Anyone ever request no characters at meal?

[Twirly41]

I want to start out by saying I love anything Disney and I absolutely love going to Disney World, so please don't think harshly of me when I ask this. My daughter (27) and I are going May 8th thru May 18th. We love Tusker House, but I am wondering if anyone prefers for the characters to not come to your table. My daughter has a severe anxiety issue and has issues with interacting with characters (and people in general). Like I said, don't take this the wrong way - we both love the characters in the park, but prefer to just sit and have a great meal. I would prefer them to spend their time at tables that don't have this issues. Has anyone else preferred to have no characters come to their table and if so, is there a way to discreetly request this?

 

[mom2rtk]

I would just give a quick shake of the head and a "we're good" and I'm sure they'll pass on by.

We ate at Hollywood and Vine once and didn't care about the characters and that seemed to work just fine. They'll take your cues.

 

[JanaDee]

I would dine somewhere without characters.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I did a character meal with my mum at Christmas in Disneyland Paris. We didn't really want to do a character meal, but it was the special Christmas meal on Christmas Day we were booking for, not for the characters. The characters did go around the tables but after the first rotation, we had much more fun just watching them at other tables. It quite ok to not want interaction at the meals, some of us are foodie people and book for the menu offered, not to meet the characters

 

[erin327]

My kids have had anxiety issues around the characters to various levels on different trips. We have had mixed results with the advice to say no thank you and shake your head no. Sometimes they seem to catch on to that. Other times it almost seems like they think you are calling them over more quickly. I haven't found a sure fire way to ask them to skip us at any given time, especially discretely. If you really don't want them to stop by at all, I would agree with the previous poster who suggested eating somewhere without characters. If you are ok with them approaching and you stepping in front of your daughter and telling them you don't need a visit right now, then go for it. I agree though! We love Tusker House!

 

[kymom99]

To be safe, I would let the hostess know and maybe even note it on your reservation.

 

[Miskey]

When I first read the title, my initial thought was why pay high price for a character meal if you don't want to see the characters? But seeing it's Tusker House, I understand! I feel certain it would be simple to let them know you don't want the characters to come to your table, but those tables can be close together, so would it bother her to have them so close? What about going to dinner, when they don't have the characters?

 

[momtosam]

When my son was little we ate at Liberty Tree. Goofy came to us first and terrified him! We just waved the rest of the characters off when they approached and said things like, "No thank you Minnie." Their handlers get it.

 

[Twirly41]

Unfortunately, they changed Tusker House to character meals for all of their meals. We are planning to eat at Boma for Mother's Day (which is also her birthday). We both just love the food at Tusker House - love to try new and different foods than we usually eat. I appreciate everyone's responses and suggestions.

 

[LoveMMC]

I understand - it's not the characters stopping it's the anixiety of are they coming and how the mind races. Anixiety isn't logical. We when I get anixious we make a plan-like if a charachter comes we say no thank you. If the brain has a plan it can help. I am terrified to run into certain people with my anixiety (long story) so we made a plan - talked about what I would say and do- to help relax.

 

[kaetra]

Did you call Disney Dining Reservations and ask them about it? I'm curious to hear what they would say. I'm sure you're not the first family with this request.

 

[tjmw2727]

Any other restaurant I would agree with PP's and say just skip it but we also love the Tusker house for the food and atmosphere and the characters are a bonus. I would make the ADR on the phone vs the website and try and note this on the reservation. I would then be sure to tell your host/hostess when you are seated and then tell your waiter/waitress and hope for the best.

If you really want to play it safe Boma at the AK is a similar meal without characters, easier to get an ADR and more relaxed atmosphere. You can also take advantage of the evening activities offered at the resort if you wish, nighttime animal viewing, storytelling and the gorgeous lobby at AKL!

 

[msmama]

I think if you tell the hostess/waitstaff, it is very possible the characters wouldn't get the message to NOT come to the table. I think a simple wave and head shake would be best, but I've also almost (literally) run into characters at Tusker House so I'd also prepare your daughter with some kind of plan if a character does get too close.

(I've also seen characters step out of the way of someone and end up awfully close to someone who may not have been expecting a character at that moment).

 

[babydoll65]

Though Tusker house is great, why not do a breakfast buffet without characters like Boma, Trails End or The Wave at the contemporary resort?

 

[yeheyprincex2]

When I first read the title, my initial thought was why pay high price for a character meal if you don't want to see the characters? But seeing it's Tusker House, I understand! I feel certain it would be simple to let them know you don't want the characters to come to your table, but those tables can be close together, so would it bother her to have them so close? What about going to dinner, when they don't have the characters?

Tusker house now has characters at dinner

 

[Howyougetthegirl1991]

I understand. I'm not into character meals either. I would see if you could let a hostess know before dinner.

 

[ZoZo]

I think if you tell the hostess/waitstaff, it is very possible the characters wouldn't get the message to NOT come to the table. I think a simple wave and head shake would be best, but I've also almost (literally) run into characters at Tusker House so I'd also prepare your daughter with some kind of plan if a character does get too close.

(I've also seen characters step out of the way of someone and end up awfully close to someone who may not have been expecting a character at that moment).

I agree - even if you tell the hostess, that would be a number of different character "handlers" to notify that you don't want any character interaction. There's a good chance that someone might not get the word -- even if they do get the word, that might be hard for the handlers to keep track of (in addition to handling their other duties). Would it be worth the chance?

I think that unless you can be sure that you (the mom) can position yourself at a table where you could take the responsibility of waving off the characters, it might not work well. Since it sounds like your daughter's anxiety is pretty significant, it might not be worth the chance. Only you will know for sure.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

So a character meal without the characters and the up charge???

Why bother?

Also I use to have anxiety until I pushed myself to be more social able and the disney character are the most pleasant, and non intrusive things ever .

Heck they make you feel t ease not anxiety at all!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would dine somewhere without characters.

There's nowhere with the type of food as Tusker. I adore the Tusker food (apart from breakfast) and am SO bummed that they put characters into their dinner.

Did you call Disney Dining Reservations and ask them about it? I'm curious to hear what they would say. I'm sure you're not the first family with this request.

They wouldn't know anything about it. Phone CMs are not on Disney property, possibly not even in Florida, and generally know nothing about the inner-workings of the parks.


OP just make sure you're looking out for characters to wave them off. You guys will be seeing them around while walking to and from the food area, make sure DD knows this.

 

[sharona]

I agree that Tusker House has an awesome breakfast buffet. I guess it depends on how much it would impact your DD's day if the characters do miss a signal and end up at your table. If it would ruin the meal for you both, or even worse cause her to be upset and not want to enjoy the rest of the day, I would skip it entirely.