Top Five Character Meals at WDW

These are MVT by Candice's picks for Top 5 Character Meals:

5.  Disney Jr. Play 'n Dine at Hollywood & Vine 

Hollywood Studios

This character dining experience is such a treat for the younger kids who spend their days watching Jake, Sophia and Doc McStuffins!  This restaurant offers the Disney Jr. Play 'n Dine character meal for breakfast and lunch.  I recommend making the earliest breakfast reservation possible (usually 1 hour prior to park opening).  This allows you to enter the park early (this is a great opportunity for pictures without the crowds), and you can spend more time enjoying the attractions once the park opens.  If you do have a breakfast reservation prior to park opening, you will enter the park through a special line designated for the Disney Jr. Play 'n Dine breakfast.  If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you will need to check with the front desk/concierge the day before to get the time for the "early breakfast bus," which will run early enough for you to make your reservation.

 4. The Crystal Palace - Winnie the Pooh Friendship Day Celebration

Magic Kingdom

Everyone loves a "Friendship Day Celebration!"  Especially when it's with Winnie the Pooh and his friends!  This is a great meal inside Magic Kingdom where you can just sit and relax a moment.  This is another great opportunity to get an early breakfast reservation prior to park opening, so that you can get pictures in front of Cinderella Castle without the crowds.  However, doing the early breakfast at The Crystal Palace means that you miss the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show (also known as "Rope Drop"), and it's harder to make your way to a popular attraction before the lines get long.  This location offers a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The dinner buffet is absolutely fabulous, as there is such a wonderful variety of dishes.  You can find something for even the pickiest of eaters!

3. Chef Mickey's

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Who wouldn't want a date with The Mouse, himself!?!  At Chef Mickey's you can!  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto circulate the dining room throughout your breakfast or dinner at Chef Mickey's located on the 3rd floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort.  The buffet is wonderful!  Depending on what would delight your party more, you can request to be seated with a view of the monorail which whizzes by overhead periodically, or with a view of Magic Kingdom.  There is very limited seating with these views, but it never hurts to ask!

2.  Akershus - Princess Storybook Dining

Epcot

 Akershus is located in Epcot's Norway Pavilion.  Because this restaurant is in Epcot, the attention to detail inside the restaurant is amazing.  You really feel as if you've stepped into a fairytale set in Norway.  Of course, the princesses are sure to enjoy a Royal Banquet as well, so you will have the opportunity to meet 4 or 5 princesses throughout your dining experience.  The food at this restaurant is wonderful!  It's fun to try new things without going over the top, and that is exactly what this restaurant gives you the opportunity to do.

1.  Cinderella's Royal Table

Magic Kingdom

Of course, the best place to dine like royalty, is in the castle itself!  At Cinderella's Royal Table, you are first introduced to your royal hostess, Cinderella.  Then you take an enchanting walk up a spiral staircase, complete with stained-glass windows, which opens up to the regal dining room.  Outside the dining room windows you can look over Fantasyland, and inside you can feast your eyes on the incredible details.  And don't forget to really take in that you are Eating Inside The Castle!!!  But the view isn't the only magic!  Each child is presented with a "wishing star," while boys receive a sword and girls receive a wand.  At a special moment during the meal, the lights dim and the lights dance on the ceiling while children are asked to make a wish on their star.  How fun!  Of course, several of Cinderella's friends circulate the dining room for pictures and autographs while you dine.  And any meal that ends with something as beautiful as their Signature Dessert "The Clock Strikes Twelve," surely has my vote for the number 1 character meal at Walt Disney World.

HAVE A MAGICAL DISNEY DAY!

Candice