Hey there, Tara!
Tara, character dining is really close to my heart, in fact, it is something that my kiddos and I look forward to on each and every trip. I currently have a 4-year-old, and while sometimes he is a great eater, we have spells where he lives off cereal bars and yogurt for what seems like months at a time.
Tara, at a character meal, you are paying for the experience, so everyone over 3 years of age will be charged, regardless of whether or not they eat.
My best recommendation would be to book your character meal at breakfast, where your little ones can surely find something to temp their finicky appetites.
Chef Mickey's is always a popular breakfast meal and with
kid-friendly fare like Banana Bread French Toast, eggs, and fresh fruit & yogurt, you will sure to find something your little ones love.
My family's absolute favorite character meal is
Breakfast à la Art at Topolino's Terrace. I am not a huge waffle fan but the Sour Cream Waffles were easily the best that I have ever had, and my husband raved about the potatoes. For little ones, my kids enjoyed the waffle dippers where they could dunk their waffles (on a stick of course) in Nutella, syrup, and chocolate sauce. My littlest one also devored an entire plate of chocolate muffins.
If you are looking for a kid-friendly dinner for picky dinners,
The Garden Grill Restaurant is going to be your safest bet. Here, Chip, Dale, Farmer Mickey, and Pluto greet guests from a distance while you nosh on homestyle cooking like sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, and macaroni & cheese.
If your little ones do not like to sit for an extended period of time or you are looking for a little more casual fare, I would not make a reservation at either
Be Our Guest Restaurant or
Cinderella's Royal Table.
I hope that this gave you a bit of insight, Tara. Please come back here to planDisney if we can help you figure out where to play, stay, or dine at Walt Disney World Resort.
See you real soon!
Sarah B.