There is another magical memory that we never miss with any trip to see the mouse – Character Meals! (And princesses too!) These are always a favorite with my family. It is an exciting opportunity for a great photo with your child’s favorite character or princess. It definitely beats standing in the long lines in the hot sun at the parks. Although, that is also another great chance for a memorable meet and greet. At every meal, the characters individually rotate around the entire restaurant, stopping at each table for a visit with your family. If your child is a little timid and this is their first time meeting character, don’t worry. The characters are very aware of this. They approach the table cheerfully but not in an over bearing manner. Their intent is for this to be a happy experience for the children. As each character comes individually to your table, you can get some great photos as your children and the characters exchange hugs, high fives and a lot of other fun banter. They will also take the time to sign autograph books or whatever else you bring for a signature (we have had them sign t-shirts in the past and I have known others to have them sign baseballs). The characters always spend plenty of time acknowledging each child and adult. No one ever gets left out.
These meals are typically more of a buffet style. The food is usually located in the center of the restaurant. This way you have the flexibility of getting up to get your food when it is convenient. Each restaurant is very open so that you can easily see when it is your turn and which character is on their way to see your family. There is always a wide variety of meats, pastas, salads, breads, fruits, and tasty desserts offered. There is also a children’s section that typically offers macaroni and cheese, green beans, nuggets and more. However, I usually grab whatever my son will eat even if it is from the adult selections. You should plan on this meal taking approximately 1-1.5 hours to complete. You want to allow ample time for your children to get a chance to visit with each character. And if you eat slow enough and relax, you may get a chance to see them on a 2nd rotation! These meals give the parents a great opportunity to slow down and refuel before heading back out to the parks. Especially in the summer when the heat is beating down, most families welcome the leisure lunch or dinner in the air conditioning.
There is an overwhelming popularity with the character and princess meals. I strongly recommend getting dining reservations in advance. This is another way a planner can be helpful for you. Dining reservations can be booked 180 days prior to your arrival. When you are working with a planner, they will work hard to get these in place for you in a timely manner. A planner is also great in helping you to design the best itinerary for your family in regards to which park, which day in correlation to which dining experience you want. Also most of the character and princess meals are included on the dining plan! Other fun aspects to the character meals are CELEBRATIONS! Make sure that when the reservations are being placed for these experiences, it is mentioned whether or not you are celebrating something with your family. We have celebrated many birthdays with the characters. All birthday celebrations are recognized throughout the meal with song and sometimes a dance. Your table is typically decorated with Mickey head glitter and streamers. And the recipient gets a cupcake and a card that is signed by all of the characters. You can also contact the Disney Cakes number and pre-order a specialty cake if you desire – it will be delivered to your table.
Here is a list of the character/princess dining experiences throughout the parks and resorts: Magic Kingdom Crystal Palace – breakfast, lunch and dinner Cinderella’s Royal Table – breakfast, lunch, and dinner Epcot Garden Grill – dinner only for characters Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – breakfast,lunch, and dinner Hollywood Studios Hollywood and Vine – breakfast and lunch only Animal Kingdom Tusker House – breakfast and lunch only Contemporary Resort Chef Mickey’s – breakfast and dinner only Grand Floridian Resort 1900 Park Fare – breakfast and dinner only Polynesian Resort O’hana’s – breakfast only for characters Yacht and Beach Club Resorts Cape May Cafe – breakfast only for characters For more information on character/princess dining or making other magical memories at Walt Disney World, Disneyland or the Disney Cruise, please contact me! I can be reached anytime at 1-800-670-4312 ext 125 or robyn@travelwiththemagic.com As always, ALL of my services are completely free!
