Dining with the Disney characters is one of the highlights of dining the Magic Kingdom. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner with the Disney princesses at Cinderella’s Royal Table – or if you prefer Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Woods, dine at the Crystal Palace. Are Mickey and Minnie your faves? Then enjoy dinner with them at Liberty Tree Tavern. All of these restaurants are in great demand, so reservations are highly recommended. You can make reservations beginning 180 days in advance, and you should call 407-WDW-DINE as soon as possible to assure a table on your preferred date. Yes, demand is great!

For other casual dining, you might also try the other table-service restaurants. Tony’s Town Square Restaurant features classic Italian food with atmosphere inspired by the Disney movie “Lady and the Tramp.” At the other end of Main Street, the Plaza Restaurant is a quiet stop for gourmet sandwiches. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are possible.

For those of us who prefer more freedom, you can chose from four counter-service restaurants that feature full menus. My favorite is Pecos Bill’s Café in Frontierland, where I love the burger toppings bar with grilled onions and mushrooms. The best variety is at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Tomorrowland; you can choose from burgers, chicken, sandwiches and soup. Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square serves fried fish and chicken, chowder, chili and other sandwiches.

(The fifth counter-service restaurant is the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station, but it is frequently closed. I’m staying away until the menu becomes more reliable.)

If that isn’t enough – and of course, it isn’t! – I love stopping for a snack at one of the 15 ick-bite shops. Here are my top three snack stops:

* Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square for a funnel cake
* Aloha Island in Adventureland for a Dole Whip, soft-serve pineapple ice cream
* Casey’s Corner on Main Street U.S.A. for corn-dog bites

The variety of dining options at the Magic Kingdom translates to a variety of prices. The character meals range from $40 for adults and $25 for children at Cinderella’s Royal Table to $28 for adults and $14 for children at Crystal Palace and Liberty Tree Tavern. Meals at the other table-service restaurants are generally $15-20 for adult entrees. Prices for counter-service meals are generally under $10 for adults and $6 for children. Snacks are typically under $5 per person, many are about $2.

If I could pick anywhere to have lunch, it would be sitting outside at Pecos Bill’s overlooking the Rivers of America, listening to the delighted screams of guests plunging down Splash Mountain, noshing a juicy hamburger. If you’d like to read more about I’m sure that you’ll find your own favorite at the Magic Kingdom. Check the menus, and discover your own dining magic at the Magic Kingdom.