A character meal for our MK day

[Cakesy]

I have little experience with Disney World. We (me and DH) will be visiting with our 2 year old daughter in April, and I'd like to arrange one character lunch on our day at MK. I have booked Crystal Palace, it seems this one is well regarded here.
But when I looked at the Unofficial Guide, they showed a high rate of guests to characters. Does that mean that the characters don't have a lot of time to mnigle with each table?
And can anybody give me an idea what to expect? I've never done a character meal OR a Disney buffet. Is it huge? Are there, like, hundreds of people in there? Do you feel like cattle? Will my daughter get a few minutes at least to meet the characters? What if they come while we're at the buffet?

 

[Cakesy]

Oh no! I just readd that someone had an awful time with HUGE waits in line for the buffet there. I made an ADR there for 11:30- please give me your experiences with regard to this? We'll have a little one and really don't want to stand and wait forever for a buffet I'm paying that much for.
If it helps, MK is rated a 7.9 by the crowd calendar the day we're going, so it will be pretty busy. Would we be better off with a very late lunch? I booked an early one thinking my DD might get cranky in the afternoons..

 

[Nadjalu]

The character buffets are very well done. You do not feel like cattle.

When you are taken to your seat you are told that when the character starts done your "aisle" that you can't get up to go to the buffet until "it" has been to your table. (it is very easy to understand when you are there)

Next the character will stop at your table, sign an autograph book (if you have one), give hugs and take pics with all who want. Usually the character is there a couple minutes depending on how many in your party.

At CP the characters follow each other closely. Usually about 4-6 tables behind each other. So you have to pay attention to when they are coming or you have to wait a bit to get more food.

Most of the characters have a "guard" or handler with them. A CM in uniform to help guide them and the people around them, as some of the suits are huge. (....eeyoore for one)

Don't worry about how crowded the park is....CP can only hold so many people and is booked all the time. I have never stood in line to get to the food and it is my favorite restaurant, we always go.
You will be fine...honest.


The restaurant is very large but not hundreds, there are 2 main rooms seperated by the entrance and buffet.

Don't worry it is fun, easy and your daughter should enjoy it.

 

[3pletprincesses]

The caracter interaction there is really good. They take to interact with the kids. It's not just snap snap bye bye. Eeyore wanted pictures with everyone including me when we went to see them and Tigger told me I was too serious Pigglet was shy as usual and Pooh was adorable. I was eating with 3 4yo and we saw most caracters twice as they slow eaters. We didn't feel rusehed at all. The buffet was really good and never had to wait long to get to the food. With a 2 yo it's the perfect place. I noticed they take extra time with little ones and if the babies are scared, they will try to play with them for a minute or so to see if the kid will take a picture near them.

 

[Cakesy]

Thank you so much for your replies!
Has anyone experiienced long waits in the buffet line?
Do you think late lunch is better than our 11:35ADR?

 

[Nadjalu]

Nope have not waited in a line at the buffet. Maybe 2 people in front of me and that was at high dinner time 6:30pm.
The way the buffet is arranged it has 2 sides that lead to the carving station. Each "side" has the same things on it, so there are 2 lines moving thru the side dishes, salads and such. They both lead right to the carving station that is handled quite well.

The dessert station is seperate, in the middle of the dining rooms.

I would think your 11:30lunch ressie is fine. You will catch the lunch foods first as I think that time is the switch over from breakfast.

 

[mikewallacesc]

I don't know if they still do it, but as a kid my favorite was the breakfast at the LivingSeas. You eat in the CoralReef restaurant while watching Mickey dive in the tank. Then a whole bunch of characters come out to meet the kids.

 

[eah7]

We had breakfast there last Wednesday. Our reservation was for 8:05. The numbers were small at that time but the restaurant became busier while we were there. The food was very good. Great assortment. The kids loved it. Character interaction was wonderful!!!! Lots of great pictures. It was a great way to start our MK day.

 

[Nadjalu]

I don't know if they still do it, but as a kid my favorite was the breakfast at the LivingSeas. You eat in the CoralReef restaurant while watching Mickey dive in the tank. Then a whole bunch of characters come out to meet the kids.

Pretty sure this doesn't happen anymore.