Ariels Princess Grotto vs. Goofy's Kitchen

[DizNee Luver]

The biggest thing to remember at any of the character meals is to let the CM's or host(ess) if you are being missed by the characters. They will round them up & make sure they come by. Sometimes during busy times, there can be some confusion, so never be afraid to tell someone that....Snow White came to the tables around us, but she missed our table. They will gladly assist in getting you some time with the characters!!!

charmama I just know you'll love it!!

 

[clairabell29]

How is AG for boys? Do they get a different crown then the girls? I have a DS3 who has a crush on just about every princess. But he has long hair (growing for locks of love) and hates to be called a girl, if there could be some difference so the princesses would know that would be great!

 

[charmama4]

How is AG for boys? Do they get a different crown then the girls? I have a DS3 who has a crush on just about every princess. But he has long hair (growing for locks of love) and hates to be called a girl, if there could be some difference so the princesses would know that would be great!

I think that is so sweet that your son has a crush and for your boy to grow his hair out for locks of love is awesome.
To answer your question: sorry don't have one (I have 3 boys that are def. not *into* the princesses) but I"m sure someone else will. Have fun when you go.

 

[DizNee Luver]

When we went last year the crowns were the same (kinda a universal crown..... like burger king...can be used by either).
My son loves the princesses too..... as he puts it he loves his "womens" !!
lol

 

[charmama4]

When we went last year the crowns were the same (kinda a universal crown..... like burger king...can be used by either).
My son loves the princesses too..... as he puts it he loves his "womens" !!
lol

It's YOUR son that says that!!!! I have such mommy brain lately, I couldn't remember who it was. I love love that "his womens". These little boys, knows whatsup!!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

It's YOUR son that says that!!!! I have such mommy brain lately, I couldn't remember who it was. I love love that "his womens". These little boys, knows whatsup!!!!

Yup, that would be my boy. Our first trip in 2005 (when he was 3), we showed up & he saw his first princess & he blurted out (in his loud 3 yr old voice) I LOVE BOO BEES!!!!! Doh! ...um who's kid was that?????

 

[redjulie]

Can you do both?

We were just there last week and we did both of them, which worked out great for us because they are really different experiences and characters.

I personally liked Goofy’s Kitchen much better, the food and selection was fantastic and I really didn’t mind getting up for it! The character interaction was really good, but we did not get to see a princess there. Most of the characters we got to see a couple of times and the second time they did different things that time.

My daughter loved Ariel’s Grotto but I was not really that thrilled about it. It was really tense; there were so many people there! You wait up front when you check in then you wait again on a long spiral staircase to take a picture with Ariel. The menu for kids was aimed more for the older ones. My 3yo dd wanted either chicken nuggets or grilled cheese and they had neither one. The bad part for us is that right after the food came we got 3 princess visits in a row and that was the last we saw of them. I wish that they had spaced themselves out a bit. I had to have a couple of bites of food, grab the camera, turn the page of the autograph book and start snapping pictures! The princesses did take their time and really talked to her. Ariel’s Grotto is more expensive than Goofy’s kitchen. The good things about Ariel’s Grotto are --the food is very good and you do get to see the princesses and only wait on one line.

With either one the service is included. If you have a AAA card you get 10% off. With Goofy’s Kitchen you pay right when you arrive so there are no extra surprise charges for drinks, etc.

Have fun!

 

[pixiewings71]

The biggest thing to remember at any of the character meals is to let the CM's or host(ess) if you are being missed by the characters. They will round them up & make sure they come by. Sometimes during busy times, there can be some confusion, so never be afraid to tell someone that....Snow White came to the tables around us, but she missed our table. They will gladly assist in getting you some time with the characters!!!

charmama I just know you'll love it!!

Not always, they absolutely did NOT care that we had seen 3 characters, they told us "you're probably missing them while you're getting food" ummm, nope not the case.

Yup, that would be my boy. Our first trip in 2005 (when he was 3), we showed up & he saw his first princess & he blurted out (in his loud 3 yr old voice) I LOVE BOO BEES!!!!! Doh! ...um who's kid was that?????

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Well we just got back last night and had breakfast @ GK & lunch at Ariel's ~ I preferred Ariel's. It (Ariel's) was more expensive but we visited with a whopping 3 characters at GK ~ well 4, foto with Pluto before you go in ~ Alice stopped by 1st (she was great) then Chip then Goofy, we saw Baloo & Dale wandering around but they didn't stop by. At Ariel's we visited with Ariel before being seated, Cinderella, Mulan, Snow White & Aurora. I like having my food brought to me.

 

[Sherry E]

^^That's the way it is at any character meal, though (except for maybe Ariel's, where it seems to be more intentionally, formally organized) - it's never been any different. I only saw about 4-5 characters at Storytellers, too, and maybe only 3 of them got to our table. Look at my Goofy's pictures (in my Trip Report) that span from 1992 to 2008. We have encountered quite different ones over the years, but then a lot of them are the same ones over and over again too. There will always be Goofy, Chip, Dale, Pluto and Baloo - and then they have guest stars (like Alice and some Princesses) come in too. That doesn't seem bad to me. I never expected to see 10 or 20 characters - I think it gets TOO chaotic when there are too many of them in the restaurant at one time (Goofy's or Storytellers). Sometimes they will ALL get to each table. Sometimes you may only get 3 out of the 5 coming by one night. It is kind of hit or miss. I have always assumed it was that way and have never expected anything different at Goofy's or Storytellers. And if I can make it to Minnie and Friends and Lilo and Stitch eventually, I would expect that I may or may not see LOTS of characters and I may or may not get ALL of them coming to my table. I think it just comes with the character meal territory.

