Welcome to planDisney, Rebecca and
Happy (early) Holidays!I'm so glad you've stopped by with your question as some pre-planning is sure to put a little extra pixie dust in your visit! Since it sounds like you've already secured your
Disney Park Pass reservation for December 25th, let's jump into making
advanced dining reservations. As Christmas day is a popular time to be at Magic Kingdom Park, I highly recommend making reservations in advance. You are able to
book dining 60 days in advance and for this date, I encourage you to set your alarm, program the coffee pot and be online before 6:00 AM to book a table. If you are a day guest, your booking date will be October 26th. However, Rebecca, if you are staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel your booking window could be earlier if you check in prior to December 25th as that 60-day mark is from your check-in date. For example, if you're checking in December 22nd, you would be eligible to book dining October 23rd for the length of your stay (up to 10 days). You can make reservations online by logging into your My Disney Experience account or through the
My Disney Experience Mobile App.
Now, Rebecca, since you're hoping to enjoy a character meal, currently the following restaurants are offering a modified character experience:
- Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT
- Hollywood & Vine at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Tusker House Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Topolino’s Terrace –Flavors of the Riviera at Disney's Riviera Resort
- Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Rebecca, I'm sure with the list above you'll notice that
Magic Kingdom Park isn't currently listing any character dining experiences. While officially not on the list, when my family and I were last at
Be Our Guest Restaurant (just a few week ago) the Beast did make a brief appearance to the delight of the crowd. My friend and fellow panelist, Betsy had a similar experience at
Cinderella's Royal Table where
Her Royal Highness also surprised diners.
While outside of Magic Kingdom Park,
Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort is only a short walk or monorail ride away if this option appeals to you and you're able to find a table. My family and I will often book a late lunch outside of the park at a neighboring Disney Resorts Collection hotel to serve as a mid-day break.
Finally, Rebecca, if you're not able to find availability for the character meal of your dreams, I encourage you to keep checking back as guests' plans do change. While it's never guaranteed, I have had great luck in the past getting a reservation closer to our trip by checking every day.
If you have any additional questions please come on back to planDisney where we love to eat just as much as Princess Tiana loves to cook!
Wishing you a Magical stay and a wonderful holiday season.
Lauren