Now that the controversial list of worst Disney character meals has been published, we can turn our focus to a sunnier conversation. Bygones, people! Anyway, eating with Disney mascots is one of the purest joys in the world, especially for children. Being able to take vacation pictures that will make us reminisce when we are older is a priceless opportunity. And nobody handles the process better than Disney. Their character meals are memorable and timeless. Ranked below are the half a dozen best of the best. If you have never eaten at any of them, immediately add them to your theme park bucket list.
Editor’s Note: As David mentioned, author bias is a huge part of this piece, and his opinions in no way reflect those of Theme Park Tourist or its staff.
6) 1900 Park Fare – Grand Floridian – Cinderella’s Happily Ever After
Simply being at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is an experience unrivaled in the Walt Disney World area. The hotel features some of the finest cuisine in Florida, including the five-star restaurant, Victoria & Albert’s. 1900 Park Fare does not have the critical acclaim of its more heralded counterpart, but it does feature the strongest set of options for character meals at Walt Disney World.
People who want to start their day the Disney way can enjoy the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, which is highlighted by the unusual duo of Mary Poppins and Alice and Wonderland plus the Mad Hatter. In the evening, the dinner hosts are Cinderella and Prince Charming along with their antagonist, Lady Tremaine. Also included are Cinderella’s evil stepsisters, Drisella and Anastasia. If you are a fan of Disney villainesses, 1900 Park Fare includes more than any other character meal.
Parents who want to treat their children to a special event can also select the Wonderland Tea Party, which is so exclusive that it is limited to 25 children between the ages of three and 10 per day. While the food is just okay compared to other options at the Grand Floridian, the sheer depth of character meal options makes 1900 Park Fare an obvious choice for the best list.
5) Cape May Café – Goofy’s Beach Club Character Breakfast
There is an applicable Simpsons quote about all Malibu Stacy dolls looking exactly the same, but Smithers wants the new one. Why? Malibu Stacy has a new hat. For similar reasons, most videogames include comprehensive gear options, thereby allowing the player to customize the physical appearance of their avatar. Even when something is beloved and familiar, a slight variation is welcome.
I say all of this to sound slightly less obsessive when I note that I love Cape May Café due to the adorable beachwear worn by its primary characters. Minnie, Goofy and Donald are great on their own, but I love them oh so much more when they are dressed thematically to line up with their setting, Disney’s Beach Club Villas. I have already selected this DVC property as my favorite, and the Cape May Café breakfast enhances it by offering a surprisingly good buffet in a relatively secluded (by Disney standards) resort. This character breakfast is a marvelous way to start the day, but it is still not my favorite character breakfast…
4) Polynesian Village Resort – Ohana’s Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo and Stitch
The placement of this particular character meal on your list will be based upon the answer to two questions. 1) Do you love the movie Lilo & Stitch? 2) Do you enjoy the food at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? If you answered no to both questions, you are probably shouting at your monitor about what an idiot I am. If you are like me and answer “YES! YES! YES!” to both of them, you are nodding your head vigorously while fantasizing about your next trip to Disney. If the answer to either one is yes, you probably fall somewhere in the “Eh, not bad but I’ve had better” camp. Again, these are all based on personal preference.
As a movie critic by trade, I saw approximately 200 movies in 2002. Lilo & Stitch finished in my top three for the year, which means that it literally finished in my top percentile for the year (rounding up). And my wife loves the characters even more than I do. When we put up our Christmas decorations, we create an entire tree using only Disney ornaments. A good 20% of them are Stitch-related.
I would also add that the Polynesian is my favorite Disney property, even over the historic Disneyland Hotel. So, the idea of the delicious Polynesian food at the gorgeous hotel is wonderful for us. It is even better in combination with a meet and greet with the most elusive mascot at Disney, Stitch. Plus, the characters of Mickey and Pluto join Lilo and Experiment 626.
