Hi Cyerra!
Welcome to planDisney! My kids are around the same age as yours and character dining is a must-do when we visit Walt Disney World. What a special way to celebrate your daughter's birthday with the characters she loves! There are several
character dining options at the Disney Resorts. These reservations are not limited to only guests staying at the hotels, so you’ll get to choose which dining option sounds best for your family.
There are a few restaurants that only offer character dining during breakfast.
‘Ohana at the Polynesian hosts the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch, along with an appearance from Mickey.
Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club has Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast. My family enjoyed visiting with Minnie and her friends in their best beach outfits last year.
Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends at Topolino’s Terrace at Riviera Resort is not to be missed. Mickey and his friends show off their artistic side during this meal, and the views surrounding Riviera Resort are incredible.
Story Book Dining at Artist Point in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offers character dining at dinner only. This meal showcases character visits from Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy, and an opportunity to meet with The Queen. Sounds like the perfect meal if your daughter is a fan of Snow White!
Some restaurants offer character dining at breakfast and dinner, so you can choose which menu sounds more appetizing! At
Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Mickey and his friends cook breakfast and dinner buffets AND visit your table in between!
1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort also has breakfast and dinner buffets with characters your daughter may love. My family also experienced this breakfast last year; we met Mirabel, Tiana, Aladdin, and Cinderella. There was a wonderful wishing ceremony during our meal, which will give your 4-year-old a chance to make a magical birthday wish! (My youngest wished to swim in the resort pool, and his wish came true later that day!)
Ultimately, when planning a character meal for my young kids, the menu plays a big role in our choice. We’ve gone through some picky-eating phases so buffets offered a greater selection for my kids to choose from. For other families, characters may be the deciding factor in which restaurant they visit. You know your daughter best, but I hope my breakdown of offerings gives you a good starting point to make your decision.
You can make dining reservations starting 60 days out. Character dining can be popular so you’ll want to book once it becomes available. And, there are several locations to choose from if you decide to have a character meal within the parks!
I hope this helped, Cyerra! Your daughter’s birthday celebration at Disney World will be magical. If you have any more questions while you plan, please
come back to see me at planDisney!
A dream is a wish your heart makes,
Kaitlin