Disney World offers tons of experiences to meet favorite characters, but for the parents of young kids, nothing beats a character dining experience for convenience and the simple fact that it gives tired parents a break! We ran across a great article called Dining with “Character” at Disney World that gives some great info on favorite characters located at restaurants throughout Disney World.
Eat with the classic: Mickey Mouse
Chef Mickey’s, located on the Contemporary Resort, is considered the best place to meet the mouse himself. There he appears with some of his best friends, including Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto. The buffet breakfast is one of the highest rated character breakfasts, and brunch and dinner are available too. Note that you don’t have to be staying at the Contemporary Resort to eat at this restaurant, which is located right next to the Magic Kingdom.
You can also visit Mickey at ‘Ohana, in the Polynesian Resort, and Farmer Mickey (Mickey Mouse dressed up as a farmer) at Garden Grill in EPCOT. Garden Grill has historically only offered dinner, but in the fall of 2015 they’ll begin offering both breakfast and lunch options.
Meet Mickey’s best buds
You can meet many of Mickey’s friends throughout the parks too. Kids who love Minnie Mouse will want to head straight to Cape May Café for breakfast, where they can meet Minnie alongside Goofy and Donald Duck. They’re all dressed in adorable beach clothes to fit in with the beach décor.
Tusker House is the best place to meet Donald Duck. There he’s joined by a rotating collection of his pals, including Minnie, Daisy, Goofy, and occasionally Mickey himself. They all wear inspired safari gear, which you can check out while enjoying the African buffet. Don’t worry – there are plenty of American staples for picky eaters, too!
Meeting the Princesses
For many parents, the biggest draw for their kids are the Disney Princesses. In fact, these are the most popular character dining experiences in Disney World. Cinderella’s Royal Table, located right in Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom, is easily the most popular of all. There diners can meet her right in the Grand Hall, and then move on to dine in the banquet hall. The meet and greets don’t stop there: they then can meet Snow White, Aurora, and Sleeping Beauty.
You can also head over to EPCOT to meet a number of other Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. Yet another gorgeous castle, here diners can stay seated and comfortable as Princesses come around to meet them in their seats. This makes it the perfect option for single parents who need as much help as they can get. The specific Princesses change, but you can expect to meet four or five.
Character dining experiences are the perfect way to meet your favorite Disney pals without waiting in long lines at Character Spots, and while enjoying some delicious food – and of course a welcome break!
