream at 3:30pm

Lunch and Dinner:

• Garden Grill (Epcot, Land Pavilion), Chip & Dale and sometimes Mickey, served Family Style, Lunch seatings at 11:30am, and Dinner seatings at 4:00pm

Dinner (generally seating between 5:00 and 8:25pm):

• Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom, in Liberty Square), Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip & Dale, served family-style.

• 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian Resort), features several Winnie the Pooh and his friends, Buffet

• Gulliver's Grill (WDW Swan), rotates between Goofy and Pluto (Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday) and Timon and Rafiki (Monday & Friday), served a' la carte, (every day EXCEPT Tuesdays and Saturdays, 5:30-10pm).  Call (407) 934-1609 (NOT WDW-DINE, as the Swan is not operated by Disney) to make reservations.

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