Disneyland Character Dining – Pick The Best Option for Your Family!

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Disneyland Character Dining – Pick The Best Option for Your Family!

Updated for 2023

Disneyland Character Dining can be a big part of any family Disney trip,  but there are many to choose from, and you want to be sure to make the best choice for your family. They are not cheap, so choosing right, and then knowing how to make the most out of your meal is key. That and Disneyland has made some changes to options recently, and we have the scoop on what those are, as well as some details on how to help you choose which Disneyland Character Meal is the best option for your family.

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Disneyland Character Dining offers a magical meal experience in a themed setting, with lots of favorite Disney Characters interacting with you during your meal. It is a fun way to get your kids up and close with the various Disney characters, and you can choose from breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

Character dining at Disneyland comes at a premium price though, so you will want to make sure you choose the one that is the perfect fit for your family. We will break them all down here, to help you decide what will work best for your family.

It used to be that you could choose what character meal you could go to once you were at Disneyland. While it is still possible to get into a character dining experience without a reservation, I highly recommend you make one ahead of time. This will help you insure you get into the one you want to, as well as avoid long wait lines.

What To Consider When Choosing the Best Disneyland Character Dining Option for Your Family:

Character Dining is a great way to relax and enjoy a meal with your family while still getting the fun of the park. At all Character Dining experiences, you have the opportunity to meet some of your favorite characters without waiting in line. I’ve broken down each experience for you to get a better idea of which might be the perfect fit for your family.

Disneyland has recently made a number of changes to their character dining options too. They used to offer them at both parks (Disneyland and California Adventure), as well as one in each Disneyland resort hotel. This has changed, and there are fewer character meal opportunities available now (another good reason to make your reservations in advance). They have also changed the theming at some of these, and pricing, so we have the breakdown on the current line up of offerings below.

Here are some questions you will want to ask your family, to help determine the right pick:

Are you looking for specific characters? If characters are what you care about the most, here are a few tips to pick your spot.

In the past you have been most likely to see the most characters at the Plaza Inn (this is also where you are most likely to run into Minnie Mouse). Different characters may appear on and off at different locations, but they are only guaranteed to show at their home location. So if seeing a specific character (like Goofy!), is important – book at their home restaurant. These are:

• • If your looking for Goofy, head to Goofy’s Kitchen
  • For Mickey Mouse, head to the Story Tellers Cafe
  • Minnie will be at the Plaza
  • If you want to see Princesses, you will need to reserve a spot at the new Napa Rose Princess Character meal.

Do you want to eat a specific meal? Here are some things to consider:

• • Are you an early morning ride person, and would prefer to relax to a dinner so you can enjoy the rides early?
  • Are you more concerned about budget and want to eat breakfast which is generally more affordable, etc.?
  • Also, maybe you want to extend the Disney magic by booking brunch on the day of checkout, when you will not have park tickets to go and see characters.

More questions to consider include – 

• • Do you have a preferred location you want to be near?
  • Would you rather enjoy your meal in the Disneyland park, so you can continue on to enjoy rides.
  • Are you staying at one of the Disneyland hotels, and that would be the most convenient location, etc.?

All of these things factor into what makes the best character meal experience for your family. We have put together details and tips from others below, to help you decide what will be the best character meal option at Disneyland for you!

First things first, there are now three types of Character Dining: Regular and Premium, and they did just add a Super Premium Experience this year too (and it comes with a cost). With different price points, you will want to make sure you pick the best one for your family’s meal.

• Regular Character Dining includes Breakfast with Minnie and Friends or Mickeys Tales of Adventure Breakfast. These will be your two most affordable options, with Minnie and Friends being the most affordable (if you have park tickets that is).
• Premium Character Dining includes Goofy’s Kitchen – this ones middle of the road price wise, with breakfast being more affordable than dinner.
• Super Premium Experience – The new Princess Character Breakfast at Napa Rose in Disneyland’s California Lodge Hotel. You will pay a premium for this one, but it also by far the very longest experience.

Which Disneyland Restaurants Offer Character Dining?

Disneyland currently offers character dining in four locations.

Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn (Inside the Disneyland Park) 

Offers Breakfast Only

This is the perfect breakfast spot for your family if you want to start your day off in Disneyland. Located at the Plaza Inn inside Disneyland, you can have your choice of made-to-order omelets, Mickey waffles, French toast and many other breakfast favorites. While eating your delectable dish, get ready for some of your favorite characters to come visit you. Character lineups may change, but you will always get to see Minnie at this Character Dining experience.

