Are Character Meals a must for your trip?

[Misskitty3]

We are in the midst of planning our trip for October and aren't sure if we are going to do a character meal. Last year we did Goofy's, Lilo and Stich and Ariels. Ariels was my favorite because we were able to sit the entire time -- no getting up to go to the buffet a bunch of times. We have a toddler and preschooler and not sure if we should do another one.

 

[DangerMouse]

Nope! My entire family wil pick time in the parks over a buffet with characters any day! We have tried most of the character meals, and the only one we feel is worth repeating is Storyteller's, and that is for the food off the menu and ambiance more than anything.

 

[dizzyami]

I think it would depend in part on your kids and what they enjoy. We went a couple of weeks ago, and it was our first trip without a character meal. That being said, Stitch is by far and away my DS's favorite character - (just so you all don't think I am totally crazy - he is 3, special, and one of the 10 words that he can say is Stitch). Needless to say - on the last day (we went to the park to hit a couple of rides - and leave by 11am) we saw Stitch when we hopped over to DCA. We just missed him (1 person off of getting an autograph). DS was very, very sad, and we were assured he would be back in 30 minutes. While we refused to wait that day hours for Nemo - we waited 3 HOURS to see Stitch (he came back at 2pm), we ended up hitting CA traffic out of town - but my little guy was beaming!!!

So - to answer your question - if you have character must sees - I would do a meal. If there is not a specific one you want to see - I would do without!!!

 

[Danauk]

Out of the 5 Disney trips I have done (4 of which were between 1 and 2 weeks long) I have yet to do a character meal. We intend to do our 1st one on our trip to Disneyland though. I guess we have just not got around to one before!

 

[stagemomx3]

Nope not a must do for us at Disneyland.

 

[DLR29]

I have never done a character meal.

 

[Misskitty3]

Nope! My entire family wil pick time in the parks over a buffet with characters any day! We have tried most of the character meals, and the only one we feel is worth repeating is Storyteller's, and that is for the food off the menu and ambiance more than anything.

DangerMouse: Good point about missing park time. I agree, we did not miss park time for Goofy's or Stitch. Ariel's was different because it was DD's first birthday so I could justify the 90 minutes for dinner!

I would like to try Storytellers so I might make a reservation there and just play it by ear. After spending so much time walking and standing I really appreciate table service.

 

[brenda1966]

Nope, not a must do althought that salmon BLT at Ariel's is calling my name... we won't be going there this time. We're going to try Goofy's, but I have thought about cancelling. I think the novelty has worn off a bit for me. I do like getting to see characters quickly and since we are going in July we need that midday break from the sun, but I don't like having to plan around a lunch reservation and the cost is prohibitive.

We are currently planning 8 days in WDW and not a single character meal is planned.

 

[Misskitty3]

Nope! My entire family wil pick time in the parks over a buffet with characters any day! We have tried most of the character meals, and the only one we feel is worth repeating is Storyteller's, and that is for the food off the menu and ambiance more than anything.

DangerMouse: Good point about missing park time. I agree, we did not miss park time for Goofy's or Stitch. Ariel's was different because it was DD's first birthday so I could justify the 90 minutes for dinner!

I would like to try Storytellers so I might make a reservation there and just play it by ear. After spending so much time walking and standing I really appreciate table service.


I wish they had different characters though...my kids won't have a clue who any of them are....

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Character meals are a must for our family. Since our first family trip in 2004, we have always done at least one character meal. Depending on the length of our trip we have done as many as 4 in one trip. We like character meals. It's the one meal we can sit and enjoy our food without racing around to ride rides yet still get the disney "magic". We're not big on burgers and pizzas at all the counter service and the character meals give us more food options. Our 2 favorites are Goofy's for dinner and Lilo & Stitch's for breakfast. Although the princesses' at Ariel's Grotto is also a good value as you don't waste time standing in line for them at the Princess Fair

 

[drag n' fly]

If you think it will keep your kids entertained ...go for it! We have done the character meals at DL and WDW. My only advice is to do a supper not a breakfast so you do not waste valuable morning time visiting with the characters. The other advantage to doing character meals is you do not have to waste valuable park time standing in line for visits and signatures. You can go to a character meal and let the characters come to you.

