Hi there Brielyn,
Welcome to planDisney! I'm so glad you stopped by with your question and I'm thrilled to hear you're planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth in a few months. It'll be here before you know!
When it comes to costs associated with various dining locations, my experience has been that the prices are fixed - whether that's with
Quick Service,
Fine Dining, or
Character Dining.
Specifically with Character Dining, there are currently four options located around the Disneyland Resort as detailed on the
Character Dining overview page. The cost for the meals is set to a fixed price for adults and children aged 3-9 regardless of how much is eaten. Personally, I think of it more as a "cost of entry" into the Character Dining experience. It's certainly something my wife and I have had to weigh in the past when deciding whether to do Character Dining or not since our kids are known to be picky eaters.
One suggestion I would add for you would be to check the
Special Diets page as it might be helpful to reach out to the Special Diets team to inquire more with the specific details of your situation.
If you decide to meet characters in other ways, keep in mind that the
Disneyland Resort mobile app is a wonderful resource to get more information on all the character experiences planned around the parks - including general locations of where to find them and often even time periods to expect them there. Just tap the "Map" tab in the app and then select "Characters" in the top selection bar. I like to then tap the "Show List" button to easily scroll through all the characters and see the details of how to best make sure I can cross their path.
Thanks again for your question, Brielyn! I hope you and your daughter have a wonderful time making new magical memories together at the Disneyland Resort this spring.
Have a Magical Day,
Greg