Hi Valerie!
Welcome to planDisney! Thanks for stopping by with a great question about visiting with little ones! As a mom of three, our family has been visiting Walt Disney World Resort for over a decade and there is no such thing as being too young or too old to make the most of each magical visit!
Valerie, currently children under the age of three are considered special "Guests of Mickey" and do not have to pay for admission to the theme parks or to dine at buffet or other all-you-care-to-enjoy locations, which includes most
character meals. Once a child turns three, they would need to pay children's pricing for tickets and these dining options. If you are ordering from Quick-Service locations, snack carts, and Table-Service restaurants where you order by the item, children under 3 are welcome to share a plate with others at the table, but you must pay for their selections if they would like their own meals.
Since many character dining locations allow children under 3 to eat for free these are the perfect spot for families with toddlers! Not only can you enjoy a wonderful meal, but you get the chance to meet several characters without waiting in lines at the parks.
Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort is always a popular choice as you can usually find Mickey and his best pals greeting guests here. The close proximity to Magic Kingdom Park also makes it an easy location to access regardless of which hotel you are staying in. One of my favorites is
Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT. While character appearances are always subject to change, typically you can find Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale here wearing their best "farmer" attire. I really enjoy the food here as well as the fact that it is all served family style so I don't have to juggle three kids at a buffet while also trying to get a plate for me too! If you're traveling with a princess fan, you'll want to check out
Cinderella's Royal Table at Magic Kingdom Park,
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT, or
1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. It is important to note that Cinderella's Royal Table is a plated meal so children under 3 can share a plate with an adult or they would need to pay children's pricing if they would like their own meal.
Advanced dining reservations are available and highly recommended for character dining, but if you don't see the reservation you were hoping for, I encourage you to keep checking. Plans change often for guests and I've been able to grab some great reservations over the years just days ahead of my trip. You can also check
Mobile Dine Walk-up Availability in your
My Disney Experience Mobile App to see if you can join a waitlist for any Table-Service restaurant.
Valerie, as my friend Princess Tiana would say, you're "Almost There!" I hope you enjoy a wonderful vacation at Walt Disney World Resort and please stop by to see us again here at planDisney if you have any other questions!
See ya real soon!
Kristi