Topolino’s Terrace—Flavors of the Riviera is a character dining option at Disney World’s Riviera Resort. This art-inspired experience showcases characters as various artists in a “rooftop dining experience straight from the Riviera.”
Quick Facts about Topolino’s Terrace Character Dining:
Character dining is offered in the morning and lunch hours only (7:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
Dinner is a signature dining experience with a dress code (from 5 to 9:30 p.m.) and does not include characters.
Character dining includes visits to your table from Donald, Daisy, Mickey, and Minnie. Donald is a sculptor, Daisy is a dancer, Mickey is a painter, and Minnie is a writer.
Unlike other Disney character dining experiences, Topolino’s is not a buffet. You choose an entrée from the menu. The waiter allowed me to add toast and sausage to my egg breakfast and seemed very willing to ensure I had the food I wanted at the set entrée price, although I can not guarantee what extra items you will be allowed to have without additional cost. We ate here more than once, and it seemed they wanted to ensure we left having had the variety of breakfast foods we enjoyed. So, although it was not an all-you-can-eat buffet, they did accommodate my food wishes (and dietary restrictions of no wheat, dairy, or strawberries). It was plenty of food.
Breakfast starts with an artist’s pot of pastries brought to the table. If you have dietary restrictions, they do provide a special collection of pastries, so there is a chance you can participate in the pastry fun!
The restaurant is located in the Riviera Resort. It is on the Skyliner route, making it easily accessible if you are staying at one of the hotels or going to/coming from one of the parks serviced by it. Read about riding the Skyliner to access hotels and parks for more information.
Why Topolino’s Terrace might be a good dining choice for your family:
It offers a typical restaurant experience with the addition of characters for a more refined experience.
You would enjoy a more upscale character dining experience other than Chef Mickey’s or Crystal Palace.
You have tried many other character dining experiences and want to try something new.
We enjoyed outstanding character interactions and adequate time with the characters.
The food is cooked to order for you and brought to your table (plated for each guest) and is more sanitary than a buffet.
The food is delicious, and it was consistently good across visits.
The chefs can accommodate special dietary needs and allergy requests.
You enjoy good breakfast food.
Buffets concern you (regarding food quality or the unsanitary things some guests might be doing near your food).
It offers a pleasant atmosphere inside and on the outside patio after your meal.
You are okay with enjoying a nice view on the patio instead of rushing back to your hotel or a park after dining.
It has a great outdoor patio that offers views, picture opportunities, and an opportunity to slow down and enjoy time with your family before returning to the chaos of the parks.
The celebration song played while the characters dance is fun, coordinates well with the theming, inspires you to clap to the music, and is not annoying.
Other character dining experiences at Disney should aspire to be at this level in terms of quality of food, atmosphere, character interactions, and overall satisfaction.
Why Topolino’s Terrace might NOT be a good dining choice for your family:
You enjoy traditional buffets and do not want a prix fixe menu.
You do not want to leave one of the parks to travel to Riviera Resort to dine and then return to a park (or travel there to eat first and then take transportation to a park).
You do not enjoy breakfast food.
If you are not interested in visiting the rooftop patio for a pretty view or taking a few photos, you would rather have a quicker option to return to your park activities.
We left Topolino’s Terrace feeling like we had a plentiful amount of high-quality food, that special dietary requests were honored, that character interactions were fun, and that the atmosphere was enjoyable. Although it was not a buffet, we had both quality and quantity of food; it was a fantastic mix of character interactions and restaurant experience. We enjoyed visiting the patio for a few minutes of scenic relaxation before continuing our day in the parks. We did not feel that time was wasted by taking a few minutes to relax on the lovely patio.
