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Learn about Disneyland Character Dining meals here! Updated March 5, 2008. Related info--- HOME :: Latest News :: Disneyland Character Dining :: Disneyland Dining, pt 1:: Disneyland Dining, pt 2 :: Disneyland Hotel Restaurants :: Grand Californian Hotel Restaurants :: Paradise Pier Hotel restaurants Disneyland Character DiningGrab the kids & join the fun!
In the pictures of Disney character dining to your right, you can see that you'll get some actual close-up, face-to-face time with the Disney Characters when you choose to dine at one of the Disneyland restaurants featuring character meals. My daughter, who took many of the photos in the slide show, chose to attend 2 character meals to ensure that her children would get to meet some of the Disney characters---without having to wait in long lines to see them. It was a time-saving ploy, since she lives far away from either of the US Disney theme parks...and had a one-shot chance to both meet characters AND have time for all of the rides and attractions at the Disney Resort theme parks (all in the space of just a few days.) On this page, you'll discover the different choices in character dining options at Disneyland Park in California. We'll talk about the foods available at the buffets, and the prices you'll pay. You'll find out how to get more information on the Disney Character Buffets, and how to make reservations. And, of course, you'll get to see some photos of the Disney Character Dining restaurants! Disneyland Character Meal Prices
Disneyland's Character Meals charge according to the season. Not only do prices change throughout the year, but the amount may vary quite a bit, as well!In February 2008, I thought about attending the character lunch at Ariel's Grotto (inside the Disney California Adventure Park; you'll be reading about this meal further down this page. You're viewing a picture of Ariel's Grotto Restaurant to your right.) February is part of the "slow season" at the Disneyland Resort. Unlike during a busier season, I was able to walk right up to the Ariel's Grotto restaurant & make same-day plans. (For holiday and summertime dining, you'll need to make advance reservations. You may check out the last section of this page for the character meal reservation information.) Low season vs. High season: The price I was quoted for lunch at Ariel's Grotto on that day in February 2008 was between $27 and $28 for an adult. When I decided to skip the meal, the reservations hostess told me to be sure to re-check the prices when I returned on a different visit, because the dining prices raise during the busy season. "I doubt the busy-season price can be much different," I mused to myself as I walked away. I soon found out that the hostess really wasn't kidding, and that I should have rearranged my schedule to squeeze in the meal during the February slow season! 2008 Spring Break prices for lunch at Ariel's Grotto are more than $10 higher per person than February prices! Today, if I wanted to make reservations for lunch at Ariel's Grotto, I would be facing a $39.64 adult price, and the cost of $22.29 for a child! Therefore, don't be surprised if the character meal prices you read on this page are different than what you're actually charged during your particular vacation time. The Disney character breakfast, lunch and dinner prices bounce around like a ping pong ball. Unless you visit Disneyland Park frequently, you simply have to enjoy your character meals at the prices you find them during the time of your visit. Disney Character BreakfastsStart your day with Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Lilo & Stitch, Chip & Dale or Disney Princesses!
Breakfast is the most popular meal for Disneyland Character Dining---All of the 5 Disneyland Resort restaurants which offer character meals serve breakfast! (Only 2 of these Disney restaurants serve lunch and dinner.)Here's a list of the Disneyland Resort restaurants where you may dine with Disney character for your breakfast meal--- 1.) Minnie and Friends Character Breakfast
Ariel's Grotto character breakfast prices: The Disney Princesses are very popular, and the higher price of this brunch reflects that. Adults pay $39.64 at Ariel's Grotto; and children pay $19.82 for breakfast. Disneyland Character Lunch and DinnerHead to Ariel's Grotto or Goofy's Kitchen for a fun lunch or dinner with Disney characters!
