“There’s a lot of things in life that you must do, but there are only a few of those must-dos that you really want to do - and that’s why we’re here today. We’re going to take you all around the Walt Disney World resort, park by park, and show you what’s hot and what you must do right now at Walt Disney World. This is Must Do Disney.”
Thanks, Stacey, but I’ll take it from here!
As my friend Stacey said, there are so many fun and exciting things to do on your Disney World vacation that, chances are, you’re going to want to do them all. From festivals that take you across the world to snapping photos with the most famous mouse of all, here are the 25 best things to do in Disney World:
1. Dine with Disney Characters
Meeting your favorite Disney character is special enough as is, but being able to dine with them is an experience all to itself.
There are 13 character dining experiences on Disney property. Here’s an overview of each of them, including where to find them, how hard it is to get reservations, and which characters are expected to appear:
Chef Mickey’s
Located over at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Chef Mickey’s is an all-you-can-eat buffet that is open for both breakfast and dinner.
For breakfast, the buffet menu serves up classic, contemporary favorites including ham, waffles, buttermilk biscuits, and sausage gravy.
For dinner, you can enjoy everything from homemade macaroni and cheese and roasted pork to shrimp and grits, as well as a fully-stocked carving station that features the Chef’s selection of meats. Prices range between $51-$62 per adult and $33 - $39 per child (ages 3-9).
In addition to the all-you-can-enjoy buffet, you’ll be greeted by Mickey and his pals all dressed up in their finest chef garb. These friends include Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Pluto. Every table will receive an autographed card from the Fab 5.
Chef Mickey’s is an incredibly popular restaurant for families, especially those with young kids, so reservations do fill up quickly. To score a reservation, be sure you’re checking for openings every day through your My Disney Experience app leading up to the day you want to dine there. Now that reservations can be canceled as little as two hours before the scheduled time, you may be able to score something last minute.
Read more: Chef Mickeys Dinner Review
Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White
This is one of the most enchanting dining experiences on Disney World property and you’ll find it at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
The decor here is quite magical, as you’ll be dining in the Enchanted Forest. You can expect to see appearances from Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and the Evil Queen and you'll dine on a prix fixe menu that includes aptly-named entrees such as the Magic Mirror’s Slow-braised Pork Shank and Brother’s Grimm Herbed Chicken.
This restaurant is only available for dinner, so you will have limited opportunities to snag a reservation. Like any of the Disney dining experiences, be flexible with your schedule, look for reservations as soon as your 60-day window opens up, and keep checking the app for last-minute openings. Prices here are $65 per adult and $39 per child.
Read more: Disney Fan Challenge: Can You Name the Seven Dwarfs?
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Out of all the dining experiences at Magic Kingdom, Cinderella’s Royal Table is by far the most regal. The menu contains classic staples like chilled jumbo shrimp, braised beef, and pork tenderloin. Breakfast is $65 per adult/$39 per child and lunch/dinner is $79 per adult/$47 per child.
Because you’ll be meeting Cinderella (and several other Disney princesses), young guests are encouraged to dress up but of course, this is totally optional. This is a decadent experience and one you should earmark for future trips.
Read more: The Best Places to Meet Princesses at Disney World
Cape May Cafe
I’ve only been to the Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort once but it was enough to make an impact. If you want to dine with characters, you’ll have to visit during breakfast. Prices range from $35-$59.99 per person, and you’ll be able to enjoy Mickey-shaped waffles, eggs, oatmeal, and other classic offerings at this all-you-can-eat buffet.
During Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast, you’ll get to see Mickey and her friends (usually Goofy, Donald, and Daisy) all dressed up in their beachy gear, ready to hit the waves. The last time I was there the characters did a conga line with the young guests, which my nephew absolutely loved!
The Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace is one of my favorite dining experiences in all of Disney World because you get to hang out with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore (and I love, love, LOVE Eeyore). Best of all, they all give autographs, making it a great character dining experience for little ones.
The atmosphere is very whimsical and calming, with the large windows inside this greenhouse-style restaurant overlooking Main Street, U.S.A. Guests are served a buffet meal, with breakfast being served between 8:00 am - 10:45 am, lunch between 11:00 am - 2:55 pm, and dinner between 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm. All of it is priced between $35-$59.99.
‘Ohana
Located over at the Polynesian, ‘Ohana is the only place where you can dine with Lilo and Stitch (but for breakfast only, not dinner). The atmosphere here is awesome. From the island-inspired decor and music to views of the exterior (depending on where you sit), this is a must-do regardless of whether you’re staying at this resort or not.
The food is served family style, all in a big skillet. If you don’t like your food touching, this may be a restaurant you want to avoid. This ‘Ohana breakfast skillet contains fan favorites like Mickey-shaped waffles, eggs, sausage, potatoes, and ham. Many guests agree that the Pineapple-Coconut Breakfast Bread that’s served with this skillet is one of the best things on the menu (which will cost $29 per child/$45 per adult).
Dinner is a bit pricier at $38 per child and $59 per adult and also offers an all-you-can-eat skillet, featuring shrimp, chicken, beef, roasted vegetables, and the famous ‘Ohana noodles.
Like another entry on our list, people seem to either love ‘Ohana or hate it and honestly I fall somewhere in the middle. The food and atmosphere were good, but the meet-and-greets were disorganized, so it did take away from the experience. But hey, even Experiment 626 can have an off day.
Read more: Ohana Dining Review Dinner
Tusker House Restaurant
Heading over to Animal Kingdom, you’ll be able to enjoy a buffet-style feast while mingling with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in their coolest safari outfits.
Dinner, which costs between $35-$59.99 per person, includes everything from plant-based favorites to spit-roasted Tandoori chicken, and corn dog nuggets. This is an excellent character dining experience that tends to get overlooked a lot, and why? No one really knows.
Hollywood & Vine
If you have young children that love Disney Junior, then a trip over to Hollywood & Vine at Hollywood Studios is a must-do.
Your child’s favorite Disney Junior stars come out to play for the Disney Junior Play n’ Dine breakfast. This usually features Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and Fancy Nancy.
During special times of the year (usually around the holiday season), you will be able to dine with Minnie Mouse for both lunch and dinner. Like many others on this list, pricing ranges between $35-$59.99 per person. This is the only character dining experience at Hollywood Studios and it’s a lot of fun for Mouseketeers of all ages.
Read more: Best Places to Eat at Hollywood Studios