Magical Meals Beyond the Mouse: Character Dining Spots You Didn’t Know Existed (2025)

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Updated: January 7, 2025

While Disney has long been synonymous with immersive character dining, there exists a teeny tiny world beyond its borders , that appeal to kids from shows and characters they may know and love.

While there aren’t many character dining events outside of the Disney bubble, I hope that by uncovering some of these family-friendly dining experiences that they stand a chance of rivaling the charm of the House of Mouse with diverse character lineups from popular shows like Peanuts, Sesame Street, and even the powerhouse movie franchise: Marvel.

Plus, some of these events are lighter on the wallet.

Since starting this list last year, these are the places that I have been able to uncover outside of Disney: Sesame Place, Dollywood, Kings Dominion, King’s Island, all SeaWorld locations, and Universal Orlando. I’m sure that there are others that I haven’t unearthed.

So, if you happen to come across any other events, please let me know in the comments below so I can add it here. Thank you!

The Problem with Character Dining

I wanted to start off with this topic as it’s been really interesting searching for these character dining spots. There simply aren’t enough of them! I truly believe that there is a market for this kind of dining depending on the character and its influence on pop culture.

However, these are expensive productions to run and there is no guarantee of their success. These aren’t simple buffet or plated food events.

Many of these are events catering to little mouths with purposefully created menus to children with sensory and dietary and allergen issues that can run the gamut with even fussier parents (sorry, guys, but … you are, and I get it, but this is honesty hour here for a quick moment, so take a deep breath and read on as I’m not intentionally trying to hurt your feelings, I promise).

And aside from that, they’ve gotta hire the best actors, who can survive in hot costumes sometimes no less!, to entertain those little children to ensure that their time (and your money) has not gone to waste.

So, I get it. But on the other hand, it’s another way to get children involved at the theme park and enjoy their time and get them out of the heat or even out of the house if there’s not a lot to do in the area (see Sesame Place Philadelphia for example).

Also, and dare I say this, but this goes to the theme parks – they don’t do as great of a job of advertising their own character dining offerings! Did you even know that half of these even existed? Exactly. And that’s the issue.

Even Disney has a problem with this because they have so. many. of. them. But that’s a problem of quantity, not necessarily an issue of not knowing they don’t have any. In the case of some of these locations below, they simply squander the opportunities that are presently at their doorstep rife for the picking.

Ideas that I have run the gamut from Universal Studios within the current IP (intellectual property) they have the rights to/own: Shrek, Minions, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Kung-Fu Panda, and heck, the crew of Spongebob Squarepants! I’d love to eat with a Death Eater breathing down my neck or have a Minion “Bello!” and “Bee do!” every time they see something they like on my table.

And I’m sure a big kid would, too.

Character Dining Outside of Disney

As mentioned earlier, there’s not a lot of places that do character dining besides Disney properties, and honestly it’s a real shame. However, these are the places that do.

Dollywood • Dorney Park • Kings Dominion •
King’s Island • SeaWorld Orlando • SeaWorld San Antonio •
SeaWorld San Diego • Sesame Place • Universal Orlando

Depending on the park (i.e., SeaWorld) there may not be actual characters, but the animals that make up the theme of the park in attendance.

Park Admission and tax is not included in the prices of these events!

Dollywood’s Character Breakfast
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Also known as The Imagination Playhouse Character Breakfast this is a buffet-style for Gold, Diamond and Pre-K Imagination passholders only during the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration.

Unlike years past, there is a 48-hour advanced purchase requirement.

During this one-hour breakfast, a storytelling performance will happen bringing characters to life. Last year’s performance (2024) was “The Little Engine That Could” – I’m excited to see what this year’s performance will be. Or is it always the same?

The cost for the event is $21.99 for anyone 10 and older and $14.99 for children 9 and younger.

(If you’re looking for festival dates at Dollywood, you can find a complete list of festivals at US parks here).

As far as I have been able to tell this breakfast has some gluten-free friendly items, but definitely nothing vegan friendly, and is held in Celebration Hall. The current dates for the 2025 breakfast are unavailable, but based on last year’s event they should run on the Saturday’s throughout the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration.

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Dorney Park’s Season Passholder Character Breakfast
Allentown, Pennsylvania

In the spirit of transparency, the information for the below Six Flags locations (Dorney Park, Kings Dominion, and King’s Island) have not updated this information for the 2025 year and therefore Theme Park Bites cannot either. An update will occur when we hear from them.

One of my favorite parks growing up, Dorney Park has a complimentary ticketed Season Passholder Character Breakfast. The breakfast allows passholders, and those with a Pre-K pass, to see the PEANUTS gang.

There are several times that this breakfast buffet occurs, but it’s not very often, and the tickets are first-come, first serve.

The tickets are claimed online (and printed out at home) and are not available the day of and the breakfast is held in Parkside Pavilion.

