5 NEW Unspoken Rules for Disney World Character Meals

We’re getting you prepared for your next Disney World character dining experience!

Whether it’s your first time experiencing a character meal or you’re a seasoned pro, it’s never a bad idea to pick up some tips before your next dining experience! We’ve dined with characters plenty of times, and we’re letting you in on a few unspoken rules to be mindful of during your next character meal!

For starters, it’s ok to dine alone or go with only adults!

There are a couple of reasons we suggest doing this, actually. First off is price. These dining experiences aren’t cheap, and only having to worry about yourself or being able to split the costs helps.

There’s also a stigma that character dining restaurants are ONLY for children, and that’s simply not true. You can have plenty of fun meeting characters all by yourself while enjoying a good meal! Treat yo self!

The next unspoken rule we want to mention is that if a character accidentally skips your table, it’s ok to talk to a Cast Member and ask that they revisit.

You shouldn’t expect the character to come back, but if you ask nicely, it may very well happen! They operate on a rotation, so if you are up getting food or away at the bathroom, you might be missed. If this happens, just chat to a character attendant and they will do what they can to help you meet the character(s) you missed. It is important to note that if you are at a buffet and see the characters just a table or two away, you may just want to wait to get your food until after you meet the character so you don’t miss them!

The next rule is a reminder that, yes, you CAN stand up for better photos. In the age of social media, getting that perfect picture is more important than ever — so it’s totally understandable if you prefer to stand and get a better picture with a character.

Remember that you’re not forced to sit down and take a picture with a character, but that’s also allowed in case that’s how you want to do it!

The next unspoken rule is simple: Going to the buffet one by one is a good way to ensure your table isn’t skipped by a character. 

Characters have places to be and people to see, and if no one is sitting at your table, they won’t hang around and wait for you to get back. Therefore, to guarantee that at least someone gets to meet characters, make sure your table is always occupied. Plus, if characters are spending time with someone at your table, maybe guests at the buffet will have some time to get back and meet the characters themselves.

Finally — and maybe most importantly — do your homework on the restaurants beforehand. Not all character dining is equal. Characters are different, food offerings can be vastly different, prices vary, and overall experiences can easily contrast.

For example, you’ll get a Beauty and the Beast-themed prix-fixe experience at Be Our Guest and a buffet with classic Disney characters at Chef Mickey’s. These two restaurants are definitely not the same.

You should also get familiar with restaurant layouts. Maybe one restaurant has window seating that you can ask for to get better lighting for your pictures (remember that this is never guaranteed, even with a reservation).

Maybe you just want to know which characters are at the restaurant so you can appropriately Disneybound (wear a themed outfit). Either way, it never hurts to do your homework.

What are some of your favorite character meal tips? Let us know and continue to follow us here at AllEars for all the latest Disney World updates, tips, reviews, and more!

What a Disney World Expert Is Secretly Listening to and Looking for When Dining at a Character Meal

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

Share some of your favorite character meal tips in the comments below!

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