Do you want to enjoy lunch or dinner with Disney Characters? If so, you'll be able to enjoy character dining at Ariel's Grotto Restaurant and Goofy's Kitchen...which are both dedicated ONLY to character dining. There are no "regular" meals served at either of these Disneyland Resort restaurants. While other character restaurants open their doors to non-character dining after breakfast is over, Ariel's Grotto & Goofy's Kitchen serve character meals...and ONLY character meals...for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Here's the scoop---1.) Ariel's Disney Princess Celebration Ariel's Grotto Lunch & Dinner Prices: Both lunch and dinner meal pricing is $$39.64 for adults and $22.29 for children. Toddlers aged 2 and under eat free. Disneyland Character Dining Menus
DISNEYLAND CHARACTER DINING BREAKFAST MENUAll of the Disneyland character breakfasts serve more or less the same foods. You won't find an exact menu of each day's breakfast meal because the selections are rotated daily to give new choices to those lucky folks who vacation at the park and enjoy a character breakfast every morning of their stay. (Sigh! Wouldn't it be nice!) Nevertheless, the breakfast foods you'll encounter on the morning of your character dining experience will fall into these basic categories: Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes, waffles, or both A choice of chicken, beef, fish and pasta entrees Disneyland Character Dining PicturesTake a peek inside the Lilo & Stitch and Goofy's Kitchen character restaurants
The Lilo and Stitch Aloha Breakfast is held in the PCH Grill, a restaurant within the Paradise Pier Hotel's lobby. The Paradise Pier Hotel itself it a delight. Decorated to a "Disney characters visit the California beaches" theme, the hotel features such whimsical touches as a statue of Goofy with his surfboard (perfect for family photo ops!) and a children's TV room with a "sandcastle television" as the centerpiece!The PCH Grill's name itself is California-themed. How? "PCH" stands for Pacific Coast Highway, the scenic roadway that follows the coastline through the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. (Driving along the PCH is something you WON'T want to miss during your Southern California vacation!) The Goofy's Kitchen buffet features both indoor and outdoor patio seating. The buffet room itself is split down the middle by a wide aisle leading to the buffet (see photo to the right.) The Goofy's Kitchen character meals are popular; over a dozen people were waiting for tables in the restaurant's lobby at the time these photos were taken...and this was on a weekday morning during the off-season. Disneyland Character Meal pro's and con's
All characters reach every table, but if you're in a rush, their pace will seem too leisurely...like they're "holding you up" from doing other things. The Disney characters' motto is "make every kid at every table feel special." And, that's GREAT while they're at YOUR table; in fact, the time seems to fly. But when they're visiting other tables, time drags if you're in a hurry. They stop to sign autographs, pose for pictures, and hug every child. You may leave at any time, of course, but if you're planning to efficiently "eat & run," you might leave before all the characters have a chance to reach your table. For those (like me) with "ants in their pants," it invariably seems like the whole restaurant will be filled with large families and birthday parties on the day you visit. And that you must wait while the characters meet all of those people...ahead of you & your child visiting in a party of 2. (It also seems like if you attend a character meal in a small group, you'll end up with less actual "character time." Larger groups often have a greater percentage of children at the table...and characters DO spend more time with kids than they do with adults, despite the fact that Disney Character-loving adults have paid their money just like anybody else.) Best stategy: Come to the character meal with no other particular plans in mind. Eat a full, leisurely meal so that all the characters can make it around to your table. Bring a camera and an autograph book (even if you're not a collector) so you can get the maximum amount of time with each character. And, don't expect a show. I had expected that the characters would perform together at some point...but they don't. Character meals are for meeting & greeting, not entertainment. Disneyland Character Dining -- Contact Information
You may ask questions about any of the Disneyland Character Dining restaurants by calling the Disney Reservations Line at (714) 781-DINE. (Although this seems, at first, to be just an automated, pre-recorded phone answering system, you'll soon reach a "live" representative.) The representatives I've talked with know all about Disneyland Dining at a wide variety of venues throughout the park---Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the Disneyland Hotels. They're also well-versed on any special dining events which will take place at the park...for example, the Alice in Wonderland Easter Brunch Buffet which is held every year on Easter Sunday.You may make reservations for your desired Character Meal before you even leave home. (But, walk-up seating may be available, as well, if you'd rather not make reservations. During busy periods at the Disney resort, don't risk missing your character meal because you didn't want to reserve ahead.) A pre-recorded message says that you'll have to take the first available date and time which will accommodate a party of your size. This simply didn't seem to be true. When I called, I asked to make reservations for a particular day, and the representative said, "Yes, that will be fine. And, what time would you like?" No deposit is necessary to make a reservation for Disneyland Character Dining.   MORE DISNEYLAND PARK PICTURES! ---> Use the button to your left to see photos of still MORE Disneyland Park rides, attractions and fun! Backwards links: Back HOME :: Back to top of "Disneyland Character Dining" Select other Disneyland restaurant: AHEAD to Disneyland Dining, pt 1 :: Disneyland Dining, pt 2 :: Disneyland Hotel Restaurants :: Grand Californian Hotel Restaurants :: Paradise Pier Hotel restaurants
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Other visitors use character meals to enjoy a dining experience they can't have "back home." They satisfy their hunger at a large breakfast, lunch or dinner buffet...and throughout the meal, watch Disney costumed characters stroll between the tables in the dining room. Plus, they even get character visits at their very own table. What a photo op!
3.) Lilo and Stitch Aloha Breakfast
Upon entering the Lilo and Stitch Aloha Breakfast, each child is presented with a colorful plastic lei. Crayons and "coloring" menus featuring the Lilo and Stitch characters are also fun for the small fry...and make a great souvenir to bring home, as well.
Don't plan to rush through your meal if you choose to enjoy a Disney character dining experience. If you're in a hurry to rush to the theme park's rides and attractions, it's a good idea to save visiting a character meal until another day. While you WILL get to meet 'n greet Disney characters, they do not wave at you as you head to your table and hop right over to you. You can't do a "quick in & out" at a character meal and meet all of the Disney characters you've paid to greet.
