{"id":59493,"date":"2018-01-18T08:00:05","date_gmt":"2018-01-18T13:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=59493"},"modified":"2022-04-08T23:58:03","modified_gmt":"2022-04-09T03:58:03","slug":"walt-disney-world-character-meals-ranked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/walt-disney-world-character-meals-ranked\/","title":{"rendered":"Walt Disney World Character Meals Ranked"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Character-Meals-Ranked.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59497\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Character-Meals-Ranked.jpg\" alt=\"Walt Disney World Character Meals Ranked\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Character-Meals-Ranked.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Character-Meals-Ranked-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/character\/\">Character meals<\/a> are an essential part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/\">Walt Disney World<\/a> experience for many families.\u00a0 With the number and variety of character meals now available, and the high cost of each one, you have to make difficult choices.\u00a0 In this post, I rank each of the character meals at the Walt Disney World resorts and theme parks on the basis of food quality, character experience, location, and overall theme and atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p>Notes about each category:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Food: This is quite subjective based on personal tastes. I generally take the stance that meals served family style (food delivered to your table) are a bit better than buffets, as your food is more likely to be fresher, served at proper temperatures, and comes with a Cast Member\u2019s service. Also taken into account is the variety and uniqueness of the food at each location.<\/li>\n<li>Characters: In this category, the time spent waiting for characters, uniqueness of the characters in the resort, and how characters interact with you are key factors.<\/li>\n<li>Location: Restaurants located in the theme parks require park admission, and those in the resorts come with transportation challenges.\u00a0 I weigh these together to come up with my score.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere: How well does the restaurant execute their theme, and is the theme itself worthy?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Methodology:\u00a0Each category is ranked on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best.\u00a0 The total score is used to rank them.\u00a0 In the case of ties, I use overall cost-to-value to break them.<\/p>\n<p><strong>#1 and #2 (Tie) \u2013 Tusker House and \u2018Ohana<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With the higher variety of food items, I give the edge to Tusker House over \u2018Ohana.<\/p>\n<p><strong>#1 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/tusker-house-menu\/\">Tusker House<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Buffet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Tusker-House-Buffet.jpg\" alt=\"Tusker House Buffet\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Tusker-House-Buffet.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Tusker-House-Buffet-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The beautiful buffet area at Tusker House in Disney&#8217;s Animal Kingdom<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Food (5):\u00a0 Food is excellent here, with enough unique African flavors (beef bobotie at breakfast, basmati rice and curry chicken and curries at lunch and dinner) and traditional offerings (eggs and waffles at breakfast, spit-roasted chicken and roasted pork at lunch and dinner) to please most palates.<\/li>\n<li>Characters (4):\u00a0 Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Daisy.\u00a0 The first three are found in most of the theme parks and other character meals, but Daisy is not found quite as easily.\u00a0 Characters here are handled quite well and make the rounds to all tables on a regular rotation.<\/li>\n<li>Location (4):\u00a0 Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom.\u00a0 Being in a theme park makes this relatively accessible, though not all families visit Animal Kingdom, and it is only accessible by bus or car.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (5):\u00a0 Tusker House is nestled in Africa, and the details inside and outside are extremely well done.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 18<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#2 \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/ohana-menu\/\">Ohana<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast Only (Dinner is not a character meal.)<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Family Style<\/li>\n<li>Characters (4):\u00a0 Stich greets you with a photo opportunity. Lilo, Mickey, and Pluto then walk around to the tables.\u00a0 This is the only place on property to meet Lilo on a regular basis, and Mickey and Pluto don their Pacific island garb.\u00a0 Interactions are fairly standard, though the characters do lead the kids in a parade around the dining area.<\/li>\n<li>Food (4):\u00a0 Breakfast favorites like Mickey waffles, eggs, and fried potatoes are served alongside delicious pineapple-coconut bread and Hawaiian-style ham with pineapple compote.\u00a0 Nothing stands out as too unique, but there is enough variety here to please most palettes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59505\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Ohana-Skillet.png\" alt=\"Ohana Skillet\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Ohana-Skillet.png 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Ohana-Skillet-400x300.