We just returned home from 8 wonderful nights at Walt Disney World. One of the surprise highlights of our trip that I wanted to share with you today was Minnie’s Halloween Dine. We postponed our trip by one week due to Hurricane Irma landing in Orlando the same day we were scheduled to arrive, and while we were happy to wait for the storm to pass without us there, it meant losing the dining reservations we’d made 6 months earlier.
Faced with deciding which table service meals to book on such short notice, I sought advice from Nancy, right here at the Affordable Mouse, and made 3 dining reservations at restaurants we were excited to experience. What I didn’t know until we arrived though, was that Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios offered a Halloween-themed character dining experience. Figuring it was a long shot, I searched availability and found a 5:20pm reservation at about 11pm the night before. Never say never when it comes to dining reservations at Disney World!
The theme was really cute and all the food items were labeled with clever, spooky names. The buffet was perfect for my family, as we all enjoy a variety of foods. Everything was seasoned well and our service was top notch. The best part of dinner though, was getting to see 5 different characters in their Halloween costumes in just a little more than an hour that we spent dining there.
If you’ve ever been to Disney World, you know time is money. This experience wasn’t what I would call “affordable” but where else can you greet and have photos taken with five characters in an hour while enjoying a delicious meal at your own pace? No standing in line – they come right to your table. We didn’t feel rushed with our interactions. Vampire Mickey, Astronaut Donald, Cowboy Goofy, and Spider Daisy were all more than willing to let us take individual, group, and even selfie photos. The characters were all funny and interactive and the kids really enjoyed our time with them. Minnie, the lovely hostess of this Halloween Dine, stayed up at the front of the restaurant. Instead of having Minnie travel around to each table, diners take a ticket that is received at the beginning of the meal at their convenience to meet and take photos with her.
We really enjoyed this experience and would definitely entertain the idea of attending another seasonal event at Hollywood & Vine in the future. Have you been to a seasonal “Dine” here? Which one was your favorite?
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Candice was raised in east Tennessee. While in college, her best friend dragged her to a Walt Disney World College Program recruiting session at the University of Tennessee and the rest is Disney history. In the Fall of 1999, Candice became a quick service food hostess for Sunset Ranch Market and Fantasmic at Disney-MGM Studios – or what is now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While soaking up her time as a cast member, she met Ryan, a neighbor and a fellow college programmer who worked as a custodial host at Epcot. Four years later, Candice moved to the Midwest and married that boy from across the hall. They now live in Greenwood, Indiana with their two little boys. The Disney-loving foursome took their first family trip to The Happiest Place on Earth in 2013 and Candice is eagerly planning their return. Candice also works full-time at a community mental health center and enjoys taking photographs and blogging at Mommy in the Midwest.
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