All Adult Groups and...Character Meals

[Rainforest_Elf]

So, be honest now. Just how odd is it for a group of adults to do a character meal?

I've had friends who have been to Disney land say Ariel's Grotto should be visited, but at the same time, the 3 of us in our group being all single, young adults, I feel like that would be, well... weird. We have no children to bring with us so stake a claim on being there, or any character dining experiece really... do we?

I don't know, someone assure me that this is done often and the Disney cast members aren't going to think we're weirdos =)

 

[DangerMouse]

In April, about 40 of us Disboard Ladies took a trip to DLR together. Just ladies, no kids and no husbands. A group of about 15-20 went to Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast and had a great time. I'm sure CMs see adult only groups all the time. No problem.

However, I would argue with your friend about Ariel's. Unless your group is really hankerin for some quality time with the princesses, I would skip it. The food is well, not even mediocre, and the price is outrageous.

If you want a really good meal with a character experience, I would recommend Storyteller's (for a more laid back feel with furry characters like Koda, Kenai, Timon, Baloo, etc.) or Lilo & Stitch breakfast at the Paradise Pier for a more fun island atmosphere. At either of these places you have the option of doing the buffet or ordering off the menu, which can save some money if you aren't large eaters.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

if your friend wants to see the princess check out the brekfest it looks better then the lunch. and theres no problem going with no kids.
another fav in our house is minnies brekfast at plaza inn in DL.

 

[audrabolster]

We recently went to Lilo and Stitch as a part of a girls only weekend. The food was YUMMY and there was some interaction, but it really didn't seem that the characters paid as much attention to our table. They would come over and wave a little, but that was kind of it. We would probably do it again though, I think maybe we were just there during an off time, because I have heard some RAVES about that place!

 

[WhtMagick]

The spousal unit and I have gone to Goofy's Kitchen about 3 times and Lilo and Stitch's once. We have no kidlettes but some of our most favorite memories are from these breakfasts. For some silly reason, the characters seem to love to interact with us. Probably because I think everything they do it totally hilarious and they tend to pick on the spousal unit unmercifully. Maybe because he's 6'5 with an English accent but whatever it is I find it wildly entertaining! The last time we were at Goofy's he kept trying to give Snow White a red apple! We do everything at DL no matter that we have no children with us!!! Never stopped us!!! Hope you have a great time!

 

[BillyFan]

I agree with what DM says about Ariel's. I've been a handfull of times and it is never really that good. I've never had decent service there, and the food's not that great.
But my husband and I always end our trip with breakfast at Storytellers Cafe. Very yummy, lots of fresh fruit, egg station, Mickey waffles, etc. Character interaction is like at Goofy's, but it is fine for a group of adults.

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

I do a character meal just about every trip I take and of those 90% are without children, it's adults only. I find the characters look to the adult only groups for cues on how much interaction they want. If you let them know you'd like pictures they will spend time with you. If you act like you're not as interested they tend to acknowledge you then move on. When the characters first come by my table I always let them know I'd like a picture so they don't run off. If a certain character does more than one round greeting tables I usually just wave and say hello as they pass by a second time. I think they're pretty used to having all kinds of groups and don't think a thing about a group of adults only.

 

[toocherie]

I have been "adults only" at Goofy's, Storyteller's and Lilo & Stitch--in all three cases the characters did not make us feel out of place (I just had trouble the last time with service at Lilo & Stitch and pacing of characters at Goofy's). Like the PP said--I really think they take their cues from you as to how much character interaction you want.

 

[Michaelasmum]

When we were at Ariel's grotto there was a group of men (probably in their 40s) with no kids...they were having a good time.

Unlike so many others on here we quite enjoyed the food there and our service was very good.

 

[daveyc150]

We are a couple of guys and we usually do a character breakfast and don't feel silly at all. If you are up for interacting they will interact with you, if you're not really bothered they will come and wave and move on. I really think it depends on how much interaction you want.

We usually go to storyteller's for breakfast coz I love chip & dale and they always pose for pics with us.

We went to Ariel's for lunch a couple of years ago, in terms of cost for what you get to eat we thought it was a bargin for a 3 course eal with the princesses. However it was a bit of a frenzy when the princesses started to circle which meant the service wasn't great and we waited too long to move on to the next course.

 

[cmwade77]

DW and I do it frequently, with no problems.

 

[Vala]

We are a couple of guys and we usually do a character breakfast and don't feel silly at all. If you are up for interacting they will interact with you, if you're not really bothered they will come and wave and move on. I really think it depends on how much interaction you want.

That's the experience I had as well when we went last year.

One woman in our group was feeling a bit because she had a major sunburn. Stitch came by several times at the Lilo & Stitch breakfast and tried to cheer her up, just as it most likely would have happened with a kid in the same situation.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Last year I took 3 friends to WDW, we are all (big) guys, average age over 50. We did 2 character meals and had a plast, expecially with Minnie and Pluto at LTT. We are going to DLR in October and haven't decided on a character meal yet, but if Daisy is still 'a Friend' of Lilo's, we are so there.

 

[audrabolster]

Last year I took 3 friends to WDW, we are all (big) guys, average age over 50. We did 2 character meals and had a plast, expecially with Minnie and Pluto at LTT. We are going to DLR in October and haven't decided on a character meal yet, but if Daisy is still 'a Friend' of Lilo's, we are so there.

The ONLY reason we chose Lilo and Stich was for Daisy. She wasn't there!!! I know characters change out at different times, we were there for almost 3 hours! So maybe she just wasn't there on that Saturday

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

Okay, so I suppose now that Ariel's seems to be off the table (I can't have the princesses mackin' on my boys. KIDDING!) a decent character meal is back on the table, but where?

Where can I find Mary Poppins?! Or does she just roam the park, not really a character meal kinda thing?

I think Storytellers sounds like a lot of fun, so perhaps we'll switch to that!!

 

[mmmears]

We've been to Ariel's, Goofy's and Storyteller's. I would recommend Storytellers. We have always had spotty service and mediocre food at Ariel's. Goofy's is really loud and full of noisy kids. Storytellers is beautiful, a bit quieter, and has a good breakfast buffet, along with Chip and Dale. Also, better service than the other two.

 

[daveyc150]

I agree, storytellers is great, it's a nice intimate setting and probably best for a group of adults. They have the option of buffet or a la carte so can suit everyone. Plus Chip & Dale are there

 

[minniebeth]

My DD and I did breakfast at the Plaza with Minnie and we saw several adult only tables...
My DH was eating solo at Storytellers for breakfast, we were there with him on business, we went to the parks, he didn't know where else to go to eat (lol!) So he was greeted by all the characters as he was preparing for his meetings from the day. He was pleasantly annoyed he said, but I thought it was hysterical!

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

The last time my friend and I did Breakfast with Minnie at Plaza Inn, a woman was at the table next to us with her husband and grandchildren. She came over and asked, "are you girls here alone without kids?" (We girls are in our 30's/40's.) We said yes and she said, "good for you!" She smiled at us the rest of the meal and I saw her later in the park and her grandchildren got very excited and waved and said hi. It was cute.