Does Disney do dining with characters?

Introduce your favorite characters to our Disney Characters as you enjoy a terrific meal at both Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort.



Yes, character dining is a cornerstone of the Disney experience at both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. In 2026, these experiences remain highly popular, allowing guests to enjoy a meal while characters visit each table for photos and autographs. Iconic locations include Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort (featuring the "Fab Five"), Cinderella’s Royal Table inside the Magic Kingdom castle, and Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera Resort for breakfast. In California, Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel and Napa Rose for the Princess Breakfast are top choices. Due to high demand, reservations are essentially mandatory and open 60 days in advance; they often sell out within minutes of the window opening. While these meals are significantly more expensive than standard dining, they offer a relaxed way to meet multiple characters without waiting in long outdoor park lines.

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How Much Does It Cost To Do Princess Dining At Walt Disney World? Scroll down for a full pricing table, however the minimum price for dining is $34 for a child and an adult $53. The maximum is $47 for child and $79 for adults.

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Cinderella's Royal Table. Perhaps the most popular Disney princess restaurant, Cinderella's Royal Table is the quintessential princess experience. Located inside Cinderella's castle at Magic Kingdom, guests can choose to dine with characters for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

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Cinderella's Royal Table is a great way to interact with most of the popular Disney princess characters, but it is also one of the more expensive options. Lunch and dinner start at $67 at the time of writing, plus tax and gratuity, compared to 1900 Park Fare's dinner prices that start at $60.

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Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures. Treat your child to an unforgettable 3-course breakfast and enchanting encounters with some favorite Disney Princesses. A valid, accepted credit card number is required at the time of booking.

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The cost of gratuities is not included in the Disney Dining Plan. Although you are not paying cash for your meal, you should tip your server as if you were.

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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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How long do character meals take? 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.

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Chef Mickey's is located in Disney's Contemporary Resort. Not only do you not need a park ticket, but you do not need to be a Guest of that resort hotel to dine at Chef Mickey's! As long as you are lucky enough to score a reservation at this popular character dining location, you can dine at the restaurant!

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If you're a family of five, this means a five dollar tip for your housekeeper each day. You're supposed to leave the tip separately each day, rather than at the end of your stay, because there likely will be different people cleaning your room over the course of your visit.

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I go for the overall experience. I love seeing my kids light up when interacting with characters, who take their time at each table. A lot of guests rush through long lists of to-dos at Disney World. For me, character dining is about slowing down and savoring that iconic Disney magic.

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It is entirely up to you how long you spend at a Disney Character Breakfast. The one at Crystal Palace is a buffet, so you can get your food immediately and begin eating. However, if you want to spend time with the fabulous Characters, then it will probably take longer than the allotted 45 minutes.

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Due to the popularity of character dining, reservations a near imperative. Reservations can currently be made up to 60 days in advance, which you can do on the Walt Disney World website. As with all table service meals, to book a character meal, you must provide Disney with a credit card number.

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Princess Cruises is smart casual, so pack clothing that adheres to that guideline. On the informal side of things, both men and women may want to pack away breezy shirts, comfortable sandals and shorts for the day, while they can opt for a sweatshirt or windbreaker to help them stay warm if temperatures drop.

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