Character dining has long been one of the defining aspects of a Walt Disney World vacation, from the iconic meal with Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary’s Grand Canyon Concourse to the art-themed meal at Topolino’s on top of the Riviera Resort. If you’re planning on a character meal for your next trip, there are some hacks to keep in mind.

Goofy!

Whether you’re looking to have a meal with a specific character, OR angling to get the most “bang for your buck” out of a character meal, these are the best habits to adopt for Disney character meals.

Remember that Characters Can Vary, Depending On The Restaurant

Not every single character dining experience features Mickey Mouse. Or Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald, or Pluto, for that matter. In fact, the only Character Dining Experience that features EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of the Fab Five is Chef Mickey’s inside the Contemporary Resort. (Sometimes even Daisy shows up to join in on the fun, too — making it the sensational six!) So if there’s a certain character that you want to see during your meal, be sure to study up on who’s gonna be showing up where ahead of time.

Chef Mickey!

Along the same lines, not every character dining experience revolves solely around Mickey and the gang. For example, the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom features Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet.

Hi, Pooh Bear!

When you book a princess-specific character dining experience — like Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom or Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT — no princess is 100% guaranteed to show up (besides Cinderella at her castle, of course).

Meet Cinderella while dining on fairytale-inspired fare.

Keep in Mind that Some Character Meals ONLY Take Place During Breakfast

Some restaurants that offer character breakfast — including Cape May Cafe at Beach Club Resort, ‘Ohana at Polynesian Village Resort, and Topolino’s Terrace at Riviera Resort — don’t offer character-based lunch or dinner experiences.

Lilo is so much fun!

Remember that Some Meals Are More About The Experience Rather Than The Food

Character dining is a WHOLE lot of fun, but the truth is that the food doesn’t always match the overall atmosphere, especially at buffets like Chef Mickey’s and Hollywood and Vine at Hollywood Studios.

While these buffets have improved over the years, if you’re looking for a very UNIQUE spread of offerings, these aren’t necessarily the places to go to, unless you want that fun character interaction and you’re not super picky about the endless foods that you’re gonna be able to pick up off the buffet line.

Chef Mickey’s Buffet

It’s also important to note that both Chef Mickey’s AND Hollywood and Vine can get a little loud and rowdy, since you’re gonna be in a restaurant with a WHOLE lot of excited kiddos and, over at Chef Mickey’s specifically, kids might also be asked to partake in napkin twirling competitions or conga lines around the restaurants or some other high-energy entertainment that’ll have your kids buzzing.

Minnie’s Summertime Dine at Hollywood & Vine

If you’re looking to have an iconic Disney World character breakfast or dinner experience on your next trip, make sure to put these hacks to use. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips.

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What’s your favorite Disney World character meal? Let us know in the comments below!