Dinner with Santa is a special holiday seasonal event at SeaWorld, Orlando. It combines a traditional holiday buffet with items that would feel right at home on a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner menu, along with an opportunity to meet Santa and a couple elves. While SeaWorld technically doesn't call this a "character buffet" — I think the opportunity to meet with Santa, without having to spend extra time waiting in a long line — puts it right up there with any of the character buffets at other parks.

The meal does take place outdoors, but it's in a covered event space called the Sea Harbor Pavilion — so even if it's raining (which would be a little unusual for Florida at night from November through December, it does occasionally happen) — the dinner will still take place. Fortunately, this one doesn't always book out months in advance, so there's a chance you can wait up until about a week before you want to go, in order to purchase tickets. For the most recent information about upcoming (or just past) Dinner with Santa events at SeaWorld — click here and visit our Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld page, which contains more details on the various special food and dining options during the popular holiday festival.