I’m unsure if they will be posting an extensive breakfast menu beforehand (which is subject to change without notice), but if they do post it, I’ll make a point to post it here.

All-You-Care-to-Eat Buffet Including:

• Scrambled Eggs
• Pancakes
• Sausage Links
• Breakfast Potatoes
• Fruit Salad
• Assorted Mini-Danish
• Orange Juice
• Coca-Cola Fountain Beverages

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Kings Dominion’s PEANUTS Character Breakfast
Doswell, Virginia

In the spirit of transparency, the information for this has not been updated for the 2025 year and therefore Theme Park Bites cannot either. An update will occur when we hear from them.

Happening only twice a year, Kings Dominion hosts a PEANUTS Character Breakfast buffet that costs roughly $13.99 for Season Passholders and $9.99 for children 12 and under. At first glance, there is no mention of this being a season passholder breakfast, however, it seems that this is the case.

With this breakfast, you can enter the park an hour early at 10 AM (the breakfast runs from 9:30 – 11 AM).

You can find this breakfast (menu subject to change without notice) at Joe’s Cool’s Pit Stop Pavilion in Planet Snoopy.

Character Breakfasts Include:

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Kings Island’s Lunch with the PEANUTS Gang
Mason, Ohio

In the spirit of transparency, the information for this has not been updated for the 2025 year and therefore Theme Park Bites cannot either. An update will occur when we hear from them.

I don’t have any information on Kings Island’s Lunch with the PEANUTS Gang at this time, but once the park updates, I’ll update.

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SeaWorld Orlando’s Dine with Orcas
Orlando, Florida

Not exactly a character dining experience, but something a little unique, SeaWorld Orlando hosts a buffet Dine with Orcas event that allows you to dine and talk with trainers of the orcas, while seeing the orcas in their conservation tanks.

The prices have increased considerably from 2024 (which were $22.00 for children 3-9 and $31.00 for anyone over 10 years old), now starting at $24.99 for children 3-9 and $34.99 for anyone 10 years and older.

The most expensive pricing actually does not occur during the holidays (i.e., Christmas, New Year’s) but rather during Summertime between the months of June and August when children 3-9 are $29.99 and anyone 10 and over is a whopping $49.99! 🫨🫠

Yeah.

This is outdoor seating, so if you’re looking for something indoors (but remember this is Florida! so temperatures are typically decent depending on the time of year, but as I’m typing this it’s currently 46ºF at the beginning of January so …), this isn’t going to be your cup of tea, but if it doesn’t bother you this seems like a beautiful opportunity to have your kids and yourself equally enamored.

Alright, with all that aside, the menu between 2024 and 2025 is pretty identical. They did revamp their entrées and their specialty cocktails this year. Only difference is that on 2024’s menu there was a choice of sides (yellow rice – Saffron, herb roasted potatoes, and roasted vegetables); on this year’s menu I don’t see any mention of rice on any entrée.

For any allergen concerns, email: allergenfriendlySWF@seaworld.com, however, if you are looking for a designated allergen friendly location (that is not character dining) on property Sharks Underwater Grill is your spot.

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SeaWorld Orlando’s Sesame Street Christmas Breakfast
Orlando, Florida

In the spirit of transparency, the information for this has not been updated for the 2025 year and therefore Theme Park Bites cannot either. An update will occur when we hear from them.

A Christmas special, SeaWorld Orlando hosts a buffet Sesame Street Christmas Breakfast during its Christmas Celebration and is held at the SeaFire Grill. It’s a great time for your kids to meet their favorite character like Elmo, Abby, and Cookie Monster.

The breakfast is on Saturdays on Sunday throughout November and December with pricing ranging from $12.59 to $17.99 for children 3-9 and $24.49 to $34.99 for anyone 10 and over.

Recommended Post: Ultimate Guide to Holiday Events in the USA

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SeaWorld San Antonio Dine with Orcas
San Antonio, Texas

Just like in Orlando, the San Antonio location hosts the Dine with Orcas dining experience, which isn’t necessarily a character dining experience, but is as close as it gets at SeaWorld. This is an interesting event as you’re able to talk with the trainers about the orcas while you eat your meal.

This buffet meal only happens on select Saturdays and Sundays (with one Monday in May) throughout March, May and then on a weekly basis from June to October 11.

Please note that this is an outdoor meal and due to limited capacity (and limited dates) advanced reservations are highly recommended.

Pricing ranges from $19.99 to $22.99 for children 3-9 and $39.00 to $45.99 for anyone 10 and over.

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SeaWorld San Diego’s Dine with Orcas
San Diego, California

Not unlike its other SeaWorld counterparts, the San Diego location also has an outdoor buffet animal dining meal by the same name, Dine with Orcas. However, unlike San Antonio, this location has a full rotation of days available at your finger tips (although, some days are already sold out at the time of this update!). The calendar is currently unavailable after November 13th, but as the year goes on, I’m sure the calendar will slowly open up as those holiday season dates near.