Another plus of this, is that many folks have reported they felt like you saw the most characters at this one. It is very convenient to be right inside the park too, if you want to maximize your day at Disneyland. Since this one is in the parks, park tickets are required for the day of your visit.

Mickeys Tales of Adventure at the StoryTellers Cafe at California Lodge Hotel

(formally known as Chip ‘n Dales Critters Character Meal)

Offers Breakfast, Brunch Buffets

This your other Regular Character Dining experience option. This breakfast is located in Storytellers Café at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. If a woodsy feel is what you are looking for, this is the perfect spot for your family to indulge in classic breakfast foods, with everyone’s favorite Mickey waffles! Just like at Minnie and Friends, characters will change but you will always get to meet your pal Mickey.

This one used to be my very favorite when it was the Chip & Dale and Critters meal, because it seemed to be less crowded then the others (and that was a personal preference for me). Plus, I just like the lodge ambiance of the California Lodge. When we visited after the change, it seemed to be much more crowded, so you lose that benefit now, but still you can enjoy the beautiful grounds of the California Lodge. This one is also very interactive (kids can get up and enjoy a parade around the restaurant with the characters.

Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel

Offers Breakfast & Dinner Buffets

This spot has been a long time favorite with many, and is always a hit when it comes to Character Dining. It is also the only spot to do a character dinner right now.

Serving breakfast/brunch or dinner, it will fit into your Disneyland schedule any time. Goofy will greet you right as you come in, creating a perfect photo opportunity. After you are seated, you can enjoy yummy brunch food, including the unique peanut butter and jelly pizza! Some of your favorite characters will stop by your table so be sure to have your camera and autograph book ready!

This one is located at the Disneyland Hotel, so if you are not staying there (or someplace close) it will be a longer walk than the others (it is located at the end of Downtown Disney area). It is a long standing tradition for many though, and is a great option for a dinner character meal. There is also plenty to do at on the Disneyland grounds if your waiting for your table, and more characters are often found roaming the grounds of the hotel here too.

Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, at Napa Rose in the California Lodge Hotel

Offers a Premium Breakfast Experience

And lastly, the new Premium Character Dining Experience is the new Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, in the highly acclaimed Napa Rose restaurant. This premium experience comes with a higher price tag, but will also be more along the lines of an experience vs just a meal. It will offer an elegant three-course brunch, encounter several princesses, enjoy story time, activities, a private portrait location and receive premium keepsake. I think you will want to plan a little extra time for this adventure, and plan on it costing you a $125 pp! it just opened in March of this year, and so we have not visited to provide a personal review (and not sure if we will at that price point), but if you like higher end meals, and have kids who love princesses, and have the budget for it, this is bound to be a memorable experience.

If you are wondering what happened to Donald Ducks Seaside Breakfast at PCH Grill in the Paradise Pier Hotel (formally known as Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey and Friends) – at Disney’s PCH Grille in the Paradise Pier Hotel – it has sadly been closed, and sounds like it won’t be coming back. This one used to be one of our favorites, so sad to see it go.

Disneyland Character Dining Reservations – What You Need To Know:

Making reservations for character dining in Disneyland is very important. Many of the time slots will fill up, and it can be difficult to get the time slot you want as a walk up (especially during peak travel seasons like summers and holidays). Plus, the earlier you make your reservation the more likely you are to get your choice of time and spot you want to reserve. Here is more info that you need to know about making Disneyland character dining reservations.

• You will want to make reservations ahead of time. You can make reservations up to 60 days out, using the Disneyland app to make your reservations. To insure you get your first pick of date and time I recommend making them as early as possible. The easiest way to do that is through the Disneyland app, but you can also make Advance Dining Reservations by visiting Disneyland.com/dine or by calling 714-781-DINE (714-781-3463). They do sell out, so reservations are highly recommended.
• You will need a credit card to hold your reservation (but it does not need to be the one you pay with). If you do not cancel during the cancellation window, or are a no show they will charge that card $10 per person.
• Kids 2 and under will eat free, but you still need to include them in the reservation.
• Kids 10+ will need to pay adult prices (just as you do for Disneyland tickets). Kids 3-9 will be charged at the kids rates.

If you do not find your first pick in the Disneyland app, you can reserve your next best pick and then keep watch for your first pick to become available. This way you will have something booked to fall back on, but you are not locked in just yet. You can cancel penalty fee before the cancellation window closes. They will tell you what that is when you are booking, so be sure to pay attention to that and make sure to cancel before then if you do book a different dates.

Is Disney Character Dining Worth It?