 

[dizzyami]

If you think it will keep your kids entertained ...go for it! We have done the character meals at DL and WDW. My only advice is to do a supper not a breakfast so you do not waste valuable morning time visiting with the characters. The other advantage to doing character meals is you do not have to waste valuable park time standing in line for visits and signatures. You can go to a character meal and let the characters come to you.

- I learned that lesson the hard way!!!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i am doing a brekfest lunch and dinner. I will be at disney land hotwel so ill do brekfest at goofys. Ill do ariels for lunch or dinner..and i dont know any other good ones..i dont want a lot of buffets i want real food

i will like it, compared to how much time we would stand in line for the charcters..lol im one to love all the charcters

 

[beansf]

No, but we don't have any children, so I am sure that factors in. We did do the Lilo & Stitch sort of accidentally last trip, though. We were staying at PP and wanted breakfast. We went down, ordered off of the menu, and actually enjoyed ourselves. It was fun because they played Elvis tunes all through breakfast and I liked the Hawaiian theme. I didn't really expect the characters to come over to us (two adults in their 30s), but they did and we got to hear the "smack" kissing sounds first hand - or ear. Overall, I had a good time and a nice breakfast, but it isn't something I will feel compelled to repeat.

 

[disneyscootergal]

My dd9 (at the time) and I went to that character breakfast they have at the Plaza Inn, and it was very disappointing. I don't know if it was where we sat, or if the characters all thought my dd was too old (?), but not many came to our table, and those that did were rather abrupt; posed for a picture, and then left without any conversation at all.

I might have thought perhaps this behavior was just because they were trying to get around to as many children as possible, but I saw the same characters with other, younger children, and there was a lot more interaction--accompanied by smiling and friendliness.

Go play in the park!

 

[Chumpson]

I think it highly depends on the season you go and what time you decide to sit down.

We did one on our first trip (Goofy's) with our 4 and 6 yo boys. They liked it and we got a lot of the character interaction out of the way before hitting the parks. We went in off season and could do brunch/breakfast BEFORE the parks opened. We actually opened the park, you know the counting down thing, on the same day as our breakfast. I guess it would depend on when I go, but since I always go in off season where the park doesn't open till 10, breakfast before the day gives us a longer Disney Day.

We will be doing at least one when we go back in October with sons 10, 7 and our daughter 5. Goofys and ?????, I am thinking the Ariel's Princess one, unless someone has a better one to choose. Just thought the daughter would love that one.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We look at it this way. The only time you're "wasting" prime park time is if you eat a breakfast before 11 am. The rest of the times, you are waisting crowded time. And I figure you can waste a total of about 60-90 minutes at a character meal sitting and eating rather than standing and waiting. Every character meal we've been to save one, we've found the food to temperature, Fresh, Decent to good variety, rotated out promptly, and the service great. The characters all stop for Autographs and pictures. Some of them won't play. But if it is "in character" to do so, they will. Do we have to do em? No. Do we like to do em? Well yes. When the kids are beyond the age, we probably will do them a bit less often than we do now. But it's nice when an hour after park opening, you don't have to drop everything to get over to Princess Fantasy Faire or Toontown before the crowds hit the characters.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

For us it was when my son was smaller and enjoyed all the character interaction. That's also when I was out to get as many character pictures as I could get with my ds! Now that he's 9 he doesn't believe the characters are real anymore and doesn't enjoy it like he used to. So we skipped it this year, but did the Blue Bayou instead.

It is for sure fun when you have little ones, and sure as heck beats standing in any kind of lines for characters!

 

[auntyjenn]

I don't remember which Character meal we went to in 03, but the Charcters did limbo and stuff with the kids and it was a lot of fun. We always (O.K., twice) take one day off from the parks (In the middle of the trip is best) and go to a late Character breakfast (sleep in) and then shopping at Downtown Disney and maybe some swimming. We are big shoppers in our family and like to have plenty of time there, but the kids get their Disney fix with the breakfast. We also like to take the grandparents on Disney trips because they want to go back to the hotel and nap with the kids while we do more shopping.

 

[Twinprincesses]

For us a meal with Princesses is a must and then one breakfast. I would rather pay a bit extra to not have to wait in line to see some characters.