Disney’s Riviera Resort is one of the newest resorts to open on property. The theming is European inspired, the skyliner hub makes for a convenient location, and the amenities are spectacular. It’s easy to see why this resort is so popular among Disney World guests.
One of the most popular reasons to visit this resort is to dine at Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, the rooftop table service restaurant featuring French and Italian cuisine. At dinnertime, guests can enjoy the signature menu dining with elevated entrees, such as braised beef cheeks, whole branzino, bouillabaisse, and sea scallops. For breakfast, guests can take advantage of one of the most popular character dining experiences on property. What makes this meal so special? Let’s dive into all the details:
The Basics
This character dining meal is available daily from 7:30am to 12:15pm. The pricing is $49 per adult and $30 per child (age 3-9). It is worth noting that children age 2 and under are permitted to share food from your plate or split a meal with an older sibling, if applicable. However once the child is 3 years old they will be required to order their own plate. Since this meal is quite popular, your best chance at securing a reservation is to book it as soon as your advance dining reservation window opens.
The Menu
This meal begins with a shareable basket of pastries including croissants and muffins with various spreads. The menu for breakfast is an a la carte selection, rather than a buffet or all you care to enjoy style meal. This means you’re going to see options that are more unique than you’d find on traditional breakfast menus. Some of their specialty items include wood fired steak and eggs, bread pudding brulee, and a wild mushroom scramble. For the kids, you’ll find more accessible options such as Mickey waffles with dipping sauce and scrambled eggs. Keep in mind that the $49 price tag per entree applies whether you choose the steak and eggs or the fruit and yogurt plate.
The Characters
This meal features appearances from four of your classic Disney favorites – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. But what makes it special is that they’re donning their French Riviera-inspired artist outfits, which you won’t see anywhere else. You have Mickey as a painter, Minnie as a writer, Donald as a sculptor, and Daisy as a dancer. The characters will make their rounds to your table individually and several times throughout the meal they will all come out together for a special song and dance around the dining room.
The Atmosphere
One of the more enjoyable things about this character dining experience is how intimate it is. The dining room at Topolino’s Terrace isn’t as large as many others so it’s generally a quieter atmosphere. Additionally, the fact that this meal isn’t a buffet means there aren’t people constantly up and about walking through the dining room. Most of the time the only people moving throughout the room are the servers and the characters. You also don’t have to worry about being up at the buffet yourself when a character walks by and missing an opportunity to meet with them.
Overall, my family was impressed with everything about this meal. Our shareable pastries arrived to the table quickly, and we immediately devoured all of them. The character interactions at our table were numerous and pleasant. Each character made sure to visit with all 3 of my children, including my 9 month old who was mesmerized by how much time Donald spent doting over her. Our meals were delicious (my husband ordered the wood fired steak and eggs while I got the sour cream waffle with roasted apples). We also loved the ambiance. Don’t forget to take a walk out onto the terrace to admire the stunning views from the top of the Riviera Resort.
If you want a character dining meal that incorporates the best of it all, be sure to keep Breakfast a la Art at Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera in mind. Just make sure to snag your reservation as soon as you can since this one is so popular and availability disappears quickly.
If you want extra help navigating the various character dining experiences throughout Disney World, your Smart Moms Travel agent will be able to guide you.
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