What is Disney Character Dining?
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Originally Posted On: https://magiclampvacations.com/disneyvacationtips/what-is-disney-character-dining/
What Exactly is Disney Character Dining?
When people begin to plan their Disney vacation — either at Disneyland® or Walt Disney World® — we’re often asked about Disney character dining. What exactly does it mean?
Disney Character Dining is simply a table-service (sit-down) meal where Disney characters come directly to your table, while you’re eating. You can take pictures. You can get their autograph. You can even ask them those heart-burning questions you’ve long wondered about — like asking Snow White what’s in Gooseberry Pie.
How Does it Work?
tusker house | animal kingdom® park — walt disney world® resort
As we mentioned above, it’s rather simple. You have a normal meal like you would at any other table-service restaurant and the Disney characters come to your table.
We should also mention that the characters come over one at a time, to make sure the little ones aren’t overwhelmed. They won’t swarm your table. 
Why do we love it?
First, you’re not standing out in the hot sun waiting to see a character for thirty minutes, only for their handler to say, “Sorry, everyone. Pluto has to go back inside for a treat. He’ll be back out in twenty minutes.” You’re inside, in air conditioning, where the characters come to you.
Second, it saves time. You’re killing two birds with one stone. You’re eating and interacting with your favorite Disney characters. This means more time experiencing other attractions!
What Restaurants Offer Disney Character Dining?
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC BREAKFAST | 1900 PARK FARE | DISNEY’S GRAND FLORIDIAN resort & spa — walt disney world® resort
Disney Character Dining is located at restaurants both within the theme parks and inside the resort hotels at both the Disneyland® Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort®. There’s even a character breakfast onboard select Disney Cruise Line® sailings!
(Don’t worry, at the end of this post, we have a complete list.)
What Characters Appear at Character Dining Meals?
While not all Disney characters make appearances at Character dining meals, the most popular ones certainly do. And for the most part, the characters are grouped together according to either their “story” or their “friends.” For example, at Chef Mickey’s inside the Contemporary you can meet the Fab Five — Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. At Akershus Royal Banquet Hall you can meet a variety of princesses, usually Belle, Aurora, Ariel, Snow White, and Jasmine. (Read our review here.)
Most of the time, Disney advertises what characters will be appearing at each character dining experience, to help families decide which meal they’d like to attend. However, like any form of entertainment with live performers, appearances are subject to change.
(To see the complete list of what characters appear at what restaurants, scroll down to the bottom of this list.)
How Expensive are the Character Dining Meals?
chef mickey’s | disney’s contemporary resort — walt disney world® resort
The price ranges from almost $60 per person to around $20 per person, depending upon the time of day and what character dining experience you’re booking.
If you have the Disney Dining Plan, most character dining experiences are worth one table-service meal credit. The exception to this would be Cinderella’s Royal Table, due to both its location (inside Cinderella’s castle at the Magic Kingdom) and it’s popularity (so many princesses at once!).
*Note: The Disney Dining Plan is only available for Walt Disney World® vacations.*
How Do You Make Reservations for Character Dining Meals?
For Walt Disney World®, you can make reservations up to 180 days in advance through the My Disney Experience app or by calling (407) WDW-DINE. For Disneyland Resort®, you can make reservations up to 60 days in advance through their website or by calling (714) 781-DINE.
List of Character Dining Experiences
Walt Disney World® Resort
Note: Links open to reviews and information from Disney Food Blog, our favorite resource on Disney food.
Breakfast
royal akershus banquet hall | ecpot® park — walt disney world® resort
1900 Park Fare Supercalifragilistic Breakfast
Location: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (Magic Kingdom Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Princess Storybook Dining
Location: Epcot
Characters (may vary): Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora, Ariel, Mary Poppins, Jasmine
Cape May Cafe Beach Club Breakfast Buffet
Location: Disney’s Beach Club Resort (Epcot Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck
Chef Mickey’s Fun Time Buffet
Location: Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Magic Kingdom Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): The Fab Five! Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Location: Magic Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Ariel, Belle, Princess Aurora, Jasmine, Snow White. Regardless of character rotation during the meal, Cinderella will greet guests in the Grand Hall prior to seating.
