Character Meals Super Thread!!

[poohj80]

I'm glad this could help!!! Unfortunately, as far as I know...there's isn't another dining thread (for table or counter service).

Looking at menus & then coming on and asking for opinions of places that sound good to you will probably be the best advice I can give you.

We have a few favorites: Cafe Orleans~New Orleans inspired cuisine with indoor & patio seating. Blue Bayou~Located inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, dark, expensive but fun to do at least once!! Carnation Cafe for breakfast....delicious!! Jolly Holiday Bakery & Cafe.....new place that has some delicious treats & sandwiches!! PCH Grill (dinners only at the Paradise Pier Hotel)~~California cuisine in a laid back setting.

Everyone will have differing opinions......so knowing what the restaurants offer will help you narrow it down.

Thanks! Blue Bayou is a must! Probably will stick with meals in parks of GC and not venture to other hotels. I started a separate thread with a lot of my planning questions so I'm sure we'll get to meals soon (especially with all the new options).

 

[DizNee Luver]

I tried to look at the menus on Allears last night but there was an error.

You could look here on the Disboards HERE

 

[DizNee Luver]

Thanks! Blue Bayou is a must! Probably will stick with meals in parks of GC and not venture to other hotels. I started a separate thread with a lot of my planning questions so I'm sure we'll get to meals soon (especially with all the new options).

White Water Snacks (GCH) is a great place for a quick service. They have cold stuff and cook to order hot foods. Nacho's are a big hit here!! Storyteller's for lunch & dinner (non character) gets good reviews. Napa Rose is a very fancy dining experience....loved by many, but with fancy comes the higher priced meal.

Carthay Circle just opened at Disney's California Adventure park, the same head chef from Napa Rose is heading up this restaurant as well.

 

[theworldneedscolor]

Are there any discounts for character meals? Particularly Ariel's Grotto. Also, how long would the meal take? Is the food good? I have heard mixed reviews, and I want to be sure it is 100% worth it if we are spending forty bucks a head.

 

[ballarinamom]

I think Ariel's gives a AAA discount. It is one of our favorites. The food quality is good- DH and DD both love the Tri Tip. And the princesses do make sure they see everyone and they don't make you feel rushed. WE doo all of the character meals and eel they are all a value for what you get. But I know that is all relative

 

[DizNee Luver]

Are there any discounts for character meals? Particularly Ariel's Grotto. Also, how long would the meal take? Is the food good? I have heard mixed reviews, and I want to be sure it is 100% worth it if we are spending forty bucks a head.

I think Ariel's gives a AAA discount. It is one of our favorites. The food quality is good- DH and DD both love the Tri Tip. And the princesses do make sure they see everyone and they don't make you feel rushed. WE doo all of the character meals and eel they are all a value for what you get. But I know that is all relative

Thank you for answering on the AAA discount (I wasn't aware of that one). I have listed a few of the discounts available in the 2nd post of the thread (about the middle in red).

We've always enjoyed our meals at Ariel's, but everyone's tastes and expectations differ. When you're looking at the price of a character meal, you're not only paying for the food but for the character experience. That's why the menu prices at Storyteller's for breakfast, if not doing the buffet, seem a bit high for breakfast fare. It's because you're paying for the character element as well as the food.

The entire meal (to see all the princesses) is probably about 45 mins. You see Ariel when you go down the stairs, take a picture & then are seated. They will bring our your 3-tiered apps/starters soon after being seated. Once the first princess comes out, the 2nd will be out about 5-10 mins after, and continuing until the 4th one comes out. About 15 mins after the starters, your hot plate (if breakfast) will be brought out to share. If doing lunch or dinner, the entrees should arrive within 15-20 mins. They allot 90 mins for each meal, but you could safely allot an hour & it should be close to that amount of time.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Page 4!! We'll that's not good!!

Please feel free to post pictures & reviews from your character meals to share with others!!

Questions will be answered to the best of our knowledge......so ask away!!

 

[ammeador2]

Does anyone know if Goofy's Kitchen has chicken nuggets on the buffet? My husband and little monsters are ungodly picky! I know nuggets are all over WDW buffets!

