Aulani character breakfast?

[psimon]

Looking for thoughts on the character breakfast at Aulani...

How does it compare to the character breakfasts at WDW?

Thanks....

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

I didn't vote because I haven't actually been there, but I did a lot of research in making my decision.

Initially I had it booked, but after reading reports, seeing pics, etc I decided to cancel. Reports are that only a few characters come around, and they are the same ones you can find at meet and greets around the resort. I did hear that the host, Aunty is very interactive and encourages kids to dance, play but my kids are not fans of that at any character breakfast.

For us, if it was a lot cheaper, or had characters that you couldn't find around the resort then we would be onboard. But we looked at the cost and it seemed silly for us. We also are not huge eaters so we never quite feel like we get our moneys worth at buffets (we don't plan on eating at the buffet for dinner either).

Sorry if that doesn't help much, just wanted to share our thoughts

We plan on doing Ama Ama once for all meals (adults only mostly), the pool bar food once or so and otherwise just cook in our villa. We are saving the majority of our food budget for our second half of our vacation when we are on the North Shore. All our favorite places to eat are up there!

 

[psimon]

....Sorry if that doesn't help much, just wanted to share our thoughts

We plan on doing Ama Ama once for all meals (adults only mostly), the pool bar food once or so and otherwise just cook in our villa. We are saving the majority of our food budget for our second half of our vacation when we are on the North Shore. All our favorite places to eat are up there!

Please don't be sorry... I am open to any opinions I can get.

Since you are familiar with Oahu, I would be interested in what you could offer in teh way of dining suggestions on the North Shore. I am considering doing an tour one day and venturing out on my own another.

All in put greatly appreciated!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Minnie222]

I wouldn't do it. The same characters are easy to come by when you are at Aulani. So, don't waste the time and money for it. There were other better activities to do than that expensive breakfast.

The lines for meet and greet are just few minutes wait. And the characters also appear and interact with kids in the beach house, pool party, Starlit Hui, etc. for free.

That said, if you happen to go there for 8 days+, then you might want to do it. Why? Because there is not that many things to do for so many days, so might as well include it.


Cannot compare it to WDW character meals, because at WDW, character dining offer you an easy way to meet a few characters, saving a lot of waiting time. Also, there is the dining plan to cover it. At Aulani, it is right out cash to go there, no dining plan...
I would save that money for a few Aulani Mickey and Minnie plush to bring home.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

Please don't be sorry... I am open to any opinions I can get.

Since you are familiar with Oahu, I would be interested in what you could offer in teh way of dining suggestions on the North Shore. I am considering doing an tour one day and venturing out on my own another.

All in put greatly appreciated!

---Paul in Southern NJ

Sure!

We are staying 5 days in Haleiwa after our 5 at Aulani, so the places we are looking forward to eating at are:

- Luibeunos (amazing Mexican Hawaiian fusion. I know it sounds weird but its oh so good). They also have a mobile food truck in Waimea Bay. We like the sit down place best though. Best lilokoi Margarita ever!

-Coffee Gallery (open all day). Great cafe! Tons of coffee to take home too.

-Haleiwa Joe's (great seafood, lively atmosphere)

-Teds bakery (love their breakfast pastries and pies). For coffee though we like coffee gallery best.

- Big Wave Shrimp truck (our personal favorite of all the trucks)

-Grass Skirt Grill (love this place!.cheap and fresh. Cash only though!)

-Jameson by the Sea (good seafood but like Haleiwa Joe better)

-Cafe Haleiwa (good breakfast!)

- 21 Degrees North (at turtle bay resort). not technically adult only but I wouldn't bring kids. my DH and I ate there last year when we didn't have our kids with us.


For Waikiki our favs are Dukes,Rumfire and Alan Wongs (one of our best meals we've ever had!). In Kailua we love Kalapawai cafe.

Have fun planning!! Most of these places have menus online

 

[psimon]

Thank you so much.

I've cut this and added it the reference documents in my iPad for the trip!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Cinderpamela]

When DH and I went for our anniversary trip we had no kiddos with us so we didn't do the Char Breakfast. After standing on the balcony above Makahiki and watching it going on down below, I don't know that I would really go out of my way to attend.

It looked like the guests were having a fun time, and Aunty was walking around to each table and singing with her Ukelele.

There aren't as many characters, so it important to not go into it expecting it to be the same as WDW or DLR.

When we go back with our teen and pre-teen son's we will go if they want to check it, out but it won't be high on the list.
I voted "WDW character Bfasts are better"... but I am not necessarily saying dont bother.

 

[Mickey Mantle]

My five year old son loved it and that for me is enough. Auntie makes it very interactive and fun for the kids. The mini Loco Moco's are kind of neat as well.

