When you think of a Disney vacation, one thing that probably comes to mind is enjoying a meal with some Disney characters. Maybe you want to eat dinner with Mickey and Minnie or have breakfast with some of your favorite princesses.
Like many things at Disney World, character dining has undergone changes and transitions in the last few years.
This post will serve as a guide to what’s available for character dining in 2023. We’ll also give an overview of the type of food you can expect, as well as the characters that will make an appearance during your meal.
What is Character Dining?
Character dining is a great way to spend time with some of your favorite Disney characters while also enjoying a table service meal. During your meal characters will come to your table. You’ll be able to take pictures and get autographs while there. Depending on the restaurant your meal may be prix fixe, family-style, or a buffet.
Character Dining in the Disney Parks
Here are the character dining options currently being offered inside the Disney Parks:
Magic Kingdom
- Crystal Palace- Magic Kingdom
Meals offered: Lunch, Dinner
Food: American, Buffet
Characters: Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore
- Cinderella’s Royal Table – Full character experience is returning on February 28, 2023.
Meals offered: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Food: American
Characters: Cinderella and other princesses. Some princesses who have been seen include Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine, and Snow White.
Epcot
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – EPCOT
Meals Offered: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Food: Breakfast-American, Lunch, and Dinner- Norwegian, Scandinavian,
Characters: Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Ariel
- Garden Grill Restaurant– Located in the land pavilion. This restaurant rotates and features views from Living with the Land.
Meals Available: Lunch, Dinner
Food: American, Family Style
Characters: Chip, Dale, Mickey (Farmer), and Pluto
Hollywood Studios
- Hollywood & Vine
Meals Available: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Food: Buffet
Characters at Breakfast: A variety of Disney Junior Characters like Vampirina and Fancy Nancy
Characters at Lunch & Dinner: Minnie Mouse and Friends (Seasonally-themed)
Animal Kingdom
- Tusker House Restaurant
Meals Offered: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Food: Family Style, A mix of American and Moroccan
Characters: Donald Duck, Mickey, Goofy, and Daisy in Safari Suits
Character Dining at Disney Resorts
- Chef Mickey’s – Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Meals Offered: Breakfast, Dinner
Food: Breakfast is Family Style, Dinner Prix Fixe- American
Characters: Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse
- Story Book Dining at Artist’s Point with Snow White – Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Meals Offered: Dinner
Food: A mix of Prix Fixe and Family Style, Individual entree with shared appetizers and
dessert
Characters: Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and the Evil Queen
- Topolino’s Terrace- Flavors of the Riviera – Disney’s Riviera Resort
Meals Offered: Breakfast, Dinner is also offered, but not a character meal
Food: French Prix Fixe Breakfast
Characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, and Daisy Duck
- Cape May Café Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast– Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
Meals Offered: Breakfast
Food: Breakfast Buffet
Characters: Minnie Mouse and Friends in Beach Attire
- ‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo and Stitch – Disney’s Polynesian Resort.
Meals Offered: Breakfast
Food: Standard breakfast
Characters: Mickey Mouse (Hawaiian), Lilo, Stitch, and Pluto
Modified Character Dining
- Be Our Guest – BOG is not technically classified as character dining, but the Beast does make an appearance at dinner.
Meals offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but Beast is only present at dinner
Food: French, Prix Fixe with appetizer, entree, and dessert
Temporarily Unavailable
- 1900 Park Fare – Grand Floridian – No Return Date Announced
Meals Offered: Breakfast, Dinner
Food: Standard Breakfast Buffet, Dinner-International Buffet
Breakfast Characters: Mary Poppins, Alice, Mad Hatter, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh
Dinner Characters: Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella
- Trattoria al Forno Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast– The restaurant is open but character dining hasn’t returned.
Meals offered: Breakfast
Food: American, Italian
Characters: Ariel, Prince Eric, Rapunzel, and Flynn Rider
It’s exciting that more character dining options continue to be reintroduced. If your group is interested in some quality time with characters, booking a character meal can be a great option. Although they can be pricey, it’s often worth booking at least one for the experience. More information about Disney Character dining can be found here.
Have you booked a character meal at Disney World? Leave me a comment and let me know your favorite.
