Trying to save money by not purchasing a park ticket for everyday of your stay or maybe you don’t plan to purchase a ticket at all? You can dine with the characters without using a park ticket at the following restaurants:
Chef Mickey’s located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Meals Served: Breakfast, Brunch and Dinner
How to get there: Take a resort bus to the Magic Kingdom and board the Monorail for the Contemporary. If driving, let the guard at the gate know that you have a dining reservation and you will be able to park for 3 hours.
The Scoop: Chef Mickey’s is the meal to attend if you want to meet The Fab Five! Choose between the breakfast, lunch or dinner buffet and you’ll also get to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto in their chef attire. The best seating of the day is 1.5 hours before the time Happily Ever After is scheduled. There is a great viewing platform on the opposite side of the Contemporary from the restaurant. You can stand here and watch the fireworks and then hop on the monorail to return to the Magic Kingdom to catch your resort bus.
Book: This is one of the most popular character meals because it is close to the Magic Kingdom and it’s the only meal where you can meet the Fab Five. Book starting 180 days before your visit.
1900 Park Fare Happily Ever After Dinner
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Meals Served: Dinner
How to get there: Take a resort bus to the Magic Kingdom and board the Monorail for the Grand Floridian Resort or take the boat transportation. If driving, let the guard at the gate know that you have a dining reservation and you will be able to park for 3 hours.
The Scoop: Join Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Drizella and Anastasia for a delicious dinner buffet including Prime Rib. Cinderella and the Prince will dance for you and even invite the kids out to the floor. It is here that my daughter, dressed in her Cinderella blue dress, danced with the Prince on her birthday. Get the video camera ready for Anastasia and Drizella’s visit to your table. You never know what those 2 will say! The best seating of the day is 4:30. Arrive early and you might get to open the restaurant!
Book: Plan to book this one 180 days before your visit or as soon as you can. There are usually some seatings left about 2 months before you travel.
1900 Park Fare Supercalifragilistic Breakfast
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Meals Served: Breakfast
How to get there: Take a resort bus to the Magic Kingdom and board the Monorail for the Grand Floridian Resort or take the boat transportation. If driving, let the guard at the gate know that you have a dining reservation and you will be able to park for 3 hours.
The Scoop: Enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet (including all you can eat Mickey waffles) and visits from Alice, The Mad Hatter, Winnie the Pooh and Mary Poppins. Located on the Monorail loop, this character meal is a great choice before you begin your day at the Magic Kingdom.
Book: Anytime. There are still seating times available a week before your travel date.
‘Ohanas
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Meals Offered: Breakfast
How to get there: Take a resort bus to the Magic Kingdom and board the Monorail for the Polynesian Village Resort or take the boat transportation. If driving, let the guard at the gate know that you have a dining reservation and you will be able to park for 3 hours.
The Scoop: Enjoy a family style breakfast complete with Mickey Waffles as Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch make appearances at your table. The kids can enjoy a parade around the restaurant led by their favorite characters. Enjoy a breakfast here before hopping on the Monorail for a day at the Magic Kingdom. Choose from any seating time that fits your day’s itinerary.
When to book: Anytime leading up to 2 weeks before you travel.
Cape May Cafe
Disney’s Beach Club
Meals Offered: Breakfast
How to get there: Take the bus to Hollywood Studios and then take boat transportation to the Beach Club or you can walk (it’s about 20 minutes). If driving, let the guard at the gate know that you have a dining reservation and you will be able to park for 3 hours.
The Scoop: Book a breakfast reservation with Minnie, Goofy and Donald dressed in their beach attire. Visit the buffet for delicious American favorites. Book one of the last reservations of the morning and you might get extra character time will still enjoying food fresh from the kitchen.
When to book: Anytime leading up to when you travel.
Bon Voyage Breakfast
Trattoria al Forno on the Boardwalk
Meals Offered: Breakfast
How to get there: Take the bus to Hollywood Studios and then take boat transportation to the Beach Club or you can walk (it’s about 20 minutes). If driving, let the guard at the gate know that you have a dining reservation and you will be able to park for 3 hours.
The Scoop: Book a breakfast reservation with Rapunzel, Flynn, Ariel and Eric. The food is themed around the Rapunzel story.
When to book: ASAP
Storybook Dining at Artist Point
Wilderness Lodge
Meals Offered: Dinner
How to get there: Take the bus or Monorail to the Magic Kingdom and then transfer to the boat to Wilderness Lodge.
The Scoop: Book a dinner reservation with Snow White, Evil Queen and a few of the Dwarfs
When to book: ASAP
Learn more about Walt Disney World Dining and get suggestions for where to eat, how to use the Disney Dining Plan and more.