Topolino's Terrace: Our Favorite Character Dining at Disney World

If I could only send you to one character breakfast at Walt Disney World, this would probably be it. Here's everything you need to know about Topolino's Terrace breakfast at Disney's Riviera Resort.

The Overview

Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy in their artist costumes. Mickey's a painter, Minnie's a poet, Donald's a sculptor, and Daisy's a ballerina.

This is the most popular pick, so it can be hard to book. The food is genuinely fantastic, easily the best quiche on property, and the steak and polenta is delicious too. It's a la carte, so you'll get an entree and a beverage, and it starts with the cutest bread service ever, served in a little painter's bucket with Nutella, butter, and strawberry jam, plus a mix of croissants and muffins. You're on the top floor with gorgeous views, so step out on the patio before you leave. Because it isn't a buffet, you'll never miss a character while you're up getting food, and with fewer tables it feels intimate and unrushed.

Good to know: It's an easy Skyliner hop from EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or a Skyliner resort. Breakfast runs until noon, so it's a great option for a midday park break.

My ratings: Food 10/10 · Characters 8/10 · Vibes 9/10

Finding Topolino's Terrace

When you arrive at Disney's Riviera Resort, head from the main lobby down the hallway next to Le Petit Café. Take the East Wing elevators up to the 10th floor. One thing to know: you can't get to the restaurant from the West Wing elevators, so the East Wing is the way to go. The moment you step off the elevator, you're right at the entrance. Keep an eye out for the Mickey design worked into the restaurant's signage, it's a fun one to spot with the kids. The check-in desk is in the center as you walk in, and while you wait to be seated, take a peek at the pasta, cheese, and wine on display in the lobby area.

The dining room itself is warm and open, with stunning views of the lagoon and the neighboring Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. You can even spot The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the EPCOT-area resorts in the distance. Time it right at dinner and you'll get beautiful views of the nighttime fireworks at both Disney's Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.

How We Book It For You

Here's the part you don't have to stress about: getting up early to try to snag the reservation. Topolino's is one of the hardest tables to book at Disney World, and it fills up fast the moment the window opens. That's exactly what we're here for.

Disney lets us book dining 60 days before your check-in date, and when you book your trip with us, we handle it. Just tell us Topolino's is on your wishlist, and we'll be ready the second your window opens to grab it for you. While we can’t guarantee we will get it, we are pretty good at booking everything you want. So you don’t have to sit on your phone at 6 a.m. refreshing My Disney Experience, and no stressing over whether you missed it. You focus on the fun part, and we'll take care of the reservations.

The Character Experience: Breakfast à la Art

The whole experience has a backstory that fits the Riviera. Mickey and friends have traveled to the European Riviera to study different forms of art. Mickey is learning to paint, Minnie writes poetry, Donald wants to be a sculptor, and Daisy expresses herself through dance. Their costumes, which you'll only see at this dining experience, reflect their crafts: Mickey in a paint-splattered smock, Minnie in a dress covered in her written work, Donald in a clay-covered apron, and Daisy in a pink tutu. They even carry a paintbrush, a pen and notebook, and a chisel in their pockets. It's such a fun way to spark a little one's interest in the arts.

And the interactions are fantastic. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy took their time at our table, posed for lots of photos, and gave big hugs. Daisy even showed off her best dance moves. About once an hour, the music comes on and the characters dance around the dining room. Watch the way they play off each other too.

The Food

Breakfast starts with fresh bread and assorted pastries: chocolate-chip muffins, croissants, and seasonal danishes, served with honey butter, house-made jam, and chocolate-hazelnut spread for the whole family to share. It all arrives in a little paint bucket on a tray shaped like an artist's palette, and the butter knife looks like a paintbrush. Specialty espresso drinks and alcoholic beverages are available for an extra cost.

Now for the main course. It's a la carte, so everyone picks an entree, and it's genuinely hard to choose just one. Here are the options:

• Quiche Gruyère: house-made pancetta, roasted potatoes, gruyère, field greens, lemon vinaigrette

• Avocado and Smoked Salmon Toast: smoked salmon, smashed avocado, ciabatta bread, toy box tomatoes

• French Toast: french toast bread pudding, seasonal compote, lavender-maple syrup, lemon mascarpone, choice of smoked bacon, ham, sausage, or plant-based sausage

• Two Eggs, Any Style: roasted potatoes, choice of smoked bacon, ham, sausage, or plant-based sausage

• Wild Mushroom Scramble: spinach, plant-based eggs, plant-based sausage, tomatoes

• Sour Cream Waffle: topped with roasted apples, chantilly, orange-maple syrup, and choice of smoked bacon, ham, sausage, or plant-based sausage

• Wood-fired Butcher's Steak: polenta, pomodoraccio tomatoes, roasted onions, wild mushroom conserva, watercress

• Fruit Plate: seasonal fruits, honey yogurt, seed granola

The steak is my favorite. So good.

Dinner at Topolino's Terrace: Flavors of the Riviera

In the evening, Topolino's turns into a fine-dining experience. There are no characters at dinner, just fresh seafood and meat dishes, hand-crafted pasta, and desserts inspired by French and Italian flavors. If you get a late reservation, you can catch fireworks.

You can start with antipasto plates like gnocchi, ratatouille fritters, and escargot, along with salads, soups, and cheese. The seafood and meat dishes include bouillabaisse, beef cheeks, filet mignon, scallops, striped bass, and more. Save room for dessert, whether that's crème brûlée, blueberry-lemon cheesecake, or a warm chocolate cake. There's a kids' menu too, with an entree (rigatoni, chicken breast, or grilled steak) and two sides (roasted carrots, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or gelato). Dinner also has a wide selection of espresso drinks, mocktails, cocktails, wine, beer, hard cider, and sparkling water. You can view the full dinner menu on Disney's website.

One more thing: I remember this being the best olive oil I've ever tasted in my life, and I've had olive oil in Italy.

Is It Worth It?

Breakfast à la Art with Mickey and Friends is a great character dining experience. Between the beautiful location, the delicious food, and the quality character interactions, it earns its spot as one of our favorite character meals at Disney World. (My boys want to visit on every trip) The rare artist costumes and the fun character antics really do put it above the rest.

Ready to add it to your trip? Let us know it's on your list, and we'll book it for you the moment your window opens.

Still need to start planning your trip? Let us help!