A Glimpse of Modified Character Dining at Walt Disney World
Erica Kocher
5.18.21
In all of our Walt Disney World vacations, character dining has become a staple. Everyone in my family has a different favorite experience/meal, so we are frequently going to several on our trips. On one of our post-pandemic vacations, we decided to try Topolino’s Terrace for breakfast because at the time, it was the only character dining experience open. To say that it was a different experience than we were used to is an understatement.
Over the years, I have made autograph books, taken photo mats, and other items to have the characters sign. (Yes, I even had them sign when I was on adult only trips.) Now, each party gets a postcard with the characters’ signature on it. Exit the personal experience that each person gets with the characters.
Being that I am a person who loves to hug others, there is something special about hugging your favorite character. During this character meal, the characters didn’t even come within 15 feet of our table. When someone within our party stood up to try to get a selfie (while social distancing) with a character, the character would walk away. In the way that we were seated at a round table, there was no way that everyone would be able to take a selfie with the characters without other people in it or the character blurry. This was quite a disappointment to all of us.
Never before have I complained about the price of a character meal, but for a less personal character interaction and a small meal, I must admit that at first I didn’t feel the meal was worth the $42.00 per person price tag. I had 2 eggs- any style with bacon, my daughters had the sour cream waffle & smoked salmon bagel. The price was over the top for the meal we had, however, the waffles were unlike any other waffle that I had ever had. Our waiter told us that if we wanted any extra items (Mickey waffle pops, breakfast meats, pastries, etc.) he would bring them to us. The food itself was phenomenal and the service was outstanding.
While this seems like a negative review, I can honestly say, I will be eating here again on my next visit. There is something about seeing the characters that brings out the joy in all of us. The service provided at any Walt Disney World restaurant is above any other restaurants. Does it come with a steep price tag? Yes, but it’s not just the meal you are paying for but also the experience.
Our second character dining experience was at Hollywood & Vine located in Hollywood Studios. This restaurant is quite a bit smaller than Topolino’s Terrace, so it seemed to be more of an intimate experience with the characters being closer and dressed for the season. Hollywood & Vine used to be a buffet service and now diners are ordering from a menu. We loved the salad that was served before our meal. I ate the garlic and cracked black pepper prime rib of beef, which came with mashed potatoes and my absolute favorite fried brussels sprouts. My daughters had the seared fresh salmon with grain mustard beurre blanc and macaroni and cheese with shrimp. After this meal, we did not leave hungry or disappointed. Again, we had a phenomenal meal and excellent service!
Overall, even with the changed experiences, I still recommend adding character dining experiences to your Walt Disney World vacation. I will continue to wish for a day that character dining will go back to how it was, but until then, I am going to be happy taking a selfie and just enjoying the experience.
As soon as you are ready to travel again, let’s get to booking your family’s next Disney adventure! I would love the opportunity to work with you in making your trip everything you dreamed it will be. As your agent, I’ll help you with everything from finding your perfect package to grabbing those hard-to-get dining reservations. I work with all Disney Destinations around the globe. An added bonus to you, all of my services are complimentary for my clients. You can contact me at 1-618-514-5536,or email at erica@wishesfamilytravel.com or through my Wishes Family Travel – Erica Kocher Facebook group.