Best Character Dining

[jimandami]

My DH and I are planning a trip with our son, who will be 4 at the time. We would like to go to a couple character restaraunts but not more than 2-3. For those with kiddos (or those without who just like characters), what are the best character dining experiences?

 

[ilovemyears]

My two boys love a character breakfast at O'Hana with Stitch. The breakfast is family style and they have a parade where kids get to shake marraccas (sp?). I would highly recommend going early. When we went early, Stitch spent a good amount of time with them being bad (which they loved) and Lilo came over as well to try to stop Stitch from being so bad. The servers also played around with him. As the restaurant became busier, I noticed the characters stuck more to their autograph signing and picture taking - but in the early a.m. we got some priceless video!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Cape May Goofys Breakfast...we love it there...it is not that busy so you get alot of character time and the food is the best breakfast on WDW property

 

[casey49781]

we went this past december and did breakfast with stitch and then did two dinners at chef mickeys love this, went to garden grill, not my favorite. and cinnderellas dinner at the castle, loved that too

 

[jimandami]

We are definitely going to do Chef Mickey's and then maybe the Dine and Play at Hollywood and Vine...has anyone been there? We would also like to try one of the breakfasts so thanks for all the info....keep the suggestions coming.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

Chef Mickey's and donalds breakfast at ak, also the breakfast and dinner buffet as at gf are good!

 

[loopner67]

I'll also vote for Ohana. Our family loves that it is served family style and isn't another buffet. You can have as much as you want and my boys *love* the Mickey head waffles. I love getting extra bacon and the pineapple bread. Oh and you even get a plate of fruit, which is a nice addition. My boys (ages 6 & 8) love the parade around the restaurant with the Maracas. They were right behind Mickey at one point and they had the biggest smiles on their faces.

 

[princess-rn]

Chef Mickey's by far!!! It's our first night tradition!!

 

[DisneyAllison]

Our VERY favorite chatacter meal is Chef Mickey's. I have heard O'hana has a great character meal as well.

We can't wait to take our DD there for the first time in July.


Chef Mickeys = (Two thumbs up from us!)

 

[mazdabug]

Have not had Chef Mickey`s. What is like?

 

[kmacac]

We just got back and did alot of character meals since it was our first trip (DS5, DS2, DD1) and I figured our kids would do better with buffets instead of true table service ordering/waiting for food to arrive. Loved Chef Mickey's buffet and Ohana was a nice change (no buffet) but really really busy. Definitely our most time consuming meal and very busy. Earlier poster said go early I agree. Waited about 20 minutes before getting seated even with ADR and was a full hour before we ever saw the characters. But the parade is fun and breakfast was really good with fresh fruit and sweet breads in addition to breakfast foods. We did Cinderella at 1900 Park for dinner too. It was OK. Hollywood & Vine breakfast at MGM was really entertaining. The kids loved it (even though they don't watch JoJo that much but do watch Little Einsteins) for the characters and the food (mickey waffles) plus they do a song/dance thing with the characters which my little ones loved. Pleasantly surprised by that breakfast.

 

[3jsmommy]

I would choose Crystal Palace or Ohana for breakfast depending on which characters he would like to meet. You can't go wrong either way!
CM's is great, good choice. We will be trying Play & Dine this trip also, have fun!

 

[ktink]

We love Chef Mickey's. The character interaction was fabulous. DH had just as good of a time as the DDs did. We're also trying Crystal Palace this trip too.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I have this planned one for our anniversary dinner...ok have to be flexible have kids w/us!! I was going to try to do as many character ones as possible since it's the kids 1st trip. We have Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, CRT, Garden Grill , LTT (for MNSSHP), Hollywood & Vine, Princess Storybook...am I making a mistake w/so many Character ADR's???

 

[ilovemyears]

When we took our kids to Disney for the first time, we did three character breakfasts - by the third one, it wasn't that big of a deal to my boys and they love anything and everything Disney. Now we do one character breakfast and dinner at LTT (although not so much for the characters but because we love the atmosphere). I've just found they make the most of their time there with the characters when they only visit one.

However, I can't tell you you're making a mistake - everyone is different and my kids' reactions might not be what yours will be. I'm sure you'll have a great time regardless of what you decide - happy anniversary!

 

[princess-rn]

Have not had Chef Mickey`s. What is like?

It's your "typical" disney buffet..but for some reason it has the best food of any of the buffets we have eaten at there. (and trust me we've eaten at quite a few of them.) You will read many bad reviews about it, but I think that comes mostly from people that just don't like buffets. So, if you don't like buffets just pass this one up.

The character interaction is WONDERFUL. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Chip and Dale circle the resturant throughout the dinner so we were able to see each one of them many times. EAch time they stopped by our table for pictures or just to play around with my son. It was great. Donald was outside the eating area standing for pics and such.

We love it! It has become our "first night" tradition.

 

[TreslovesWDW]

We have been to CRT , CP , CM , 1900 Park Fare more than once and each time they were great for breakfast and dinner.

 

[Mickey76]

I like Chef Mickey's the best. Mickey and Goofy are there and they come to every table and the atmosphere AND food were great. I don't have kids of my own, but it looked like the families there were having a great time.

 

[earthfaries]

My kids faveorite ones were Chef Mickeys for the characters and the monorail right above you and Crystal Palace.

 

[daandcb]

We went this past November and we went to Chef Mickey, Playhouse Disney Play and Dine, The Garden Grille, Donalds Breakfast, and the Liberty Tree. The most fun (my boys were 4 1/2; 3(celebrated his birthday at disney), and 8 months) was by far the Playhouse Disney. The best food and best interaction we had was at the Garden Grille - when we were there they were not busy so we had more time to interact and play around. We had also gone there the prior year and had the same experience that trip too. Chef Mickey was good but not good enough for us to go back this upcoming trip. I guess there was just too much going on....it sounds strange saying that because its Disney and there is always a lot going on but you don't always get that feeling of too much going on around you...I guess I'm trying to say it didn't feel as personal as the other meals. None of us really cared for the Liberty Tree. Granted the boys were extremely tired so they didn't want to eat but we didn't care for the food. The breakfast was good. We're heading back in December and we're planning to go back to the Playhouse Disney, Garden Grille and Donalds Breakfast. I'm still trying to figure out what else to go to.