 

[evandmp]

I thought the food quality was much better at Ariel's Grotto. It was the best meal we had in Disneyland. The interaction was also a lot better, the princesses spent more time at our table. Theres not the many tables and it's not as loud so it made it a more comfortable environment. There was no princess at Goofy's kitchen when we went. We liked Ariel's bette than GK but everyones different.

 

[evandmp]

How is AG for boys? Do they get a different crown then the girls? I have a DS3 who has a crush on just about every princess. But he has long hair (growing for locks of love) and hates to be called a girl, if there could be some difference so the princesses would know that would be great!

My son has long hair and the princesses did not mistake him for a girl. Pic in siggy. He's a bit shy but they were good at getting him out of his shell.

 

[Sherry E]

My son has long hair and the princesses did not mistake him for a girl. Pic in siggy. He's a bit shy but they were good at getting him out of his shell.

I love ALL those pictures in your signature - you guys are too cute!!!

 

[charmama4]

Well we just got back last night and had breakfast @ GK & lunch at Ariel's ~ I preferred Ariel's. It (Ariel's) was more expensive but we visited with a whopping 3 characters at GK ~ well 4, foto with Pluto before you go in ~ Alice stopped by 1st (she was great) then Chip then Goofy, we saw Baloo & Dale wandering around but they didn't stop by. At Ariel's we visited with Ariel before being seated, Cinderella, Mulan, Snow White & Aurora. I like having my food brought to me.

I have to agree with you on having food brought to me. After waiting/serving/cleaning up after 4 kids and a DH all day long, it's nice to get pampered every once in awhile.
But, I am also looking forward to the wonderful buffet I keep hearing about and seeing pictures of at Goofy's Kitchen. All the choices!!!!
DizNeeLuvr mentioned something about if characters *forget* to come to your table, bring it to the attention of a CM and they will take care of it. I know it doesn't help now but for next time.

 

[evandmp]

I love ALL those pictures in your signature - you guys are too cute!!!

Thanks!

 

[Shell4624]

I have to agree with you on having food brought to me. After waiting/serving/cleaning up after 4 kids and a DH all day long, it's nice to get pampered every once in awhile.
But, I am also looking forward to the wonderful buffet I keep hearing about and seeing pictures of at Goofy's Kitchen. All the choices!!!!
DizNeeLuvr mentioned something about if characters *forget* to come to your table, bring it to the attention of a CM and they will take care of it. I know it doesn't help now but for next time.

Thanks all for your suggestions! Charmama, you're statement really hit home.. I too am in your boat, serving DH and the girls ALL THE TIME. I agree it will be nice to be served... this trip is all about kicking back and letting the magic come to me!

I called PS back and changed to Ariels. I do wish we could do both, but I really don't think we can.

Thanks again everyone for your suggestions.

 

[kimis]

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

Well I agree you "do get more for your buck" with goofy. However if your daughters are into the princess' than you would want Ariels. We take our grandkids as they rurn four and we do both. That way the girls can meet their favorite princess and see Goofy too. It works for us. Good luck,

 

[pixiewings71]

We ate at Ariel's Grotto on Sunday, just walked up and got a table. Yes, it was outside but the weather was great so we were fine with it, we also paid $2 less per person since we had outside seating. The food was sooooooooooo good!!!!!!!! We loved the salad, the dressing was delish! The jello we didn't really eat but the cheeses, the salami, the bread w/the various dips were good and our dishes were just yum!!! DBF had the Ciopinno, which was good but spicy, the portion was small tho, it really could be bigger than it was. I had the pasta and YUM!!!!! OMG, it was so good!!!!! DD9 had the mac n cheese, DD12 had the tri tip (kids portion) and they both loved them. The dessert tray was YUM!!!!!!!!! We ate it all and then some! As usual the Princesses were gracious and Cinderella spent a few extra minutes with DD9 as she is her fave!!

 

[Sherry E]

Whenever someone posts who has never done any kind of character meal at all before, if I am the first or second one responding in the thread, I will try to give them the rundown of all the meals they have to choose from. But photos really make a big impact, sometimes even more than any of our varying opinions or experiences. I personally wasn't that interested in the Lilo and Stitch buffet until I saw got2travel's pictures of it on the Dining thread, and now I want to try it. Just recently, when J.C.andAli'sMom posted a LOT of pictures of the Goofy's Kitchen breakfast buffet on the Dining thread, and got2travel told me where to find their multiple pictures posted of the Lilo and Stitch buffet choices, I began adding the links to each of those in posts about the different character meals, to help the OP's.

Now I know I have seen some random pictures here and there of a few of the offerings at Ariel's, Minnie and Friends and Storyteller's, and lots of people have pictures with characters from all the meals, but it would be great if someone had a BUNCH of photos (like what J.C.andAli'sMom took at Goofy's) of each one of these character meals somewhere on here - just the food selections - to be able to add to any of these posts where someone needs to know what their options are, so they can really SEE the full scope. The Dining thread is great, but it can be quite daunting to comb through. This way, whoever is taking the time to give an overall synopsis of each character meal to help someone out could post links to pictures of all of them along with the descriptions.

For example, I think the Ariel's Grotto food sounds particularly interesting and unique and would appeal to a lot of people, and somewhere on DIS there has to be one or two posts with a LOT of photos (taken by a guest) of all the food choices, but there has got to be some quick way to find them and post a link in a Reply. It would be great to save 5 links to the different character meal photos in one place and then just randomly copy and paste them when someone asks the question, "Tell Me About the Different Character Meals."