Character Meals at Walt Disney World Resorts

Disney’s Accommodations Offer Dining with Characters

Nov 27, 2009
Debra Peterson

Disney's Grand Floridian Offers Character Meals - Loren Javier

Disney resorts offer character dining with both familiar characters, like Mickey Mouse, and hard-to-find characters who are seldom seen in the theme parks.

Like Disney World’s theme parks, the resorts offer character dining that provides entertainment and personal visits to guests’ tables. Enjoying a character meal at a resort can be a pleasurable way for guests to start a touring day, to enjoy a meal away from the parks, a highlight of a scheduled rest day, or as a vacation’s introduction or conclusion.

Resort character meals, then, provide a little extra Disney magic and are popular because guests need not visit pay theme park admission to enjoy one. In addition, these character meals are hosted by resorts in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot areas and are easily accessible by Disney transportation.

What to Expect with Disney Character Dining

Character dining generally serves American cuisine. A typical character breakfast might offer scrambled eggs, sausage links, potatoes, fresh fruit, cold cereals, muffins, and bagels, Lunch and dinner selections include meat and poultry, pasta, and desserts. All character meals will offer kid-friendly selections for choosy eaters.

Character meals can be selected as table-service options for the Disney Dining plan. Most character dining, but not all, are self-serve buffets or family-style meals with a set menu and table service. As with Disney dining generally, character meals have two price points: adult (ages 10 and older) and children (ages 3 – 9); children three years eat free.

Disney Character Meals at Magic Kingdom Resorts – Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Fort Wilderness

The Contemporary resort is the spot for Chef Mickey’s, which offers breakfast and dinner buffets with Mickey and friends. It provides American fare in a setting that showcases the monorail traveling through the resort. Every thirty minutes or so, Chef Mickey’s characters throw a celebration that adds to the restaurant’s lively atmosphere.

The Grand Floridian is home to two character dining experiences. At 1900 Park Fare, a breakfast buffet features Mary Poppins and friends, while Cinderella and her friends attend dinner. (Note: the characters featured at 1900 Park Fare changes somewhat more frequently than other character meals.)

In keeping with the Grand Floridian’s décor, 1900 Park Fare offers a slightly more sophisticated American cuisine than what is generally provided at other character breakfasts. In addition to more standard food items, breakfast include their well-regarded chilled strawberry soup and cheese blintzes, while dinner items include apple chutney stuffed pork loin and chicken curry.

At Grand Floridian’s Wonderland Tea Party, Alice and the Mad Hatter host a tea-party lunch catering to children ages 4 – 12, although parents are welcome. This interactive party includes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, kid-friendly “tea” (fruit juices), and cupcakes decorated by the guests. Supervision is provided, along with a story.

The Polynesian’s ‘Ohana character breakfast serves American food, including sweet breads. The family-style serving style is particularly appropriate because, of course, ‘Ohana means “family” and meal is hosted by Lilo and Stitch. They, along with other Disney characters, visit the tables and encourage younger guests to participate a line party.

Mickey’s Backyard Barbeque, which takes place seasonally at Fort Wilderness, is a dinner show with Mickey and friends. Dinners are offered Tuesday and Thursday, from March through December. As its title suggests, the menus features standard picnic fare like barbecued chicken and ribs, hot dogs, baked beans, and corn on the cob. Entertainment includes a country music band and line dancing. As with Cinderella's Royal Table, reservations for this meal must be paid for at the time of booking.

Disney Character Meals at Epcot Resorts – Swan and Yacht and Beach Club

The Garden Grove, located in the Swan, offers character breakfast and dinner buffets. Guests who dine with Goofy and Pluto for breakfast start off the morning with omelet, fruit, and pastries. The dinner buffets varies its cuisine– rotating between barbecue, seafood, Italian, and Southern on select nights– and characters – Timon, Rafiki, Goofy, and Pluto.

Yacht and Beach Club’s Cape May Café holds a breakfast buffet with Goofy, Minnie, and Donald themed as a seaside picnic complete with eggs, Mickey waffles breakfast pizza, sausage, grits, and cupcakes.

Disney’s Character Dining and Reservations

Because of their popularity, character meals should be booked as far as in advance as possible. Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) may be made at Disney World Dining online or by phone at 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) up to 180 days in advance.

What food is served for a particular character meal, as well as the host characters, occasionally changes. Check for updated information using Disney’s website or their dining reservations number; menus are also published on Disney fan forums and websites, including AllEars.net.

Character meals offered at the Walt Disney World resorts allow guests to enjoy a meal away from the parks while meeting some of Disney's stars. Guests who want an interactive and fun dining experience should choose their favorite resort location or characters, then book a seat early.