When guests visit Walt Disney World, one of the top things on their to-do list is to meet Mickey Mouse himself. However, unlike the commercials, Mickey is rarely just walking around. In reality, he's typically at the end of a long line.

If you want the personal meet and greet with Mickey, without the long wait in the sun, we recommend booking a character meal where Mickey stops by your table as you eat, along with several other characters, in a comfortable, air-conditioned restaurant! We think booking a character meal saves time and creates a more memorable experience.

We have experienced many of the character meals featuring visits from the Mouse; and today, we're going to give you a little info about each of these restaurants and decide which one is the best choice for your dinner date with Mickey!

Chef Mickey's: This restaurant is one of the most popular on property and can be found in the lobby of the Contemporary resort. It's a buffet featuring American fare; and the characters, along with Mickey of course, are dressed in chef's uniforms. While the food here isn't the best you will ever have at WDW, it is one of the better buffets in our experience.

This restaurant is really a celebration of both dining and Mickey himself. It's a big hit with kids; but it's not so childlish that adults can't enjoy themselves. It definitely strikes a good balance for families. Our rating?

Adults:    4.5 Glass Slippers
Teens:    3.5 Glass Slippers
Kids:        5 Glass Slippers
Dining:    4 Glass Slippers

The Garden Grill: Located inside The Land pavilion at Epcot, the Garden Grill is a very unique restaurant. For one, it rotates! The floor on which the booths and tables are situated turns slowly during your meal, offering views of The Living with the Land attraction that can be found just below.

The menu here also offers American fare; but it is served family style. This means that the platters and side dishes are brought to your table for you and your family to share, just like you would at home. Something else unique is that many of the veggies are actually grown in this pavilion's greenhouse!

The food here isn't bad, especially the dessert, but we were definitely expecting more. The atmosphere was lacking a bit too. But a plus is that the characters, including Mickey, Chip n' Dale, and Pluto are are dressed in overalls and plaid and other farmer's apparel!

Adults: 2.5 Glass Slippers
Teens: 2.5 Glass Slippers
Kids: 3.5 Glass Slippers
Dining: 3 Glass Sllippers

Tusker House: Animal Kingdom's most popular dining destination is Tusker House, located in the Africa section of the park. This restaurant is a buffet featuring both standard American menu items and a few African dishes too. This is great for parents who want to experience different cuisine, but also for the kids who are a little on the picky side.

We visited Tusker House for breakfast several months ago and were very pleased with quality of the food, the service, and the character interaction. Mickey, Donald, and a few other members of the gang keep with the African theme by dressing in safari gear!

Adults: 4 Glass Slippers
Teens: 4 Glass Slippers
Kids: 4.5 Glass Slippers
Dining: 4 Glass Slippers

'Ohana: This restaurant can be found at the Polynesian Resort. It features a large fire pit, carved tikis, and from the windows, you can actually see the top of Cinderella Castle!

At 'Ohana, you are treated to a family style meal with a Hawaiian twist! We have visited here for breakfast and found the food here to be very tasty; but the characters here are definitely the highlight. Not only do you get to meet with Mickey, dressed in his Hawaiian shirt and lei, but  also Lilo and Stitch! The atmosphere is fun and laidback, ideal for families. After all, it is called 'Ohana and that means family. 

Adults: 4 Glass Slippers
Teens: 4 Glass Slippers
Kids: 5 Glass Slippers
Dining: 4 Glass Slippers

Have you ever visited with Mickey at any of these restaurants? Which one is your favorite?