Ahh, the Disney character meal. A rite of passage for many a Disney fan, but it can be a bit of a challenge for newbies planning their first Disney vacation. Here are my quick tips on the pros and cons of Disney Character Dining.

What is Disney Character Dining?

When planning first trips with families, I often hear parents asking little Johnny if he wants to eat with Mickey. The answer is usually a resounding YES!, to which I take a moment to explain exactly what’s included in a character meal.

At Walt Disney World, you’ll be seated at your table. Characters, typically 4-5 per meal, will make their way around the restaurant in a pre-determined path stopping at each table for a couple minutes at a time before moving on to the next. All characters should visit your table within an hour. All character are centered around a theme, as well (princesses, fab five, etc.).

At Disneyland, we found the characters can be a little less regimented, which proved to be a plus and minus for us. While we really enjoyed the extra time at Goofy’s Kitchen (Pluto sat and colored for a good five minutes or more and even drew a self-portrait for the kids), it was a bit of a mess at the Plaza Inn. There didn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason, and we had to flag down characters/handlers more than once, as our corner of tables got skipped. We did really enjoy the variety of characters offered at Disneyland locations, though. Not always centered around a theme and a bit of a surprise each time.

Pros and Cons of Character Dining

Character dining has many pros, in my opinion. If you have character lovers, this is a great way to meet the Disney VIPs. No standing in line, you’re in a climate-controlled environment, people are serving you food and beverages and the characters are coming to you. Not a bad set-up. Additionally, you’re going to spend time eating, you’re going to meet characters, may as well kill two birds with one stone and combine the two.

The cons? Well, as with most of Disney, the main con is the cost. Character meals start around $35 per adult and $18 per 3-9 year old. That can definitely add up if you’re planning to dine with the characters multiple times and/or you have a large group. The availability of reservations at character dining restaurants can also be hindering. On that note…

How to Dine with the Characters

At Walt Disney World, character dining reservations (and all other dining reservations) open 180 days prior to your arrival at your Disney resort. You’re then able to book reservations for the length of your stay. If you’re not a Disney resort guest, you’ll want to book each reservation 180 days prior to your desired dining day. These restaurants fill up fast, so be sure to book as soon as you have an inkling you’ll want to munch with Mickey and his pals. If you change your mind, you can always cancel.

• Get Park Wise: All dining reservations require a credit card guarantee, as a $10 per person cancellation fee is assessed for no-shows or cancellations within one day. For guests looking to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Cinderella Castle, full payment is required upon booking unless you have a reservation with a Disney Dining Plan.

At Disneyland, guests can book dining up to 60 days in advance. Although Disneyland dining doesn’t have the same demand as Walt Disney World dining, it’s still a good idea to book any character meal you have your heart set on in advance.

Are you a Disney character dining fan? What’s your favorite character meal? Why?

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