When planning your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, you'll definitely want to make time for Character Dining. Before you reserve your spot for Character Dining, here are 12 things you need to know about Character Dining at Disney World.

1. Character dining books to capacity very quickly. Character Dining at Disney World is very popular. Part of that reason is the intimate atmosphere you get with some of your favorite Disney characters.

In order to really get one-on-one time with characters, Disney limits the amount of reservations they accept for Character Dining time slots. Character Dining at Walt Disney World can be booked 60 days in advance, and if you're traveling during a busier travel time, you'll want to follow that 60 day guideline.

We recommend using this free dining alert system to secure Walt Disney World Character Dining reservations.

2. You can make a reservation online or through the My Disney Experience app. We prefer making reservations via this dining alert link so you can also browse available times for each of your date choices. It helps to be a little bit flexible. Reservations become available 60 days prior to your vacation.

3. You'll need to hold your reservation with a credit card, even if you're planning on using cash or a different card at the time of payment. You won't be charged anything unless you do not show up for your reservation. If that happens, you will be charged $10 per person. Cancelation periods vary but will be noted at the time of booking. Some reservations may require payment in full at the time of booking.

4. Kids ages two and under eat for free at Disney Character Dining. Yay! But, child and adult dining prices match the ages of tickets. For example, child Character Dining prices are for children ages 3-9 and adult Character Dining prices are for anyone 10 and older.

5. You'll want your camera handy at all times. If there's one thing Character Dining is at Walt Disney World, it's unpredictable in the best possible way. You never know who you'll meet or what crazy antics the characters will be up to.

6. Not all characters are guaranteed... unless it's "their" restaurant. For example, Mickey will ALWAYS be at Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort. But there are so many different characters to meet at various dining locations. Especially some unique characters like:

• Snow White and the Evil Queen at Story Book Dining at Artist Point
• Winnie the Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace

7. Character Dining outside of the Parks? Yes! This is one of the best things to do on your day of arrival or departure because you can meet up with Disney characters right at your Disney Resort hotel. Character Dining is currently hosted at the following hotels:

• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: 1900 Park Fare is currently unavailable
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort: Cape May Cafe at Minnie's Beach Bash Breakfast
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Chef Mickey’s
• Disney’s Polynesian Resort: Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White
• Disney’s Riviera Resort: Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends

8. There are several Character Dining locations inside the theme parks as well. Character Dining is a nice break from the day to have a place to enjoy a leisurely meal at the following locations:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park: Tusker House Restaurant
• EPCOT: Chip 'n' Dale's Harvest Feast at Garden Grill Restaurant
• EPCOT: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall with Disney Princesses
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Disney Junior Play n' Dine breakfast or dinner with Minnie and friends at seasonal dining parties
• Magic Kingdom: Crystal Palace breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and friends
• Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Royal Table

9. There's at least one Character Dining choice available almost any time of day and throughout the resort!

10. Most Character Dining experiences are all you care to eat and drink. Some offer a prix fixe menu. Character Dining at Walt Disney World is in part so great because everything (except alcoholic beverages) is included. Most Character Dining options are buffet style, which means you'll be able to eat as much as your heart desires. And with all kinds of food options available, you won't want to stop at a single plate! Those that are not buffet style include Cinderella's Royal Table, Topolino's Terrace, and Story Book Dining at Artist Point.

11. One of our favorite things about Character Dining is you can easily view the menu ahead of time. This is perfect if you have children who are picky eaters and are worried about spending money on something they won't enjoy! You can find the menus for each Character Dining location on Walt Disney World’s website or on the My Disney Experience app.

1900 Park Fare - Temporarily Unavailable

Delight in breakfast and dinner buffets, plus a merry afternoon tea party, each hosted by Disney Characters.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Menu

Savor Norwegian-inspired fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Delight in family-style platters fit for royalty! For breakfast, enjoy pastries, scrambled eggs, potato casserole and Norwegian waffles! Lunch and dinner highlights include field greens salad with lingonberry vinaigrette, traditional kjØttkake (Norwegian meatballs) and grilled salmon.

Be sure to save room for dessert—a platter of 2 delectable desserts served family-style for the perfect ending to your feast.

Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast Menu

Enjoy a spread of flavorful breakfast favorites like Mickey Mouse waffles, scrambled eggs, seasoned potatoes, sausage, oatmeal and more.

Cinderella's Royal Table Breakfast Menu

Kick off your day in majestic style, complete with bubbly cocktails, flaky pastries and avocado toast. Craving something heartier? Try the Caramel Apple-Stuffed French Toast or Beef Tenderloin and Egg. Or sink your teeth into a Traditional Breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and potatoes. Also available are nonalcoholic drinks like orange juice, lemonade, Twinings of London tea and freshly brewed Joffrey’s coffee.

Cinderella's Royal Table Lunch and Dinner Menu

Prepare yourself for an enchanted lunch or dinner as Cinderella’s Royal Chef begins your feast with assorted cured meats and cheeses. Soon after, it's on to an unforgettable main course with choices for adults ranging from roasted chicken breast and tenderloin of beef to chef’s fish of the day.

For your wee ones, favorite options like beef tenderloin, chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese. And no matter the path your meal takes, be sure to polish off your dining experience with a scrumptious dessert like the coffee pots de creme or the signature The Clock Strikes Twelve—dark chocolate mousse with a dark chocolate ganache served with a raspberry coulis.

The Crystal Palace Breakfast Menu

Start your day with delicious traditional breakfast fare, freshly baked pastries, fruit and more.

The Crystal Palace Lunch and Dinner Menu

For lunch and dinner, choose from mouth-watering favorites like roasted carved meats, freshly prepared pastas, delicious salads and beyond.

And delight in such desserts as warm seasonal cobbler, butterscotch pudding, strawberry shortcake and soft-serve ice cream—the perfect ending to your lunch or dinner.

Chip 'n' Dale's Harvest Feast Breakfast Menu

For breakfast, enjoy cinnamon breakfast bread, scrambled eggs, cheesy potato casserole, Mickey-shaped waffles and more!

Chip 'n' Dale's Harvest Feast Lunch and Dinner Menu

Delectable lunch and dinner highlights include a smorgasbord of savory, allergy-friendly starters and entrees. Delectable menu highlights include a harvest-inspired garden salad, grilled beef with chimichurri and all-natural sliced turkey with gravy. Best of all, many of the veggies are grown in EPCOT’s Living with the Land greenhouses!

Disney Junior Play n' Dine Breakfast Menu

The breakfast features assorted pastries and an omelet station. Classic entrees such as biscuits and gravy, Mickey-shaped waffles and eggs benedict are also available. Or, you can try one of our signature specialties like salmon and bagel casserole, plant-based frittata and brioche french toast with bananas fosters sauce

Minnie’s Seasonal Dining Lunch and Dinner Menu

Lunch and dinner buffet offers an array of salads and delicious chilled starters. Entrees include roasted mushroom farro risotto, macaroni & cheese with shrimp and bacon, as well as protein selections featuring oven-roasted chicken, herb-crusted tenderloin steak, salmon and crispy pork belly.

Make sure to save room for some showstopping desserts, including seasonal bread pudding, Mississippi mud pie and a variety of mini desserts! Minnie's Holiday Dine typically takes place from early November through early January. Minnie's Halloween Dine typically takes place from mid-August through the end of October.

Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch Menu

Feast family-style as Disney Friends visit with Guests, sign autographs and pose for photos. Breakfast selections include scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, Stitch and Mickey waffles, ham with pineapple, a variety of fresh fruits and assorted breads.

Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White Menu

Begin the storybook-themed dining experience with shared appetizers including Hunter’s Terrine, Wild Mushroom Bisque and Wicked Shrimp Cocktail. Choose your entrée from a prix fixe menu. Feast on the Royal Prime Rib Roast, Brother’s Grimm Herbed Chicken and more. Then top it off with a sweet finale.

Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends Menu Breakfast begins with fresh pastries and bread. Your choice of entrées include: Quiche Gruyère with house-made pancetta, Sour Cream Waffle, Smoked Salmon, Two Eggs Any Style, and more. Whichever you select, breakfast in this charming café is an enchanting way to start your day.

Tusker House Restaurant Breakfast Menu For breakfast, munch on Safari Bread, Mickey and Simba Waffles, and Durban Chicken and Egg Curry with Jasmine Rice.

Tusker House Restaurant Lunch and Dinner Menu Lunch and dinner offerings include Moroccan-Spiced Beef, Berbere-Marinated Pork, Spit-Roasted Herb Chicken and Cape Malay Green Curry Shrimp.

12. There is a Character Dining experience for everyone, at every budget. Breakfast typical ranges from $36-60 while lunch and dinner prices range from $36-60 or more.

When you see prices listed as a range, it usually indicates childrens pricing at the lower end (ages 3-9) and adult pricing at the higher end (ages 10+). Children 2 and under are free but must be included in the guest count.

Bonus Tip: If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary or something special, make sure to let the staff know. You can do this when you make your reservation or when you check in. You'll be surprised with a fun treat (usually a cupcake or something similar) decorated for the event. It's just another example of that special Disney magic!

There’s so many reasons to love character dining and while we love each for different reasons, Get Away Today staff has chosen their favorites which we’re sharing with you.

• Best Character Breakfast: Topolino's Terrace
• Best Princess Dining: Cinderella's Royal Table
• Best Holiday Experience: Hollywood and Vine
• Most Unique: Story Book Dining at Artist Point
• Best Buffet: The Crystal Palace

No matter which Character Dining you choose, you're in for an experience that you'll remember forever. Make sure to make Character Dining a part of your Walt Disney World vacation and book up to 60 days in advance.

If you haven't booked your Walt Disney World vacation package yet, we'd love to help with that! Disney World packages can be booked online, or you can call our agents at 855-GET-AWAY.