Looking for the best character meals to eat breakfast in Walt Disney World? Look no further! It’s the perfect opportunity to start your day out right with some great food and hug your favorite characters all wrapped into one!
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (or at least my favorite), and that’s why we’ve created this ranking of the Best Character Breakfast Restaurants in Disney World.
In this post we are going to share with you all the best places to see characters at breakfast, and what to order when you go there. We will also break down all the prices, times, full list of characters, transportation, and booking tips.
Through the decades and again in recent months, we’ve visited all the character breakfasts again and again, so you don’t waste your time going to the wrong place.
At Walt Disney World, character meals in general get a bad rap, and in some cases, this is rightfully so. There are some places that are just not worth the time or money to go there. However, there are also some gems we absolutely recommend, for first-timers and Disney vets alike.
Some of these restaurants, though, must be planned months in advance, so it’s important to do your homework now so you are well prepared before your visit.
The fun part about character breakfasts is that our list continues to evolve over time. In recent years, we’ve added some new ones to the list that rank really high, more than most of the long-timers. This is the current rankings in 2024, but as more open and existing ones change, we will continue to update the list.
If you are going to be in Disney World for more than just one morning, you are going to need a more comprehensive list of all the best places to eat for every meal during your stay. Make sure to check out our rankings of the Best Restaurants at Disney World for the ultimate restaurant rankings guide.
Also, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we bring you the latest updates to all the parks as well as vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!
Table of Contents
How Does a Character Breakfast Work?
For those unfamiliar with character meals, here is a quick rundown on exactly how they work. A character breakfast is a restaurant either inside a Disney World Park or inside a Disney World Resort that allows you to enjoy meals with the characters!
You don’t technically eat with the characters, instead how it works is the select Disney characters that are inside that restaurant slowly make their way over to your table to greet you. They can do things such as take pictures with your group, sign autographs, and spend a few minutes at your table.
Each Disney World character breakfast is a slight bit different and includes additional different meal options, featured characters, and interaction capabilities, but they are all the same idea.
Most of the character breakfasts are buffet style, although there are some that have more of a traditional a la carte style ordering.
List of Character Breakfasts at Disney World
Here is the full list of Disney World character breakfasts within the Walt Disney World property. Some of these have not come back with characters at this time.
- Animal Kingdom
- Tusker House – Found in Africa
- Tusker House – Found in Africa
- EPCOT
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Found in the Norway Pavilion
- Garden Grill – Found in the Land Pavilion
- Hollywood Studios
- Hollywood & Vine – Found in the Echo Lake land
- Hollywood & Vine – Found in the Echo Lake land
- Magic Kingdom
- Cinderella’s Royal Table – Found in Cinderella’s Castle in Fantasyland
- Crystal Palace – Found on Main Street, U.S.A.
- Outside of the Parks
- Cape May Cafe – Beach Club Resort
- Chef Mickey’s – Contemporary Resort
- Garden Grove – Swan Hotel*
- ‘Ohana – Polynesian Resort
- Ravello – Four Seasons Resort
- Topolino’s Terrace – Riviera Resort
- Trattoria al Forno – Boardwalk Resort*
- 1900 Park Fare – Grand Floridian Resort (Not currently open at all)
*These two locations are open for breakfast, but the characters have NOT returned yet.
Full List of Characters You Can Have Breakfast with at Disney World
There are both classic Disney characters in addition to the many different Disney Princesses that are at these different character meals. So who can you expect to meet?
Here is a list of the characters you will find at Walt Disney World character breakfasts:
Classic Characters
- Chip and Dale – Garden Grill
- Daisy Duck – Topolino’s Terrace, Cape May Cafe, Tusker House
- Donald Duck – Chef Mickey’s, Topolino’s Terrace, Cape May Cafe, Tusker House
- Eeyore – Crystal Palace
- Goofy – Chef Mickey’s, Cape May Cafe, Tusker House
- Lilo and Stitch – ‘Ohana
- Mickey Mouse – Chef Mickey’s, Garden Grill, Topolino’s Terrace, Tusker House, ‘Ohana
- Minnie Mouse – Chef Mickey’s, Topolino’s Terrace
- Piglet – Crystal Palace
- Pluto – Chef Mickey’s, Garden Grill, ‘Ohana
- Tigger – Crystal Palace
- Winnie the Pooh – Crystal Palace
Princesses
- Ariel – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Aurora – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Belle – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Cinderella – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Jasmine – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Mary Poppins – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
- Snow White – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Tiana – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Additional Characters
- Disney Junior Characters Doc McStuffins, Fancy Nancy, Roadster Racer Goofy, Vampirina – Hollywood and Vine
Currently Unavailable Characters
- Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter – 1900 Park Fare
- Flynn Rider, Prince Eric, Rapunzel – Trattoria al Forno
Disney World Character Breakfast Cost
Character meals at all times of day are EXPENSIVE, and you are paying for the character interaction, which adds additional cost to the meal. The good news is that character breakfasts are the cheapest of the character meals and are cheaper than lunches and dinners. So what can you expect to pay?
