It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Disney food, but what makes Disney food even better?

Disney food with your favorite characters, of course! If you’re looking to book a character meal while you’re at Disneyland, you have four options available to you, and each offers a different type of experience. So how do you decide which one is right for you and your family? You’re in luck because we’re ranking all the Disneyland character dining from best to worst!

When trying to decide what character dining to choose, there are a few things to consider. Which characters are the most important to you — would you rather meet the classics, focus on Disney Princesses, or have a bigger variety? What style of food works best for your family — would you prefer a more upscale dining experience, or one that’s a little more kid-friendly? We’re bringing you all the details, so come along as we take a closer look at all the character dining options in Disneyland.

1. Mickey’s Tales of Adventure at Storytellers Cafe

Storytellers Cafe, in Disneyland Resort’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, is a buffet-style restaurant that celebrates the art of storytelling through large paintings and murals, silhouettes, and stained glass design elements throughout the space.

Storytellers Cafe features Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet for $49 per adult and $29 per child, and Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Brunch Buffet for $51 per adult and $29 per child.

While the dinner buffet is not a character meal, you’ll find Minnie, Pluto, and Chip ‘n Dale at the Breakfast and Brunch Buffets.

Breakfast is served Mondays through Thursdays, and you’ll find classic favorites like croissants, muffins, danishes, fresh fruit, and Mickey Waffles. But there are plenty of hearty options as well —  Chile Verde Chilaquiles, hand-carved meats, an omelet station, Egg White Frittatas, and much more.

Brunch is served Fridays through Sundays, and you’ll find many of the breakfast favorites, as well as the Fish of the Day, assorted flatbreads, beignets, and more!

Overall, this spot has a welcoming, warm atmosphere, and great service — and we have enjoyed it on multiple trips to Disneyland. It is on the pricey side, and while we generally really love the food, there have been times when we thought the food was average. Keep that in mind when choosing a spot for yourselves, but overall, we recommend this spot for those looking for a quality character meal in Dinseyland.

Read our full review of Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet here!

2. Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose

Napa Rose, also inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, is an award-winning restaurant that offers a sophisticated dining experience with fresh seasonal flavors focusing on wine country cuisine.

From 8AM-11AM on Thursdays through Mondays, Napa Rose hosts a character meal — Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure. This is meant to be a 2-hour experience where you can meet princesses like Rapunzel, Mulan, Jasmine, and Ariel. This is a pricey meal — it costs $125 for both adults and children, but we were really thouroughly impressed by both the food and the level of interaction with the Princesses.

The food portion was divided into three sections. For starters, you’ll get a 3-tier tower of appetizers with items like kiwi and coconut, chia and granola parfait with mango, and a lobster salad crostini. For the main course, kids can choose from house-made Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Princess Waffles, and Barbeque Sliders. Adults can choose from items like scrambled eggs, artisan turkey sausages, vegetables, and a rotating selection of meats. Dessert options range from Chocolate Princess Cake Pops to Petite Raspberry Tarts and more.

Along with the great food we had here, we were impressed by the level of interaction with the characters. They really took their time with each guest, and there were additional themed activities and photo ops with the princesses like story time with Belle and a warrior pose practice with Mulan. Kids even got to take home keepsakes like an autograph book and crown neclace. At $125 per person, this might not be for everyone — but if you’re looking to splurge on an all-around great character experience, this is a great choice.

Click here to read out full review of Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose

3. Minnie & Friends Breakfast at the Plaza Inn

Plaza Inn is cafeteria-style eatery on Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A.. This location is full of Victorian charm, and has been serving guests since Disneyland’s opening day in 1955 (when it was called Red Wagon Inn). Now, you can find a character breakfast here — Minnie & Friends Breakfast in the Park!

The atmosphere here is charming — outside are pretty pops of pink flowers and pink umbrellas, and you’re on Main Street U.S.A., so it’s a prime location! At this all-you-care-to eat breakfast you’ll find classics like Mickey waffles, cold cereals, fresh fruit, scrambed eggs, breakfast meats, omlets, and more!

There characters you’ll meet here range from Minnie, Daisy, Chip ‘n Dale, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Pluto — but characters are subject to change. Overall, the food here might not be as elevated as the previous two options — but it’s a great choice if you are looking for a variety of characters and want the convenience (and ambience) of starting your day on Main Street.

See photos from our experience at Minnie and Friends Breakfast here!

4. Goofy’s Kitchen

Goofy’s Kitchen in Disneyland Hotel is a spirited dining location where you can enjoy a payful character meal at both breakfast and dinner! At this all-you-care-to-eat location, you can find characters like Pluto, Chip ‘n Dale, and Minnie — as well as the head chef, Goofy!

Breakfast and dinner are both $59.99 per adult and $35 per child. For breakfast, you’ll find specialties like Mickey Pancakes, Goofy’s Famous Peanut Butter Pizza, and more.

For Dinner, enjoy Goofyroni & Cheese, a meat carving station, and a dessert buffet featuring the fan favorite — warm bread pudding!

This location is a fast-paced, fun environment with good food. If you’re looking for a lively, kid-friendly option, this might be the place for you!

Hopefully, this list helped you figure out the best character dining in Disneyland for you family. Make sure to check out our video on the Ultimate Guide to Disneyland in 2023!

We’re always on the lookout for the best Disney experiences, so stay tuned to DFB for more!

Which of these character meals is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!