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 Being able to have breakfast, lunch or dinner with Disney characters has proven
to be very popular among Disney guests. In response there has been a dazzling
increase in the number of Disney restaurants offering this up close and personal
encounter. So now in between bites of scrambled eggs at breakfast or prime rib
at dinner you and yours can hug, be photographed with or get autographs from any
number of Disney characters, as they make their way from table to table.
Character meals can be found in all of the four major theme parks, as well as
many of the Disney resorts. These character meals are all-you-can-eat affairs
that are offered in one of three styles: buffet, family style or a pre-plated
fashion.
Now as with much of what you will find at Walt Disney World a magical encounter
of this magnitude does not come cheap. Is it worth it? Only you can be the final
judge, but if you have kids or are just a big kid at heart, then you may not
want to miss this special brand of Disney magic.
Tips On Dining With The Characters
Who Are You?
Be sure to find out which characters will be joining you at your character meal.
Don't rely on past experiences or conversations with friends who may have dined
there previously. Character line-ups can and do change from time to time. Also,
the characters found at breakfast may not be the same as those found at lunch or
dinner. Ask the Disney reservation agent when you are making the priority
seating just which Disney characters you can expect.
What Difference Does It Make?
When you are seated in the restaurant place the kids in the seats nearest the
aisle. In this way the characters will have easy access for those hugs and
autographs.
All I Have Is a Napkin
While characters will sign just about anything you put under their oversized
noses it is best to be prepared. Pick up an autograph book prior to your trip
and don't forget to bring it along for this special character encounter. Also
since most of the most characters don't have pockets they won't be carrying a
pen with them, so bring one along and preferably a large one that will be easier
for the characters to use. Sharpie markers work out great!
Maybe Next Time
These larger than life characters will some times frighten young children. Allow
your child to warm up to the idea of wrapping their little arms around something
this big. If they are not entirely sold on the idea, relax they will be
eventually. Maybe if Mom or Dad would give Goofy a hug and mug it up for the
camera they might be more inclined to do so. If you are not sure you want to be
seen in an embracing a chipmunk or a donkey in public remember you are on
vacation and you probably have a better chance winning the lottery than you do
of bumping into any of the other dinner guests again
It's My Turn
Disney has a procedure for everything and character greetings at these mealtime
encounters are no exception. Your child like a young Jacque Cousteau may want to
seek out Mickey and friends on his own. If allowed to do so you may find that
you are asked to retrieve young Jacque and return him or her to your table to
wait their turn. Rest assured each character will be by your table at least once
and will afford you and yours ample time to hug, be photographed with or get
autographs from them.
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 The Crystal Palace
Located at The Magic Kingdom, Mainstreet
Meals served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Recommended: Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
Cuisine: American, Regional
Prices:
Breakfast: Adult-$16.99, Child (3-11) -$8.99
Lunch: Adult-$17.99, Child-$9.99
Dinner: Adult-$21.99, Child (3-11)-$9.99
Theme park
admission required
Priority seating recommended
Located near Main Street guests will find breakfast, lunch and dinner all
served here buffet style with Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet all in
attendance
Review
Menu
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| Disney
Tip: Try a late lunch around 3:00pm and make it your big meal of
the day. |
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 Cinderella's
Royal Table
Breakfast and lunch offer a Princess dining experience from a set menu.
Dinner will now also feature a set menu with a shared appetizer plate and
4 to 5 set plate options for the entree plus a dessert. While dinner will
not feature character dining, the Fairy Godmother will appear in the
dining room to lead celebrations.
Upon arrival for breakfast, lunch or
dinner, Guests will experience a photo opportunity in the castle lobby and
then proceed to the dining room where Disney princesses or Fairy Godmother
will mingle among the tables and greet Guests. A imaging package of their
photo will be delivered to Guests at their table. The imaging package
includes four - 4x6 prints, one - 6x8 print, and one - 6x8 print of
Cinderella's Castle - all in a Cinderella themed photo holder. In
addition, dinner Guests will also receive an exclusive lithograph.