If you are wondering if Disney character dining is worth it, that is really going to depend on your budget and your families travel style. There is no question that they are pricey, and most of them are buffet style now. While I have always enjoyed the food, you are really paying for the experience, and so you will have to decide if it is worth the cost for your family.

My personal opinion is that they are totally worth it when you have kids in that sweet age spot (preschool to elementary age). We generally did one character dining experience per trip when my kids where younger, and I have so many special memories of these meals. I found them worth it just for the memories I made with my family. That is a picture of my son from a 2004 trip, and it is hanging in my hallway to this day – and it warms my heart to look at it.

Now that my kids are teens, we no longer do them and I do not find them worth the money these days. While they would still be lots of fun (and I would do them even with my teens if they were not so pricey), my kids usually choose to put that money towards something else now that they are older. If your family is die hard Disney fans, you may find it worth it at all ages. However, if you are traveling to Disney on a tighter budget, you may choose to spend your money in other areas.

Alternatives to Character Dining That Are Themed Experiences:

Character dining experiences are where you will get to interact and enjoy the Disney characters, but beyond that Disneyland has some terrifically themed restaurants that provide a pretty spectacular dining experience (in terms of being immersed in the theme) that can be fun alternatives (and sometimes with lower price tags, as you decide what you want to order). Here are a couple of ideas if you want a special dining experience but maybe just want to order dessert or apps and drinks to save a few dollars. You will also want to make advanced dining reservations for any of these spots.

The Blue Bayou has been a favorite of many for years. It sits over the river ride that the Pirates of the Caribbean takes place on, and is dark with overhanging lanterns, found in New Orleans Square. You feel like you are eating at a spot on the river in the Bayou! This is the only dining spot in the Disneyland resort that looks into a dark ride (so the ambiance of eating out in the evening), and is very memorable.

Lamplight Lounge at Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Park offers guests table-service dining with gastro-pub cuisine set on the picturesque waterfront with views of Paradise Bay both upstairs and downstairs. This is the spot that used to be Aeriels Grotto (and so while there is no characters, you still get the great water and park views, and it is one of the more thematic spots to eat at in the California Adventure park).

Star Wars – Galaxy Edge Restaurants and Lounges. 

The new Star Wars Galaxy Edge land has a couple of highly themed restaurants and Lounges. You can get some pretty eccentric food and drink options (although they look a little strange everything we have tasted has been very tasty)! Plus, the Star Wars characters roam freely through this attraction area right now (vs having to get in line for them like you do in the park) so it is possible you can be approached by a storm trooper while enjoying a drink in the lounge. If you are a Star Wars fan you can get a highly themed dining experience at a much lower cost.

How to Save on Character Dining at Disneyland:

• Enjoy a Disneyland Character Breakfast vs a Character Dinner. Or even better book a brunch and let it be the only meal you eat out for that day.
• Use your Target Red Card to save 5% off purchases, and buy Disneyland Gift Cards to pay for your meal.
• Kids under 3 are always free – but be sure to make a reservation for them too.
• I find the character meals to be a great way to save you time, over having to stand in all those lines for the kids to meet characters in the parks. Plus, they seem to get more time and interaction from the characters.

Tips for Enjoying Your Character Dining Experience:

• There is only one Disneyland Character Dining experience in the Disneyland park, and you do need to have park tickets and reservations to enjoy that one. Consider booking a character dining experience for one of the days you do not have
• Most of the locations have Photo Pass photographers on site to take pictures of your family with the characters. Be sure to plan ahead and have your photo pass card ready if you want to keep these images. Check out our post on Genie+ here, and how you can use that to get the photo pass images plus not have to wait in long lines for riders!
• Be sure to bring your autograph book, a t-shirt, pillow case or whatever you want the characters to sign with you! When my kids where young I loved to get a picture of them with the character that signed, and add that to their books next to the signature for memories. It might be harder these days, as the characters move through at a faster pace, but a fun idea.
• Bring an appetite. They are all buffet style these days, so you will want to be hungry to get the most for your money.

As you can see, there are tons of options for a Character Dining experience. Reservations for all Character Dining is available 60 days in advance, and they do book up so call as soon as you can to get the best time for your family. Get Away Today  has discount Disneyland tickets and when you book your Disneyland packages through them, use promo code THRIFTYNW to get an additional $10 off your package. You can also call in to speak with an agent at 855-GET-AWAY.

Looking for ways to save at Disneyland? We have lots of resources on our Disneyland Savings page here as well, including Disneyland Food – How To Save the Most Eating at Disneyland!