Crystal Palace
Location: Magic Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore
Garden Grill Chip ’n Dale’s Harvest Feast
Location: Epcot
Characters (may vary): Chip and Dale, Mickey Mouse, Pluto
Hollywood and Vine Disney Junior Play ’n Dine
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Characters (may vary): Jake of the Neverland Pirates, Roadster Racer Goofy, Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins
‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast
Location: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (Magic Kingdom Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): Lilo, Stitch, Mickey Mouse, Pluto
Trattoria al Forno Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast
Location: Disney’s BoardWalk (BoardWalk Inn)
Characters (may vary): Disney couples such as Rapunzel with Flynn Rider and Ariel with Prince Eric
Tusker House Donald’s Dining Safari
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse
Garden Grove Good Morning Character Breakfast (NOTE: Saturdays and Sundays only)
Location: Disney’s Swan Hotel (Epcot Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale
Ravello Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals (NOTE: Thursdays, Saturdays, and select Tuesdays during peak seasons)
Location: Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World
Characters (may vary): Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse
Brunch
Chef Mickey’s Fun Time Buffet
Location: Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Magic Kingdom Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): The Fab Five! Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck
Minnie’s seasonal dine | hollywood & vine | hollywood studios® park — walt disney world® resort
Lunch
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Princess Storybook Dining
Location: Epcot
Characters (may vary): Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora, Ariel, Mary Poppins, Jasmine
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Location: Magic Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Ariel, Belle, Princess Aurora, Jasmine, Snow White. Regardless of character rotation during the meal, Cinderella will greet guests in the Grand Hall prior to seating.
Crystal Palace
Location: Magic Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore
Garden Grill Chip ’n Dale’s Harvest Feast
Location: Epcot
Characters (may vary): Chip and Dale, Mickey Mouse, Pluto
Hollywood and Vine Minnie’s Seasonal Dine
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Characters (may vary): Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck
Tusker House Donald’s Dining Safari
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse
DINNER
happily ever after dinner | 1900 park fare | disney’s grand floridian resort & spa — walt disney world® resort
1900 Park Fare Happily Ever After Dinner
Location: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (Magic Kingdom Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine (the Wicked Stepmother), Anastasia and Drizella (Cinderella’s Stepsisters)
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Princess Storybook Dining
Location: Epcot
Characters (may vary): Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora, Ariel, Mary Poppins, Jasmine
Chef Mickey’s Fun Time Buffet
Location: Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Magic Kingdom Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): The Fab Five! Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Location: Magic Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Ariel, Belle, Princess Aurora, Jasmine, Snow White. Regardless of character rotation during the meal, Cinderella will greet guests in the Grand Hall prior to seating.
Crystal Palace
Location: Magic Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore
Garden Grill Chip ’n Dale’s Harvest Feast
Location: Epcot
Characters (may vary): Chip and Dale, Mickey Mouse, Pluto
Hollywood and Vine Minnie’s Seasonal Dine
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Characters (may vary): Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck
Tusker House Donald’s Dining Safari
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Characters (may vary): Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse
Garden Grove Disney Character Dining
Location: Disney’s Swan Hotel (Epcot Area Resort)
Characters (may vary): Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale
Disneyland® resort
Note: Links open to official Disneyland® Resort restaurant information.
Breakfast
Donald duck’s seaside breakfast | pch grill |paradise pier hotel — DISNEYLAND® resort
Plaza Inn Minnie & Friends — Breakfast in the Park
Location: Disneyland® Park
Characters (may vary): Minnie Mouse, Fairy Godmother, Captain Hook, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Chip, Dale, Rafiki
Goofy’s Kitchen Character Dining
Location: Disneyland Hotel
Characters (may vary): Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Chip & Dale
Mickey’s tales of adventure | storyteller’s cafe | grand californian resort & spa — disneyland® resort
PCH GRILL Donald Duck’s Seaside Breakfast! (Beginning July 2018)
Location: Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
Characters (may vary): Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Stitch
Storytellers Café Mickey’s Tales of Adventure (Beginning July 2018)
Location: Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa
Characters (may vary): Mickey and Friends
Dinner
Goofy’s Kitchen Character Dining
Location: Disneyland Hotel
Characters (may vary): Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip & Dale
Disney Cruise Line®
Breakfast
Disney Junior Character Breakfast (select sailings)
Location: Varies Based on Ship
Characters (may vary): Jack the Pirate, Sophia the First, Doc McStuffins
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