If you’re planning a Disney World vacation and want to enjoy character dining without entering the parks, there are great options at the resorts. These experiences let you meet beloved Disney characters, enjoy themed meals, and create unforgettable memories with your crew—all without a park ticket. In this article, we’ll highlight the best character dining spots outside the parks, offering delicious food and a magical atmosphere. Whether you’re a Disney enthusiast or just looking for a unique meal, these venues provide the perfect dose of Disney magic.
1900 Park Fare
You’ll find Disney’s charming 1900 Park Fare restaurant at the Grand Floridian resort. This buffet style restaurant features characters associated with the magic of wishing. The buffet features a variety of classic and unique offerings with one of its most well-known dishes being the chilled strawberry soup. Don’t worry there are plenty of kid friendly options offered on the buffet as well. Most often the characters you’ll find at 1900 Park Fare are Aladin, Mirabel, Tiana and Cinderella. At 1900 Park Fare you’ll be able to meet characters for breakfast or dinner.
STory Book dining at Artist Point with Snow White
This meal is probably my favorite out of all the character meals we’ve done. Here you will have the opportunity to meet Snow White, Grumpy, Dopey and the Wicked Queen. This is the only character meal where you’ll have an opportunity to meet a villain. The food here is delicious and has a wide variety of offerings. This is a prix-fixe meal with a cost of $65 per adult and $39 for children 3-9. The theming has a magical forest feel and fits in nicely with the cozy vibe of the Wilderness Lodge. Storybook dining is only offered for dinner and opens at 4 p.m.
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Cape May Breakfast
You’ll find Disney’s Cape May Breakfast at the Beach Club Resort. True to the theming of this resort you’ll find the characters here dressed in their most adorable beach gear. Breakfast at Cape May will give you the opportunity to meet Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Minnie. This is another buffet style character meal. Here you’ll find traditional breakfast offerings including cheddar biscuits and an omelet and carving station. Breakfast at Cape May currently costs $47 for adults and $30 for children.
O’Hana Breakfast
Breakfast at O’Hana is one of Disney’s most popular character meals. This experience is the only place on property that you’ll be able to meet Lilo and Stitch. Along with Lilo and Stitch you can usually also meet Mickey and Pluto. O’hana breakfast is an All-You-Care-to-Enjoy style meal featuring Pineapple-Coconut Breakfast Bread and the ‘Ohana Breakfast Skillet. Breakfast at ‘Ohana will set you back $49 for adults and $30 for kids (ages 3-9).
Topolino’s Breakfast
Topolino’s is an adorable experience where you’ll find Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy dressed in costumes featuring their creative side. Donald is a sculptor, Daisy a dancer, Minnie a poet and Mickey as a painter. This dining is another prix fixe meal where there is a set cost but you make selections from the menu. The entrees here are elevated from some of the other character meals. The sour cream waffle and steak and eggs are some of the top choices here. Breakfast at Topolino’s is $49 for adults and $30 for kids.
Four Seasons
A lesser-known character dining experience is Breakfast with Goofy and his pals at the Four Seasons Hotel. This dining experience is one that needs to be booked through the resort instead of through Disney. This meal is only offered on Saturdays and some Tuesdays. While it seems, they keep the title of this meal as Goofy and pals to maintain some flexibility in what characters you’ll see, it is typically Goofy, Mickey and Minnie.
Chef Mickey’s
Chef Mickey’s has a long history of being Disney’s most popular character dining experience and reservations here are typically hard to find. As with all character dining you’ll want to make sure to book this as soon as your dining reservation window opens. Chef Mickey’s ranks high in popularity because of the classic character lineup it offers. Here you’ll meet Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and Minnie. This is a buffet style breakfast with very traditional breakfast offerings and is a great choice for picky eaters. Due to it’s popularity, Chef Mickey’s is the most expensive character dining on this list coming in at $54 per adult and $34 per child.
Disney character dining experiences outside the parks offer a magical way to meet your favorite characters without needing a park ticket. Whether you’re staying at a resort or just passing through, these meals provide a fun and memorable way for the whole crew to enjoy some Disney magic. So, next time you’re planning your trip, consider adding one of these special dining experiences to your itinerary—it’s a great way to bring a little extra joy to your day.
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