Prices range from $39.99 to $59.99 for anyone 10 and older and $29.99 to $39.99 for children 3-9. Some weekend dates within April, May, June, and July will see the higher ends of those ranges.

It’s best to buy your tickets in advance. However, you are able to get them day-of if there is availability by heading over to Guest Services.

Compared to last year’s menu (I’m actually going to keep up the image from 2024 up for you to compare, which will be below) this year’s menu is, uh … 🦗🦗🦗

Underwhelming.

Yeah, that’s the word.

But hey, that’s just me, you make of it what you will.

2024 Menu

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Sesame Place, Dine with Elmo & Friends
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sesame Place is one of the first theme parks I ever went to as a kid. Growing up in the city (yerrrr!), it was one of the easiest places to get to outside of Rye Playland. Anyway, the park hosts Dine with Elmo & Friends buffet, which is not just one particular dining experience, but five.

The first four are specific to themes, whereas, the main Dine with Elmo & Friends happens once these special Elmo Birthday events are completed.

Your little one can meet Tango, Ernie, Grover, Abby, and of course, Elmo at their own separate brunch or lunch meals.

The only thing that gives me pause is why they have these particular events when the Northeast has a 50/50 chance of being showered in snow, but the park’s attractions are not opened when the below five are happening. So, this could be a great way to do something with the kids that a lot of people won’t be attending.

All events require advanced dining reservations.

Again, major note: Park admission and parking is not required since the theme park is closed.

The dates for the above character dinings are noted below, alongside the brunch and lunch menus (which are subject to change without notice). Cost is $24.99 for children 2-9 and $34.99 for anyone 10 and over.

If you need any allergy information you can email allergenfriendlyspl@sesameplace.com with dietary or allergy restrictions.

💃 Tango’s Fur-ever Friends Dine – January 11, 12
🦸🏾‍♂️ Super Grover’s Everyday Heroes Dine – January 18 – 20
🎂 Ernie’s Birthday Bash Dine – January 25, 26
🎉 Elmo’s Rockin’ Birthday Dine – February 1, 2
♥️ My Fuzzy Valentine Dine – February 8, 9

After these events are completed, character dining at Sesame Place Philadephia continues with their Brunch with Elmo and Friends on specific dates – February 15-17, 22, 23, March 1, 2, 8, 9, and April 26, 27 (March 8-9th are sold out).

There is also a St. Patrick’s Day Dine on March 15, 16, 22, and 23; Brunch and/or Lunch or Dinner with Easter Bunny on March 29, 30, 4-6, and 12-25.

Prices range from $19.99 to $24.99 for children 2-9 and $29.99 to $34.99 for anyone 10 and over.

The exceptions are the Brunch and/or Lunch Easter Bunny dining experience where prices range $24.99 to $34.99 for children 2-9 and $34.99 to $54.99 for anyone 10 and over and the Dinner Easter Bunny dining experience which is $29.99 for children 2-9 and $44.99 for anyone 10 and over.

And yes, all dining experiences require advanced reservations.

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Universal Orlando’s Marvel Character Dinner
Orlando, Florida

While Disney owns the rights to Marvel, over at Universal Studios in Orlando you’ll find the Marvel Character Dinner where they own the theme park rights to the franchise. Bearing that in mind, they dinner is a full service buffet that happens from Thursdays to Sunday after 5 PM.

You’ll meet the Marvel superhero characters of Spider Man, Captain America, Rogue, Cyclops, Storm, and Wolverine.

Pricing ranges from $31.99 for children 3-9 years old and $56.99 for those over 10 years old. You must reserve dining at least 24 hours in advance. The dinner also comes with one digital download of a photo with a character which is nice as those can be eye-wateringly expensive.

Unlike other parks, you can’t book the Dinner months in advanced though. At this time it looks like they are opening the calendar at three-month intervals (right now it’s ending at end of March 2025), so you’ll have to check back often.

You can find the menu here just in case there’s a change I don’t catch (they’re very good about updating it despite it being without notice).

Have Fun!

As I wrap up this post on character dining that has probably eluded you I hope you’ve discovered new possibilities for exciting family experiences with your kids, young and old. The world beyond Disney’s iconic ears is rich with hidden gems and unique character dining adventures waiting to be explored.

And hopefully theme parks take note and introduce more of them even if if it’s a couple times during their operating season.

Have you encountered your own character meals outside the Disney bubble that I missed mentioning? I’d love to hear about your discoveries and memorable moments. Share your experiences, recommendations, or any hidden gems we might have missed in the comments below.

And if you haven’t as of yet, please follow us on our other social media channels (YouTube, Instagram & Tik Tok – @themeparkbites) to stay up to date on food reviews. Thank you for allowing us to be your tasty theme park companion!