Ariels Princess Grotto vs. Goofy's Kitchen

[Shell4624]

Weight in?

I have 2 girls 3 and 8 and I called for Priority Seating for the princess breakfast. Well after asking the CM for his input he says that we'd like it more and get more "bang for your buck" at Goofy's.

His points
1) More food - buffet selection vs. family style at Princess Breakfast
2) More interaction at Goofy's ( more upbeat)
3) They always have at least 1 princess
3.5) If Princesses are that important to us, we can go to a princess meet and greet for free..

Thoughts

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'd have to agree with the CM's comments on this one.
We've done both & are doing both this trip but if I had to chose one...it would be Goofy's.

My reasons: At Ariel's, you meet Ariel prior to being seated. After being seated...the princesses are introduced, one at a time. The princesses will come by each table take a couple pics, sign autographs & then they move on. That is the last time you see them. They don't hang out or return to tables. We haven't had the breakfast so can't comment on that part of it. I do know it's family style (which I believe means, a big plate with food items to share off of)

At Goofy's Kitchen, you meet a character prior to seating. The you will have a number of characters come by thru out your entire meal. You may have a character return 2-3 times during your meal. The characters also are more playful at this meal. The usually do a dance up by the buffet for all the kids to join in on & sometimes another "noise-making" activity. The other bonus to Goofy's is the food choices. There are sooooooo many, you won't have trouble finding something for everyone in your group & you won't leave hungry.

That's my opinion & hope it helps you decide!!!

 

[WannaBeAPrincess]

Definitely more food choices at Goofy's and it is buffet. However, if it is the princesses that your kiddos are most interested in, than I don't know that they will have what they are looking for there. I've never seen a princess at Goofy's, but then I've only been there 4 times. Both restaurants offer a completely different experience, in my opinion. We love both of them though.

 

[prncssmel]

Sherry will have to verify this, but I don't know that they always have a princess at GK. We didn't, but it might have changed.

I think it really depends on who your kids want to see. If they want to see the princesses, then I would do Ariel's. The Princess Fantasy Faire line is always long, so I think the breakfast is worth it to not have to waste a lot of time in line.

 

[DizMe]

I would ABSOLUTELY do Ariel's. My kids did not like Goofy's breakfast, nor did dh and I care for it. The food was blah, the interaction very low (no one came to our table but one character unknown to any of us), and then there was a little show that our girls completely missed because they couldn't see it. It was a dance number and if you weren't in front, you couldn't see much. We were very disappointed.

On the other hand, my girls LOVE LOVE LOVE the princess meal (see middle pic below). They get introduced to Ariel after walking down the staircase. They get crowns. They get coloring things and stickers. The food is served right away and then the princesses (4 besides Ariel) come out 1 at a time. They spend time with the kids and are very "in character". Then the kids are given streamer things on a stick and they are taught how to "act like a prince/princess," which includes a dance at the end. I have not gone to the breakfast, but I'm guessing it's the same format.

My girls have said after every visit to DL that included the princess meal that it was their very favorite thing about the trip. Be sure to bring a princess outfit for your girls to wear to the meal!

And finally, we have NEVER been able to get into the PFF. We've gone early, but my girls just aren't up for waiting over an hour in a line that has nothing interesting. I've heard it's neat, but it's a definite time commitment. I'd much rather sit and enjoy a good meal while my girls visited the princesses.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry will have to verify this, but I don't know that they always have a princess at GK. We didn't, but it might have changed.

I think it really depends on who your kids want to see. If they want to see the princesses, then I would do Ariel's. The Princess Fantasy Faire line is always long, so I think the breakfast is worth it to not have to waste a lot of time in line.

Hee hee! I have been busy working today and haven't been able to pop on here as much as I wanted to. I almost missed this thread entirely but I probably sensed my name had been mentioned and answered the Goofy's call!

You're right, prncssmel. There is no guarantee that there will be a Princess at Goofy's, though I have noticed the last few times I was there that there has been at least one 'on duty.' Maybe they are trying to make a point of bringing in Princesses more often now to sort of 'compete' with the increasing popularity of Ariel's??? The last time I was there, in addition to the usual furry characters, Aurora and Jasmine were both in the restuarant. Jasmine was making snide (in a Disney way) remarks about Aurora, and Aurora was trying to find the Prince (he was there too, but on the other side of the restaurant). And the time before that when we were there, Belle (not in her Princess gear) was making the rounds on her own. And I can't recall which one was there before that (I think it may have been Snow White, but we didn't get a picture with her). But, basically, it has just been recently that I have noticed Princesses more regularly at Goofy's along with the characters, whereas in the past, it was more sporadic, so I have to think that it is a deliberate effort to satisfy all character lovers - both fuzzy and face character fans. Alice and the Mad Hatter (though neither are Princesses) have apparently been at Goofy's more often lately too.

Still, I would say that if the OP absolutely does not want to miss Princesses at all, and wants to get more of them all together in one spot, Ariel's would definitely be the place to be. Goofy's would have fewer Princesses but as DizNee Luver and the Cast Member said, there are so many food options and it's all you can eat, you would get more bang for your buck in that way.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

The difference for us is sit down, relax and characters and food come to you, vs. sit down, then get up to get your own food, then get up again to get more food then get up again to get kids food.

 

[amyamya]

You have to do Ariel's at least once, with girls at that age. It was the highlight of our trip for our DD4. We also ate at Goofy's and loved it but never saw a princess there. Ariel's was magical and brought tears to my eyes to see my daughter interact with the princesses who were totally in character and spent so much time with both my kids.

