Disney Character Meals Outside The Disney Theme Parks and the Disney-owned Resorts

Here's a list of Disney character meals that include Disney characters but are not in the Walt Disney World theme parks or at the Disney-owned resorts. These restaurants do not participate in the Disney Dining Plans plan and must be paid for at the restaurant. These locations can be very good options for anyone not on a Disney World meal plan who is frustrated because of limited availability at all the usual Disney World Character meal locations. These meals are available to everyone - you don't have to stay at these resorts to dine at the restaurants.

Character Meals in the Epcot Resort Area

Character Breakfasts. Saturday & Sunday Only. Disney characters: Pluto & Goofy on Saturday. Pluto, Goofy, Chip & Dale on Sunday. Characters available from 8:00AM - 11:00AM) No advance reservations accepted. Cost: $21.99 Adult / $13.99 child.

TIP: This is the least expensive Disney character breakfast - you'll save $2 - $7 (prices raise during peak travel times) per adult over the cost of the nearby Cape May Character Buffet at Disney's Beach Club Resort. The cost for children is about the same during non-peak times but you'll save about $2.00 per child during the summer and other peak travel times. During the summer, a family of four (2 Adults and 2 children) will save $20.00 the Character breakfast at the Swan resort, when compared to the cost of the Cape May character breakfast at the Beach Club Resort. If you're travelling at non-peak times, the savings would only be $4.00 for that same family of four.

Character Dinners - Seafood Buffet. Friday Only. Goofy, Pluto, Chip & Dale. Characters available from 5:15PM - 9:15PM) Advance reservations accepted. Cost: $35.99 Adult / $14.99, ages 3 - 9.

Character Dinners - Buffet. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, & Sunday. Pluto & Goofy. Characters available from 5:15PM - 9:15PM) Advance reservations accepted. Cost: $29.99 Adult / $13.99, ages 3 - 9.

For dinner reservations, call: 407-934-4000.

Another place to dine with characters in Downtown Disney

Character Breakfasts. Sunday Only. Characters - Minnie Mouse + 2 other Disney characters not scheduled in advanced. There are two seatings: 8:30AM & 9:30AM - arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the seatings. Advance reservations accepted and recommended. Cost: $22.00 Adult / $9:00 for children.

For reservations, call: 407-827-4000

Downtown Disney Character Breakfast

Character Breakfasts. Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday Only. Usual characters - Pluto & Goofy. Characters available from 7:30AM - 10:30AM. Advance reservations accepted and recommended. Cost: $22.00 Adult / $11.99, children ages 4 - 11.

For reservations, call: 407-828-4444, extension 4.

Another Great Downtown Disney Character Meal

Character Breakfasts. Sunday Only from 8:30AM - 11:00AM. This character meal typically features Pluto, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy. Cost: $21 per adult, $10 per child age 3 - 9. Children under 3 are free. No advance reservations accepted.

Avoiding Holiday surcharges at Disney restaurants.

The breakfasts at the Swan Resort and the Buena Vista Palace are both a little lower than the typical Disney-owned character breakfast.

The character breaktasts at the Hilton and the Regal Sun are priced about the same as the Disney-owned character breakfasts during non-peak travel times.

But did you know that Disney actually increases the price of many of their buffets and character meals during the peak travel seasons? They may just charge more during the times or they may add a "Holiday" surcharge. (See our Swan Resort description above for an example)

When do these price hikes occur?

1. Thanksgiving week

2. Christmas break through New Years

3. Easter Week

4. Memorial Day through August 14th. (Yes, prices increase for the whole summer).

During these times, a character meal at a Disney-owned restaurant will cost roughly an additional $4 per adult and about $2 more per child, ages 3- 9. These price increases do not affect guests on a Disney Dining Plan but they do impact everyone paying for meals out-of-pocket. During these times, the character meals at the non-Disney owned locations listed above are an even better value and can easily save a family of four an additional $12 per meal just by avoiding the Holiday/Peak Season price increases. If the meal is costs a little less than a comparable Disney-owned character meal, you save even more - like the approximate $20 you can save at the Swan in our example above.

Do you have a favorite Disney character meal? Tell us about all your favorite Disney restaurants....