Top 5 Disney World Character Dining Experiences
There is nothing like the look in the eyes of child when they first meet Minnie or Mickey Mouse. Or how exciting meeting a princess or Mary Poppins can be. And Walt Disney World gives you several opportunities inside the parks to meet your favorite heroes or villains. But it’s even more special when you can have an experience with a character while you are having a meal! And Disney gives you several options for these magical moments at one of their Character Dining Experiences, and here are 5 of our very favorite places (at least for right now…)
#5 – 1900 Park Fare (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort)
1900 Park Fare offers three unique interactive dining experiences with a more English flair. You can join Mary Poppins, Alice, the Mad Hatter, and other Wonderland friends for the festivities at the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast Buffet in the morning. And the Disney characters from Wonderland return in the afternoon at the Wonderland Tea Party. And in the evening, Cinderella, Prince Charming and other Storybook Characters welcome you to Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner Buffet. All three experiences are certain to make the child in each of us VERY jolly!
#4 – Chef Mickey’s (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
A perennial favorite, Chef Mickey’s serves up breakfast and dinner fare will entertaining children young and old with Mickey and all his friends. One of the most popular character dining venues, Chef Mickey’s is energetic and exciting and will have you spinning your napkin over your head in no time!
#3 – Cape May Cafe (Disney’s Beach Club Resort)
Cape May has become one of our favorite places for a breakfast buffet AND stealing a moment with Minnie, Donald, Goofy, or Pluto. You can only see the characters at breakfast time, but the atmosphere is more relaxed and you can really enjoy your time getting hugs from your favorite Disney friends! Even though there are no characters around, Cape May’s dinner buffet is pretty awesome!
#2 – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Norway Pavilion at Epcot)
If you have someone in your family who ADORES the Disney Princesses, booking a breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a must for your next Walt Disney World trip. Located within the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, park admission is not included in your meal, but it is worth your time to start your day at Epcot by meeting several of the Disney Princesses. Breakfast is traditional American fare (eggs, bacon, Mickey waffles) but for lunch and dinner, you have a “taste of Norway” with an impressive Norwegian buffet of cold dishes and hot entrees available à la carte.
#1 – Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom)
Journey into The Hundred Acre Wood as you enter this whimsical restaurant for a buffet of American cuisine at breakfast, lunch and dinner. During your meal you get to interact with Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, and the loveable Pooh. There are special “Friendship Day” parades for the kids which are great for photos and videos and for mom and dad to relax for a few minutes. And the characters at the Crystal Palace are REALLY amazing with not only the kids, but the adults as well.
To book one of these or any of the other amazing character dining experiences at Walt Disney World, call (407) WDW-Dine or (407) 939-3463. But be aware, as of 2011 Disney changed it’s Cancellation Policy: “To ensure consistent Guest service, a one-day cancellation policy will apply to new reservations at many dining venues. If a Guest cancels within one day of the reservation or if the dining party is a “no show” for the meal, a cancellation fee of $10 per person will be charged to the credit card used at the time of booking.” Make sure you ask your Disney Cast Member about this when you make your reservations!
*All images ©Disney unless otherwise noted.
