A Complete Guide to Character Meals at Disneyland Resort

Updated March 12, 2024

For many, a visit to Disneyland isn’t complete until they share a meal with a Disney character.

I’ve researched your options, below, with details on each so that you can find the best fit for your friends and family.

If you’re considering dining with characters, read through this post and let me know what questions you have.

Basic Scoop

There are four options for character dining at the Disneyland Resort. Three are within the resort hotels and one is at Disneyland.
Theme park tickets are required to enjoy a dining option inside the park.
A hotel room stay is not requiredto enjoy a character meal at one of the DLR hotel restaurants.
Cancel within 24 hours of your reservation to avoid a penalty charge of $10 per person.
Each meal lasts approximately an hour. (With one exception.)
You will not have to pay for children under the age of 3, however, include them in your party count when making a reservation. That way, the restaurant can accommodate accurate seating for your group. Children age 2 and under can eat off your plate or you can bring food for them.
Annual Passholder and DVC discounts are available at all meals except for the Princess Breakfast Adventures option at Napa Rose.

Tips on Dining

Character meals are priced a bit higher than other meals throughout the parks, however, there is a lot to be gained with these experiences. You can avoid standing in line for signatures and photos during park times, you get personal interaction with the characters and you can often achieve a more memorable experience during character meals.
There is no need to follow characters around throughout your meal. They come to you! Be sure to pack your autograph book.
Characters vary throughout meals and there are no guarantees you will see specific ones. The only absolute is that you will see the character whose name is included in your meal’s name. IE: Goofy will be at Goofy’s Kitchen.
Small children may be overwhelmed with life size, enthusiastic characters interacting with them. Consider this before making a reservation. I’ve been at many meals over the years with kids crying because of the characters. I recommend watching YouTube videos of character meals prior to arrival if you think this might be an issue with your kids.
To ensure the most time available for rides and attractions, choose one of the three DLR hotel character dining experiences (unless you time it just perfectly – more on that later), perhaps on the day you arrive or leave. This way, you don’t interfere with precious park time.
Strollers are not permitted in any of the four restaurants with character meals. You may park your strollers outside and use a high chair when you dine.
If you are dining at one of the meals at a Disneyland Resort Hotel and driving in only for that meal, park at the hotel and ask for your ticket to be validated. You’ll receive free parking up to 3 hours with your paid meal.

Quick Reference for your Meal Options

Storytellers Cafe Breakfast – Mickey and crew in safari-esque costumes; great food

Goofy’s Kitchen Breakfast or Dinner – Your only dinner option; lots of “kid” food

Minnie’s in the Park Breakfast – Most diverse characters and most you’ll encounter at your meal; my favorite

Storyteller’s Cafe –Mickey’s Tales of Adventure

Location: Grand Californian Hotel
Menu: Breakfast every day and Brunch (Brunch is offered on select days from 11:30am-2:00pm)
Cost: American, Mexican fare ($49 for adults)
The main idea: Mickey, Minnie and friends wander while you dine on a lovely buffet
What’s unique: This option has the most high end food and it’s in the most high end setting. It’s also the only meal that has both Mickey and Minnie Mouse together.
Check out a recent visit here (late February 2020) and another before that in July of 2018 here.
In August of 2021, I reviewed this meal shortly after it reopened with Covid protocols in place. This link shares all about that experience.
Typical (but not guaranteed characters):Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip, Dale, and Pluto
Note: This is the only character meal option that does not include PhotoPass photographers. Use your phone for photos. Cast members can help!

Goofy’s Kitchen

Location: Disneyland Hotel
Menu: Breakfast and Dinner
Cost: American fare ($55.94 for adults, $33.06 for children for breakfast; $61.03 for adults and $35.60 for children for dinner) – these prices include tax and tip
The main idea: With table service and a buffet, this classic Disney character experience is a favorite because of its lively ambiance and because it’s the only option for dinner with characters.
Unfortunately, the interaction between characters and guests is limited – I believe – due to the size of this character meal. We have had brief encounters with each of them during our visits, although they did all make it to our table once.
What’s unique: This is your only opportunity for a character dinner, in or out of the parks. It is also the only place to find Goofy’s famous Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza and Mac n Cheese Pizza. Kids LOVE this option because of the huge amount of “kid food”.
Check out one of our visits from 2015 so you know what to expect. Another visit can be found here, which was in January 2017. Finally, I visited in September 2019. Find that review here.
Some people suggest that this option has gone down in quality. We usually have a good time at this meal, but encounter more characters at others. Other locations are more up to date decor wise, as well.
Typical (but not guaranteed characters): Goofy, Pluto, Chip n Dale, and Minnie