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The skillet at &#8216;Ohana in Disney&#8217;s Polynesian Village Resort<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Location (5):\u00a0 Disney\u2019s Polynesian Resort and Village is the best themed resort in all of Disney World, and dining here gives you a taste of this quintessential Disney experience.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to get here from the Magic Kingdom via monorail or boat, and an easy walk from the Transportation and Ticket Center.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (5):\u00a0 The Polynesian has an extremely well-executed theme, and the atmosphere inside \u2018Ohana matches it well, from the background music and d\u00e9cor to the relaxed vibe and view of the rest of the resort (and Magic Kingdom in the distance).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 18<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#3 and #4 (Tie) \u2013 Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and Garden Grill<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With the more unique food offerings, I give the edge in value to Akershus.<\/p>\n<p><strong>#3 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/akershus-menu\/\">Akershus Royal Banquet Hall<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Buffet\/Family Style (breakfast); Table Service (dinner)<\/li>\n<li>Characters (4):\u00a0 Meeting five of Disney\u2019s princesses (Belle, Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, and Snow White) at one time is a great way for the prince and princesses in your own family to meet them all in one place.\u00a0 None of the characters are unique to this restaurant, but having them all here is convenient and the interactions are top-notch.\u00a0 There is also a parade through the restaurant led by the Disney royalty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59496\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Akershus.png\" alt=\"Aurora at Akershus\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Akershus.png 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Akershus-400x300.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Meeting Aurora at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Food (5):\u00a0 Breakfast has quite a few common favorites like scrambled eggs and sausage, but it also has some unique offerings like smoked pork loin and peppered mackerel.\u00a0 Dinner starts with a \u201cTaste of Norway\u201d with Norwegian meats, seafood, and cheeses followed by entrees like Norwegian meatballs, salmon, and stuffed pasta.\u00a0 There is enough typical American-type fare on the menu to please most palates, but also quite a few authentic and unique offerings that make this interesting.<\/li>\n<li>Location (4):\u00a0 Epcot (Norway Pavilion).\u00a0 Being in the middle of world cultures in Epcot makes this a win.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (4):\u00a0 The Norwegian architecture feels authentic, though the inside can\u00a0seem a bit dark and cramped.\u00a0 And I\u2019m not sure how Disney princesses fit into the Norwegian culture, so they do seem a bit out of place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 17<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#4 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/garden-grill-menu\/\">Garden Grill<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Family Style<\/li>\n<li>Characters (4):\u00a0 Mickey is in his farmer gear here, making a unique photo opportunity.\u00a0 Pluto, Chip, and Dale also make their way around the restaurant.\u00a0 Chip \u2018n\u2019 Dale are quite lively and mischievous, making this meal great fun for all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59502\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Garden-Grill-Mickey.jpg\" alt=\"Mickey Mouse at Garden Grill\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Garden-Grill-Mickey.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Garden-Grill-Mickey-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>Meeting Mickey at Garden Grill in Epcot&#8217;s Land Pavilion<\/i><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Food (3):\u00a0 Served family style at your own table, servers bring you eggs, sticky buns, Mickey waffles, and tater tots at breakfast and turkey, pot roast, mashed potatoes, and stuffing at lunch and dinner.\u00a0 Nothing inspired, but having your own serving dishes is nice.<\/li>\n<li>Location (5):\u00a0 Epcot (Future World).\u00a0 The restaurant rotates very slowly inside the Land pavilion.\u00a0 At one point in the rotation, you overlook the Living with the Land ride.\u00a0 The layout of the restaurant also means you don\u2019t sit among a bunch of other tables, so often you feel like the characters are there just for you.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (5):\u00a0 Nestled on the main level of the Land pavilion, the dress of the characters, the agricultural-based menu, and overlook of the Living with the Land attraction, the theme is carried out well at Garden Grill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 17<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#5, and #6 (Tie) \u2013 Cinderella\u2019s Royal Table and 1900 Park Fare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Coming in at two credits on the Disney Dining Plan, Cindy\u2019s table loses out to the more affordable 1900 Park Fare.<\/p>\n<p><strong>#5 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/1900-park-fare-menu\/\">1900 Park Fare<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast, Brunch, and Dinner<\/p>\n<p>Style:\u00a0 Buffet<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Characters (5):\u00a0 For breakfast, you get a cadre of British characters in the morning, with the likes of Mary Poppins, Pooh, Tigger, Alice, and the Mad Hatter.\u00a0 You can meet these characters elsewhere in Disney World, but dining in the elegance Grand Floridian and meeting Disney\u2019s finest Brits gives this one an air of sophistication.