Has anyone tried the new character meal at Avalon Cove in DCA?

[teri]

I understand it just reopened under Disney management with a new fixed-price menu and tons of character interaction. I would be interested in hearing how it was for your family. Such a beautiful place in such a terrific location!

[Mary Jo]

<font color=navy>Hi Teri,

We haven't eaten there, but I checked out Laughingplace.com, and here's a couple of comments some posted:

I ate there last weekend. They have a salmon blt, lasagna, fish and chips, and similar items. The kids' menu is nice; Alice had the octodog with macaroni and goldfish crackers. The desserts are huge, and the menu is price-fixe: 19.95 for adults, 12.95 for kids. I'd go back.
Fab


Here's a link to the rest of the report on Avalon Cove at our sister site:

New Avalon Cove (http://www.laughingplace.com/default.asp?WCI=MsgBoard&WCE=T-13323-P-1&Refresh=0101074446)

[Michelle]

Teri, I have a client who ate there and was VERY happy with the Avalon Cove character meal and interaction -- she even preferred it to Goofy's Kitchen. :)

[teri]

LOL MJ! I posted to that thread on Laughing Place before I came over here to get your opinion! ;)

One really nice thing about Goofy's Kitchen is the wonderful buffet - such a terrific selection. With the fixed-price menu, is Avalon Cove a single selection plus all sides and drinks, or all-you-can-eat, or ???

[daannzzz]

I ate at Avalon Cove on 12/13/01. I was alone and arrived at noon. There was only 5 other parties at the restauraunt. 3 inside and two out on the covered patio. I thought the food was very good as was the service. The characters ( Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale ) all stoped by to greet me but spent most of the time with the families with kids which was fine. The restaurant is pleasent and was quiet while I was there. I assume when it is full it is very loud. I will return though do think the price is a bit high.

[Miss Jasmine]

Here's another review to look at
http://www.mouseinfo.com/california-adventure/paradisepier/dining/avalon.php

[dletz]

I went expecting to like it, and didn't like it at all. The service was slow (I think it was just our waiter though, because the pepole next to us came a while afer us, and left before us), and we waited for 30 minutes to get seated when the place was half empty.

We weren't that impressed with the food, and I refused to pay $13 for my 2 year old since I knew she wouldn't eat a full meal. The kids get a bucket and shovel if you order the meal, but she didn't get this. My daughter did like the pretzel breadstick things though. The deserts were great, and they give you cotton candy at the end. My daughter carried that around with her and munched on it a while. I'm like my food more on the plain side, so that's why I didn't enjoy it as much, but DH had a problem with it also, and he loves to try new food.

Of course I think we were there the first weekend it opened so, that could have been a problem also. Loved the interaction with the characters, my daughter had a blast.

[Lynn-Marie]

We ate a late lunch there on New Year's Day. It was good food and great ambiance. You can get a great view of Paradise Pier from there. The characters were really personable and took time to visit with our table -- all adults who escaped our little one for an afternoon.

On the downside, don't go there if you're in a hurry. They made us wait 25 minutes -- even though the place wasn't even half full. The food also took forever to get there. All in all, we took nearly 2 hours for this lunch.