Hi James,
Welcome to planDisney! A meal with Disney royalty -- whether it's Mickey Mouse and friends, Disney princesses, the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood or other beloved characters -- is a great way to start your day during your Walt Disney World vacation.
Typically, each character meal will feature four or five characters.
From your question, it sounds like the iconic
Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary resort may be what you are looking for. This all-you-care-to-eat buffet at breakfast, lunch and dinner features the Fab Five -- Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald. The friends, decked out in their chef togs, visit each table to greet guests. It's a fun space, with the monorail passing over the restaurant and through the hotel above. If you're hitting Magic Kingdom after breakfast, you can be there in less than 10 minutes by walking along the sidewalk that joins the resort to the theme park.
You'll find another opportunity to have breakfast with a view with Mickey and some of his friends at
Topolino's Terrace atop the Riviera Resort. There, the head mouse typically is joined by Minnie, Donald and Daisy, dressed in their French Riviera finest. I haven't been to this breakfast, but I love the view from Topolino's, and the Skyliner offers easy access to Epcot or Hollywood Studios.
One of my family's traditions is the character meal with Pooh and Friends at
Crystal Palace inside Magic Kingdom. We've been going there for decades to see Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore, even though our little ones are now all grown up.
If you are interested in princesses, your options include
Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom and
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway pavilion at Epcot. Both feature four to five princesses and are served family style.
Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale put on their farming duds for the family-style meals at
Garden Grill in Epcot. That rotating restaurant looks down over the Living with the Land boat ride. And over at the Polynesian Village Resort, the
Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch is one of my favorites and includes Mickey and Pluto in their Hawaiian best.
You also will find character breakfasts at
1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian,
Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort,
Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios, and
Tusker House in Animal Kingdom.
Character meals are quite popular, so I recommend making your dining reservations as early as you can up to 60 days in advance. And please note that, if the restaurant is in a theme park, you will need valid tickets for that park and a theme park reservation if one is required.
No matter which you choose, James, you are sure to meet, greet, and eat with a number of Disney favorites. I hope this helps you choose the one with the right characters and location for your family.
Wilma