Advice/Suggestions for character meals

[chickybanky]

We're going to be at DLR on a Wednesday - Sunday. We want to do 2 character meals. Our main park days will be Thurs & Fri, so I don't want to take time out of those days to have a scheduled meal.

Here's what I was thinking:

Wednesday for dinner - Ariel's Grotto (that's at CA, right?)

Sunday morning - Breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen (we're checking out and driving home Sunday, so I figure this would be easy to do before we leave)

Does that sound like a good plan? How far in advance can I book reservations? Is the dinner at Ariel's ok? How about b-fast at Goofy's? Would you suggest anything different?

Sorry for all the questions! It's our first time doing any character meals and I just want my DD to get as much out of them as she can!

Thanks for the help!

 

[wvnative]

We enjoyed Ariel's. Yes, it's in CA. Apparently my teenage DD liked it better than I thought since she wants to go again this trip. lol

We've never done a character breakfast so I'll have to leave that answer for someone else.

You can book 60 days in advance.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DD & I had breakfast at Ariel's last Sept. I'm taking both kids to breakfast at the Grand CA (Chip & Dale's Critter Breakfast) in April, we'll have the earliest PS time (7am I believe) I want to be done early enough to be the 1st in lines to get into DL.

 

[SnowWhite12]

I just called to find out the hours for Ariel's lunch and dinner, since the breakfast will have stopped by the time we go in April. Disney dining told me that Ariel's is only open for dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. All other days in April just open for lunch. Don't know about the rest of the year.

 

[chickybanky]

I just called to find out the hours for Ariel's lunch and dinner, since the breakfast will have stopped by the time we go in April. Disney dining told me that Ariel's is only open for dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. All other days in April just open for lunch. Don't know about the rest of the year.

Oh, that's good to know! Thanks for sharing. I guess we can plan it for lunch on Wed then.

I better go over this plan with my husband and then make the reservations! I hope everything's not all booked already!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Ariel's Grotto is good, we always enjoy ourselves when we eat there.
Goofy's Breakfast was not good for us, we had hardly any character interaction. We much preferred Lilo & Stitch's breakfast at PP.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

we did goofy's for breakfast (7:30 am) in October... had great interaction... and I liked the food... we will be staying at GCH this time, so it'll be Chip & Dale's for us this time... We also did Ariel's for dinner and dd was in heaven... Ariel, Cinderella, Snow, Belle, Aurora... all her favs in one shot... it was great!

--Lisa

 

[chickybanky]

I booked them last night...

Ariel's Grotto @ 1p.m. on Wednesday
Goofy's Kitchen @ 8:30 a.m. Sunday

Can't wait!! I know my DD will like Ariel's the most, since she loves Ariel!

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Have a great time. I just got back from DL and did both of those meals. The food at Goofy's Kitchen was great and so was the character interaction. Captain Hook banished me to the corner! We also saw Snow White, Goofy and Chip (or maybe it was Dale- I didn't look too closely at the nose).

As for Ariel's: the princess interaction is great. First you meet Ariel and you can have a formal pciture taken with her. The photographer is there and then you buy the package for somewhere around $33. Then we met Snow White, Cinderlla, Mulan and Belle. They give you a crown (like the ones you get at Burger King). I had the princesses sign the inside. The food was so-so. It wasn't bad- just nothing to rave about. But you are going there for the princesses, not the food.

 

[Dizney73]

This thread has answered many of my own questions... Thanks for starting it! I also know lots about WDW and Iam feeling very lost in making plans for DL this summer!
What is the recommendation for Ariel's Lunch or dinner??? Is there a difference in the food or character interaction that would make me want to book dinner over lunch for the price difference?

 

[chickybanky]

. First you meet Ariel and you can have a formal pciture taken with her. The photographer is there and then you buy the package for somewhere around $33.

I somehow doubt I'll be able to talk my husband into a $33 picture!

Do they let you use your own camera and take pictures too?

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

I somehow doubt I'll be able to talk my husband into a $33 picture!

Do they let you use your own camera and take pictures too?

the should let you use your own camera

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Yes you can take your own picture w/ Ariel ~ I did not purchase the package but used my own camera to take a picture of DD & Ariel (she's in human form wearing a dress ~ no fin )