A character breakfast will run you between $47 and $69 per adult and for children between the ages of 3 and 9, the costs will be between $30 and $42 per child. These costs do NOT include tips and additional taxes, so factor those into your budget.
The most expensive meals are the ones with the princesses, such as at Cinderella’s Royal Table. The cheaper ones will be the ones with the other Disney Characters such as Hollywood and Vine, and Tusker House.
The majority of the character meals are buffets and include unlimited food and nonalcoholic beverages in a buffet-style. The ones that are NOT buffets include the option of prefixed meal options that the guest can choose from.
Our Ranking Factors
While it might seem like a pretty self-explanatory thing to rank the ‘best character breakfasts at Disney World,’ it’s actually not so simple.
In addition to the completely different offerings at each of these restaurants, the personal preferences on characters, the quality of the food, and just the overall experience, it was quite tough to put our list together!
We decided to try to make it as simple as possible and focus on these simple criteria, or “ranking factors”:
- Food Quality
- Price to Quality Ratio
- Portion Sizes
- Restaurant Theming and Ambiance
- Extra Disney Magic
- Character Interactions
Simple enough, huh? Of course, it’s all subjective and your list will likely look different than ours. Keeping these things in mind, here we go with our favorite character breakfasts at Disney World!
Best Character Breakfasts at Disney World Ranked
We will rank our restaurants going backward and will progressively get to our favorite character breakfast. Let’s start off with # 11…
11. Hollywood and Vine
- Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park
- Characters: Doc McStuffins, Fancy Nancy, Vampirina
- Cost: $47 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Traditional American Breakfast
- Buffet: Yes
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
Coming in at 11th on our list for Best Character Breakfasts in Disney World is Hollywood and Vine. In fact, Hollywood and Vine is the ONLY character breakfast in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park and this makes it easier to get to and more accessible for more guests.
We aren’t the biggest fans of the characters here, as they are Disney Junior characters. We can understand some young ones will like this, but we prefer the characters at Hollywood and Vine for lunch and dinner, which feature Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy.
There are some unique food offerings here, including tasty french toast, and chicken and waffles, which we enjoy! We also love the omelet bar, allowing you to make any kind of fresh eggs and different omelet selections! Not every Disney character breakfast features this and it’s a must-do!
PROS:
- The only character breakfast in Hollywood Studios
- Reasonably priced and is one of the cheapest options available
- Fun and vibrant atmosphere
- Noticeably good service when we’ve been here with fresh food
CONS:
- Underwhelming characters unless your kids love Disney Junior characters
- VERY loud in here at almost all times
- Can be very challenging to get a reservation
What to Get:
We love both the salmon and bagel casserole and the bananas foster french toast. We know many people love the tasty potato casserole as well!
10. ‘Ohana
- Location: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Characters: Lilo, Mickey, Pluto, Stitch
- Cost: $49 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Traditional American Breakfast
- Buffet: No, family-style
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
Coming in at 10th on our list is the Best Friends Breakfast at ‘Ohana. While ‘Ohana is certainly more popular for dinner, its breakfast certainly shouldn’t be overlooked. Rather than a buffet breakfast, the ‘Ohana breakfast is similar to their dinner with large all-you-can-eat skillets brought to your table.
There is a Hawaiian-style flair to their offerings, including Island-style potatoes, Hawaiian ham, pineapple compote, and even fresh pineapple-coconut breakfast bread! It’s certainly an original and unique offering, unlike many of the other character meals which have almost identical food items.
We also love that it’s the ONLY place you can meet Lilo and Stitch! And while it can be challenging to get over to the Polynesian Village Resort, its convenient location to Magic Kingdom is certainly helpful for guests and it could be a potential stop before going to the park.
PROS:
- On the lower end of the pricing spectrum
- Easy access to Magic Kingdom
- We love the characters here
- The theming and cute Hawaiian attire is fun and unique
- Family-style food which means it’s fresher
CONS:
- Food is just ‘OK’ and nothing to get excited about
- Felt VERY rushed last time we came here
- If you’re not going to Magic Kingdom, it’s difficult to get here
- Very difficult to get reservations for
What to Get:
Anytime we’re over at the Polynesian, we LOVE to get the famous POG juice, which is found here at ‘Ohana. This tasty passion-orange-guava juice is delicious and the perfect complement to your breakfast and you’ll want to fill up! You’ll also love the pineapple-coconut breakfast bread, it’s SOOOO tasty.
9. Ravello
- Location: Four Seasons Resort Orlando
- Characters: Goofy, Mickey, Minnie
- Cost: $52 per adult, $32 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Traditional American Breakfast
- Buffet: No it’s a prix-fixe menu
- Disney Dining Plan: No
Coming in at 9th on our list is the Good Morning Breakfast at Ravello, which is located at the Four Seasons Orlando Resort. This resort is technically “not Disney” although it’s located very close to the Magic Kingdom.
