Tips For Making The Most Of Disney Character Dining Experiences

Dining at Disney is an experience in itself, and many guests consider meals at Disney to be a very important part of their vacation! Character dining is an experience that is quintessentially Disney. Disney World has several character dining experiences with buffets and sit-down meals, featuring characters that guests love. These meals are a great way to get some personalized character time without waiting in line, and children typically feel more comfortable and relaxed during the dining setting than they do with traditional meet and greets. If you have character meals on your itinerary for your upcoming vacation, then continue reading for some of our tips and tricks on how to make the most of the experience.

Book Early in the Day

Did you know that there are a few character breakfast experiences that allow you to enter the parks before they open? You aren’t able to ride any rides or experience any attractions on your way to the reservation, but by booking first thing in the morning you can have a great character experience before the park opens and be finished just in time to experience the park. This is a great way to maximize the use of your time and have the character meal you want without sacrificing precious time in the parks. Some character experiences that allow for early reservations are Crystal Palace and Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom.

Take Note of Which Characters Appear

Meeting the characters is perhaps the most important thing about character dining. Each character meal has different friends that will come visit you and your family. It’s important to take note of which characters are guaranteed to appear during your meal. Choose which character experience is important for you to have and then go from there in order to determine your reservation. Unique characters like Winnie the Pooh and friends will appear at Crystal Palace, Mirabel only meets at 1900 Park Fare, and the “Fab Five” will always be at Chef Mickey’s.

Buffet or Traditional Dining?

Another important thing to take into consideration is whether or not you wish to experience a buffet or traditional dining. Buffets are great because guests are invited to eat as much or as little as they wish, but some guests prefer traditional dining, so they don’t have to get up from their seat during their meal. Our favorite traditional dining character experiences include Topolino’s Terrace for breakfast, and Garden Grill at EPCOT.

Book Late in the Evening

Just as there is benefit in booking reservations early in the morning, there is benefit in booking in the evening as well. During this time, many families are ready for a break, and a sit-down meal offers this. Many guests enjoy being the last meal of the night so they can explore an emptying park as they finish their meal.

Do you enjoy character dining during your vacations? How do you make the most of the experience? We want to hear from you in the comments below!

Featured Photo: Emily Murray.