I think that we are going to have a breakfast at Ariel's Grotto it kind of reminds me of the Princess Storybook Breakfast in Epcot and that has always been DH FAVORITE place! He would seriously eat there every morning for breakfast!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Does anyone know if Goofy's Kitchen has chicken nuggets on the buffet? My husband and little monsters are ungodly picky! I know nuggets are all over WDW buffets!

I think that we are going to have a breakfast at Ariel's Grotto it kind of reminds me of the Princess Storybook Breakfast in Epcot and that has always been DH FAVORITE place! He would seriously eat there every morning for breakfast!

The last I checked......Goofy's Kitchen did indeed have chicken nuggets on both buffets (brunch/dinner). If this is no longer true, someone correct me!!

We loved the breakfast at Ariel's......and are looking forward to checking out Akershus for breakfast in December!!

 

[poohj80]

Do any character meals still offer World of Color priority seating?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Do any character meals still offer World of Color priority seating?

No character meal ever offered WoC priority seating. Until recently you could eat dinner at Ariel's Grotto without princesses and get WoC priority standing. Now that the princesses have been reinstated at dinner, there is no longer WoC dining at Ariel's.

 

[poohj80]

No character meal ever offered WoC priority seating. Until recently you could eat dinner at Ariel's Grotto without princesses and get WoC priority standing. Now that the princesses have been reinstated at dinner, there is no longer WoC dining at Ariel's.

Thanks! I didn't realize dinner at Ariel's did not used to include the princesses.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Do any character meals still offer World of Color priority seating?

No character meal ever offered WoC priority seating. Until recently you could eat dinner at Ariel's Grotto without princesses and get WoC priority standing. Now that the princesses have been reinstated at dinner, there is no longer WoC dining at Ariel's.

Thanks! I didn't realize dinner at Ariel's did not used to include the princesses.

Thank you for answering so quickly!! We've done the WoC dining package at Ariels 3 different times. The princesses were never part of the dinner meal when they started the WoC packages. I'm actually kinda sad this isn't an option anymore for the WoC......we loved it & enjoyed having the preferred "standing" area for the show (of course they've made that area much smaller than it used to be).

 

[Ride Junkie]

The entire meal (to see all the princesses) is probably about 45 mins. You see Ariel when you go down the stairs, take a picture & then are seated. They will bring our your 3-tiered apps/starters soon after being seated. Once the first princess comes out, the 2nd will be out about 5-10 mins after, and continuing until the 4th one comes out. About 15 mins after the starters, your hot plate (if breakfast) will be brought out to share. If doing lunch or dinner, the entrees should arrive within 15-20 mins. They allot 90 mins for each meal, but you could safely allot an hour & it should be close to that amount of time.

So at Ariel's Grotto, is it a 3-course meal? We'll be there in 2 weeks and are looking forward to trying this place out. DD is excited of course!

 

[DizNee Luver]

So at Ariel's Grotto, is it a 3-course meal? We'll be there in 2 weeks and are looking forward to trying this place out. DD is excited of course!

Lunch & dinner is yes. You start with the 3 tiered platter with starters, next is your chosen entree & then your group gets a platter of desserts to share.

Breakfast would be 2 courses (no dessert).

 

[samiee4life]

I'm glad I read this and I didn't do the WoC cuz I don't know the princesses were not going to be there! It ended already and I'm not going tell aug 24th!

 

[mj23cj]

Is it better to sit outside or inside at Ariel's Grotto? I cant find any pictures of the outdoor seating. Is the ambiance better inside? Thanks!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm glad I read this and I didn't do the WoC cuz I don't know the princesses were not going to be there! It ended already and I'm not going tell aug 24th!

Well I'm glad this thread was able to help you out.

Is it better to sit outside or inside at Ariel's Grotto? I cant find any pictures of the outdoor seating. Is the ambiance better inside? Thanks!!

It's nice sitting outside & watching all the activity on the pier (especially California Screamin' but it can be a tad noisy too. One of the reasons we enjoy Ariel's is for the decor at the restaurant, it's beautiful & gives you the feeling of being "under the sea".

Both are nice, it comes down to your personal preference....do you like eating outdoors? Some people don't and some people would rather be outside then in a restaurant on a sunny day.

 

[smiles33]

Bumping so it appears on page 1 for the poster asking re:Ariel's Grotto.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Bumping so it appears on page 1 for the poster asking re:Ariel's Grotto.

Thanks for doing that!! Haven't been on much today.