This restaurant is open every day for breakfast, but the character breakfasts are only currently on Thursdays and Saturdays. They also have some occasional Tuesdays as well, just make sure you check the schedule prior to visiting.
While the Ravello character breakfast isn’t ideal if you don’t have a car, if you are renting a car, or if you’re staying in one of the Magic Kingdom-area resorts, it could be a great idea! The food here is fantastic and arguably up there with the best options at any breakfast in Disney World.
However, the price point is expensive, and considering you can’t use the Disney Dining Plan here, its appeal is limited to most guests staying at a Disney World Resort.
PROS:
- Easy to get reservations with very few guests having accessibility to get here
- Stellar food and amongst the best on the list
- Beautiful setting and ambiance
CONS:
- Expensive
- Limited character interaction and it feels rushed
- Difficult to get to for most guests unless you use a ridesharing service or have a vehicle
What to Get:
Ravello has a number of things on the menu that are top-notch! We’d recommend getting the ‘Cowboy Frittata’ or the ‘Huevos Rancheros.’ Both are unique offerings that are very tasty!
8. Crystal Palace
- Location: Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park
- Characters: Eeyore, Piglet, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger
- Cost: $48 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Traditional American Breakfast
- Buffet: Yes
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
Crystal Palace is one of the most iconic character meals in Disney World, and it’s POPULAR! It comes in at number 8 on our list, and it’s a great spot to have a character meal…. Right on Main Street U.S.A. It doesn’t get much better than having a character meal in Magic Kingdom, and its location is fantastic.
We thoroughly enjoy its Victorian theming and charm, reminiscent of the Grand Floridian Resort. The staff here really goes above and beyond when it comes to special occasions for the entire family, just make sure that you mention it when you are checking in for your reservation.
We also love the ability to get early morning reservations and enter Magic Kingdom before other guests, which gives you great photo ops on Main Street USA and in front of the castle before it gets too crowded.
While we love the Winnie and Pooh characters with their outstanding character interactions for the whole family, the food here is somewhat underwhelming and unoriginal, hence not making the top of our list.
PROS:
- Ability to see an empty Main Street U.S.A. if you can snag an early ADR
- Right in Magic Kingdom, making it extremely easy for most guests
- Wonderful character interactions and terrific staff
- Stellar theming and beautiful interior
CONS:
- Very boring and plain menu with no unique offerings
- Can be extremely loud and chaotic
- Very hard reservation to get
What to Get:
We love the cheesy potato casserole and are big suckers for it every time we come here. We also really enjoy the different breakfast frittatas that they offer. READ our Full Review of Crystal Palace breakfast here.
7. Chef Mickey’s
- Location: Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Characters: Donald, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto
- Cost: $54 per adult, $34 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Traditional American Breakfast
- Buffet: Yes
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
Probably the most popular breakfast ADR for families is that of Chef Mickey’s, coming in at 7th on our list. Chef Mickey’s went to family-style breakfasts for a period of time before recently going back to a buffet style.
In the past, we’ve had mixed feelings about Chef Mickey’s, and haven’t always been super high on it. It’s still overpriced in our eyes, considering there are similar options for cheaper. However, the thing about Chef Mickey’s that really makes it good is it’s the ONLY restaurant in Disney World that has all 5 of the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto).
The characters are all there in one spot and they are in super adorable chef’s outfits. The character interactions are terrific and they even put on a little show for guests. Families with small kids absolutely adore this place, especially the towel waving, hence the inflated price…
While the food is just ‘OK’ we do have to say it’s been a little better the last couple of times we’ve gone and we are hopefully optimistic it will continue to improve, especially since with a name like Chef Mickey’s it deserves to be right near the top of the list.
PROS:
- Easy location at the Contemporary Resort, a short walk from Disney’s Magic Kingdom
- Best character options to see all 5 of the Fab Five
- A very fun vibe for the whole family
CONS:
- Very loud and chaotic at all times
- More expensive than other options
- Extremely hard ADR to get
What to Get:
The corned beef hash is a really popular item here, and it’s terrific! We also really love the touch of the French toast sticks and the freshly made pancakes. Also, the carving station is good in addition with both ham and beef brisket.
6. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
- Location: Disney’s EPCOT Park inside the Norway Pavilion
- Characters: Princesses. It rotates regularly and not all will appear but Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, Tiana
- Cost: $55 per adult, $35 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Norwegian Breakfast with American Classics
- Buffet: No, it’s family-style
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, (Breakfast: 1 Table Service); (Lunch/Dinner: 2 Table Service credits)
Coming in at 6th on our list is Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion in EPCOT. While we think it’s incredibly overpriced considering the mostly average food, it’s got one of the best character interactions, especially for princess lovers!