\u00a0 The characters of <em>Cinderella <\/em>come to your table for dinner: Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Drizella, and Anastasia typically. On rare occasions, when the stepsisters aren\u2019t available, you may get the mice. I elevate this to a 5 because the stepsisters interact with each other and are an absolute hoot, which you won\u2019t find at any other character meal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/1900-Park-Fare.jpg\" alt=\"Cinderella's stepsister at 1900 Park Fare\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/1900-Park-Fare.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/1900-Park-Fare-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Meeting Cinderella&#8217;s stepsisters is a hoot at 1900 Park Fare<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Food (3):\u00a0 The buffet here has made-to-order omelets and eggs, pancakes, cheese blintz, and a ham-carving station at breakfast.\u00a0 The dinner buffet features salads, Mongolian beef stir fry, roast pork loin, and a kid\u2019s station.\u00a0 There is quite a bit of variety to satisfy most, but nothing is all that memorable.<\/li>\n<li>Location (5):\u00a0 Disney\u2019s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is an easy monorail or boat ride from the Magic Kingdom.\u00a0 Entering the lobby is an experience unto itself, so be sure to leave enough time to explore the beauty there, which might include hearing the orchestra or pianist that often play there.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (3):\u00a0 The Grand Floridian itself has a upscale theme, but it doesn\u2019t seem to carry over quite as well to the restaurant.\u00a0 Like most character meals, it can get a bit loud and chaotic, which doesn\u2019t seem as authentic to the grandeur that is befitting of the Grand Flo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 16<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#6 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/cinderellas-royal-table-menu\/\">Cinderella\u2019s Royal Table<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Table Service<\/li>\n<li>Characters (3): You start out by meeting Cinderella in the lower level and posing for a family photo.\u00a0 You are then escorted up the stairs to your table where you will meet Aurora, Jasmine, Ariel, and Snow White.\u00a0 Having all these Disney princesses in one place makes this very convenient for the young ones in your family who can\u2019t get enough of them, but they can be met individually at other locations (and some of them at the other princess meal on property, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall).\u00a0 Interactions are OK, but seemed rushed so they can get as many people in and out as they can.<\/li>\n<li>Food (3):\u00a0 This is the most expensive character meal on property, yet it is also the most unimaginative menu.\u00a0 Breakfast features pastries and traditional offerings like eggs, stuffed French toast, and baked quiche.\u00a0 Dinner has a braised pork shank, beef and shrimp, and pan-seared chicken.\u00a0 The food quality just doesn\u2019t merit the price paid.<\/li>\n<li>Location (5):\u00a0 Magic Kingdom (Cinderella Castle).\u00a0 There probably isn\u2019t a more perfect setting to meet Disney royalty.\u00a0 Eating in Cinderella\u2019s castle and seeing views of the Magic Kingdom from on high can\u2019t be beat.\u00a0 (And it\u2019s also why they can charge you exorbitant prices!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CRT.png\" alt=\"Cinderella's Royal Table Dining Room\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CRT.png 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/CRT-400x300.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The regal dining room at Cinderella&#8217;s Royal Table<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (5):\u00a0 You can\u2019t beat the atmosphere of dining on the upper floor the icon of all the Disney parks.\u00a0 The regal announcements of the princesses entering one at a time adds to the pomp and circumstance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 16<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/crystal-palace-menu\/\">The Crystal Palace<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Buffet<\/li>\n<li>Characters (4):\u00a0 Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore.\u00a0 While you can meet Pooh and Tigger in a few other places, this is the only location for Piglet and Eeyore.\u00a0 These characters come around at reasonably predictable intervals, and Tigger is quite playful!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59501\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Crystal-Palace.jpg\" alt=\"Eeyore at Crystal Palace\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Crystal-Palace.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Crystal-Palace-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Meeting Eyeore at The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Food (3):\u00a0 Breakfast includes an egg station, pancakes and waffles, and breakfast meats and potatoes.\u00a0 The lunch\/dinner menu features salads, chicken, carved meats, and peel-and-eat shrimp. It\u2019s a step up from some of the buffet character meals, but is nothing to write home about.<\/li>\n<li>Location (5):\u00a0 Magic Kingdom.\u00a0 Being in the world\u2019s most popular theme park makes this an easy stop for most guests.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (3):\u00a0 The Crystal Palace seems befitting of a bit of grandeur that just isn\u2019t present here, with a rather loud, open, and sometimes cramped, setting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 15<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#8 and #9 (Tie) \u2013 Trattoria al Forno and Mickey\u2019s Backyard BBQ<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mickey comes in at 2 dining credits on the Disney Dining Plan, so the edge here goes to the Bon Voyage breakfast at the Boardwalk.