How To Make The Disney World Characters Come To You!

One of the most annoying things about a Walt Disney World vacation is the abundance of “hurry up and wait” moments that plague your trip.

Hurry up and wait for the flight. Hurry up and wait for the bus. Hurry up and wait for the park to open. Hurry up and wait to meet Mickey Mouse.

But does it have to be this way?

One of the best ways to meet your favorite Disney characters is to make them come to you. Walt Disney World has a large assortment of “Character Meals” where you relax, sit back, enjoy your meal and the characters visit you at your table.

No waiting in line.

Ever.

The characters come to your table, sign your autograph book, pose for a picture or two, chat a bit and then they’re on their way — leaving you time to enjoy your meal until the next character comes along.

Below is a comprehensive list of the restaurants that offer character dining. Disney always qualifies their descriptions with a “characters may vary” warning. The characters listed are the ones you’ll most likely see. For example, we’ve never been to Crystal Palace and NOT seen Winnie the Pooh. All are considered Table Service (for dining credit purposes.) Whether you eat off a Menu (M) or Buffet (B) is denoted with abbreviations.

For more tips and tricks to make the most of your character interaction click here and here.

Magic Kingdom

•  Be Our Guest – Dinner (M) – French cuisine in a gorgeous setting. Important note: The Beast appears at dinner service only.
• Cinderella’s Royal Table – (M) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is a very popular location to meet Cinderella, Snow White and Belle. Reservations 180 days in advance are highly recommended.
• Crystal Palace – (B) – Share breakfast, lunch and dinner with Winnie The Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger, too!

EPCOT

• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – (B) A royal feast with Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Ariel and Mary Poppins.
• The Garden Grill – Located in the Land Pavilion this is one of our family’s favorite (under-rated) character meals. Served family style for breakfast, lunch and dinner you’ll meet Chip ‘n’ Dale, Pluto, and Mickey. Farm to table cuisine is featured here with much of your meal grown right on Disney property.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Club Villan – This is an extra ticket event held on select evenings. Dine with Maleficent, Queen of Hearts and Cruella di Vil. For more info, click here.
• Hollywood & Vine – Meet your favorite Disney Junior friends for breakfast or lunch. (B) Special dinner parties are hosted here throughout the year.

Animal Kingdom

• Tusker House – (B) Available now for breakfast, lunch and dinner, feast all day long with Donald, Daisy, Mickey, Goofy and friends.

Resorts

• 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian) – Supercalifragilistic Breakfast Buffet (B) with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. Wonderland Tea Party – Have tea with Alice in Wonderland and friends. Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner – (B) with Cinderella and Prince Charming, Step-mother and Step-sisters.
• Cape May Café (Beach Club) – (B) Breakfast with Minnie and friends. Dinner with Goofy and friends.
• Chef Mickey’s (Contemporary) – (B) Enjoy breakfast, brunch and dinner with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy.
• Mickey’s Backyard BBQ – (B) This is a seasonal event with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Chip ‘n’ Dale. All you can eat BBQ. Yum!
• Ohana (Polynesian) – Served family style, have breakfast with Lilo, Stitch and friends.