The ability to meet 5 different Disney Princesses is highly appealing to some families, and with that being said, you’re paying a premium for it!
We generally prefer family-style dining as it just feels nicer and fresher than a buffet. Plus, you don’t have to worry about other guests sneezing on your food or your food sitting out for an hour, there’s nothing exciting about dried-out eggs that have been sitting out. YUCK!
As an adventurous eater, I love the uniqueness of some of the food offerings here, as they are very different from most of the other character breakfast meals throughout Disney World. It’s definitely worth an early morning visit on your EPCOT day.
PROS:
- We love the family-style breakfast and find the food is fresher
- Great character interactions with the ability to meet 5 of the princesses
- Beautiful theming and authentic Norwegian Castle feel
- Great location in EPCOT, making it easy to reach
CONS:
- VERY expensive and it costs 2 Table Service dining credits if using the dining plan
- Can be very disorganized and your waits can be long, even with an ADR
- Food items aren’t as popular for pickier eaters
- Very loud and chaotic
What to Get:
We love the Norwegian waffles, which are completely unique to this restaurant! They are tasty and sweet and don’t even require syrup. We also really like the potato casserole, so be prepared, it’s very addicting!
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Breakfast Menu
5. Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Location: Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park
- Characters: Princesses. Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Jasmine, and Snow White
- Cost: $69 per adult, $42 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: French-Style Breakfast
- Buffet: No, it’s a prix-fixe menu
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 2 Table Service credits
At 5th on our list is the ever-popular and incredibly magical Cinderella’s Royal Table. There’s nothing quite like having the ability to eat inside the centerpiece of Walt Disney World, and dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table allows you to sit right near the top of the Castle.
This is a unique and perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for families to be able to embark on this kind of experience! With that being said, Disney knows that, and they make it expensive, REALLY EXPENSIVE!
Being able to meet and pose with Cinderella in her Castle is an awesome experience for kids. Plus, getting a chance to meet all of the other Disney Princesses here is certainly special. And while we generally think it’s worth doing, at least once, it’s hard to justify going here with regularity.
The food here is served in a prix-fixe style setting enabling you to each order an entree while entitling everyone to some assorted breakfast pastries as well. We find the food here is surprisingly solid, although not spectacular. Though it’s definitely a step up from some of the other below buffet options on the list.
PROS:
- The most magical experience you’ll find with tremendous ambiance and setting
- Awesome experience with the Disney Princesses
- Good breakfast options for a variety of palettes with tasty food
- Great views of the Magic Kingdom Park and ideal location for most guests
CONS:
- Incredibly expensive
- Very hard to snag an ADR
What to Get:
We’d recommend getting either the Beef Tenderloin and Egg or the Caramel Apple-stuffed French Toast. We think both are really good!
Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast Menu
4. Cape May Cafe
- Location: Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Characters: Daisy, Donald, Goofy, Minnie
- Cost: $47 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Traditional American Breakfast
- Buffet: Yes
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
At 4 on our list is the Cape May Cape. The Cape May Cafe is found inside the lobby at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. It’s a popular spot for breakfast and dinner although breakfast is the only character meal.
They serve classic American fare for breakfast, and it’s mostly your standard run-of-the-mill food items, although we find the quality is a tad bit better than most of the other restaurants on our list.
While there are a few things we really like on the menu, there aren’t any truly unique “standouts.” We find the price for the Cape May Cafe is very competitive and reasonable considering the higher quality than the other buffets.
We also don’t like the fact that there is no Mickey here, unfortunately. One thing we do love though is the fact that it’s situated on the Disney Boardwalk and is a convenient walk from EPCOT. This makes it easy for guests to get there who are staying at any of the EPCOT Resorts.
PROS:
- Easy to get reservations for
- Cute beachy theme with the characters dressed up
- Decent food options with a carving station and the salted caramel beach buns
CONS:
- Not easy to get to for all guests
- Lacks any kind of special Disney Magic
- Foods aren’t replenished regularly and you’ll often have to wait around for fresh food
What to Get:
While they do have your classic Disney breakfast items such as Mickey Waffles and hashbrowns, our favorite unique item here are the salted caramel beach buns, which are brought out to your table by your server. Sweet, sticky, and oh so good!
Read our Full Review of Cape May Cafe Character Breakfast for a look at everything we ate and all the characters.
3. Tusker House
- Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
- Characters: Daisy, Donald, Goofy, and Mickey
- Cost: $47 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: African-inspired breakfast with American Classics
- Buffet: Yes
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
The next three on our list are somewhat interchangeable and we’ve wrestled with ranking them, however, they are a tier above the rest of the restaurant on this list. Coming in at number 3 in our ranking, our FAVORITE character breakfast buffet…. Tusker House.
It’s the only character meal in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, and we absolutely adore Tusker House. In fact, we haven’t had a bad meal here yet, something we sadly cannot say about most character meals.
