Character meals are some of my favorite ways to spend time at Disney World. Our daughter is almost four years old, so she still gets that sparkle in her eye whenever we meet different characters in the park. Read below to discover The Best Character Meals in Walt Disney World.
(Also, we have plans to try a few more meals in the near future, so I will be sure to keep updating the list!)
1. 1900 Park Fare
By far the favorite in our list of The Best Character Meals in Walt Disney World is 1900 Park Fare. The food was delicious and character interactions were lovely. The restaurant is themed after wishes, so partway through your meal there will be a wishing ceremony. It sounds cheesy, but to be honest, it was so sweet I cried. A dream is a wish your heart makes… can’t beat that. 1900 Park Fare is worth every single penny.
2. The Crystal Palace
Our second favorite character dining option is probably Crystal Palace. My mother read Winnie the Pooh stories to me at bedtime when I was a little girl, so these characters have a special place in my heart. My daughter is also a big fan. The seating can be a little tight depending on where you are, but the food is very good. We also love how close it is to Main Street USA.
3. Story Book Dining at Artist Point
An under-rated character meal is Story Book Dining at Artist Point. This restaurant is inside Wilderness Lodge, and is on the more fancy-side of character meals. Characters include Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy and the Evil Queen. What I love about this restaurant (apart from the excellent food) is the theming. You feel as though you are sitting in an enchanted forest.
Pro tip for Artist Point: If you are eating with a child under 3, they can eat from your plate or sides. No use paying for an expensive meal for toddler who might not eat much.
4. Topolino’s Terrace
Our fourth favorite character meal (so far) is Topolino’s Terrace. This restaurant is located inside the Riviera Resort and has a breathtaking view. If you eat breakfast at Topolino’s, you can meet Mickey and friends in their artist garb. Mickey is a painter, Minnie a poet, Donald a sculpture and Daisy a dancer.
The meal is a basic breakfast, but luckily we love breakfast food. What made this meal special were the long character interactions. Daisy stayed the longest, because my daughter had a little doll that looked just like her. It was precious.
And one character meal we likely won’t revisit….
5. Hollywood & Vine
The one character dining meal we will likely not experience again was Hollywood and Vine. This restaurant is located in Hollywood Studios and hosts the Disney Channel characters like Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins and Vampirina. My daughter is obsessed with Fancy Nancy, and I mean obsessed. She loves the books and the show, so I thought this meal would be perfect.
Three things went wrong. The service was only okay, especially compared to the other restaurants on this list. Then the food was pretty basic, so the price felt a little inflated. Honestly, I could get past those first two things if the character interactions went well, but… they did not.
I found the interactions to be very short even though there was barely anyone else in the restaurant at the same time. During the dance party my daughter was hoping to dance with Fancy Nancy, but was ignored in a very obvious way. It was incredibly disappointing overall.
Thank you for reading about The Best Character Meals in Walt Disney World. I hope they will help you on your next family vacation. For more helpful tips, be sure to read the additional content below:
How to Celebrate Star Wars Day at Hollywood Studios
Where to Find Quality Disney World Clothes for Kids
Helpful Tips for Bringing a Stroller to a Theme Park
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Safe Travels,