<\/p>\n<p><strong>#8 Trattoria al Forno<\/strong> (Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Table Service<\/li>\n<li>Characters (5):\u00a0 This is Disney\u2019s newest character meal offering and they score points for featuring two of the princes, neither of whom is found anywhere else in Disney World outside of special events and parties.\u00a0 Ariel and Prince Eric along with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider visit your tables.\u00a0 Ariel leads a \u201cnapkin parade\u201d around the restaurant.\u00a0 The interactions with the characters, since they can all talk, is also quite good.<\/li>\n<li>Food (4):\u00a0 You start with a plate of pastries and either a fruit salad or yogurt parfait, then you get a choice of an entr\u00e9e with a fancy name like King Triton\u2019s Shipwreck al Forno (a calzone filled with eggs, meats, and cheeses) and Tangled Eggs (eggs, gravy, breakfast potatoes, and bacon or sausage).\u00a0 Having table service rather than the buffets of most character meals is a plus.<\/li>\n<li>Location (3):\u00a0 Disney\u2019s Boardwalk Inn is a beautiful resort, but unless you are staying in an Epcot-area resort, getting there will take some time, either by taking a bus to Epcot and walking to World Showcase and out of the International Gateway to the Boardwalk or by getting directly to the Boardwalk by car.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (2):\u00a0 This is an Italian restaurant for dinner, and the d\u00e9cor reflects that; the Disney characters don\u2019t really fit in with the theme, so it loses points here.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 14<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>#9 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/mickeys-backyard-bbq-menu\/\">Mickey\u2019s Backyard BBQ <\/a><\/strong>(select nights, seasonal)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Dinner<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Buffet\/Dinner Show<\/li>\n<li>Characters (4):\u00a0 Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Chip \u2018n\u2019 Dale are dressed up in their hoedown garb.\u00a0 Chip \u2018n\u2019 Dale in particular are fun characters to meet, boosting this score up a bit.\u00a0 The BBQ is also a dinner show, with a live country-western band entertaining everyone.\u00a0 Those who book Category 1 seating get to meet the characters before the rest of the folks are admitted.<\/li>\n<li>Food (3):\u00a0 Fort Wilderness food is some of the tastiest on property if you\u2019re into ribs, fried chicken, and corn-on-the-cob, and you get all that plus hamburgers and hot dogs at the Backyard BBQ.\u00a0 Adults also get unlimited beer, wine, and sangria.\u00a0 It\u2019s served in a buffet in the hottest times of the year, however, so sometimes it\u2019s difficult to have a hearty appetite in the heat and humidity.<\/li>\n<li>Location (3):\u00a0 Ft. Wilderness Campground itself is a beautiful place, and this barbeque fits in quite nicely.\u00a0 Where it gets knocked down is in the length of time it takes to get there. If you drive your own car or take a ride share like Uber or Lyft, you will end in the main parking lot of Ft. Wilderness; from there, you take the internal bus to the other end of the property.\u00a0 You can take a boat from Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary, or Wilderness Lodge; the dock is a short walk from the dining location.\u00a0 From all other resorts, you must take bus or boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom and boat there, or take it to another theme park and transfer to a Ft. Wilderness bus.\u00a0 \u00a0The only way to get there using one form of transportation if you\u2019re not staying at the Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge is to use a Minnie Van with its extra cost (Minnie Vans are the only form of transportation that can drive directly to this location within Ft. Wilderness.).<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (4):\u00a0 Other than the intense heat of the summer, the atmosphere of the outdoor BBQ is done very well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 14<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#10 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/chef-mickeys-menu\/\">Chef Mickey\u2019s<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served: \u00a0Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Buffet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59498\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Chef-Mickeys.png\" alt=\"Chef Mickey's Entrance\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Chef-Mickeys.png 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Chef-Mickeys-400x300.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Location in the Contemporary Resort is the best thing going for Chef Mickey&#8217;s.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Characters (3): \u00a0Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto.\u00a0 This is the only location where you get the Fab 5 all in one place, and here they are dressed in their kitchen garb.\u00a0 Since you can meet these characters at a number of locations, I knock it down a peg.\u00a0 This restaurant has also had problems in recent years with getting all characters to each table in a timely manner.<\/li>\n<li>Food (2): \u00a0Food here is generally considered to be bland and uninspired. Breakfast features Mickey waffles and cheesy potato casserole; brunch has a combination of breakfast and dinner dishes; and dinner has peel &amp; eat shrimp, a carving station, and kids\u2019 macaroni and cheese.<\/li>\n<li>Location (5): Disney\u2019s Contemporary Resort.\u00a0 The location is what sells Chef Mickey\u2019s, as it is an easy walk from the Magic Kingdom and is on the monorail line.