We’ve always gotten terrific service here, and the cast really goes above and beyond, including the characters. The food offerings are also incredible with the perfect blend of adventurous with some African-inspired dishes but also giving pickier eaters enough comfort foods that they will be more than happy with.
The variance of dishes is great and there aren’t a lot of repeat stations, meaning there’s a TON of things for guests to try here. Trust me, you’ll need to go back over and over again to try everything.
We also love that they have POG juice, our favorite juice in Disney World. We find that despite being a buffet, the food stays fresh here and the staff really goes out of their way to make sure everything is incredibly fresh.
PROS:
- The price here is reasonable considering the characters and the food quality
- The menu is unique with many original food offerings here with far less of the standard run-of-the-mill buffet offerings that most of the other buffets offer
- Great location and the only character meal in Animal Kingdom
- We love the theming, the character costumes, and the fun feel of the restaurant
CONS:
- Very popular and it’s hard to snag an ADR
- It can get incredibly loud with sound that reverberates off the high ceilings
- We’ve heard some complain that the food items are too different and unique, although we don’t personally feel that way
What to Get:
We’d recommend you try the overnight oats, which are surprisingly unique and tasty and the fresh meats at the carving station are always a personal favorite. We also love some of the pastries, including the Zebra Coffee Cake and the Chocolate Twist Danishes.
2. Garden Grill
- Location: Disney’s EPCOT Park inside the Land Pavilion
- Characters: Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto
- Cost: $47 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Traditional American Breakfast
- Buffet: No, food is served family style
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
At 2 on our list is Garden Grill, found in the Land Pavilion in EPCOT. We LOVE Garden Grill for a number of reasons, including the uniqueness of the restaurant! Being able to circle around one of our favorite attractions, Living with the Land, does it get any better than that?!
We love how accessible this restaurant is for most guests, being right at the front of EPCOT as well, which makes it super convenient for guests.
The price point is incredibly reasonable, considering how solid the food is overall. The character interactions are great, and it’s likely you get MORE than enough time with the characters. In fact, we’ve often had them circling around our table over and over again while we are still eating.
In addition to being reasonably priced if paying out of pocket, we also love that it’s only 1 dining credit if you have the Disney Dining Plan, so it’s a great value.
PROS:
- Fairly reasonably priced out of pocket AND only 1 table service credit if using the DDP
- Terrific character interactions, including fan favorites Chip and Dale (that you can’t meet anywhere else)
- Fresh food that is brought family style on skillets that is VERY tasty
CONS:
- A very hard ADR to get
- Can get very loud and chaotic in the morning
- I’ve heard some get a bit motion sick from the constant rotation of the restaurant
What to Get:
There are a number of things we love to eat here, including the super tasty cheesy potato casserole and the grilled flank steak. However, our absolute favorite is the cinnamon breakfast loaf! This has to be up there with our favorite cinnamon roll anywhere on Disney World property! It’s that good!
1. Topolino’s Terrace
- Location: Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Characters: Daisy, Donald, Mickey, Minnie
- Cost: $49 per adult, $30 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired Breakfast
- Buffet: No, it’s a prix-fixe menu
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
And lastly, we have our favorite character breakfast on the list, Topolino’s Terrace found over at Disney’s Riviera Resort. We love mostly everything about Topolino’s Terrace, and that includes both breakfast and dinner! The meals here are always fantastic.
The thing that ultimately makes Topolino’s Terrace stand out is the quality of the food. It’s a HUGE step up in terms of quality from virtually every other option on this list. The ingredients and the freshness of everything are on display immediately and they stand out above the rest.
We love the Italian Riviera theming of the restaurant and the costumes that the characters wear. They also put on an adorable little show singing and dancing for guests every 20-30 minutes or so, giving it a certain uniqueness and originality.
Also, the restaurant just feels more upscale, from the tables to the interior theming to the beautiful rooftop views. It’s also quieter and more comfortable for families to relax and take their time while enjoying their meals.
This is ideal for families with small kids to be able to not have to worry about taking them up to the buffet lines every few mins as well.
And while the restaurant isn’t ideally situated for everyone and requires you to take either the Disney Skyliner, an Uber, or a Disney Bus, it’s not enough to knock it down the list. We love Topolino’s and are confident you will too!
We also highly recommend trying it for dinner as it has some of our favorite food items in Disney World (though not a character meal).
PROS:
- The best food out of all of the Disney World restaurants
- Tremendous setting, theme, and ambiance
- Adorable character interactions
- VERY reasonably priced considering the quality
CONS:
- The cast can sometimes be a little snooty
- We’ve heard some complaints about the portion sizes being a little small on some of the entrees
- The location can be hard to reach for some guests
What to Get:
We’d recommend you get the Wood-fired Butchers Steak! It’s a terrific quality cut meat and the blend of ingredients is just tremendous. It’s super tender and flavorful and our favorite entree we’ve gotten here.
