Where to Meet Characters WITHOUT a Park Ticket in Disney World

Traditional character meet-and-greets have returned to the Disney parks, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani along with traditional character dining in some locations. We’re now able to hug our favorite Disney characters again, and we’re so excited for that!

Pluto in EPCOT

Meeting characters can be an exciting part of many people’s vacations, and luckily, you don’t need to have a park ticket in order to do it.

One of the best ways to meet characters outside of the Disney World theme parks is by booking a character dining experience. Disney is in the process of slowly reintroducing character dining to the parks and hotels, so some of the restaurants that previously offered character dining are not currently offering it. Fortunately, character dining has returned to most restaurants!

Chef Mickey’s

Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary Resort is probably one of the most iconic and recognizable dining experiences in Disney World. Chef Mickey’s breakfast was once a buffet, but it is now served family-style and is $42 per adult and $27 per child.

The dinner is served in courses and is currently $55 per adult and $36 per child. Guests visiting Chef Mickey’s can hug and interact with characters, as well as have them sign autographs. Guests will also be given an autograph card as part of the experience. At Chef Mickey’s you will be able to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto!

Topolino’s Terrace

Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera Resort has returned to traditional character dining for its breakfast! Topolino’s Terrace is all about art, and is the only place you can meet Mickey as a painter, Minnie as a poet, Daisy as a dancer, and Donald as a sculptor!

Daisy Duck at Topolino’s Terrace

Breakfast is a prix fixe menu priced at $42 per adult and $27 per child. We’ve found the options here to be a little more upscale, with choices like quiche gruyere, smoked salmon, and a wood-fired butcher’s steak.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point

Story Book Dining at Artist Point is located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and is one of the pricier options on our list coming in at $60 per adult and $39 per child. This character dining experience features Snow White, the Evil Queen, plus the dwarves, Dopey and Grumpy!

Snow White

Story Book Dining at Artist Point is currently the only place outside of the parks at Disney World where you can meet a princess! If you’re interested in dining here, you should know that this character experience is only offered at dinnertime.

‘Ohana

‘Ohana character breakfast is back at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! You can have breakfast and dance around the restaurant with Lilo, Stitch, and friends.

The all-you-care-to-eat meal got a price increase when characters returned so adults will pay $45 and kids will pay $29. This is the one meal you can have with Lilo and Stitch in Disney World!

Cape May Cafe

Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast is happening over at Cape May Cafe in Disney’s Beach Club Resort! If you’re looking for a breakfast with beach party vibes and big characters like Donald, Goofy, Daisy, and Minnie, this is a great option.

This used to be one of the cheapest breakfast buffets before characters returned but now it costs $45 for adults and $29 for kids. You can get many classic eats here including Mickey and Minnie waffles!

Ravello

Ravello is a restaurant located in the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. It offers a Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals. This experience is currently not allowing autographs and character photos, but guests will still be able to see the characters move through the restaurant.

©Four Seasons Orlando | Disney

Each party will also have their photo taken when they arrive to the restaurant, and that photo “will have a little Disney magic,” according to the Four Seasons website.

Caravanning ‘Round The World

This is the experience on our list that is the most difficult to predict, so we wouldn’t recommend counting on it! Caravanning ‘Round The World is a bus/RV that brings characters to Disney hotels for spontaneous meet-and-greet opportunities!

Caravanning ‘Round the World

There’s no way to predict when or where it might show up, so keep your eyes peeled the next time you’re at a Disney hotel!

Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long

While not technically a character dining experience, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long, located at the Campsites at Fort Wilderness, is a nightly campfire with Chip and Dale where guests can roast marshmallows, make s’mores, and watch a Disney movie under the stars.

This experience recently returned to Fort Wilderness, and now you should be able to catch a show every night. Also, you can bring your own s’mores or grab a s’mores kit offered nearby at the Chuckwagon Food Truck!