This is the Worst Disneyland Character Dining Meal Right Now

The Disneyland Resort offers multiple character dining options. Three of these take place outside of the theme parks and one takes place inside Disneyland Park. We have tried all of these and are constantly trying different Disneyland dining experiences.

Some of these Disneyland character dining meals are better than others, and we repeat some of them on our family visits. My most recent experience at one of these character dining experiences at Disneyland was a major miss. We previously shared a review of what we called the BEST Disneyland character dining. Here's why I think it is the WORST character dining in Disneyland right now.

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Worst Character Dining at Disneyland Right Now

The character dining I am calling out here is the seasonal Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates Halloween! at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. This character dining is often advertised with changing seasonal decor and character outfits, so it's one that you hear about often. Due to this hype, I had high expectations going in that this would have strong character interactions and atmosphere.

I made our reservation for Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates Halloween! in the morning before attending Oogie Boogie Bash. Enjoying one of Disneyland's character dining locations outside of the theme parks can be a great way to spend the day before the special ticketed Halloween party to avoid having to purchase a theme park ticket that day, too.

The restaurant was decorated with pumpkins, harvest decor, and the characters were in “harvest-style” costumes. Goofy is dressed as a Scarecrow, Chip ‘n' Dale are a devil and angel, and Minnie Mouse is a witch.

Similar to the Minnie & Friends- Breakfast in the Park, you will have one set photo op with Goofy before being seated. There is a large backdrop you pose in front of with Goofy, which was decorated with seasonal Halloween decorations. Goofy is also in his scarecrow costume! So to give credit where it's due, the seasonal setup and the outfits for the characters are great.

Our photo with Goofy was very rushed though, which was not a big deal, but considering how few characters interactions came after that, it was not a good start to the experience.

Guests Pay High Prices for Character Dining for Character Interactions

Let's start with the bad. The character interactions at Goofy's Kitchen were shockingly minimal. During our nearly two-hour visit, only two characters came to our table. While we love Chip ‘n' Dale, if we had younger kids with us, we would have been disappointed by missing out on the other two characters in attendance.

We could see Pluto and Minnie Mouse moving about the restaurant, and they did pass by quickly during a little mini “character parade,” but never stopped to interact. Most of this could be attributed to location. We were seated in the far corner of the restaurant near the entrance. The characters seemed to focus and centralize all their time in the middle of the restaurant without much time to see those sitting on the edges.

As a group of adults and a teenager, mostly there for the food and to kill time before the Halloween party, we were okay with this, but the tables around us with small kids were visibly distressed. Especially when we could see Pluto and Minnie Mouse moving around the other parts of the restaurant, but never coming to our corner. I definitely felt some empathy for the parents who tried to stick around the experience as long as possible in hopes the rest of the characters would come our way.

This is a big reason why parents pay the high price for these experiences, to cross off some character interactions from the to-do list. The price for this character meal is $74 per adult for brunch and $39 per child ages 3-9. Kids two and under are no cost. So for my family, the meal was $222 before my 10% Disney Visa discount!

Okay, But the Food Was Great!

Goofy's Kitchen typically offers a wide selection of offerings. It is most often known for its dinner selection, which can include:

• Assorted Bread Baskets
• Assorted Seasonal Baked Goods
• Fresh Fruit and Berries with Granola and Flavored Yogurts
• Cheese Board and Vegetable Crudité
• Smoked Salmon Blini with Green Chive Oil Cream Cheese, Onions, and Capers
• Assorted Sliced Fruits and Strawberries
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Crab Cake with Crispy Pancetta
• Build Your Own Salad Bar
• Salmon with Brown Butter and Orange Butter Sauce with Tarragon
• Mole Roasted Chicken with Rosemary Garlic Black Beans
• BBQ Pork Spare Ribs
• Assorted Pizzas
• Carving Station: Herb Marinated Turkey Breast and Slow Roasted Prime Rib
• Garlicky Mashed Potatoes
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Bourbon Glazed Carrots
• Chicken Tenders
• Golden Mini Corn Dogs
• Assorted Seasonal Desserts and Pastries

One of the perks of seasonal character dining is that they will incorporate seasonal touches into the food as well. There were plenty of fall treats like apple beignets, pumpkin toast, cheese ravioli and pumpkin cream sauce, orange Mickey waffles, and more. Since we did brunch, we were also able to enjoy waffles, pancakes, a cereal bar, eggs, and other typical breakfast offerings.

And of course, you can't skip the famous peanut butter & jelly pizza which is what most guests rave about with Goofy's Kitchen. I have no complaints about the food, so if you feel more casual about character interactions and don't have small kids in your group, then you will do just fine at Goofy's Kitchen. There is plenty of variety for everyone in your group, which is why my family likes doing Disneyland character dining meals.

There Are Better Disneyland Character Dining Meals

Considering the high prices for Disneyland character meals, you want the experience to meet all the expectations for both food and character interactions. When it comes to the best character interactions, I always recommend Minnie & Friends- Breakfast in the Park, which has been my favorite ever since my son was little. The variety of characters in this experience is amazing and consistent. If you have small kids, you will meet more characters at this character dining meal than at any of the others.

When it comes to the best food and the only experience where you can meet Mickey Mouse, then you should look to Storytellers Cafe at Disney's Grand Californian. This is another experience we tend to repeat, mainly for that amazing food! Since this is also the only character dining experience where you can meet Mickey Mouse, it also checks off a major to-do list item for those prioritizing character interactions.

While we enjoyed our meal at Goofy's Kitchen, it is clear that when you compare it to the other experiences in Disneyland, it falls terribly short. The atmosphere of the restaurant feels dark and strange, the layout does not allow for easy character experiences, and there is easily better food to be found. You can make use of a 10% dining discount there if you have the Disney Visa card, which is part of what appealed to us, but otherwise, I would not be in a hurry to book again. Before my 10% discount was applied, the total cost was $222 for all three of us.

And if you are prioritizing seasonal character dining, Storyteller Cafe has its own versions to book!

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