Can you do character dining without a reservation?

We'll go through an overview of each experience below, grouped by location, as well as our top tips for making the most out of your character dining experience. Remember that valid park admission and a park reservation are required to dine inside the theme parks.



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Meeting characters can be an exciting part of many people's vacations, and luckily, you don't need to have a park ticket in order to do it. One of the best ways to meet characters outside of the Disney World theme parks is by booking a character dining experience.

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Reservations can be booked online or by phone up to 60 days in advance. Be sure to create a My Disney Experience account and link a credit card to secure the booking before the reservation window opens. Online reservations open at 5:45 AM EST.

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Disney Character Dining is simply a table-service (sit-down) meal where Disney characters come directly to your table while you're eating. You can take pictures. You can get their autograph. You can even ask them those heart-burning questions you've long wondered about — like asking Snow White what's in Gooseberry Pie.

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In our humble frogpinion, these character experiences at the Disney World Resort hotels are every bit as special as those in the theme parks. You don't have to be staying at the host resort to hop over for a meal.

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Book as early as possible! Be sure to create a My Disney Experience account and link a credit card to secure the booking before the reservation window opens. Online reservations open at 5:45 AM EST. Parties of 9 or more will need to call the reservation hotline, which opens at 7:00 AM EST, at (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463).

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To dine at an in-park table-service restaurant, you need a confirmed dining reservation for the total number of Guests—regardless of age, plus a theme park reservation and valid admission for the same park on that same date for each Guest ages 3 and up.

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You will be happy to hEAR that Disney characters are not restricted to signing only the autograph books sold at the theme parks and Disney Springs. Characters are actually able to sign most items, with a few restrictions.

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Most characters at Disney can sign autographs, but not all. Here's a list of characters you will normally find at Disney, including at character meals, and if they can sign autographs. This list will be updated when characters change at either park.

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For those new to Disney travel, “character meals” are dining experiences in which Disney characters meet and greet guests in the restaurant. Disney pals generally travel from table to table, stopping to interact with each party for a hug, photo, autograph, or possibly a conversation.

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You'll want to budget about 90 minutes (plus travel time) for your meal. That gives you time to check in, be seated, and then time to eat and see all the characters without racing through anything. It may take less time than that, but for planning purposes, 90 minutes is a good rule of thumb.

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