Couponing to Disney

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World

There are currently six resorts that offer character meals, all of them Deluxes. You do not have to be a guest of the Disney resort to enjoy a meal there. In fact, you don’t even have to be on a Disney vacation. If you are in Orlando and feel like having a waffle with Stitch, you can bebop over to Ohana’s at the Polynesian Resort for breakfast with everyone’s favorite Elvis loving alien.

In terms of character experiences, the Grand Floridian really takes the cake. While most resorts have one option for character meals, the Grand Floridian’s 1900 Park Fare offers two separate character dining experiences (Supercalifragilistic Breakfast and Happily Ever After Dinner) with different characters at each. And that’s not all. The Grand Floridian also hosts two of the most unique character interactions on property, with the Wonderland Tea Party and the Perfectly Princess Tea. Because of the Grand Floridian’s accessibility to the Magic Kingdom via the monorail, all of these options are easy to get to.

Enjoying a character meal gives guests the opportunity to spend more quality time with their favorite Disney characters while also enjoying a delicious meal. Instead of standing in line or using one of your precious FastPasses, you can relax in comfort with the characters coming to your table during their visitation rotation.

A few quick tips:

1. These meals are in demand so it is highly recommend that you take advantage of the 180 reservation day window and make your reservations as soon as possible.
2. If you are driving to the resort, you will tell the Cast Member at the gate you have a dining reservation. You have a 3 hour window where you can park for free if you are dining at the resort.
3. Characters are subject to change. While it’s pretty certain you will get the character whose name is in the meal description (Ie Chef Mickey’s) the rotating secondary characters may alternate.
4. Some resort restaurants only have character meals at one time of day (breakfast or dinner). Be sure you are checking that characters are available during your reservation times.
5. The prices of meals will vary by time of the year (peak vs regular vs value season) and by day of the week (weekends tend to be a little pricier than weekdays) and also just cuz Disney’s gonna do Disney.
   The prices listed are an estimate based on recent menus. These prices do not included gratuity, though an automatic gratuity of 18% will be added for a table of 6 or more.

Supercalifragilistic Breakfast

• 1900 Park Fare
• The Grand Floridian
• 8am-11:50am
• Disney Dining Plan: 1 Table Service Credit per Person
• Adult, $29-$37, Child $17-$22

Strawberry Soup! The Best of all the soups! (Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World)

Some of your favorite literary Disney characters “popp” in to say hello while you enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet, full of delicacies such as Strawberry Soup, Eggs Benedict, and a Made to Order Omelet Station.

A diamond in the rough, this breakfast. Even thought it is located on the monorail loop, super close to the Magic Kingdom, it isn’t as popular as it should be. Alice, the Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Tigger, and Pooh are on the roster and a more lovely, lively group of characters you could not ask for. The Mad Hatter is hilarious, Tigger is too much fun, Alice is charming, Pooh is cuddly, and Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way. The most varied character meal you’ll find at any of the resorts. And the food! Oh, the food. The Strawberry Soup is famous, but when we ate here and I was pregnant with the Teacup, I probably ate both of our weights in the breakfast bread pudding. An excellent use of a table service credit, and a great option for families looking for something outside the Mickey/Princess bubble.

Wonderland Tea Party

• 1900 Park Fare
• The Grand Floridian
• Monday-Friday, 2pm-3pm
• Disney Dining Plan: No
• Child $49 plus tax

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World

Join your favorite Wonderland friends for an unbirthday party for the ages: drink “tea” (apple juice), decorate cupcakes, and make a take home craft, all in the company of the best Tea Party guests around.

This is one of the most unique character experiences on property. Children ages 4-12 have the opportunity to spend an hour engaging with Alice and the Mad Hatter, supervised by cast members. While parents aren’t allowed, they are encouraged to stay on the grounds, so this is the perfect time for Mom and Dad to relax in the beauty and splendor that is the Grand Floridian lobby. Reservations for this party cannot be made online. Call (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463 if your child just has to ask the Mad Hatter why a raven is like a writing desk.

Perfectly Princess Tea

• 1900 Park Fare
• The Grand Floridian
• Most Days, 9am
• Disney Dining Plan: No
• Child (3-9) with one Adult (10 and up) $334.64

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World

Hosted by Rose Petal, a magical rose from Aurora’s garden, young princes and princess will enjoy caked, sandwiches, “tea” (apple juice) and entertainment, while their accompanying adult enjoys tea and sandwiches.

Another unique possibility at the Grand Floridian. There’s music, story telling, a princess parade by the participants, tea, cakes, and an appearance by Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty. While the price is steep, it does include admission for one adult to accompany their princess and comes with treasury worth of gifts. Your little princess will take home an 18 inch Aurora dressed in pink gown (about the size of an American Girl Doll), a princess tiara, a silver princess bracelet, a princess necklace, a fresh rose, a best friend certificate for their new doll, a sticker page, and a princess cinch bag to keep it all stored. These kind of hard ticketed “extra” events may seem pricey, but in addition to a meal and a variety of gifts, what you’re really paying for is one on one time with a character.

Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner

• 1900 Park Fare
• The Grand Floridian
• 4pm-9pm
• Disney Dining Plan: 1 Table Service Credit per Person
• Adult, $40-$56, Child $26-$31

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World

Attend an enchanting buffet dinner as the guest of Cinderella and Prince Charming! And what would a ball be without the Lady Tremaine and her daughters, Anastasia and Drizella?

A delightful alternative to Cinderella’s Royal Table and Akershus. Cinderella is wonderful and her Prince very charming, but the real draw here is the family Tremaine, otherwise known as the Wicked Stepmother and Stepsisters. These three aren’t your typical character interactions, and the Stepsisters in particular are hilarious. This unusual character meal is a great option for older kids, since the Tremaines are less about the hugs and more about the jokes. The food here continues with the high standard of the other 1900 Park Fare meals. Enjoy adult friendly food like Shrimp Scampi or Mongolian Beef, and kid tailored options such as Turkey Meatballs and Pizza.

Have you ever been to a meal at the Grand Floridian? What was your favorite part? What character meal would you like to see that doesn’t exist yet? What resort would it be located inside? Give me all your best Imagineering thoughts in the comments!

Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!