Breakfast in the Park with Minnie and Friends

Location: Disneyland, The Plaza Inn Restaurant
Menu: Breakfast
Cost: American ($41 for adults, $24 for children)
The main idea: Minnie and friends mingle at this breakfast on-site, with seating inside and out. Most people like indoor seating better because interaction is a bit more likely and weather isn’t a factor. I’ve dined outside several times and have had great experiences each time, however.
What’s unique: You can enjoy a view of the entrance to Tomorrowland while you dine and the Astro Orbitor is in view. Check out out photos for more details from arecent visit. Find more photos from another visit here. And, here. And, here.
Most people lovethis meal for both the food and interaction with characters, plus the amount of characters you’re likely to see. I average 11 character interactions each time I dine here. The three previously mentioned meals include 4-5 characters.
Typical (but not guaranteed characters):Chip n Dale, Minnie, Hook, Tigger, Eeyore, Fairy Godmother, Winnie the Pooh, Max, and Rafiki. I saw Pinocchio last visit! Others have reported seeing the mice from Cinderella. One of the penguins from Mary Poppins can be seen here sometimes.

Disney Princess Adventures at Napa Rose

My review is posted!

Visit this link for a very detailed recap of how opening day played out.

PhotoPass at Each Meal

PhotoPass photographers are at each meal with the exception of one – Storyteller’s Cafe.

They will take a few photos as you enter the character meal, but do not follow you around the restaurant taking photos of you eating or seeing characters at your table. Use your phone or camera for that.

About 2/3 of the way through your meal, a cast member will come to your table with a keepsake folder and a few prints of the best image from that first photo op. You may purchase it for around $35 or decline it.

With Genie+, the images taken at the beginning of your meal are included at no charge.

When I Recommend You Dine

Schedule your character meal for 10:00am or 10:30am. This way, after you arrive early for the morning hours to enjoy the parks with fewer crowds and less chaos, you’ll have a nice escape to a nice meal waiting for you right as the the people arrive.

You will love this break from the crowds.

This is a good way to balance out the cost of the character meals, too. Since they’re more expensive than standard dining at the parks, consider this 10:30am dining event a “brunch”. Have a granola bar/fruit/muffins, etc, on your walk to the park or in your hotel room to start the day. Enjoy a couple of hours of low lines for attractions (use my strategies here to avoid waiting more than 20 minutes for anything – with one exception) and then enjoy your “brunch” and eat lots! You’ll have worked up quite an appetite by the time you sit down.

Then, a big lunch won’t be necessary. Snack your way through the afternoon and then finish your day with dinner on site.

Some More Tips

Use the Disney Parks App to locate characters outside of your committed meal times if you don’t get to see the ones you want during your dining arrangements.
My absolute favorite character meal is theBreakfast in the Park with Minnie and Friends. Here is why: It hosts the most characters, the characters are super interactive and attentive, and it’s in the best setting, as far as I’m concerned. I also love that it’s in the park, which is super convenient.
My second favorite character meal is Mickey’s Tales of Adventure at Storyteller’s Cafe. I love that you can see Mickey and Minnie at this meal. It also has the best food of the four options. The setting is upscale and convenient in the Grand Californian Hotel.
While I list the characters you’re most likely to see at each meal, there is no guarantee that every one of these characters will greet you at your table. Characters do their best to accommodate every table, but occasionally, you might miss one. Character focused cast members are on site. If you feel that you’re not seeing enough interaction, kindly approach a cast member and ask if he or she can help. Disney wants you to have the best experience possible.
Each meal is set up a little differently. With some, you will check in and pay upon arrival. Others will include receiving the check at the end of the meal. I encourage you to leave gratuity at every character meal.
Most character meals include specific buttons designed to show you enjoyed a meal there that day. Grab one for each person in your party upon check in. If you don’t see the buttons on a basket when you check in, kindly ask a cast member for them.

Where to Go if Your Reservation is Prior to Official Park Opening

If you make your reservation prior to official park opening, you will need to take your reservation confirmation (email or via your mobile) to the gate marked for such. You will be allowed to enter for your time, even without Extra Magic Hour or Magic Morning.

Do NOT use your EMH or Magic Morning for a character meal. Save it to use another day. Find more on EMH and Magic Morning in this post.

Here is a photo of what your gate will look like:

Notes

I’m consistently updating pricing for this post. If the costs I’ve shared are not currently accurate, they will be close to them.

Leave me a comment if you have any questions. Happy to help you!

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A Complete Guide to Character Meals at Disneyland Resort – SoCal Daily (2024)