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (3):\u00a0 Chef Mickey\u2019s should be the ultimate experience.\u00a0 You get the Fab 5 characters; you get the monorail running up above; there is a buzz about the whole place.\u00a0 But there is something very plain about the overall execution and atmosphere that leaves me wanting it to be more than what it is.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 13<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#11 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/cape-may-cafe-menu\/\">Cape May Caf\u00e9 <\/a><\/strong>(Minnie\u2019s Beach Bash Breakfast)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast Only (Dinner is not a character meal.)<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Buffet<\/li>\n<li>Characters (3):\u00a0 Minnie, Donald, and Goofy in their bathing suits, which is cute, but with only 3 characters that you can meet all over Disney World, this scores lower with me.<\/li>\n<li>Food (3):\u00a0 You get your standard Disney breakfast buffet here with pastries, cheese, sliced meats, and Mickey waffles.\u00a0 A lot of variety to please the masses, but nothing memorable.<\/li>\n<li>Location (3): Disney\u2019s Beach Club Resort is beautiful, but a bit of a pain to get to early in the morning unless you are staying at an Epcot-area resort, when it is an easy walk.\u00a0 Getting here from other Disney resorts requires a bus to a theme park, then a transfer to Beach Club.\u00a0 You are better off driving yourself or using a ride-share service like Uber, Lyft, or a Minnie Van.<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (3):\u00a0 The atmosphere of the Beach Club carries over nicely into their restaurant with pastels and beach items (umbrellas, beach chairs).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 12<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#12 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/walt-disney-world\/dining\/menus\/hollywood-vine-menu\/\">Hollywood &amp; Vine<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meals Served:\u00a0 Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner<\/li>\n<li>Style:\u00a0 Buffet<\/li>\n<li>Characters (3):\u00a0 Breakfast is called Disney Jr. Play &amp; Dine, and you can meet Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Jake, and Handy Manny. This is the only character meal featuring Disney Jr. characters (though you can also meet most of them within Hollywood Studios).\u00a0 Lunch and dinner features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy in seasonal clothes, which is cool depending on the season, but you can meet these characters in many locations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-59503\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Hollywood-And-Vine.png\" alt=\"Jake at Hollywood and Vine\" width=\"550\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Hollywood-And-Vine.png 550w, https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Hollywood-And-Vine-400x300.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Meeting Jake at Hollywood &amp; Vine in Disney&#8217;s Hollywood Studios<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Food (2):\u00a0 The menu here is uninspired, catering to the lowest common denominator.\u00a0 An omelet station and pancakes\/waffles at breakfast and salads and chicken and carved meats at lunch and dinner are Disney\u2019s standard fare<\/li>\n<li>Location (4): Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios.\u00a0 Being in a theme park makes this accessible, though not all families visit Hollywood Studios (at least until Star Wars: Galaxy\u2019s Edge opens!).<\/li>\n<li>Theme\/Atmosphere (2):\u00a0 You are supposed to be in a diner-like restaurant in Hollywood, but the result is a fairly plain, run-of-the-mill restaurant with nothing memorable.\u00a0 The mix of characters from different parts of the Disney company doesn\u2019t compliment the theme either.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Overall Score: 11<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>Walt Disney World has two other character meals on property that are not reviewed here, as they are not Disney-operated and have limited availability:\u00a0 Garden Grove at the Swan (character meals for dinner daily, breakfast on weekends only) and Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals at Ravello at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando (Thursdays and Saturdays and Tuesdays during school breaks)<\/p>\n<p><em>Do you agree with our character meal rankings?\u00a0 Share your thoughts and experiences on Disney character meals in the comments below!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Did you like this article? Make sure to share it with your friends! Check below for easy ways to share!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Incoming search terms:<\/h4><ul><li>are there character dining experiences not disney<\/li><li>disney world anastasia and drizella kiss<\/li><li>https:\/\/www themouseforless com\/blog_world\/walt-disney-world-character-meals-ranked\/<\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Character meals are an essential part of the Walt Disney World experience for many families.\u00a0 With the number and variety of character meals now available, and the high cost of each one, you have to make difficult choices.\u00a0 In this post, I rank each of the character meals at the Walt Disney World resorts and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":59497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1688,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wdw-dining","category-walt-disney-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59493"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59715,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59493\/revisions\/59715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}