Have you ever wanted to have dinner with your favorite Disney characters? The next time you plan a trip to Disney World and any restaurants at one of the four Disney World theme parks, I suggest watching a dinner show during your visit. This includes buffet-style, traditional restaurants, and even tea parties.

The creative power behind what is executed at Walt Disney World Resort is unmatched. Castmembers have designed everything mindfully and strategically from the construction of each building to the details of every inch of the walls inside.

Best Dinner Shows at Disney World

While there are a few Disney dinner shows to share, I’m going to start with character dining because there are quite a few great experiences to choose from.

Disney Character Dining Experience

Usually, in the character dining experience, the characters will come to see you at your table as you eat. A character meal is a great experience for both kids and adults. This is great because there is plenty of time for the characters to communicate, and there is no need to wait for long lines to see them during your park visit.

Tusker House

Tusker House is a buffet-style restaurant in the Animal Kingdom with African flavors.

Not only is the food delicious, but you can also meet classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy in their safari gear! This is a popular buffet, so do not forget to book ahead by clicking here.

1900 Park Fair

The 1900 Park Fair is located in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This is another buffet-style dish famous for its famous Disney strawberry soup. The 1900 Park Exhibition is also special because it incorporates a variety of day-to-day events depending on your diet.

You can join Disney friends for a Supercalifragilistic Breakfast. “Popp in” for custom-made omelets, fluffy mini pancakes, Mickey-shaped waffles, carved ham, and more. Guests may meet such Disney Characters as:

• Mary Poppins
• Alice in Wonderland
• The Mad Hatter
• Tigger
• Winnie the Pooh

And don’t miss Big Bertha, a turn-of-the-century, fancifully designed organ from France!

You can also make a reservation for Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner and enjoy an enchanting buffet dinner as the honored Guest of Cinderella and Prince Charming. The Princess storybook friends join in the festivities as you have a ball dining on seafood, salad, pasta, and beef specialties. The culinary selections are representative of several “kingdoms” from around the globe and include such kid-friendly fare as chicken, cheese pizza, and macaroni and cheese.

Click here for more information about 1900 Park Fair.

Afternoon Tea

Also at the Grand Floridian, you can have afternoon tea at the Garden View Tea Room. Here, you can tour the globe as you sip from a collection of international teas—including Mrs. Potts Tea for your little ones—all while indulging in a delightful selection of sandwiches, scones, pastries, and other delicacies.

The Grand Floridian is a great place.

For more information on afternoon tea, click here.

For more tea experiences at Disney Parks, click here. 

The Crystal Palace

Here, you can dine in Victorian splendor in this greenhouse-inspired Crystal Palace, idyllically set on Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom. (It’s beautiful!) Winnie the Pooh and friends will join you for a friendly day celebration. Depending on where you are and how long you travel, you may see breaks and protests from the window.

Click here for more to book a reservation at The Crystal Palace.

Chef Mickey’s

Located in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, prepare for an all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast feast at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. As the monorail whizzes by, you can soak up the expansive views of Bay Lake, and behold the stunning 90-foot-high mural by Disney Legend Mary Blair that overlooks the festive eatery.

Here, you will enjoy traditional breakfast entrées such as Mickey waffles and selections from Chef Mickey’s Signature entrees—including banana bread French toast, loaded potato-cheese casserole, and the “Celebration” Mickey pancake. 

Each table will receive a special autographed card keepsake from Mickey and his friends. The best part? Throughout the dining experience, Mickey Mouse and some favorite pals will make surprising appearances in each of the dining rooms. 

Storybook Dining at Artist’s Point

In Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you can meet Disney Characters from the beloved Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs while enjoying a delicious dinner the whole family will love. The Enchanted Forest to the sounds of delightful music that help bring a storybook fantasy to life. And if you dare, meet The Queen—and even pose for a photo with her!