 

[aclov]

I've been thinking about this one and decided not to do it and use that $$ on something else. I won't have children with me only an 18 yr. old and we've done the meals at WDW. I hear Stitch isn't there anyway

 

[psimon]

I've been thinking about this one and decided not to do it and use that $$ on something else. I won't have children with me only an 18 yr. old and we've done the meals at WDW. I hear Stitch isn't there anyway

Wow... no Stitch! I would have thought that would have been character # 1 (or 2)!

I hope Lilo and Stitch are found elsewhere on property.

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Minnie222]

Lilo does not appear in Aulani. Not at all.

Stitch is available for meet and greet and also in the Starlit Hui.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Wow... no Stitch! I would have thought that would have been character # 1 (or 2)!

I hope Lilo and Stitch are found elsewhere on property.

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

Lilo is not found on property at all, Stitch is.

I am booked for the character breakfast, as I just want to try it. I understand there are not many characters, and they are the same ones you see around the resort, but, it is a tradition for a character meal on our Disney trips.

 

[psimon]

Lilo is not found on property at all, Stitch is.

I am booked for the character breakfast, as I just want to try it. I understand there are not many characters, and they are the same ones you see around the resort, but, it is a tradition for a character meal on our Disney trips.

That is very surprising.... are they afraid of offending the locals?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Iceman93]

Our family enjoyed the character breakfast, but we're not huge fans of traditional Disney character meals. In general we find that three bad things happen at character meals:

1) You pay a lot more because demand is high, and the food quality tends not to be as good as non-character meals.
2) You can't really enjoy eating because you're constantly scanning for characters and wanting to make sure you don't miss any, that your camera is ready, etc.
3) Other guests can be quite annoying, mobbing the characters, not waiting for their table's turn, etc.

At Makahiki the buffet breakfast food was actually quite good. And there weren't that many characters around that we felt terribly distracted from enjoying it. Finally, Aunty was simply excellent. We think of it as more of an interactive entertainment breakfast than a character breakfast, and from that perspective it was fun and worthwhile.

 

[dsneygirl]

We really enjoyed it. You aren't rushed like in the parks (we only made an ADR like 2 days prior) the characters were great, Aunty was awesome and the food was good. It was our only splurge meal of the week.

 

[Jude60795]

My hubby & I must be odd ones out, we enjoy going to Character meals. Not necessarily for the food, but we enjoy watching the reaction of the kids and adults when the character come to their table. Plus we always take a picture of each of us with the characters. The interaction between the characters and adults w/out kids can be really funny.
My hubby had gone to the buffet when Donald Duck came by. Donald sat down next to me, held my hand and waved my hubby away when he came back. Everyone around us thought it was hilarious.

 

[andriade]

We really enjoyed it! We are even planning to go again while we are there in July. My kids enjoyed the games and dancing. My two are 10 and 8. We have also been to several character breakfasts at WDW. This is not like those. We went for the overall experience and not necessarily the characters.

 

[DenLo]

I think the character time per table was longer at Aulani than at WDW. However we only saw Mickey out front to take a photo and Minnie and Goofy while eating. Not very many characters, but then when we were there half of the restaurant was closed due to construction of the cover for the patio. So that maybe why the number of characters was so limited.

There was a show of sort performed by Auntie singing and playing a ukulele and Minnie and Goofy joining in the parade of children. The kids that joined the parade had a great time. DH and I are fans of character meals. So I might not be the most impartial judge.

I also think the food selection was bigger than most of the buffets at WDW. However the selection does include foods that the Japanese tourists want, like a hot soup for breakfast.

As to the comment(s) above that you'll get plenty of meet and greets with short lines, I have to disagree. There lots of opportunities for meet and greets but the lines are often lengthy. It really depends on whether there are lots of Japanese tourists. If there are expect them to line up for the meet and greets 30 minutes beforehand. And they have really prolonged photo sessions with the characters, especially if 20 somethings are having their pictures taken with the characters. So even though you are only 20 people back, it will take twice as long to get to the character. But unlike at WDW, they don't just leave you standing there when it's time for the character to depart. They monitor the line and make sure that not too many guests get in line than the character can handle. So when the character leaves there are no additional guests waiting in line.

 

[Meemoo]

We dined at the Makahiki Character Breakfast, I found the food a little basic and disappointing. Limited characters that you must wait your turn for them to visit your table. Approx 3 characters, Minnie, Goofy and Mickey stays out the front of the restaurant for a photo prior to being seated. Aunty does walk around and interact with your kids though, encouraging them to take part in games, playing instruments and singing. I have dined at Character breakfasts at Disneyland, Minnie's Breakfast in the Park and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Food wise this place is no match at all, but the restaurant does have a nice atmosphere and you may want to do it once to please the kids!

 

[samserena]

Does Makahiki only do the character breakfasts on a thursday?

how much is it? and how much is it in comparison to a non-character breakfast?