Character Dining pairs up great food with the opportunity to interact with your favorite characters! Each Character Dining location usually has a set rotation of characters that you can expect, along with some surprises every now and then.
Not only do you get to see certain characters, you’ll also be able to enjoy great food through buffets, multi-course meals, family style or a la carte options. Character Dining is a win-win for everyone! Kiddos get guaranteed interactions with the characters and the adults get to enjoy a nice meal (and drinks!) in a comfortable setting with the AC cranked up high!
Character Dining is one of four categories of restaurant options across the Walt Disney World parks and resorts:
- Quick Service
- Table Service
- Character Dining
- Signature Dining
Do we really get to interact with the characters?
Oh yeah! The characters rotate through the entire restaurant, going table to table. You may see a Cast Member lurking in the background with an iPad…. that CM is making sure that each table has gotten a chance to interact with each character before their meal is over. We have always found the characters to be more than willing to stop, take pictures/videos, interact and some will even have conversations with us and our children (of course all in character). These are often some of our most cherished memories of each visit.
Note: while we’ve listed the characters that are usually present, other/additional characters may rotate through the restaurant depending on the season and any special events.
What are the types of Table Service restaurants available?
- Buffet - all you care to eat with dozens of options for starters, mains, sides and of course dessert!
- Family Style - all you care to eat from a set menu of times (no substitutions except for dietary/allergy needs).
- Prix Fixe - set menu of items, usually with shareable starters and individual entrées choices.
Which restaurants offer Character Dining?
There are currently 11 restaurants which offer Character Dining. Each park has at least one (pro tip: Magic Kingdom and Epcot both have two!) and the rest are scattered around Disney World Resorts properties. We’ve listed each restaurant below with its location, food options and of course the characters you can expect to meet.
'Ohana
- Location: Polynesian Village Resort
- Serving: Breakfast (Best Friends Breakfast)
- Meal type: Family Style - all you care to eat
- Characters: Lilo, Stitch, Mickey Mouse, Pluto
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
- Location: EPCOT
- Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Meal type: Family Style - All you care to eat
- Characters: Disney Princesses! While the characters may rotate, you can expect to meet Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White.
Cape May Cafe
- Location: Beach Club Resort
- Serving: Breakfast (Beach Club Breakfast Buffet)
- Meal Type: Buffet - All you care to eat
- Characters: Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse
Chef Mickey's
- Location: Contemporary Resort
- Serving: Breakfast & Dinner
- Meal Type: Buffet - All you care to eat
- Characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto
Cinderella's Royal Table
- Location: Magic Kingdom
- Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Meal Type: Prixe Fixe - shareable starts and individual entrées
- Characters: Cinderella greets her guests in the Grand Hall before heading upstairs in the Castle to be seated. Several of the Disney Princesses will make the rounds throughout your meal, including Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine and Snow White.
The Crystal Palace
- Location: Magic Kingdom
- Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (It's a Friendship Day Celebrashun!)
- Meal Type: Buffet - All you care to eat
- Characters: Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger
Garden Grill
- Location: EPCOT
- Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Meal Type: Family Style - All you care to eat
- Characters: Chip, Dale, Mickey Mouse, Pluto
Hollywood and Vine
- Location: Hollywood Studios
- Serving: Breakfast (Disney Junior Play 'n Dine), Lunch, Dinner (Minnie's Seasonal Dine)
- Meal Type: Buffet - All you care to eat
- Characters: Breakfast - Disney Junior characters like Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins, Roadster Racer Goofy and Vampirina. Lunch/Dinner - Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy
- Seasonal Dining Details: Minnie's Seasonal Dine changes throughout the year (hence the name :) with character outfits also changing based on the current theme.
Storybook Dining at Artist's Point
- Location: Wilderness Lodge
- Serving: Dinner
- Meal type: Prix Fixe - Shareable starters, individual entrées and shareable desserts
- Characters: Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy and the Evil Queen (including a photo opportunity at the end of your meal)
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera
- Location: Riviera Resort
- Serving: Breakfast (Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends)
- Meal Type: Prix Fixe - Individual entrées
- Characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck
Trattoria al Forno (Currently Paused)
- Location: Boardwalk Inn
- Serving: Breakfast (Bon Voyage Breakfast)
- Meal Type: Prix Fixe - Individual entrées
- Characters: While Character Dining is currently paused, this experience features couples such as Ariel and Eric or Aurora and Flynn Rider.
Tusker House
- Location: Animal Kingdom
- Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Donald's Dining Safari)
- Meal Type: Buffet - All you care to eat
- Characters: Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Mickey Mouse, Pluto
As you can see there, there are loads of opportunities to interact with characters in a unique and non-hurried way. Whether you are heading to a Character Dining experience by yourself or with your kiddos, you are sure to have an amazing experience!