Here, you can feast on the Royal Prime Rib Roast, Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken, Magic Mirror Slow-braised Pork Shank, Beef Stew, and Bashful’s Butter Poached Sustainable Fish. 

There is also a vegetarian option featuring asparagus, leeks, arugula, and gnocchi. 

Children can choose from a selection of kid-friendly items, including Royal Prime Rib Roast, Grilled Chicken, Princess Pasta, and Vegetarian Steam Bun.

Craving a sweet finale? Top off the experience with the “Poison” Apple, a dark chocolate-apple mousse, and the Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie. The Hunter’s Gift to Queen is a crackled maple popcorn with a ganache heart and Miner’s Treasures include a sponge cake, chocolate gems, and berry panna cotta! 

Garden Grill Restaurant

In Future World at Epcot, you can see Chip ‘n’ Dale and their Disney pals as you dig into family-style dining and revolve around vibrant views from Living with the Land.

Contrary to popular belief, Cinderella’s Royal Table is not a character dining experience.

Another popular character dining experience was Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, but it was discontinued at the end of 2018.

For more character dining, click here.

Best Dinner Shows At Disney

Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show

This dinner show is located at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Here, you can enjoy a luau with Polynesian dancing and an all-you-care-to-enjoy, family-style feast. Watch dancers, drummers, and a show-stopping fire-knife performer in the open-air theater in Luau Cove from Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, and Hawaii. 

Click here for more on the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

This dinner show is at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. It’s a hilarious, high-spirited hootenanny the whole family will enjoy, accompanied by a finger-lickin’ countrified feast.

Eat while you watch the Pioneer Hall Players for two hours of rousing Wild West dancing, singing, and zany vaudeville comedy.

In between skits and song standards, chow down on buckets of all-you-care-to-enjoy fried chicken and smoked BBQ pork ribs, as well as a tossed green salad, baked beans, fresh-baked cornbread, and strawberry shortcake. Guests who are at least 21 years old can enjoy unlimited draft beer, wine, sangria… and of course, soft drinks.

Click here to reserve your spot at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.

Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew

This is considered a recreational activity, not a dinner show, but there is food involved! Located in Pirate Hideaway at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, seasoned members of Captain Hook’s crew will assist you in the first, most crucial step towards becoming a pirate—receiving your pirate name. Next, they’ll teach you the many skills crucial to life on the high seas such as talking like a pirate, swabbing the deck, and singing sea chanties!

Captain Hook himself will be checking in to examine your progress and get you started on your first treasure hunt. You’ll solve puzzles and gather clues on land before setting sail along Crescent Lake.

After your adventure sailing Crescent Lake, you’ll head back to Pirate Hideaway and be rewarded with a bounty of tasty treats. The menu features several entrees, including Cannon Meatballs with Marinara and Macaroni and Gold Sauce—as well as the Treasure Chest Treat or fruit for dessert.

Making Dinner Show Reservations

Due to limited availability, booking a reservation for a dinner show at Disney World may be difficult. If you can, register for the show six months ahead of time. If you don’t stay at a Disney hotel, you may be able to reserve a seat at a Disney dinner show three months ahead of time.

To make park and restaurant reservations and check out the Disney dining plan, use the My Disney Experience App. For more on the app and FastPass secrets and tips, click here.

In some cases, you do not need a park ticket to book a meal at the theme park, but you will need a park ticket and park pass to access the restaurant on the same day, for the same park. So double-check with each restaurant and make sure your park pass and in-park dining reservations are aligned.

Disney Springs

For more great restaurants with amazing and creative themes, swing by Disney Springs. It has some of the best restaurants with good food (delicious food, really) and live music. Every restaurant there is a perfect place for the entire family. 

For example, at the House of Blues, you can dine on soulful Southern food while enjoying a live concert.

Have you attended a dinner show at Disney World? If so, what was your favorite? Let me know what you think the best dinner show is at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and the Magic Kingdom on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay.