Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution has renewed their deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. extending ABC affiliations through 2026. What’s Happening: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution today announced a multi-year deal that renews ABC affiliations across all Sinclair stations into 2026. Additionally, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution also agreed to renew […]
The Halloween season is officially ending, so I think it is time we shed light on some things that could be improved at Walt Disney World during this spooky time of year.
#1 – More Mickey Mouse Pumpkins Please
This year I saw way more Cinderella Pumpkin wreaths than Mickey Mouse Pumpkin wreaths. That can never happen again. The first week of Halloween at Magic Kingdom, there were no Mickey Pumpkins to be seen anywhere, then the following week, they put out a few by the hub. Those wreaths are my favorite part of Halloween; it’s the one thing that gets me in the spirit and excited to celebrate. So Disney, please put out all the Mickey Pumpkin wreaths next year; thank you.
Mickey PumpkinHalloween at Magic Kingdom
#2 – Carry Halloween through the whole park
Halloween decor has always been on Main Street U.S.A., but it never goes further than that. At Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the park has spooky offerings, but I think they should pull the decorations through the park. Obviously, have that decor fit the theme of each land; this also goes from Christmas at Magic Kingdom.
#3 – Add some spooky plant-based treats
This year at MNSSHP, they did not have ANY plant-based sweet treats, which made me very sad. I felt like I couldn’t have the full experience at the party because I didn’t get to eat anything Halloween-themed. Disney could’ve easily taken the Cookies ‘n’ “Cream” Chocolate Mousse Cup from Sunshine Seasons at EPCOT and made it a themed treat. I would’ve been so happy with that.
#4 – Add Halloween decor to OTHER parks
Hear me out, please. Hollywood Studios would look gorgeous with Halloween decor, especially on Sunset Blvd with the Tower of Terror at the end of the street. It could be so spooky. This park has some of the most incredible vintage Christmas decorations. If they made vintage Halloween decor, I would probably move into that park and never leave. I found some photos of old-timey Halloween decor; this would be perfect for Hollywood Studios.
These are some of the ideas I have that I think could make the Halloween season even better at Disney. Now I want to know what you all think. What do you think Disney could do to improve Halloween? Or do you think it’s perfect just the way it is? Let us know what you think in the comment section. Maybe Disney will read this and get some ideas.
Only a Disney vacation offers meals with this much character. Take in a meal and rub elbows with some Hollywood stars and even royalty!
But how do you choose? Buffet or Plated meal? Classic characters or take the time to meet some more unique friends? You want to know which character meals are the BEST. So, we’re RANKING every character meal in Disney World right now!
When thinking about the all of the Disney Character Dining options, it just triggers that part of the song in Encanto, The Family Madrigal. You know the part, sing along with us…
Okay, okay, okay, okay So many <Character Meals> in our house So, let’s turn the sound up, you know why? I think it’s time for a <Character Meal> round up
Alright, so it doesn’t really fit in the flow of Lin Manuel Miranda’s tight rhyming structure, but you get what we mean!
When folks usually think of character meals, Chef Mickey’s is what comes to mind! It is one of the most popular spots and snagging a reservation here is not for the faint of heart. Even though this iconic dining location is uber popular, it’s not one of the highest ranked.
Chef Mickey’s features the Family Feast for breakfast for $45 per adult and $29 per child, and dinner for $60 per adult and $38 per child. The fare is pretty standard breakfast (MICKEY WAFFLES) and dinner staples, and you’ll find yourself meeting Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald in cute chef’s outfits.
Again, Chef Mickey’s is very popular which makes it somewhat difficult to get a reservation. Its big pros are that it’s fairly iconic AND it features ALL FIVE of the Fab Five! Oh, and you can spot the monorail coasting through the resort lobby while you dine. So, maybe that’s a Fab Six? Cuz that monorail has its own fan base, too!
Chef Donald
On the other hand, though, the atmosphere can be loud and chaotic and the food is typically only okay. Is it a great way to meet fan-favorite characters? Yes. Are there character meals we tend to enjoy more? Also yes.
Lilo, Stitch, Pluto, and Mickey are bringing the island vibes to breakfast time. They’re visiting guests at tables once again, giving us a chance to partake in this unique meet and greet. And while you meet these characters, you can munch on Pineapple Coconut Breakfast Bread, Mickey and Stitch Waffles,Lilikoi Juice, Fresh Fruit, and more for $45 for adults and $29 for kids.
It Just Depends on What You Want
It’s hard to fault this one. The food is delicious, it’s all you care to eat, and just a monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom. But if Lilo and Stitch aren’t the pals you’re looking to meet, you might feel some FOMO for not booking one of restaurants that feature the Fab Five. But let’s keep digging and see who’s ranks the top of the list!
In fifth place, we’re headed to Hollywood Studios where Hollywood and Vine features TWO character meal options depending on the time of day. Start your day with the Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine Breakfast for $42 per adult and $27 per child featuring Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and Roadster Goofy.
Hey, girl hey!
After breakfast, the preschool team hits the shower and the varsity line up comes out for Minnie’s Seasonal Dine. Depending on the season, you might experience the Silver Screen Dine, the Springtime Dine, the Summertime Dine, a Halloween Dine, and a Holiday Dine. During these meals, you’re joined by Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and sometimes Pluto — all dressed for the occasion and season. Expect to pay $59 per adult and $38 per child.
Witch Minnie at Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine
What we LOVE about this restaurant is all of the character variety. You can see one set of characters for breakfast, and come back for dinner to meet all new friends! You can also keep coming back to see Minnie and the gang in all of their different outfits every season. So fun!
On the flip side, the atmosphere isn’t our favorite and this is a LOUDER meal. Plus, the food is just… okay. So even with its improvements and an impressive roster of characters, it still sits in the middle of the pack. Hey, there are some REALLY good character meals!
Something else to think about is that since Hollywood and Vine is in Hollywood Studios, you are gonna need a park ticket and park pass reservation to get to the restaurant. Yup, another layer to the planning process; you’ll need a dining reservation, a park ticket, and a park pass reservation to dine here.
Alright, our next choice can be found in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. That’s right, it’s Tusker House — where you’ll have a WILD time of character meal fun, all day long.
Donald
Tusker House features Donald’s Dining Safari with Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Mickey, AND Minnie — all ready for adventure in their safari outfits. The characters are rollin’ deep here three meals a day! Breakfast is $45 per adult and $29 per child, and lunch and dinner are $59 per adult and $38 per child.
Mickey in Tusker House
This spot lands in the middle of our list for a few reasons. On the cons side of things, it’s a trickier option for picky eaters, though kids and picky eaters can always find some theme park basics like chicken nuggets and fries and such. Still, it doesn’t quite compete with our top three.
The Full Spread
Still, Tusker House definitely deserves some cred! It’s got a very cool atmosphere and the numerous characters are in sweet outfits to match. Plus the food has a focus on African cuisine and it is downright delicious! We tend to love just about everything we try from the buffet!
Now, you know what we’re gonna say. Tusker House is in Animal Kingdom, so once again park ticket and park pass reservation required.
3. Artist Point — Story Book Dining with Snow White
We’ve got some royalty securing the number three spot! If you’ve got princess fans, you might want to head over to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort to Artist Point where you’ll find Story Book Dining with Snow White.
Snow White
Story Book Dining with Snow White is a dinner-only character meal served prix-fixe for $60 per adult and $39 per child. Over a meal of more upscale plates, you’ll see Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy; and have a chance to take a photo with The Evil Queen!
Dopey
We LOVE that you get to meet some unique characters. In fact, you’ll be hard-pressed to find Dopey or the Evil Queen anywhere else on property. You don’t need a park ticket to experience this restaurant, and it provides a bit more of an upscale menu, so you’ll really feel fancy dining here!
Evil Queen
But there are some downsides. Character dining here is only available for dinner, is a bit pricey, and if you’re looking for royalty, you’ll only find one princess here (well, and an Evil Queen).
We’re really getting close to that top spot! Comin’ in as first runner-up, Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort! This spot might not always be a character meal, but when it is, it’s a winner!
Mickey!
When the sun goes down, Topolino’s Terrace is an ideal spot for a date night. But when the sun rises, you can welcome the day with Breakfast a la Art with Mickey & Friends. This meal is prix-fixe and offers Italian-inspired, high-end dishes. The meal is $45 per adult and $29 per child and features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy.
Minnie
This restaurant has a lot of wins. It’s got a gorgeous atmosphere, the food is amazing, AND the character outfits might be some of our favorites. You’ve got Painter Mickey, Poet Minnie, Sculptor Donald, and Dancer Daisy. The food also feels a lot fairer for the price than some other spots!
In fact, we had a hard time deciding between this one and our first-place winner. They’re practically interchangeable! Pretty much the only con with this one is that you have to make your way over to Riviera Resort — which is easy since this spot is on the Skyliner. Ok, that and Minnie’s poet outfit. If that came in our size, we’d buy it in a heartbeat!
Offering Chip ‘n Dale’s Harvest Feast as an all-you-can-eat lunch or dinner, this spot serves up some stellar platters of classic flavors, like barbecue chicken, mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes, while you ACTUALLY ROTATE through scenes from the Living with the Land attraction below. Add that Mickey, Pluto, and Chip ‘n Dale visit your table and this is a pretty fun spot. Meals are $55 for adults and $36 for kids.
Farmer Mickey
This spot has a lot going for it. You’ve got classic characters, of course, and they come to your table a LOT. This is a relatively small restaurant, so we’ve found that you can expect more character interactions than a typical meal. Plus, the pals are in fun farmer outfits to go with the fresh and delicious eats you have on your plate.
Hi, Dale!
And the atmosphere is extremely cool. The restaurant slowly turns as you eat so your view changes over the course of your meal. It’s also one of the easier character dining reservations to find because it’s pretty significantly underrated. Garden Grill TOTALLY deserves to keep its top spot. We love the spot so much and we’d love it even more if the breakfast option would return!
We’ve got to give an honorable mention to a few of our other character meals. Topping off our honorable mention list is Cinderella’s Royal Table, which used to be a full princess meal – with oodles of princesses, but now, you get a quick cameo with Cinderella while you dine in her royal dining hall.
Cinderella
This restaurant is a POPULAR one (so, warning, reservations go FAST). If/when the full character offering returns, guests should be able to meet with MANY princesses!
Guests can meet Winnie the Pooh and other Hundred Acre Wood pals at this beautiful restaurant. And the price tag is pretty standard for character buffets, coming at $45 for adults for breakfast and $59 for lunch and dinner, and $29 for kids for breakfast and $38 for lunch and dinner.
Piglet!
Bounce with Tigger, get a hug with Pooh, giggle with Piglet, but make sure you spend some quality time at that buffet.
Aaaaand there are two spots that still haven’t reopened at all but used to have very fun character meals. We had to give them a mention! The first one is 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Cinderella and Prince Charming host dinner!
Buffet dining had two different character meals throughout the day. The Supercalifragilistic Breakfast featured characters like Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and The Mad Hatter. You could also head to Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner featured Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, and Cinderella’s stepsisters!
Princesses appear at this spot and it rotates who you might see. You could spot Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Mulan, Cinderella, and/or Mary Poppins! And good news! Akershus is re-opening on Nov. 4, 2022!
Hopefully, our ranking helps you determine what character meal is best for YOU! And we will be sure to update and change our ranking as things change in the parks! As always, keep an eye on DFB for all the Disney tips!
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With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
NOTE: We’re updating this article throughout 2023 as openings take place and new experiences are announced!
Dates We Know
Disney typically keeps dates to themselves until the last possible moment, but luckily we do know a few different events coming up in 2023 that already have solid spots on the calendar.
January 4th and 9th, 2023: After-Hours Events Return
After Hours events are separately ticketed parties where you can stay in the Disney theme parks for 3 hours after the park closes. There are special treats and drinks included in your ticket. And because the number of tickets sold for the parties is limited, you can often find lower wait times than usual on the rides and attractions.
The Festival of the Arts combines visual, performing, and culinary arts — you can expect fancy foods, performances, gorgeous artwork, and plenty of merchandise. Some of our favorite eats come from this festival, and we love checking out all the incredible Disney-themed art on display.
March 31st, 2023: 50th Anniversary Celebrations End
The Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebrations kicked off in style on October 1st, 2021, and we’ve seen plenty of new entertainment, merchandise, snacks, and more over the past year. But sadly, all good things must come to an end.
Cinderella Castle for the 50th Anniversary
The 50th Anniversary Celebration will officially end on March 31st, 2023 — so if you want to experience any of this historic event, make sure you book your 2023 trip before it ends!
The rest of these dates are events we know will happen at some point in 2023 — either because Disney has announced it or because these events typically happen every year — we just don’t have solid dates for them yet. We’ll continue to update this article as we learn more!
For now, all we know is that the coaster will be opening sometime in the spring, but when exactly that might be remains to be seen. We’ll continue to keep an eye on the latest construction updates and keep you posted if we hear any more news on when we can ride this coaster!
The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival usually sprouts up around the spring — in 2022, it ran from March 2nd to July 4th. We’re expecting another spring harvest for this festival in 2023, but we don’t have the specific dates yet.
EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival
Incredible floral topiaries and artwork are scattered across the park, not to mention delicious springtime-themed eats and drinks from the festival booths. You’ll also find plenty of entertainment at this fest too, so stay tuned for the official 2023 dates!
2022 saw the return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party after a two-year hiatus. We finally danced and dined with goblins, ghouls, and ghosts once again — and got to go trick-or-treating around Magic Kingdom!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party sign
In 2022, this separately ticketed party took place on select nights between August 12th and October 31st — so chances are we can expect a similar time frame for 2023. We’ll keep an eye out for any more announcements from Disney!
EPCOT’s longest festival kicks off mid-year and lasts almost until the very end! That’s right — we’re talking about the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. This is the ultimate foodie fest at EPCOT — it’s completely food-themed and completely awesome. The 2022 festival dates are July 14th to November 19th.
2022 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
We have quite a few favorite snacksthat return to this festival year after year — which is why we return year after year, too! Disney hasn’t shared the official 2023 dates for this fest yet, so stay tuned.
We’re closing out the EPCOT festival lineup in style — the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays celebrates traditions and cuisines from around the globe. Plus, who wouldn’t want to attend an event with something called a Cookie Stroll?! Sign us up!
Festival of the Holidays
All the eats, entertainment, merchandise, and special events you can expect from EPCOT festivals can be found at this one too — but with a festive holiday twist! The event typically runs from November through December, but we’ll let you know once the dates have been announced for 2023.
We also got to see the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2022! The event takes place on select nights from November 8th to December 22nd, so we’ll likely see something very similar if the party comes back for 2023.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and important dates you need to know about!
Late 2023: Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana Opens in EPCOT
If you haven’t been to EPCOT lately, you might have missed the giant construction zone that’s the future home of Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana. This immersive, water-based, walkthrough attraction is going to bring a whole new type of experience to Disney World, and we can’t wait to check it out!
Te Fiti Model that will be part of Journey of Water
Disney shared at the 2022 D23 Expo that this attraction (and Te Fiti!) would be ready to greet guests sometime in late 2024. We’ll have to wait for more specifics, but we’ve been keeping track of all the specifics and will let you know if we learn anything new!
2022 was also the year that traditional character meet and greets and many character dining meals returned to “normal” too! Slowly but surely, we were able to high-five, hug, and hang out with characters once again.
While we don’t have any specifics on what exactly the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company will bring to Disney World, we can probably expect some sort of celebration! The Disney 100 Years of Wonder Celebration looks like it’s mostly centered around Disneyland Resort, but we’re hopeful some of it will trickle over to the east coast as well.
Disney 100 Logo At D23 Expo
There’s no doubt Disney will release some 100th Anniversary merchandise, and we do know that a new fireworks show will be coming to EPCOT…
And over in Magic Kingdom, Disney has announced that the Happily Ever After theme song will be returning next year to Disney World as part of an updated fireworks spectacular. The big fireworks change was announced this year during the 2022 D23 Expo. For now, we’re not sure when either show will premiere, but we’ll continue to update you!
Happily Ever After in 2021
Whether you’ve already got a trip planned to Disney World in 2023 or are just starting to think about planning one, keep these dates in mind so you can be prepared for your visit.
After arriving on the scene earlier this year in Free Comic Book Day: Avengers/X-Men, Brielle Brooks, the daughter of Blade, will headline her own series this February. What’s Happening: Announced at New York Comic Con, Bloodline: Daughter of Blade will reunite the character’s creators, writer Danny Lore and artist Karen S. Darboe, for a five-issue saga […]
Disney World’s Haunted Mansion is so fun! But, did you know that it is full of stories and secrets? Take a look here to discover them. Haunted Mansions Around the World Haunted Mansions and Manors have a cult-like following around the globe. Whether you love Disneyland’s holiday layover or prefer Disneyland Paris’ Phantom Manor, there are fun […]
You don’t want to miss this great way Disney Visa cardholders can save even more money. Disney Visa Cardholders can enjoy benefits at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and other U.S. Disney Destinations, such as Aulani in Hawaii, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. They also enjoy […]
Several new “Star Wars” items arrived at Disneyland Resort this week, including mugs and pajamas featuring Grogu from “The Mandalorian.” We found all of these items in Star Wars Trading Post at Downtown Disney District.
Grogu “Choose Your Path” Mug – $14.99
This stoneware mug is black with a brown base. Grogu (a.k.a. Baby Yoda) is in white outline on one side.
The other side reads “Choose Your Path.”
This mug is 13 oz / 369 ml.
Grogu “Good Morning” Mug – $14.99
This white stoneware mug features Grogu looking up at a butterfly. It reads “Good morning.”
The inside is yellow.
The other side has a list of things to do including “meditate,” “sip soup,” and “eat cookies.” It’s 12 oz / 340 ml.
“Strong With the Force” Sleep Set with Gray Pants – $54.99
This set includes a long-sleeved heater gray shirt.
It features Grogu reaching for the Mandalorian, under the words “Strong with the Force.”
The included pants are gray with an all-over pattern of Grogu and Mando’s helmet.
“Strong With the Force” Sleep Set with White Pants – $54.99
This similar sleep set just features Grogu on the long-sleeved shirt.
The pants are white but feature the same pattern as the pants in the above set.
Grogu Bottle – $12.99
This plastic bottle features Grogu and reads “May the Force be with you.”
The cap is blue and green.
It has a pop-up straw.
“Star Wars” Art Kit – $29.99
Finally, this art kit comes in a box featuring the main characters of “Star Wars: A New Hope.”
The box unfolds to show off all the art supplies inside.
Included are a paint palette, 18 washable markers, 8 paint tubes, 16 crayons, 16 color pencils, 24 water color paints, 18 oil pastels, 2 pencils, 2 paint brushes, stencil, sketch pad, eraser, pencil sharpener, ruler, scissors, and tape.
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The cast and director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever appeared at a special screening held at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. last night. What’s Happening: Director Ryan Coogler and stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Tenoch Huerta and Angela Bassett attended the red-carpet event last tonight hosted by Walt Disney Studios, Marvel Entertainment, Chadwick […]
At the beginning of summer, Disney let fans know that character meet and greets would slowly but surely make their way back to the parks. When they made that announcement, I predicted that all meet and greets would return just in time for Halloween. My forecast wasn’t 100% correct, but many characters did get back out there to meet guests throughout the season.
This past weekend our Toy Story friends Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie headed back to Andy’s Backyard in Toy Story Land to meet guests. The land felt empty without them meeting and greeting because it felt like there were no “toys,” just rides with really long lines. Let’s look at the meet and greets times and locations, shall we?
Buzz Lightyear
Buzz can be found by the entrance of Toy Story Land. According to the My Disney Experience app, he is the coolest toy in the universe and turns playtime into the greatest adventure in the galaxy. After watching the most recent movie (which I loved), I can agree he is the coolest toy in the universe.
Jessie
Guests can meet Jessie near the entrance of Toy Story Mania. Jessie is the roughest, toughest cowgirl in the West. She is the only character that freaks me out; I don’t know if it’s her eyes or that she doesn’t really have a neck. Anyway, enough of my fears; seeing her back in Andy’s Backyard with her best pal Woody is great.
Woody
Woody can be seen with Jessie by Toy Story Mania. Woody is a beloved character that many guests grew up with. He is described as the one that all the toys look up to. He is brave, smart, and kind, like a cowboy, should be.
If meeting characters is essential to you or your travel party, plan accordingly. The My Disney Experience app lists all the meet-and-greet times, which is an excellent tool for those who like to plan their days. These characters meet outside so if there is inclement weather, ask a cast member if they were moved to a different location or if they won’t be meeting until it passes.
Will you be making time to meet these characters on your next Disney vacation? Let us know!
Okay, okay, okay, okay
