Disney Dining: Where the Magic Meets the Menu

By now, you’ve probably figured out that I love food. Planning every meal, snack, and treat is a huge part of our Disney vacations. I get butterflies as our 60-day booking window approaches, and there’s a very real sense of accomplishment when I manage to snag all the reservations we’re hoping for. I’ve probably read the menu for nearly every restaurant on Disney property, and I definitely have a running list of bucket-list dishes I’m excited to try.

Disney offers several different types of dining experiences, and understanding the differences can help you decide what works best for your family.

Quick Service

Quick-service dining is Disney’s version of fast food, although the quality and variety are often much better than you might expect. Most locations offer a selection of entrees, kids’ meals with interchangeable sides and drinks, and a variety of snacks and desserts.

You can simply walk up and order at the counter, then receive a notification on your phone when your food is ready. You can also use Mobile Order through the My Disney Experience app, which can be a huge time-saver.

For example, imagine you’re waiting in line for Slinky Dog Dash and the kids are starting to get hangry. You can place a mobile order for Woody’s Lunch Box before you even board the ride, and by the time you get off, your food may already be waiting for you. (And in my opinion, you can never go wrong with Totchos.)

Another advantage of quick-service dining is flexibility. If you’re looking for a lighter meal, it’s easy to share entrees, grab a snack instead of a full meal, or mix and match items without feeling like you’re ordering outside the norm.

Table Service

Table-service restaurants are Disney’s sit-down dining locations and require reservations for the most popular options. These restaurants range from casual family meals with à la carte menus to family-style feasts and full buffets.

This is usually the route our family takes because we appreciate the opportunity to sit down, cool off, and recharge in the air conditioning. After hours of walking, riding attractions, and racing from one Lightning Lane to the next, a relaxed meal can be the perfect reset.

Some table-service restaurants may have reservations available a few days before your trip or even the same day, but many of the most popular locations book up well in advance. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of Disney’s 60-day dining reservation window.

Guests staying at a Disney resort can make dining reservations for their entire stay (up to 10 days) beginning 60 days before check-in. Guests staying off-property can also book 60 days in advance, but reservations open one day at a time as each date reaches the 60-day mark.

Character Dining

Character dining combines a meal with the opportunity to meet Disney characters without waiting in traditional character lines. These experiences are among the most sought-after dining reservations at Walt Disney World and are often some of the most expensive as well.

Each park offers at least one character dining experience, and several Disney resorts host character meals too. Depending on which characters your family is hoping to meet, choosing the right restaurant can be a great way to check multiple character interactions off your list while enjoying a meal.

Many locations feature the classic gang—Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto—while others focus on princesses or unique character experiences. If there’s a specific character your child is hoping to meet, it’s worth researching ahead of time and being ready to book as soon as reservations open.

Keep in mind that character appearances can change and are never guaranteed, but the following are the characters most commonly seen at each location:

Magic Kingdom

Be Our Guest — The Beast

Cinderella’s Royal Table — Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, Jasmine

The Crystal Palace — Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore

EPCOT

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall — Tiana, Snow White, Ariel, Aurora, Belle

Garden Grill Restaurant — Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood & Vine — Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto

Animal Kingdom

Tusker House Restaurant — Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Daisy

Disney Resort Hotels

1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian Resort & Spa) — Tiana, Mirabel, Aladdin, Cinderella

Story Book Dining at Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge) — Snow White, The Evil Queen, and select dwarfs

Cape May Cafe (Beach Club Resort) — Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy

Chef Mickey’s (Contemporary Resort) — Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto

‘Ohana Breakfast (Polynesian Village Resort) — Mickey, Pluto, Lilo, Stitch

Topolino’s Terrace (Riviera Resort) — Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald

Character dining can be a fantastic use of both your time and money if meeting characters is a priority for your family. Instead of waiting in multiple character lines throughout the parks, you can enjoy a meal while the characters come to you. For many families, that convenience alone makes these experiences well worth the cost.