Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine, Flavorsome Review

This article will cover the holiday version of Hollywood and Vine. Typically we don’t dine with characters, and no it isn’t because we think we are too old for it. We just feel that you can get your character fix enough throughout the parks naturally, however Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine is an exception for us, and should be on your list too! (Updated 12/10/23)

Nestled inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the Echo Lake area, Hollywood and Vine plays host to the character buffet. Character buffets are always an interesting bag for us as we typically do not eat a lot of food between us, and can’t really justify the cost, even with an annual pass discount. On that note we do like to splurge around the holidays, and for the third time, Minnie won out over the rest of the options (doesn’t she always?)

From the site,

“See Minnie and her friends at delightful dining parties throughout the year. You’re invited! The mouse-with-the-mostest hosts sensational soirees that mix festive music, décor and tantalizing menu items. Celebrate with popular Disney Characters—perfectly dressed for each season.

This spectacular lunch and dinner buffet offers an array of salads and delicious chilled starters. Entrees include roasted mushroom farro risotto, macaroni & cheese with shrimp and bacon, as well as protein selections featuring oven-roasted chicken, herb-crusted tenderloin steak, salmon and crispy pork belly.

Make sure to save room for some showstopping desserts, including seasonal bread pudding, Mississippi mud pie and a variety of mini desserts!”

The Food At Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine

A couple of years when dining at this very same experience, the restaurant was still under COVID protocols, so it was not a buffet, but rather ala carte. We knew the experience would be diluted a bit, but let me tell you how much better the food was this year. My goodness, as my girlfriend Minnie would say. The food here is amazing for a buffet in the middle of a Disney theme park. We constructed 3 very colorful and photogenic plates for you all to drool on below as well as your traditional buffet layout.

Some of the highlights of our dishes below though had to be the Sirloin steak, and the Asian tofu, but everything on the plate was delicious. There are flavors here for everyone to enjoy! Don’t worry mom they have macaroni and cheese as well as sirloin you would survive here! Dad can get the salmon! Other highlights would be the roasted chicken, the 4 different styles of potatoes offered, and a huge selection of vegetable offerings. Only thing I didn’t care for, which anyone who knows me could have guessed, was the brussel sprouts, but at least I tried them!

The Characters

The character lineup for us over the years has been Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, Chip, and Dale. I don’t know if it is because we were seated in one of the last groups of the night, but they spent much time with us. Each of them had a unique personalities and made the dinner fun. We especially love watching Minnie Mouse hassle the dudes in the place who try to act like they are too harsh to snap a picture with her. Guess what? If you try not to make eye contact with her, she will find you; Minnie Mouse always finds you! Another plus here is they are dressed up in their holiday outfits, and you can take pictures with them. Best of all, there are no waits!

Conclusion on Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine

If you are looking for a cool advanced dining reservations during the holidays at Walt Disney World, we highly recommend Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine. Not only is the food great, but it is a character buffet, and really provides a great value and decompression time inside the restaurant. A good tip is to book New Year’s Eve, and while the park is filled to the gills with guests, with some lines at 3 hours for some attractions, you won’t feel it in Hollywood and Vine.

What are your thoughts on this? Will you try Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine? If you feel this isn’t your vibe, you can check out another one of our favorite restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Sci-Fi Dine In. Let us know in the comments!