I hope they don't return, it's certainly a lot more relaxing to eat there without them! Another plus is it's easier to maintain the children's attention and keep them disciplined.
I assume, though, that it is the same family style turkey dinner as the Character meal? I hope, if they don't bring back the characters, that they'll return to the pre-Character expanded menu, like they have for lunch.
It was packed when we went there late April with no Characters. Food was delicious and the service was great. There is no incentive for Disney to restart the characters there.
They need to have more "Boy option" meals at MK IMO. A POC/Peter Pan meal might work over in Adventureland. Or a Pixar one in Tommarrowland.