Arrival Day - Best Character Dinner?

[Easto]

2 Daughters, 4 and 6 years old.

We are staying at the Poly just as an FYI for travel considerations.

Currently we have booked:

1900 Park Fare @ 4:00 pm

Chef Mickey's @ 5:30 pm

I would like to stick with 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, or O'Hana's depending on availability.

I don't like holding onto more than 1 reservation "just in case" because it's selfish, someone else could use the reservation, and I would like to be considerate.

I think we like the 1900 Park Fare reservation at 4:00pm. It allows for some waiting time to get seated and still be eating at a respectable time. It also gets the girls a nice Cinderella experience right out of the gate.

What's your opinion?

If Ohana opens up, do we look at Ohana's?

What's a optimal time to aim for dinner considering the kids ages + waiting time to be seated?

If a different time opens up for Chef Mickey or 1900 Park Fare should we shoot for a different time?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Reminder: Ohana is not a character dinner.

I'd stick with 1900 PF. Food is better than Chef Mickey.

 

[Easto]

Reminder: Ohana is not a character dinner.

I'd stick with 1900 PF. Food is better than Chef Mickey.

Oh, I thought Lilo and Stitch were there.

We did a breakfast there a few years ago. Do they only do characters for Breakfast?

 

[Mousefan mom]

Oh, I thought Lilo and Stitch were there.

We did a breakfast there a few years ago. Do they only do characters for Breakfast?

Yes, only for breakfast. Having said that, their dinner was the best I've ever had in WDW. No characters, but lots of fun and games for the kids!

 

[Tucker24]

I think 1900 is a better experience and food's better but at Chef Mickey's you meet the fab five. Depends on what you guys really like and what characters you are going to meet for the rest of the trip. I don't know if an edited post gets alerted but I had another thought. We have done Chef Mickey's twice for breakfast. Both times it was too chaotic and my daughter is the only one who enjoyed the character experience. Once Minnie forgot to come to our table because of where we were in the rotation and the second time we missed Goofy because we were getting food. We did end up meeting them after talking with the handler but both times it was really crazy dealing with the buffet, other guests, and spending a little time with the characters. They had so many people to meet it was pretty much pose for two pictures, sign the autograph, and move on. I wish I had pushed for 1900 because I think the tremaine's would be a fun experience and the food is better

 

[Nancyg56]

For an arrival dinner with kids I like Chef Mickey. It is classic Disney in my opinion. I knwo folks have trouble with teh food, but my family likes it and the characters are fun.

If you think the kids will like the Stepsisters, and do nto care about the Fab 5, then go to 1900 PF. The food is good, and the Temaine family rocks. Cindy and Charming are there as well.

 

[burberryplaid]

I'd go with 1900 Park Faire. Chef Mickey's is not great for dinner...I'd only do breakfast there and I'd choose other spots if Mickey were a priority.

 

[AshleeH]

We usually do Chef Mickey's (that's what we have planned for our upcoming trip), but for next year I booked 'Ohana on our first day. 1900 is a good character meal - we had a lackluster experience, but it was something that only has a fractional chance of happening again, so I'm giving it another shot in February.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would keep the 1900 Park Fare reservation. Especially with two little girls, the GF is so lovely and the food and atmosphere is so much nicer at 1900. Chef Mickey's is really chaotic IMHO and the food is terrible.

Since you are staying at Poly, I would still recommend trying to get a dinner reservation for O'hana for one evening on your trip. The food and atmosphere are wonderful - it really exudes the Polynesian spirit!

 

[Hopefully]

You say arrival day. How are you traveling & what time to you expect to arrive? Travel day is fraught with unplanned, uncontrollable delays. It is also very tiring. I never make an ADR on travel day for sooner than 5 hours after scheduled arrival. If you are delayed & miss your ADR you will be charged $10/ person no show fee. You also very well maynot even get your room until 3 or even after. So no real place to either relax or get ready for an early dinner.
That said I think it is best to try & keep your children on a schedule as close to home as possible.

 

[Easto]

We arrive at Orlando airport at 11:35 am.

I would hope that a 4:00 pm reservation is ok. I think if for some reason we miss our ADR because of unforeseen circumstances (delayed flight, etc) I will just tack it up to bad luck. I may try and push the reservation up to 5:00.

If we don't end up getting a room until 3:00 pm does Poly have an option for somewhere to change our clothes, freshen up before we leave for 1900 Park Fare?

_____

Can you suggest a good time to try and grab an Ohana dinner reservation?

 

[Hopefully]

You should be okay. I think 5 is safer & probably closer to normal dinner time for your little ones.
There are public restrooms in the lobby of the Poly where you could change, but nothing more there. I believe there still are showers in the pool bathroom ( haven't been since the refurb so I am not certain). But I didn't like that bathroom & I wouldn't shower there.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

1900 PF was my family's favorite meal on our recent trip! The food was delicious and the characters were sooooo entertaining!

 

[beck00]

We loved our first time at 1900 PF on our Thanksgiving trip! Girls were 3 and 7, loved the characters and the dinner food options.

 

[cgh]

I like the Fab 5 for Welcome to Disney and always do it. I always say go where you want the characters. So, if you have a princess crazed child do 1900. Otherwise, I think its a toss up.