Topolino’s Terrace Breakfast Menu
Other Character Breakfasts On Hold
There are two other restaurants that are currently open for breakfast, although they have not had character breakfasts resume since the park reopening in 2020. We will talk about how they were prior to the characters not returning. We hope soon that the characters return to give guests additional options for character meals.
Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast at Trattoria al Forno
- Location: Disney’s Boardwalk
- Characters: Ariel, Flynn Rider, Prince Eric, Rapunzel
- Cost: $38 per adult, $22 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired Breakfast
- Buffet: No, it’s a prix-fixe menu
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit
This hidden gem of a character breakfast was a great way to meet a couple of Disney Princes! The character interactions here were fun and completely different than anywhere else! The characters are introduced as they enter the room to bring some energy and excitement to kids seeing the Disney Characters for the first time.
Being on the Disney Boardwalk makes it easily accessible for families that are visiting EPCOT, or that are staying at an EPCOT-area hotel or at one of the Disney Skyliner Resorts. The price here is also incredibly reasonable as it was one of the cheapest options out of all the character meals.
We also love the setting of the restaurant with its more upscale feel and its elegant vibe. It feels “older”, which I guess can be a good thing for kids that are a little bit older. The menu here is also very good giving a number of different tasty options.
PROS:
- Unique ability to see BOTH the princes and the princesses
- Easy accessibility being on the Disney Skyliner and walking distance to EPCOT
- One of the easiest ADRs to get
- Incredibly reasonably priced
- Underrated food with a variety of options available
CONS:
- Not currently open with characters
- Doesn’t “feel” like a character restaurant and feels older
What to Get:
We’d recommend getting either the Oak-grilled Steak and Eggs or the Al Forno Eggs. Both menu items are delicious and incredibly high quality, considering the price.
Breakfast at Trattoria al Forno Menu
Garden Grove
- Location: Swan Hotel on the Disney Boardwalk
- Characters: Chip, Dale, Goofy, and Pluto
- Cost: $35 per adult, $22 per child (ages 3-9)
- Cuisine: Traditional American Breakfast
- Buffet: No, it’s a standard la carte breakfast
- Disney Dining Plan: No
Another breakfast restaurant that is still currently open, but unfortunately not with characters at this moment in time. This restaurant is truly a hidden gem, as it serves tasty options with a low price tag! In fact, this character breakfast was considered the cheapest out of every place on our list!
And just because it was cheap, didn’t mean it was low quality. In fact, we loved some of the offerings! We also love that besides Garden Grill, it’s the only place where you could meet Chip and Dale!
The location is somewhat convenient for most guests, considering it’s right on the Disney Boardwalk and a simple walking distance from EPCOT.
PROS:
- A more relaxing a la carte character option
- Easy to snag ADRs here
- Not overly busy and quieter than the other options
- Easy accessibility being on the Disney Skyliner and walking distance to EPCOT
- One of the easiest ADRs to get
- Very cheap
- Fairly good food with a variety of options available even for picky eaters
CONS:
- Not currently open with characters
- Character meals for breakfast were only on Saturdays and Sundays
- The Swan technically isn’t a Disney Resort and is instead owned by Westin
What to Get:
We’d recommend you get the French Toast here, it’s delicious! Coated on a French Baguette with caramelized bananas, it’s a can’t-miss!
Lastly, 1900 Park Fare is missing from the list over at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa since it still hasn’t reopened. Once it does we will include it in our rankings.
How Far in Advance Should You Book a Character Breakfast at Disney World?
This is perhaps the most important point of the entire article, so pay close attention here!
Character Breakfasts at Walt Disney World are VERY popular and we generally recommend you book them as soon as possible, and that’s 60 days in advance for most guests. Even when you try to book them 60 days in advance, you’ll notice that many restaurants have already sold out.
Certain ones such as Chef Mickey’s, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Topolino’s Terrace, and Crystal Palace are VERY hard to secure, and don’t be surprised if you can’t get in.
Remember to begin booking at 5:45 am at the 60-day mark prior to your trip. Don’t wait until 6:00 am, that’ll make a huge difference. If you want to ensure you’ll be able to get a reservation for your number one choice for a character breakfast, check our post here on securing those hard-to-get ADRs.
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Character Breakfast Times
While there can be slight variances from restaurant to restaurant, a general rule of thumb is that most character breakfasts begin service breakfast around 7:30 am and they will stop taking new reservations around 10:45 am.
The lone exception to this is Chef Mickey’s as you’ll often find breakfast reservations here until around noon.
Character meals can feel rushed as they work in intervals and try to get the characters around the restaurant within the one-hour mark, and since most of them are buffets, they generally don’t want you lingering too much more than an hour and sometimes they can get a little pushy.
We’d recommend setting aside about 75-90 minutes for a character meal. The non-buffets will be a little longer and the buffets will be a little bit quicker as a general rule.
Character Breakfast Pros and Cons
Debating about whether or not to splurge for a character breakfast can be a challenging decision. There are many pros and cons to doing one and not doing one. Let’s consider them now:
PROS:
- A fun way for the whole family to meet the characters without waiting in long lines at the parks. This saves more time for rides later on.
- There are unique character interactions that you won’t find at the parks, including some that are exclusive to the restaurants.
- Sometimes you don’t want to run all the time, and it can offer a change of pace from the parks while you enjoy a more relaxing morning, including air conditioning.
CONS:
- A character breakfast can take a long time out of your day, especially if you’re trying to maximize all of your park days and you may prefer a quick meal in the park.
- They are VERY expensive and you are paying a premium to meet the characters, so it’s not the best way to do Disney on a budget.
- You won’t always find the best food, with many of the buffets offering 90% of the same routine items. If you are looking for something unique a high quality, stick to the top restaurants on our list.
Is a Character Breakfast Worth It?
While we’ve often wrestled with this question ourselves, especially after we’ve received the bill and been underwhelmed with the experience, we’d say in general YES, character breakfasts are generally worth it.
That’s not to say you won’t feel similar to me, especially when the food was just ‘EH,’ and that’s not to say that ALL of them are worth the price.
You have to look at the bigger picture and if you have kids and it’ll be a memory that they won’t soon forget, it’s worth it. We certainly think some experiences are more worth it than others, and we trust you’ll listen to our suggestions for the best ones to get.
While meals at Disney are never cheap in comparison to prices outside of Disney, character meals are on another level of expensive. They’re up there with the signature dining experiences that you’ll find at the Deluxe Disney Resorts.
This is one reason why we suggest reading our Best Tips for Saving Money at Disney World, so at least if you decide to do a character meal, you can save money in other areas of your vacation.
However, at the end of the day, we think combining the ones that have fairly good food with great character interactions is worth it, especially Topolino’s Terrace, Garden Grill, and Tusker House.
Other Tips for Planning a Character Breakfast
There are a number of other things we’d suggest doing to enjoy a day that has a character breakfast. Here are our favorites:
- Get the earliest possible ADRs for breakfast! Getting into the parks early is awesome, especially because it allows you to get in prior to other guests.
- Plan character meals on arrival and departure days. This allows you not to worry about losing significant time for your bigger park days.
- Don’t plan too much on the day that you’re having a character meal, as it will stress you out and make you feel more rushed rather than enjoying the experience. Instead, stay and get as many autographs as you can.
- Don’t use a park ticket unnecessarily if you don’t have to! Rather than waste a day’s park pass for everyone in your group, plan a character breakfast either at one of the resorts or when you’re already going to be inside a park the same day.
- If you’re going to a park on the same day you have a character breakfast, regardless, plan on maximizing your afternoons and evenings with rides and other activities. If you are staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, make sure to use Extended Evening Hours when available to get more time on the attractions.
- Plan your character meals at nearby destinations. For instance, if you’re staying at one of the Monorail Resorts, book one of the character meals at Magic Kingdom or one of the Monorail Hotels. This will save you time as opposed to attempting to get to a further destination.
Transportation to Character Breakfasts
When it comes to arriving at your character breakfast, a huge question you’ll need to ask yourself is “How am I going to get there?”
In this section, we talk about the variety of different ways you can get to your destination and which transportation methods work best for the different restaurants. This is especially vital if you have early morning ADRs and there are only certain works of transportation available.
Disney Buses
It’s very likely that if you’re visiting a Disney Theme Park that the Disney Buses are your only option, especially early in the morning. With many of the character meals being in Disney Parks, it’s vital that you can be in line near your bus stop EARLY.
With Early Theme Park Entry beginning 30 minutes prior to the official park opening, we’d recommend getting in line at your resort anywhere between 75-90 minutes prior to your ADR. Opt on the side of 90 minutes if you’re staying at a Value Resort with a large number of guests or a Moderate Resort that has several bus stops within the resort loop.
Disney Skyliner
If you’re visiting a character breakfast that is on the Disney Skyliner loop, whether it’s at Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, the Riviera Resort, or somewhere on the Disney Boardwalk you generally don’t need to get there as early as the buses. While lines can be LONG first thing in the morning, they move quickly.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Disney Skyliner lines only begin about an hour prior to park opening. So if you need to take the EPCOT line to the Boardwalk or the Riviera Resort and your reservation is for 7:30 am and the Disney Skyliner isn’t quite operating yet, you can be in trouble.
You’ll likely need to find an alternative solution. Your best bet will be either a Minnie Van or a ridesharing service such as Uber.
Disney Boats
Some Disney Resorts are reliant on Disney Boats to take you to the parks, and we’d normally recommend getting in line at least 60 minutes prior to your ADR if you need to take a Disney Boat to get to your character meal.
Try to get on the first boat if you have an early morning ADR. Your best bet is to ask your resort what time the first one will pick up guests in the morning.
Disney Monorail
If you’re taking the Disney Monorail to your character meal, whether it’s at one of the Monorail Resorts or it’s at Magic Kingdom, remember that it can get crowded and there may be long waits.
We’d recommend waiting at your resort’s monorail stop at least 60 minutes prior to your ADR.
If you need to take the monorail over to the Transportation and Ticket Center to transfer to EPCOT, we’d recommend at least 75 minutes.
Walking
If you’re walking to your character meal, you’ll have an easy and predictable outcome! If you’re visiting a Disney Park and have an early morning ADR, you’ll normally be allowed to get in line near the tapstiles around 60 minutes prior to the park opening for Early Theme Park Entry.
If you’re simply walking to a character meal at your resort or another resort that is close by, just account for the time it’ll take your family to get over there and try to arrive at your ADR a few minutes early.
Car
And lastly, if you’re driving a vehicle and you’re visiting one of the Disney Theme Parks for your character meal, you can begin getting into the parking area around 70 minutes prior to Early Theme Park Entry time.
I wouldn’t recommend getting there too early as it’s possible you’ll have to wait for the booths to open and could have to circle back around.
If you’re driving to a Disney World Resort, just plan on getting to the resort a few minutes prior to your ADR. You’ll need to inform the parking attendant as you drive in that you have a reservation and they’ll likely look it up to confirm prior to allowing you into the parking area.
We explain all of these details more in our Disney World Parking Guide.
FAQs
Does Disney Still Offer Breakfast with Characters?
Yes! For a while, Disney practiced social distancing with characters, but now all normal character activities have resumed. Unfortunately, there are still a few character meals that have not returned, as of this writing. Hopefully, they will be back open soon.
Which Theme Parks Have a Character Breakfast?
Right now, all 4 of the Disney Theme Parks have character meals now, so no matter where you are going, you will have options.
EPCOT and Magic Kingdom each have 2 character meals, whereas Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom only have 1 each.
Can You Hug the Characters and Get Autographs Now?
Yes! Both hugging the characters and autographs are perfectly fine again! Disney had suspended hugging the characters and getting autographs for almost two years, but we are happy to say the character interactions are now all back to normal.
Are All Character Breakfasts Buffets?
Thankfully, not all character breakfasts are buffets. While many of them are buffets, some of them offer family-style offerings, some are a la carte, and some are prix-fixe menus. These tend to have higher-quality food items than buffets and we recommend them if that is important to you.
Which Breakfasts Have PhotoPass Photographers?
While many character meals do NOT currently have PhotoPass Photographers, there are a few of them that currently do.
The ones that have PhotoPass Photographers that will enable you to get professional quality photos on your PhotoPass account are Chef Mickey’s and Cinderella’s Royal Table. We hope to see more of the restaurants offering PhotoPass Photographers for guests soon.
Are Character Breakfasts a Good Use of Disney Dining Plan Credits?
While we are excited about the return of the Disney Dining Plan in 2024, we generally aren’t huge fans of it as we wrote about it here. If you still plan on purchasing the Disney Dining Plan, character meals actually can be a good use of dining credits IF you opt for a character meal that only requires one dining credit.
Restaurants like Topolino’s Terrace, Tusker House, and Cape May Cafe are excellent usages of a dining credit as they are good quality food and they are slightly more expensive out of pocket than some of the cheaper options.
Need Help Booking a Character Breakfast?
And lastly, if you like the idea of character breakfast but are simply overwhelmed with the thought of attempting to reserve one, we HIGHLY recommend you use a company such as Show You the World Travel to help book your Disney World Vacation.
They are a team of incredibly competent agents that are equipped and highly knowledgeable and experienced in helping you make wise decisions allowing you to fully maximize your vacation. We have used them over and over again, and we couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
Trust me, once you start using a Disney Travel Agent, you won’t want to go back! They take out all of the guesswork and all of the additional work for you, making it incredibly simple for your family to focus on the things that matter most to you.
And best of all is that it doesn’t cost one penny more than booking directly through Disney! To contact the team over at Show You The World for a free quote, click our link here.
That wraps up our ranking of the best character breakfasts at Walt Disney World. We hope you liked it and that we gave you some good ideas for places to eat when you visit.
We want to hear what your top character breakfasts are so drop them in the comments section below!
For more great Disney Restaurants be sure to check out our other guides:
If you are going to Disney World soon, make sure to read our Disney World Planning Guide for all the tips and info you will need to cover everything! Also, check out our Disney World Crowd Calendar so you know when the best time to visit is!
Your Thoughts
I want to know what you think about our rankings of the best character breakfasts at Disney World…
- Do you agree with our list?
- What are your Top Character Breakfast Restaurants?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.