 

[charmama4]

I'd have to agree with the CM's comments on this one.
We've done both & are doing both this trip but if I had to chose one...it would be Goofy's.

My reasons: At Ariel's, you meet Ariel prior to being seated. After being seated...the princesses are introduced, one at a time. The princesses will come by each table take a couple pics, sign autographs & then they move on. That is the last time you see them. They don't hang out or return to tables. We haven't had the breakfast so can't comment on that part of it. I do know it's family style (which I believe means, a big plate with food items to share off of)

At Goofy's Kitchen, you meet a character prior to seating. The you will have a number of characters come by thru out your entire meal. You may have a character return 2-3 times during your meal. The characters also are more playful at this meal. The usually do a dance up by the buffet for all the kids to join in on & sometimes another "noise-making" activity. The other bonus to Goofy's is the food choices. There are sooooooo many, you won't have trouble finding something for everyone in your group & you won't leave hungry.

That's my opinion & hope it helps you decide!!!

Your comments on Goofy's is getting me even more excited about going. Can't make my ADR's for a couple more weeks though Can't wait!!

 

[Sherry E]

Your comments on Goofy's is getting me even more excited about going. Can't make my ADR's for a couple more weeks though Can't wait!!

(It's no secret that I am in agreement with DizNee Luver on this issue! )

 

[charmama4]

(It's no secret that I am in agreement with DizNee Luver on this issue! )

hey Sherry, your ears were burning, eh??

 

[Sherry E]

hey Sherry, your ears were burning, eh??

I think so! I almost looked past this thread altogether when I was just skimming the page to see what was new on the DIS, but must have felt my ears burning when my name was mentioned!

I hope you have a good experience at Goofy's in 2 weeks - whether it is good or bad, make sure to come back and tell us all about it here!

 

[charmama4]

I think so! I almost looked past this thread altogether when I was just skimming the page to see what was new on the DIS, but must have felt my ears burning when my name was mentioned!

I hope you have a good experience at Goofy's in 2 weeks - whether it is good or bad, make sure to come back and tell us all about it here!

Oh man!! I WISH it was only 2 weeks but alas that is when I can just MAKE the ADR's. The fam and I have to wait a whole 2 months and 5 days ( I think that's what my ticker says LOL!!)till we get to actually USE the ADR!!!!!!! But, thank you.

 

[pixiewings71]

I would disagree 100% with that CM. I would not suggest GK especially with girls the ages you have. AG would be much better IMO. We have done both and had a yuck experience at GK but we did see 2 Princesses there, we saw Snow White (who remembered seeing the girls the day before in the Animation Building) and Cinderella came in as we were leaving. But the character interaction at GK was not as good (for us) as it always has been at AG. We've met the standard 5 at AG and we've seen Mulan & Pocahontas there too. The food, for us we much prefer the food at AG over GK but we aren't big on buffets. Even DBF who loves buffets wasn't that impressed with GK, he kept saying "we spent how much on this "character meal?" LOL So for us, we'd go with AG every time.

 

[Sherry E]

Oh man!! I WISH it was only 2 weeks but alas that is when I can just MAKE the ADR's. The fam and I have to wait a whole 2 months and 5 days ( I think that's what my ticker says LOL!!)till we get to actually USE the ADR!!!!!!! But, thank you.

You are absolutely correct - your ticker does say 2 months, and I looked right past it!! I have been frantically doing work and switching back over to the DIS to read about celebrity sightings at DLR, etc. and then back to work again, so my eyes only locked into the '2 weeks' you were referring to when talking about making the PS's (the DLR equivalent of ADR's). 2 months is a long time to wait when you are eager and excited to go!! But at least when you make your PS's, it will bring you one step closer!

 

[charmama4]

You are absolutely correct - your ticker does say 2 months, and I looked right past it!! I have been frantically doing work and switching back over to the DIS to read about celebrity sightings at DLR, etc. and then back to work again, so my eyes only locked into the '2 weeks' you were referring to when talking about making the PS's (the DLR equivalent of ADR's). 2 months is a long time to wait when you are eager and excited to go!! But at least when you make your PS's, it will bring you one step closer!

my bad (ADR=PS) thanks. Now I'm DL hip!!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Ok, been away all afternoon, so I come back & see my name mentioned a few times Thank You Charmama & Sherry !!!! The 3 Amigo's of Goofy's Kitchen!!

 

[charmama4]

Ok, been away all afternoon, so I come back & see my name mentioned a few times Thank You Charmama & Sherry !!!! The 3 Amigo's of Goofy's Kitchen!!

OLE!!!! Hey, where's my margarita????

 

[Sherry E]

Ok, been away all afternoon, so I come back & see my name mentioned a few times Thank You Charmama & Sherry !!!! The 3 Amigo's of Goofy's Kitchen!!

They should really start paying us at Goofy's for our continued high praise!!

I just hope when Charmama finally goes to Goofy's that she likes it and agrees with us and doesn't wonder what the h*** we were raving about!!! Hopefully they won't be having an 'off' day at Goofy's that day!

 

[charmama4]

*off* day... *on* day. tomato...tomOto.....
It's Disneyland!!!!!
Even if THEY are having an *off* day. I for sure will NOT!!!

In all seriousness (ya right LOL). I'm just happy to get out of Cheyenne