Disney Character Dining History
It’s hard to imagine a Walt Disney World vacation without a character breakfast experience. Cinderella’s Royal Table and Chef Mickey’s still command long waiting lists and require travelers to fit their vacations around their dining choices, but it wasn’t always like that.
Read on to learn more about how character dining started and some of the changes we saw in the 1980s.
In 1977, one of the first character dining experiences was a simple buffet at Coconino Cove at the Contemporary Resort; guests could join Disney characters for breakfast every Sunday. The buffet would move a year later, but not too far away. A 1978 Walt Disney World News offers this glimpse of the Terrace Cafe at the Contemporary: “As an added treat, guests may join the Disney characters for breakfast each Sunday morning from 8 – 10:30 a.m. It’s a delight for the kids- and fun for adults, too.” Reservations were not required.
The Coconino Cove was located near the glass wall at the back of the the current Chef Mickey’s dining area on the Grand Canyon Concourse level.
So, how did we get to the point where it is necessary to call more than 100 days in advance to make a reservation?
Disney Character Dining History: The Beginnings
Let’s dig into some of our early Walt Disney World publications to look at the history of Disney character dining. In April, 1981, the Walt Disney World News announced the Dining a la Disney evening meal. “Each evening at 5p.m., Walt Disney characters will arrive at the Golf Resort’s Trophy Room to mingle with guests and pass out a gift to each child.” This is the earliest mention of a daily character dining experience that I’ve found besides the 1977 breakfast buffet at the Coconino Cove (which was just once-a-week).
UPDATE! (Added November 14, 2015)
I ran across a blurb in a January 12, 1979 Eyes and Ears:
BREAKFAST WITH SNOW WHITEOn January 27 at 8:30 am our Village Restaurant will host a Breakfast with Snow White. Parents are invited to bring their children to breakfast to meet our famous character; call for reservations. Tickets are $5 for Adults and $4 for Children.
On the menu are danish breakfast rolls, scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and a breakfast beverage of your choice – all spiced with the presence of your favorite Disney characters, who happily hop from table to table, passing out complimentary “fun gifts” (and making sure everyone’s cleaning their plates!).
The 1984 Birnbaum’s Guide to Walt Disney World offers less than a quarter page about breakfast with the Disney characters. At that time there were three spots for breakfast: the Empress Lilly, the Terrace Cafe (Contemporary Resort) and Minnie’s Menehune (Polynesian Village). An additional spot was available as part of an Easter Airlines package at the Village Restaurant. Reservations were needed at each of these locations except for the buffet at the Terrace Cafe.
Disney Character Dining Video
Disney Character Dining History: A More Modern Meal
In 1986, there was the Melvin the Moose Breakfast Show at Pioneer Hall at Ft. Wilderness. This was one of the more elaborate character meals and a step towards what we see today. Chip and Dale would take over the breakfast and rename it a Jamboree a year later. The breakfast lasted until 1991.
1978 Walt Disney World News described the Village Restaurant:
A prime choice of afternoon and evening shoppers is the Village Restaurant. Comfortably seated in a countryside setting brought indoors, diners are tempted by unusual lunchtime entrees (served 11 a.m.-3 p.m.), such as Eggs Benedict, Spanish Omelet and King Crab and Artichoke Omelet. They also may choose from among Fried Shrimp, Fried Scallops, or French Dip, Rueben, Beefeater and Turkey sandwiches, and the waist-watchers’ specials, Crab and Shrimp Salad or the Calorie Counter. … The aroma of New Orleans Bouillabaisse simmering on the stove and steaks grilled on an open hearth draw guests for an evening (after 5:30 p.m.) of fine dining. Besides the famous seafood stew, the restaurant specializes in Steak Oscar, Shrimp Mediterranean, Sauteed Frogs Legs and Long Island Duckling.
Disney Character Dining History: Chef Mickey’s At the Village
By 1989, Birnbaum’s Guide to Walt Disney World mentions that Cinderella was appearing at dinner at the Village Restaurant. This was also the time that the Village Restaurant would be closed; when it reopened in 1990, it would be known as Chef Mickey’s Village Restaurant providing the template for character dining as we know it.
The Chef Mickey’s Village Restaurant closed on September 30, 1995, it reopened in 1996 at the Contemporary Resort. The Rainforest Cafe took over the spot vacated by Chef Mickey in 1996.
What other defining points in Walt Disney World history do you think about?
Any fond memories of dining at Chef Mickey’s Village Restaurant?
Resources used in researching this article:
- Walt Disney World: The First Decade
- Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia (Third Edition) by Dave Smith
- Walt Disney World Souvenir Guide (Purple Edition, 1993)
- Progress City USA (website) by Michael Crawford
- Steve Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World 1989
- Steve Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World 1984
- Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World 1997
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