The new pricing for these experiences is as
follows:
|
Meal |
Guests ages 10
and up |
Guests ages 3 to
9 |
|
Breakfast |
$31.99 plus tax |
$21.99 plus tax |
|
Lunch |
$33.99 plus tax |
$22.99 plus tax |
|
Dinner |
$39.99 plus tax |
$24.99 plus tax |
Full payment will be required at the time of
booking for all reservations at this location on or after February 1, 2006. |
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Liberty Tree Tavern
Located at The Magic Kingdom in Liberty Square
Meals served: Lunch, Dinner
Recommended: Lunch or Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prices: Lunch - $10.99 - $15.99 Dinner Adult-$21.99, Child
(3-11)-$9.99
Theme park admission required
Priority seating recommended
This early American style full service restaurant offers a wide variety of
sandwiches, soups, salads and complete entrees for lunch.
At this early American style restaurant an all-you-care-to-eat character
dinner is in order with Minnie and Friends on hand. Your meal will be served up
family style and will include such wholesome favorites such as ham, turkey,
flank steak, vegetables and salad
This can be a welcomed retreat from the hustle and bustle of the park and is
great with the kids
Lunch Menu
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Princess Storybook Dining at Restaurant Akershus
Located in World Showcase at the Norway Pavilion
Cuisine: American
Meals served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Prices: Breakfast - Adults: $21.99 Children (ages 3-9): $11.99
Lunch -
Adults: $23.99 Children (ages 3-9): $12.99
Dinner -
Adults: $27.99 Children (ages 3-9): $12.99
Theme park admission required
Priority Seating recommended
Breakfast
is served family style and will feature Princesses and other heroines from
Disney classics. Characters may include a combination of such favorites as
Snow White, Mary Poppins, Pocahontas, Mulan and others. Breakfast is served from 8:30am
until 10:35am. Lunch is served from 11:40am until 3:05pm. Dinner is served from
4:20pm until 9:05pm.
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Garden Grill
Located in the Land Pavilion in the Future World
Meals served: Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prices:
Lunch :
Adult $19.99
Child $9.99
Dinner:
Adult $21.99
Child $9.99
Theme park admission is required.
Priority seating is
recommended.
A character dining experience for lunch and dinner featuring Mickey, Chip and
Dale, where you can enjoy rotisserie chicken, fish, steak, potatoes, vegetables,
salad and dessert served family style.
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Hollywood & Vine
Located at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Cuisine: American (Buffet)
Meals served: Dinner
Prices: Adult - $21.99 Child - $9.99
Theme park admission is required.
Priority seating is recommended.
A "Cafeteria of the Stars" reminiscent of the '30s and '40s with an
extensive buffet.
Editors Note: Character dining at this location was discontinued on 06/29/03
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- Donald’s Breakfastosaurus
Located at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Cuisine: American (Buffett)
Meals served: Breakfast
Recommended: Breakfast
Prices: Adult - $17, Child - $9
Theme park admission required
Priority seating suggested
This is a character breakfast buffet with an all-you-care-to eat selection of
eggs, pancakes, waffles, breakfast meats, fresh fruits and beverages. Donald,
Mickey Pluto and Goofy join guests each morning.
Review
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| Disney Tip:
Consider making your priority seating for 10:00am or 10:15am. Arrive
early at the park take in some of the more popular attractions. Then
just before you head to Donald’s grab a fast pass to be used after
breakfast for an attraction like Dinosaur or It’s Tough to Be a Bug. |
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Cape May Café
Located at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort
Cuisine: American
Meals served: Breakfast, Dinner
Recommended: Breakfast or Dinner
Prices:
Breakfast: Adult-$16.99, Child (3-11) - $8.99
Dinner: Adult - $23.95,
Child (3-11) $9.99
Priority seating is recommended
Breakfast - Buffet served here every morning with Minnie, Goofy and Chip & Dale
on hand. Eggs, pancakes, meats, breads and fresh fruit served buffet
style.
Dinner - The Cape May Clam Bake is also served buffet style with a wide
variety of seafood, salads, meats, and desserts, but this time without the
characters.
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1900 Park Fare
Located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Meals served: B, D
Recommended: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prices:
Breakfast Adult $16.99, Child (3-11) $9.99
Dinner Adults-$25.95, Child (3-11) $10.99
Cinderella's Gala Feast Dinner at
1900 Park Fare
Guests have the opportunity to dine with
Cinderella and her storybook friends. The Grand Floridian's 1900 Park Fare is hosting Cinderella's Gala Feast. Characters may include; Cinderella, Prince
Charming, Suzy & Perla, and the Fairy Godmother.
