I had such high hopes for my visit to Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to check out Minnie’s Seasonal Dining during Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend—but honestly? It left me disappointed.
I went on Saturday afternoon around 2:15 p.m., and the restaurant was quiet. It’s a large, open space with plenty of tables, but there were lots of empty seats. On the plus side, that meant the characters had more time to spend with each guest, which ended up being the highlight of the meal.
The Atmosphere and Cast Members
The staff couldn’t have been kinder. My waitress was wonderful—she came over repeatedly to take pictures for me since I was dining solo, and she really went out of her way to make sure I got good shots with the characters. Everyone I encountered was cheerful, upbeat, and seemed genuinely happy to be there.
The Characters (and Their Adorable Costumes!)
If there’s one reason to book this meal, it’s the characters. Minnie Mouse looked absolutely adorable in her witch outfit, and Mickey as a vampire was pure Disney fun. Goofy and Pluto were there too, both in seasonal costumes Goofy was a colorful cowboy and Pluto had a bat dog tag. They danced around the room, stopped at every table for autographs and photos, and were especially sweet with the little ones. Even as an adult dining alone, I never felt rushed or overlooked—they were playful and kind, which I really appreciated.
The Food (A Major Letdown)
Unfortunately, the food just didn’t live up to the price tag—or to Disney’s usual buffet standards. Everything I tried was… fine, but not memorable. The flavors were bland, and several dishes tasted like they’d been sitting under a heat lamp too long. Even the desserts, which I was hoping would redeem things, were underwhelming.
I don’t expect a signature-dining experience at a character buffet, but I do expect food that feels fresh and worth the cost. This just wasn’t it.
The Price Tag
For lunch and dinner, this Character buffet is $64 plus tax and tip for adults and $44 for children ages 3-9. In my opinion, this meal is seriously overpriced. $44 for lunch or dinner for 5 year old? That’s crazy. And I’ve always said that with a character meal, you are paying for the entertainment and not just the food, but $64 or $44 for kids is REALLY steep.
If the food was EXCELLENT, maybe I could justify it—but this was seriously mediocre at best. Even with my 20% DVC/Annual Passholder discount, the bill came to about $75 including tip for ONE person. For what I got, that felt steep. The character interactions were great, but the food quality simply didn’t justify the price.
The Bottom Line
If you’re visiting with small kids who love Minnie and Mickey—or you’re a die-hard character fan collecting seasonal costume photos—this might still be a fun stop. The characters were the saving grace of the whole experience.
But if you’re going mainly for the food, or you’re an adult diner hoping for a truly enjoyable meal, I’d skip it and choose another table-service option at Hollywood Studios.
Minnie was magic. The food? Not so much.
