The Best And The Worst Of Disney's Character Breakfasts, According To Visitors

One of the best things about Walt Disney World, especially if you have kiddos or you are a kid at heart, is enjoying a character dining experience. Character dining is a unique opportunity to indulge in tasty Disney World eats while also meeting a range of favorite characters, from Winnie the Pooh to Elsa. In total, there are 11 character dining breakfasts across WDW, with some at the parks and some at the resorts. Remember, you do not have to be a guest at that particular resort or any Disney hotel to make reservations for meals at the hotel restaurants.

Although the experiences can be similar in concept, the execution is a much different story. The vast majority of these restaurants serve similar foods buffet-style and are a more expensive sit-down meal than others on the property. That said, only some characters dining breakfasts are worth it. Here, we've listed all of the character breakfasts from best to worst. We've made the selections based on the responses of frequent WDW visitors and experts. Also, we want to take this opportunity to say we miss breakfasts at Be Our Guest — Disney, you need to bring it back!

Another resort hitting all the marks is The Contemporary with Chef Mickey's. This mod eatery manned by the mouse himself is especially good for Magic Kingdom days. You can just walk over to the park after you're done noshing. Plus, it's terrific for families with little kiddos who can't get enough of watching the monorail. Because Chef Mickey's is in the lobby of The Contemporary, you get to watch the monorail zip through the hotel.

While you're dining, you get to meet Chef Mickey and his whole crew of kitchen helpers, including Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto. The retro vibes of the restaurant are so charming, fitting right into the hotel's aesthetic. The other members of the Fab 5 will wander through the dining room, but you'll have to get in line to meet Chef Mickey himself (he's really busy running the kitchen, you know). This character breakfast is buffet-style, so help yourself to as much as you'd like. Keep an eye out for hidden mickeys in the buffet line too!

Christie Kratz at MouseWatcher highlights that Chef Mickey's frequently gets negative reviews from diners because the food is similar to any other breakfast on the property. But notes that the experience is about meeting characters and not necessarily about gourmet food. "We enjoyed our meal!" Kratz writes. "The bacon was crispy, the waffles and pancakes were fluffy, and the potato cheese casserole was very tasty." Add in an order of Celebration Pancakes, and we're sold!

Like a few of our breakfasts so far, Garden Grill at EPCOT is also served family-style. Not having to wrangle the littles to the buffet or take turns getting food is definitely a huge plus. This slow-rotating restaurant has views of EPCOT's Land Pavilion, but what makes it more special is that it also overlooks our beloved Living with the Land ride. Indulging guests in its farm theme, you'll see Mickey and pals like Chip and Dale donning their best outdoor attire.

For other fans of Living with the Land, you'll be delighted to know that a lot of the fresh food served here comes right from the building's abundant greenhouses. Food from the greenhouses is served elsewhere in the parks, too, but it is a staple at Garden Grill — it's in the name, after all.

One bummer for fans of Garden Grill in days gone by is that the restaurant no longer serves Chip & Dale's Sticky Buns. You get a cinnamon loaf instead, which is still a pretty tasty replacement. Aryiel Astolfi at Disney Food Blog recommends Garden Grill, especially for fans of Living with the Land or anyone looking for a solid, delicious breakfast. Most of all, Astolfi describes it as "a fun character meal," adding, "The character interactions here are amazing. Mickey is adorable in his overalls, and Chip and Dale can only be found at this dining location. So fun!"

Logistically, doing a character breakfast at Animal Kingdom just makes sense. The best time to enjoy this most humid WDW park is the morning, so a breakfast reservation is just an excellent excuse to get you here. Plus, you can meet Mickey, Minnie, and pals in their best safari attire. Tusker House is also the best spot for "Lion King" fanatics like us because they serve Simba and Nala waffles. We also love the theming, and the location right by the Festival of The Lion King makes this an A+ spot.

For the more part, this is still just regular breakfast like most of the other restaurants. There are some Tusker House adjacent add-ons like cardamom granola or zebra coffee cake. Still, it's fairly run-of-the-mill. Even if it's not super different, Tusker House is one of our favorite spots in the parks to grab a sit-down meal.

Kari Becker at Business Insider agrees. Even if it isn't the most unique dining experience, it is a worthwhile one. "With classic breakfast fare, fun character interactions, and a moderate price tag, Tusker House is a great breakfast option in the parks," Becker writes. Honestly, the Fab 5 in their safari outfits is one of our favorite themes, especially since so few character meet-and-greets are available at Animal Kingdom.

Some might be surprised to see Cinderella's Royal Table so low on the list. But this Magic Kingdom eatery, besides being the most expensive and difficult to reserve, is known more for its vibes than its food. When it comes to eating here, you might be better off coming for dinner or lunch than spending so much on a Disney breakfast. After all, the fireworks views from CRT are known to be a chef's kiss moment.

Although this dining experience is a prix fixe in which you pick an entree, you may want just to steer elsewhere, especially if you have picky kiddos who will just want Mickey waffles anyway. It's also important to keep in mind that, unlike the other restaurants we've mentioned so far, a reservation here also requires you to pre-pay for the fixed meal prices. However, you can get a refund if you request it at least two hours in advance.

Even Tom Bricker at Disney Tourist Blog, who really likes the food at CRT, admits that it's still not as good as it could be. "Even given our praise for the food in this review, you can get better food for less money elsewhere," he writes. On average, just one adult's meal is about triple what it would cost to eat a standard breakfast at a Disney World resort. That's a lotta cheddar, even for the mouse.

The big reason Disney Junior Play 'n Dine at Hollywood & Vine is so low on this list is because of its niche. It primarily caters to families with very young children who will appreciate the Disney Junior characters. Because this meal is focused on younger kiddos, you'll usually get more time with the characters during their interactions. This is especially special for big fans of characters like Vampirina or Doc McStuffins since you won't have to endure long lines to see them.

The food served here is standard Disney breakfast cuisine, a la Mickey waffles, and the like, but as with most character dining options, you aren't there for the food. Even with just regular food, the Disney Junior breakfast is still special, per Carla at Disney Daily Dime.

"The buffet will provide an average yet tasty breakfast," she writes. "The food may not be anything special, but the overall experience of the meal and characters should still provide a memorable experience for your group." After you're done eating, you'll also be well-positioned to pop over to Toy Story Land before the Slinky Dog Dash line gets too out-of-hand (maybe).

Frequent WDW goers are terrific at letting future guests know what's a hit and what's a miss. Everyone has their own opinion on what the best Disney World restaurants are. However, these character dining experiences are frequently talked about among parkgoers. Their elevated price points and often buffet-style service make for very different opinions. We utilized the expert opinions of Disney Parks writers as well as our own experiences and leveraged them to see which dining experiences are often brought to the top.

The list is generally based on the types of food served, the average price point, and each spot's convenience for WDW visitors. Accessibility was particularly important for resort-based restaurants, weighing heavily on the meal's placement on the list.