3) Garden Grill – Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast
Honestly, the top three character meals at Disney are all flawless experiences. Each is unique and memorable in its own way. Ranking them is a lot like choosing your favorite Pixar movie. Since they’re all wonderful, selecting the best is brutally difficult.
For me, The Garden Grill is the most interesting restaurant at Walt Disney World. Yes, it rotates, and that is an engaging aspect for tourists. What captivates me is that the changing view provides a few moments of contemplation regarding the sustainable foods below. This unique view of the farming enterprises in Living with the Land epitomizes the forward-thinking of Walt Disney Co. as a business. And the food is great. Plus, it’s guilt-free since I know exactly where it came from. Generally, those sorts of meals cost a lot more, yet the Garden Grill character meal is right in line with other table service meals at Walt Disney World.
All of the above is well and good, but the truth involves something I said above about costumes. Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast is where Farmer Mickey is on full display, and the sight of a mouse in overalls entertains me in a way that Hee Haw never could. Plus, Chip and Dale create some adorable pictures with children (and grownups). Adding in Pluto, there are four wonderful selfie opportunities in addition to a wonderful, guilt-free meal. Character dining at Garden Grill is highly recommended by this author. It is everything great about Disney.
2) Chef Mickey’s Buffet
One of the many wonderful aspects of visiting a Disney theme park is that one perfect moment, the unforgettable event that crystallizes the Disney experience. Everyone has one from a special park visit. Mine occurred at Chef Mickey’s. My wife celebrated a birthday there, and a kindly employee provided her with a brownie to celebrate the event. Moments later, a little girl behind us was treated to a birthday cake. When she realized that my wife shared the same birthday as her, this child proceeded to sing loudly and with her eyes shut. Simply by knowing that my *ahem* slightly older wife shared the same birthday and celebrated at the same restaurant, they were bonded in her eyes. She befriended us for the rest of the meal, keeping a watchful eye over her new birthday bestie. That is the vision of Walt Disney summarized with an anecdote.
Chef Mickey’s is a place of pure joy. There is an energy to it that has never been matched in any of my other table service experiences. I love it for the boisterous laughter of deliriously happy children mixed with an amazing backdrop. How many other places in the world serve a meal as monorails whiz by in the distance? While I understand that some people find the menu a bit bland, I love the food, which is rare for me. And the dessert bar is one of the best at the various Disney buffets.
Most important, Chef Mickey’s is highlighted by the five anchor Disney characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy. No matter how long the wait may be at this heavily trafficked establishment, you are always just a few moments away from one of them arriving to take your picture. And I don’t mean to brag but Minnie kissed me the last time I ate there. I eventually washed that cheek…but not immediately.
1) Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table
In a huge upset, the most famous Disney restaurant and character meal is also the best. As I mentioned with regards to Akershus on the Worst Character Meals list, that restaurant provides a dynamic meal in a wonderful setting. Despite this, even Disney employees understand that it is the fallback option to the crown jewel in the Disney table service line. Anyone who has ever tried to get Advance Dinner Reservations knows the truth of it.
While Be Our Guest is the trendy option of the moment, Cinderella’s Royal Table has maintained its status as the hardest one to get at Walt Disney World. It is in demand because no matter how old you are or how long you have been going to Disney, eating at this restaurant is something you dreamt about it until you did it or something you anticipate doing one day.
Fairytale Dining represents the best of Disney. It is located at the centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom, Cinderella’s Castle. And it features what can only be described as Princess Heaven, a cavalcade of Disney’s iconic personalities, all of whom are clad in the most memorable dresses and costumes in movie history. Eating at Cinderella’s Royal Table is like feeling like a princess/prince for a day. Simply being allowed access into the castle makes me feel taller. The panoramic setting and the unforgettable dining experience make it the obvious, easy choice as THE best Disney character meal. And I would add that I am standing behind my choice here in a memorable way. When my wife and I celebrate our tenth anniversary in May, we will do so at Fairytale Dining.
