REVIEW of Inventions Character Dining Disneyland Paris

There are a few character dining restaurants in Disneyland Paris but if you want something pretty spectacular, then Inventions is the place to be.  Inventions is a premium Character Dining restaurant located in Disneyland Hotel.  Situated on the second floor, the restaurant is opposite Cafe Fantasia, a Disney bar to grab a luxury sandwich, snacks or a glass of champagne.  What’s so great about this Disneyland Paris character restaurant is not only the location and delicious array of buffet food, it’s the awesome and priceless character meet and greets that for us, have blown us away.

Inventions Character Dining Restaurant

So, firstly, how to you book a table at Inventions?  Prior to your holiday, you’ll have the option of booking restaurants.  You can do this via calling the Disneyland Paris number located on the Disney app.  You can of course, book your restaurants when you arrive at your Disney hotel (if stopping on site.)  The risk with leaving it this late is lack of availability.  If you are on the Disney Dining plan, you’ll notice that Inventions is a Premium restaurant.  This means that if your on the premium dining plan, this restaurant is included in your package.  However, that’s not to say no one else can book this.  If you are on the standard or plus package, you’ll just pay the difference.  If you are on no dining plan at all, you’ll pay full wack.  Inventions is on the pricier side, being one of the most expensive restaurants on Disney property.  The cost of a family of 5 averages out about 260 Euros.  This is without alcoholic drinks.  Add a couple of glasses of wine onto your meal and you’re talking 300 euros.  So the question is,  is Inventions worth it?

Is Inventions Worth it?

In my opinion – 100% yes!  We have been lucky enough to visit Inventions two times out of our four trips to Disneyland Paris since 2016.  Both times we have had an incredible time.  We have been on the dining plan both times (plus) and were happy to pay the difference in price.  So, why is this expensive Disney character restaurant worth it?

Location.  As I have mentioned, this is located in the 5 star Disneyland Hotel which is just beautiful.  This majestic victorian inspired hotel is filled with floral scents and is the ultimate luxury right on the steps of Disneyland Park.  The restaurant is located opposite to the Cafe Fantasia which is perfect for pre-diner dinks.  If you grab a seat in the atrium at the right time, you can see all the characters enter the restaurant, which is just a delight (around 5.45pm)

Fireworks.  Time your dinner booking right, and you can get to watch Illuminations fireworks right from your table.  The restaurant runs the length of some of the second floor which looks out onto Disneyland Park and the train station.  This means that you can view the fireworks in the distance, which is just spectacular when enjoying your buffet meal.  We did just this in February 2020 and it was just wonderful!

The Food.  Inventions is a buffet style restaurant.  Whether buffet restaurants are ‘your thing’ or not, then you still must consider this place.  The buffet food is like no other, with a huge array of salads, meats and cheeses, a whole seafood section including oysters and huge river prawns and hot main courses you’d only see in a fine dining restaurant.  I’ve tried lamb cutlets with chimichuri, blue cheese and walnut ravioli and dauphonise potatoes to name a few.  The desserts are a little hit and miss for me personally but if ice cream is your thing, ask the server!

Characters.  This is a character dining restaurant, meaning that while you eat, Disney characters will come and visit you at the table.  This restaurant  is the most characters I’ve met in a disney restaurant before, both across Disneyland Paris and Disney World.  Both times, we have met 7 characters and they even come round several times!  It really means saving to queue to meet characters whilst in the parks, giving you more time to explore and ride some Disney family rides!

The character interaction is spot on with some characters even coming and sitting down at your table (which the kids think is hilarious!) We had Goofy dance with us, Minnie Mouse joining us at our table to watch the fireworks and Tigger playing tricks on our children.  These are not only belly laugh moments, their moments to treasure forever, and in my eyes, worth every penny!

So, do I recommend Inventions?  Of course!  Once Covid is over and life resumes to normal, be sure to add this amazing character dining experience on to your Disney bucket list!

Thanks for reading xxx