After a few early mornings and obsessive looking we managed to get these reservations for Character Meals during our upcoming trip. However, I think five character meals for one trip (seven days) is a little much. With that said, I would love input from others!
Of these character meals, which three would you choose for first time ever visiting Disney World? I will add that we have a three year old in the group who loves all of the characters at each of these character meals.
- Chef Mickey's - Dinner
- Tusker House - Lunch
- Topolino's - Breakfast
- Hollywood and Vine - Breakfast
- Garden Grill - Lunch
Thank you!
I would rank them Topolino's first, Chef Mickey's, then Garden Grill.
As other people have already posted, Topolino's is by far my favorite and the best value for a character breakfast (out of the current options). The food is unique, the price is reasonable (for character dining), you get to visit the Rivieria, and the characters rotate through very frequently! We ate there for breakfast in December 2019, right when the resort opened, and was blown away by the quality and the views.
Chef Mickey's comes in as my second choice because of the location and the character outfits, but if possible, I would recommend the breakfast over the dinner. I haven't always been impressed with the quality of food at Chef Mickey's so I feel like they tend to mess up the breakfast options less - your classic scrambled eggs, mickey waffles, etc. and then you also have great lighting for your character shots. However, the dinner option isn't bad and you still get to meet all of the characters. I would recommend this spot because it has the fab five and has options for picky eaters.
This last choice was a little tougher because it all depends on who's in your party and what your preferences are. Garden Grill is great if you want to see a few characters you haven't seen yet (Chip & Dale) and in a cool dining environment. Food is average at best, but you're mainly there for the experience. Tusker House is on the pricey end, but does have the unique safari-themed outfits and serves food that is different from many of the other buffet options. However, if you have any picky eaters in the group, they may not enjoy the curry shrimp or the moroccan-spiced beef. With young toddlers in my travel party, you would think that I would rank Hollywood and Vine slightly higher, but unless you know the characters (Doc McStuffins, Jake, etc.), it may not be that exciting for your group. The menu has been significantly upgraded since my last visit there, but seems a little mismatched with the type of characters you're meeting (Disney Junior & truffled risotto/seared salmon??).
We're headed to Disney in July and have the following restaurants booked and happy to answer any questions:
Trattoria al Forno, Chefs de France, Mama Melrose Ristorante, Tusker House, Grand Floridian Cafe, Be Our Guest (Prix Fixe), Topolino’s Terrace, Chef Mickey’s, Wine Bar George, Via Napoli.