Epcot Area Character Dining

[starhitter21]

What is the best character dining experience in the Epcot area? Also, which is the most reasonable? We are staying at the WDW Dolphin and wanted a good experience. I know that there is the Garden Grove in the Swan and also a character dining experience in the Beach Club. As for Epcot, I don't know. Any personal opinions/experiences would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[TDC Nala]

Epcot resorts:

Garden Grove (dinner, breakfast on weekends) at the Swan
Cape May (breakfast only; no characters at dinner) at the Beach Club

Inside Epcot:
Akershus (princesses at breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Garden Grill (dinner only)

Inside DHS:
Hollywood & Vine (Playhouse Disney breakfast & lunch only)

 

[starhitter21]

What do you suggest for the price and experience?

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

If looking for Princess, then Akershus in Norway @ Epcot is a must. I have read 100's of post and everyone says you can't go wrong with Breakfast at Cape May Cafe @ Beach Club (it is on my list for next trip)

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't go to character meals and cannot recommend one, but with the list you can see what is available.

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Love the PSB Breakfast N Norway Akershus it is a must do me and my 4yr old son he loves the ladies so this is a must do it is a bit higher than your other character dining places but u get a nice Free pic!

 

[ses1230]

For princesses, definitely Askerhus. We have done breakfast here 3 times and it was good, and nice character interaction.

Cape May Cafe only has characters at breakfast. This was also good food, relaxed atmosphere and a lot of character interaction.

 

[AirGoofy]

What do you suggest for the price and experience?

The princess breakfast at Akershus is expensive (over $100 for 2 adults/ 2 children) but definitely worth it. With dds (8,5) princesses are a much, and there is so much interaction here. Plus, the food is terrific, and tables are not turned as quickly as they are in CRT.

Garden Grill was great with characters, but food was just average. I would say the best two character breakfast experiences (<$60) for the money are Ohana's (Mickey, Pluto, Lilo & Stitch) and Cape May (Minnie, Goofy, and Donald). The food at both is wonderful, with the main difference is Ohana is served family style.

Probably, the best buffet for value, but does not have characters, is Trail's End at Fort Wildnerness.

 

[Totoro]

We like Akershus for dinner for food and princess interaction. Garden Grill was good for character interaction. I consider the food at Garden Grill to be just okay...nothing special.

When we have eaten at Akershus and Garden Grill for dinner, it was on the dining plan. I do find that these dinners can be pretty expensive to pay OOP.

I have heard that character breakfasts outside the park--Cape May and the Swan--are much more reasonable and this is where I would go if I was not on the dining plan.

 

[onelilspark]

I'm a big fan of Cape May Cafe's Character Breakfast!

 

[Swimalie]

I highly recommend Akershus!

 

[mccathy]

We loved the food at Akershus - and the interaction with the princesses was great.

We loved the interaction with the characters at Garden Grill... well, except for Chip - I think he was confused and thought he already visited us and just did a quick, "oh hello, again." walk by. But that was okay, because Dale was too funny and Pluto wouldn't leave my husband alone. Kept begging for his food... until my husband realized he really wanted some beer. And Mickey was great with my younger son - of course Mickey was great everywhere we went. As was Pluto. I love Pluto.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

My mom and dad took my 3 year old sister to the Akershus princess dinner last year and absolutely loved it. She got pictures with Belle before they were seated. The rest of the princesses came around to each of the tables to visit. My mom said she actually sat there patiently waiting for each princess to come and say hi. The place has to be amazing if you can get a 3 year old to sit still that long!

 

[Canyon girl]

We loved Garden Grill! I liked that it was not buffet, and that they brought the platters to your table. It is a small restaurant, and the characters came around 3 or 4 times before we were done. The vegetables were from the garden in the Land. I highly recommend this meal, in fact, this will be the first meal that we do when we go back in November.

 

[jdisnut]

Not a ton of character dining options in the Epcot area. The princess meal at Akershus is easily the most popular, but it is also the most expensive. Unless you have children desperate to meet the princess, I suggest looking elsewhere.

Garden Grill tends to be overlooked and offers better food than the other places. It's family style, not a buffet, which is a pleasant change. If you're willing to try a dinner, I recommend this one.

 

[runskyhy]

Can we make Saturday morning character breakfast reservations at the Garden Grove on the Disney website?

 

[JoePa4Ever]

For Epcot area character dining at a reasonable cost, I would choose Cape May Cafe. Cape May has Goofy, Minnie & Donald in swimwear, it's a very relaxed character meal (great character interaction), and the breakfast buffet is fairly good.

 

[AirGoofy]

Can we make Saturday morning character breakfast reservations at the Garden Grove on the Disney website?

We made a reservation, albeit years ago and by phone, through Disney when Garden Grove had the character dinner meal. The food was excellent.