5 days of dining with 3 character breakfasts? What do you think?

[mernin]

For our trip in Feb 2017 I picked our restaurants so we could try a bunch of new ones for us. There will be 8 of us (4 adults, 11b, 11g, 9g, 4g) and dd9 has a peanut allergy. I want to take advantage of still having a little with us (dd4) who believes and is super excited by characters.

I am planning on getting the regular dining plan (it looks about cost neutral for us) for my family of 4 and these are our plans:

Staying at AKV
Fri - DS: T-Rex (oop)
Sat - AK: TH(8:05), QS lunch, Y&Y (4:30pm, oop)
Sun -MK: CP (8am), QS lunch, BOG (6:55pm)
Mon: QS breakfast, leave on 4 night cruise

Staying at Poly
Fri - EP/HS: Via Napoli (1:05pm, oop), HS QS dinner
Sat - MK: Ohana (7:30am), BOG lunch (1:05), Skippers Canteen (5:40pm)
Sun: leave too early to eat!

In previous trips we've done CRT breakfast x 2, Minnie's holiday dine, BOG dinner, Rainforest Cafe & Le Cellier. We've stayed off property our last 2 trips in a condo and this will be our first time on the dining plan.

I'm not sure if we should keep all 3 character breakfasts. Which one would you toss if you were going to keep only 2? Any others you'd change while keeping the dining plan?

 

[goofyintoronto]

For our trip in Feb 2017 I picked our restaurants so we could try a bunch of new ones for us. There will be 8 of us (4 adults, 11b, 11g, 9g, 4g) and dd9 has a peanut allergy. I want to take advantage of still having a little with us (dd4) who believes and is super excited by characters.

I am planning on getting the regular dining plan (it looks about cost neutral for us) for my family of 4 and these are our plans:

Staying at AKV
Fri - DS: T-Rex (oop)
Sat - AK: TH(8:05), QS lunch, Y&Y (4:30pm, oop)
Sun -MK: CP (8am), QS lunch, BOG (6:55pm)
Mon: QS breakfast, leave on 4 night cruise

Staying at Poly
Fri - EP/HS: Via Napoli (1:05pm, oop), HS QS dinner
Sat - MK: Ohana (7:30am), BOG lunch (1:05), Skippers Canteen (5:40pm)
Sun: leave too early to eat!

In previous trips we've done CRT breakfast x 2, Minnie's holiday dine, BOG dinner, Rainforest Cafe & Le Cellier. We've stayed off property our last 2 trips in a condo and this will be our first time on the dining plan.

I'm not sure if we should keep all 3 character breakfasts. Which one would you toss if you were going to keep only 2? Any others you'd change while keeping the dining plan?

That's a tough one....between Tusker and CP, I love both!!! I'd say Tusker has more variety and unique options...but CP does have my fave breakfast lasagna and pooh's puffed french toast. Plus a pre-park opening at CP is sweet. For food I'd say Tusker, (really love the food at both though), although for atmosphere and location I'd go with CP. For me, I'd probably pick CP because of overall character interaction, atmosphere, park (I like MK better than AK), and food. But its really a tough choice! Heck, I'd keep both if I were you, and maybe toss Ohana breakfast? Although I like that one too. So maybe keep all 3. haha. im not much help am I?

BTW good choice on Via, my fave.

 

[BuzzyBelle]

I don't think 3 is too many. Although we said we were going to cut down on the character meals this trip and we still have 4 so I may be the wrong person to ask. I love PPO breakfasts so you can eat, see characters, take pics in a less crowded park and be in the park already at rope drop. To me those are more valuable than just the meal. Sounds like an awesome trip!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I don't think 3 is too many. Although we said we were going to cut down on the character meals this trip and we still have 4 so I may be the wrong person to ask. I love PPO breakfasts so you can eat, see characters, take pics in a less crowded park and be in the park already at rope drop. To me those are more valuable than just the meal. Sounds like an awesome trip!

I agree with you on this! That's why I had a hard time giving an opinion. I'd most likely keep all 3 as well. I suggested cancelling Ohana but to be honest, its a wonderful character meal and by far the most relaxing one. You just sit and chill and wait for your food and characters to come by. Knowing me I'd just keep all 3 as well! They're all wonderful .

 

[2forMe]

I am not a fan of character breakfasts. ..much better value in a supper lunch. I prefer paying oop pocket for breakfasts at the food courts as it is normally the cheapest meal.

 

[Nancyg56]

For our trip in Feb 2017 I picked our restaurants so we could try a bunch of new ones for us. There will be 8 of us (4 adults, 11b, 11g, 9g, 4g) and dd9 has a peanut allergy. I want to take advantage of still having a little with us (dd4) who believes and is super excited by characters.

I am planning on getting the regular dining plan (it looks about cost neutral for us) for my family of 4 and these are our plans:

Staying at AKV
Fri - DS: T-Rex (oop)
Sat - AK: TH(8:05), QS lunch, Y&Y (4:30pm, oop)
Sun -MK: CP (8am), QS lunch, BOG (6:55pm)
Mon: QS breakfast, leave on 4 night cruise

Staying at Poly
Fri - EP/HS: Via Napoli (1:05pm, oop), HS QS dinner
Sat - MK: Ohana (7:30am), BOG lunch (1:05), Skippers Canteen (5:40pm)
Sun: leave too early to eat!

In previous trips we've done CRT breakfast x 2, Minnie's holiday dine, BOG dinner, Rainforest Cafe & Le Cellier. We've stayed off property our last 2 trips in a condo and this will be our first time on the dining plan.

I'm not sure if we should keep all 3 character breakfasts. Which one would you toss if you were going to keep only 2? Any others you'd change while keeping the dining plan?

I would keep them all. You have different character experiences at each one, and with a little one, I would not. Miss any one of them. If you had to ditch one, I might choose 'Ohana. But I would nto want to if it was at all possible to keep all.

 

[crabbygal902]

I'd follow the kids' lead while on vacation and keep all of the ADRs for now. If they are into the characters and are happy sitting for longer meals, then you've got the meals booked. If the kids are not feeling it, you can cancel without penalty as long as you're in the time frame.

With my kids--now 16 and 11, there was a definite cut off point where they were humoring me but the character meals weren't magical for them anymore. It happened right around 9 or 10. They'd rather go to a "cool" place like Sci-Fi or just eat CS. It's definitely easier on my wallet!

Your 4 year old will probably love it! I think that was my favorite age to take my kids to Disney. The Magic was real for them!

 

[ariane37]

I would keep them all. You have different character experiences at each one, and with a little one, I would not. Miss any one of them. If you had to ditch one, I might choose 'Ohana. But I would nto want to if it was at all possible to keep all.

Same thing I was going to say All your choices have different characters and I don't think 3 is too many, especially with your cruise in the middle. My vote is keeping them all!

 

[Chrelaine]

I would keep them all. We loved the character breakfasts. From our experience, if you had to delete one it would be TH. We just didn't like the food. Good atmosphere and character interaction, though.

 

[mernin]

Thanks everyone! When I booked I chose the 3 breakfasts because they had different characters. I would have put Akershus in instead of one of the ones we booked but aren't at Epcot for a rope drop and figure that we can see most princesses insid the parks with just dd4 (giving my 11 year old nephew a break!).

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

I would keep them all, too. You guys have to eat and the little ones love to see the characters. Plus if you see the character at breakfast you don't have to wait in line to see her later in the day.

 

[mernin]

Thanks for the reassurance. We are going to keep all of the breakfasts!