Meeting the Disney characters is a key part of any Disneyland vacation. The character dining options are a nice way to get guaranteed time with some of the characters, but it comes at a hefty cost. Many families are left wondering if the character dining options are really worth the cost.
My family faced this dilemma during a recent visit. We stopped by Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel and saw they had tables available. But we learned it would have cost $180 for the three of us to have dinner. Right next door is Steakhouse 55, one of the fancier restaurants at the Disneyland Hotel. For the same cost as Goofy’s Kitchen, my family could have had filet mignon dinners with all the trimmings. It was at that moment I had to ask myself if the characters were really worth the premium.
The Characters
The characters you will see depends on which dining option you choose. Ariel’s Grotto at Disney California Adventure has several of the princesses available to meet. Goofy’s Kitchen, the Plaza Inn, and PCH Grill have a variety of the classic Disney characters (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, etc). Storytellers Cafe is the one oddball because it focuses on wilderness characters like Chip ‘N Dale.
The character “experiences” happen while you dine and the various characters travel from table to table. A tip is to seat your children on the outside of the booth so that they can get out easily and pose for photos with the characters. You generally see a lot of characters during your meal and you get quality time with them as well. Instead of waiting in line and grabbing a quick photo, like you often do in the parks, the characters will stay at your table for a few minutes and visit with your family.
The character dining locations also typically have small, impromptu shows where the children can participate. At the PCH Grill, there is a stage area where the characters have a small show about surfing. At Storytellers Cafe, Chip ‘N Dale lead the children in a march around the restaurant. These small events are a lot of fun and help give squirmy children something to do, other than sit at a table and pick at their food.
I’ve heard many great stories from friends who have tried the character dining options. They come home with some wonderful photos and at least one or two stories of something silly that a character did at their table. Depending on the age of your children, a silly moment with the characters can be the highlight of a vacation. So it is worth considering the dining options for your stay.
The Food
The reality of any character dining option is that your children will eat very little because they will be focused on the characters. As a parent, there are plenty of great options to choose from, so you won’t be disappointed. Most of the character dining locations have a buffet set up. The entree items vary slightly by location, but there are some similarities. An omelette bar and mickey mouse waffles are a staple at all breakfast locations. Dinner options all seem to have a prime rib station.
The one exception to the buffet set up is Storytellers Cafe, which lets you order off a menu instead of paying a flat fee to dine. I actually preferred this option because it felt like I was only paying for the food we wanted, and not overpaying just for the character experience.
The Cost
Most of the character dining options will cost around $60 per adult and $40 per child for dinner. Breakfast options are less expensive, but not by much. If you book your travel package through the Walt Disney Travel Company, Costco, or AAA, you often will have a character dining package bundled in. In most other cases, you will be paying out of pocket for the character dining, which can make it difficult to justify.
The Verdict
For our family, the character dining wasn’t worth the added cost. By arriving at Disneyland at park opening, we were able to meet with all of the classic Disney characters and took photos. We saw plenty of the characters during our time in the theme parks and really didn’t have a need to pay for a character dining package just to have time with the characters.
For some families, especially those with a princess obsessed little girl, the character dining could be worth every penny. I remember watching a friend’s daughter have a five minute conversation with Cinderella at the Plaza Inn, followed by Cinderella giving the girl tips on how to be a princess. It was one of the most darling moments I can remember and for that family, the dining package was worth every penny.
If spending an extended time with the Disney characters is a priority for your family, it could be worth it to splurge on a character dinging option. But for the majority of visitors, we recommend saving your money. There are plenty of opportunities to meet the characters in the parks without having to pay a premium for the experience.
Photos via Disney
