So Many Choices: Comparing ALL Character Dining Experiences at Walt Disney World

Posted on by Lori Moores

My previous post was obviously an opinion piece on what I believe to be the BEST character dining at Walt Disney World, but as promised, this post will take a look at the other character meals that are available, and I will highlight some of the key differences between these options.

First, you have to think about location:  WHERE do you want to eat?  Most Disney guests want to spend the majority of their time IN the parks, so Garden Grill at Epcot, Hollywood and Vine at Hollywood Studios, and Tusker House at Animal Kingdom get points for their location.  While there is NOT a character meal featuring Mickey and Pals in the Magic Kingdom, Chef Mickey’s (located at the Contemporary Resort) and ‘Ohana (at Polynesian Resort) are both a short monorail ride away.  Speaking of resort locations, Cape May Cafe is located in Disney’s Beach Club Resort (near Epcot theme park), and Mickey’s Backyard BBQ is held at the Campsites of Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Resort.

The second consideration must be time:  WHEN do you want to eat (breakfast, lunch, or dinner)?  ‘Ohana and Cape May Cafe are only character breakfasts.  Unless you book an extremely early reservation, this will take time away from touring, and the earlier you arrive in the parks, the lower the crowds are (and the more attractions you will be able to visit).  Hollywood and Vine does offer breakfast, but the characters are from popular Disney Jr. shows; the classic Disney gang is only available during lunch and dinner.  Chef Mickey’s, Tusker House, and Garden Grill have characters during all three meal times throughout the day, and Mickey’s Backyard BBQ is a dinner only experience.

Since we are talking about eating, you must evaluate the menu:  WHAT will you eat?  Chef Mickey’s, Tusker House, Cape May Cafe, and Hollywood and Vine, are all buffets with a wide variety of offerings; Mickey’s Backyard BBQ is an all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet and dinner show; and Garden Grill and ‘Ohana are both family-style dining experiences (platters are brought to the table for the family to share).  For a closer look at the menus of these and other restaurants, visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/.

Finally, if you would like dinner AND a show, Tusker House can be booked as part of the Rivers of Light dining package, and Hollywood and Vine is one of the Fantasmic! dining package restaurants.  These reservations still only use one table service credit, but as a “bonus,” guests are given reserved-seating vouchers for that particular park’s nighttime spectacular.  FYI:  The only “Mickey” dining experience that uses two table credits is Mickey’s Backyard BBQ.

One last important point to keep in mind when selecting a Mickey dining experience:  the only one that uses TWO table credits is Mickey’s Backyard BBQ.

 

What about for the little princesses in your party?  Where can guests dine like royalty?

 

The most popular (and most difficult “princess” reservation to acquire) is Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom. What little princess wouldn’t love to eat in Cinderella’s Castle?  Even though this restaurant uses two table credits, these reservations fill up quickly, so it is highly recommended that you book this experience 180 days prior to your trip (yes, that is 6 months in advance!)  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served in the castle, but for a particularly special experience, you might try to get a dinner reservation shortly before the nightly fireworks are set to begin.  While you can’t clearly see the display, the auditory experience is something that you won’t soon forget.

A slightly easier reservation to obtain can be found at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot.  A selling point for this location is that it only uses one table credit, but the princesses are very similar to those that greet guests at CRT.  While all meals are served here, breakfast might be best for pickier eaters.  At lunch and dinner, the menu features Norwegian-inspired entrees.

Located at the Grand Floridian, Cinderella’s Happily Ever After dinner at 1900 Park Fare is a dinner only reservation.  Guests will interact with Cinderella and Prince Charming as well as Cinderella’s wicked step-mother, Lady Tremaine, and her step-sisters, Anastasia and Drisella while enjoying an all-you-can-eat buffet with a wide variety of selections.  Families of tween and teen boys beware:  the ugly step-sisters are quite flirtatious since they lost Prince Charming to their step-sister.  They are both still looking for a prince!

The newest princess dining experience can be found at Disney’s Boardwalk at Trattoria al Forno.  Guests will choose entrees from a standard breakfast menu while visiting with Ariel and Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid and Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from Rapunzel.

 

Finally, there are a few character meals that fall outside of the bounds of “classic character” or “princess” meet and greet opportunities.

Be Our Guest, located in the Beast’s castle in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, is one of the more difficult reservations to obtain, so it is highly recommended to make reservations 180 days in advance. Dinner at this location is the only time guests will see the Beast, but even during breakfast and lunch (quick serve credits), guests must have reservations (and they fill up QUICKLY!!!)

Crystal Palace on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom offers reservations throughout the day and a chance to meet your favorite Winnie the Pooh characters from your childhood.  Time your dinner reservation just right here (and request a table by a window facing the castle), and you could eat dinner while enjoying the Happily Ever After nightly fireworks display.

Located in Hollywood Studios, Hollywood and Vine offers a Disney Jr. character breakfast buffet for families with younger children.  This reservation can also be booked as part of the Fantasmic!  dining package.

1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian features Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh characters, as well as a visit from Mary Poppins, during the breakfast and lunch reservation time frame.  Both meals are all-you-can-eat buffets.

 

I’ve given you a LOT of information, so let me try to recap some key points below:

Most popular choices (reserve 180 days prior to trip):

  • Cinderella’s Royal Table
  • Be Our Guest
  • Chef Mickey’s
  • ‘Ohana

Most expensive (requires TWO table credits on dining plan):

  • Cinderella’s Royal Table
  • Mickey’s Backyard BBQ

Located IN theme parks:

  • Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom)
  • Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom)
  • Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom)
  • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Epcot)
  • Garden Grill (Epcot)
  • Hollywood and Vine (Hollywood Studios)
  • Tusker House (Animal Kingdom)

Good for spontaneous travelers who do not book at least 180 days in advance:

  • Cape May Cafe
  • Tusker House
  • Hollywood and Vine
  • Crystal Palace
  • 1900 Park Fare
  • Garden Grill

If we can help you make some dining decisions on your upcoming trip, or if you would like to book a trip to Walt Disney World resort so that you can enjoy some of these fabulously entertaining dining options contact us at brooke@kingdommagic.com OR call direct 407-391-1238.

Until my next post. . . . have a magical day!