Priority Seating can be made
90 days in advance. Dining Hours
for the all-you-care-to-eat meal are 5:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
1900 Park Fare Breakfast – Located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
A breakfast
character buffet which includes Mary Poppins, Bert, Alice in Wonderland, Pooh
and Tigger at breakfast
Review
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Olivia's
Located at Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Cuisine: American Southern, seasonal menu
Meals served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Prices:
Breakfast: $7 - $11
Lunch: $9 - $12
Dinner: $13 - $22
Priority seating recommended
This full service restaurant located in the Conch Flats Community Hall
with its relaxing atmosphere and slower pace makes the food here taste
even better than it already is.
Delight in ambience that's relaxed, bright and cheerful, like a visit to Key
West itself. Feast on flavorful, fresh Florida seafood and other American
cuisine with a hint of Caribbean influence. Enjoy favorites like pan-seared
crab cakes, grilled filet mignon and lobster, roasted prime rib and more.
This just may be your "key" to dining happiness
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 'Ohana
Located at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Cuisine: American
Meals served: Breakfast, Dinner
Recommended: Dinner
Prices:
Dinner: Adult - $23.99, Child (3-11) - $9.99 Beverage, Tax and Desert not
included
Breakfast:
Adult - $16.99
Child - $8.99
Priority seating is recommended
Lilo and Stitch Character Breakfast – Located at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.
Savor the flavor and hospitality of the islands as Lilo and Stitch make
you a part of their intergalactic 'ohana (family).
For dinner a continuous parade of skewered meats will be served as
soon as you are seated. First a couple of sausages followed by smoked
turkey, beef and chicken will all make their way to the table. In addition
your meal will include salads, dumplings, vegetables and teriyaki noodles.
'Ohana, which means family, is a friendly and fun dining experience. The
children may be asked to take part in a hula-hoop contest or coconut race.
Also, on cue from one of the strolling entertainers who will ask for a
sign from the gods the chef will pour a liquid on the fire causing flames
to shoot up.
Menu
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 Chef Mickey's Buffet
Located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Cuisine: American
Meals served: Breakfast, Dinner
Recommended: Breakfast or Dinner
Prices:
Breakfast: Adult $18.99, Child (3-11) $10.99
Dinner: Adults-$27.99, Child (3-11) $12.99
Enjoy the fun and excitement of meeting Mickey and his pals during your
feast as the monorail quietly whisks by overhead. Chef Mickey invites you to a
buffet at this favorite for family fun Character dining. Choose from a
spectacular spread of seasonal specialties. Make your meal end sweetly ever
after at the sundae bar. Located on the fouth floor of Disney's Contemporary
Resort, this enormous buffet offers a wide variety of delicious items for the
whole family.
Breakfast items include scrambled eggs, bagels, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy,
sausage links, French toast, muffins, croissants, assorted cold cereals, grits,
bread pudding and fresh pancakes prepared on stage.
Enjoy a hearty dinner with a premium salad bar, peel-and-eat shrimp,
oven-roasted prime rib, carved meats, seasonal entrées and a variety of
vegetables, potatoes and rice selections.
Review
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Artist Point – Located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Character breakfast ended June 1st, 2001
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Garden Grove Cafe
Character Breakfast
Located in the Swan Hotel
Cuisine: American
Meals served: Breakfast, Lunch
Prices:
Breakfast - Monday-Friday Adults - $13.95 Children - $8.50
Saturday / Sunday Buffet - Adults $16.95 Children - $8.50
Buffet Breakfast offered on Saturday featuring Goofy and Pluto.
Delight in a breathtaking, five-story, indoor
garden gazebo setting. The ambience is bright and casual and the food a
match for the light, breezy atmosphere. Enjoy breakfast à la carte or a
scrumptious buffet. Delight in delicious salads and sandwiches.
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Gulliver's Grill
Located in the Swan Hotel
Cuisine: American
Meals served: Dinner
Prices: $12 - $30
Take a mythological journey to a land of
steak and seafood perfection in this indoor garden gazebo restaurant. The
inspiration for the restaurant may be the fictional novel "Gulliver's
Travels," but the quality of the dining experience is indisputable fact.
Prime rib, grilled seafood, lobster and meatloaf are delectable.
Character Dinner: Monday and
Friday - Timon and Rafiki; All other nights Goofy and Pluto.
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