Best Character Dining?

[CapnJacksGirl]

We'll be taking our DS2 and DS1 for the first time in September and would love to take them to a character meal. I've never done character dining before so I don't know what's best. I'm sure they're all good, but I'd love suggestions! Thanks!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Crystal Palace was our favorite!

 

[Selket]

My kids are 10 and 5 (almost 6) and we still do Crystal Palace. I think lunch or dinner is a better value than breakfast. I would do CP just for the food -I just love their food. The character interaction there has always been top notch and the restaurant is beautiful.

I have boys - I will admit I've not done any princess type meals so I can't judge those!

 

[LISAMWDW]

It also depends on who they want to see? Pooh & Friends are at Crystal Palace, Mickey & gang is at Chef Mickey's and Minnie & gang is at Liberty Tree Tavern, those are some of the good classic character dining. Stitch & Mickey is at Ohana's for breakfast which is also good!

 

[Hootch]

second (or third or fourth) Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's and dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch is not a character meal). The characters they are familiar is a driver. A couple of others that are usually mentioned are Garden Grill at Epcot which has Mickey, Pluto and Chip & Dale. Your kids may be too young to watch the Disney channel but characters from Jo Jo's Circus and Little Einsteins are at a breakfast at Hollywood and Vine at MGM Studios.

 

[F1Julie]

With little ones, I favor character meals that are not buffets. Garden Grill has good food, great character interaction and a fun atmosphere. Breakfast at O'hana would be a good choice as well.

 

[Mkrop]

CP if they are into Pooh

Garden Grill is very laid back if your kids get freaked out by loud noises and such, great character interaction w Farmer Mickey, Chip, Dale and Pluto

H&V if they are into Jojo and Golaith or Little Einsteins(Leo and June)

 

[B3LLE]

Breakfast at Chef Mickey's is a must

 

[Shmily1]

Our first choice is breakfast at the Cape May Cafe buffet. The food is great and it's not too busy. The characters have time to sit and interact with the children.

Second choice would be Crystal Palace. It was pretty good food and the characters were great, but more busy.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

This is definitely helping me decide! Has anyone done Donald's breakfast at Tusker House? I did a search on it, but I'd be interested in new comments. We're staying at AKV, so it would definitely be convenient.

 

[tinkandpan]

I'll jump in with CP as well. The food is actually pretty decent and it's a good first jump into character meals. If the kids like playhouse disney- Hollywood and Vine is a must do with Jo Jo, Goliath and the Little Einsteins. The character interaction and pace at Garden Grill is terrific and many like the food (we thought it was awful but i think we are in the minority.). If the kids are scared of furry characters, Princess Storybook in Norway for bfast is good as well- it's all face characters. While my older child loves chef mickey's my daughter who is 2 finds it too loud and overwhelming.

 

[Juniortrooper]

Like said previously, it depends on who they are into. We did an 11:15 breakfast ADR at Hollwood & Vine and it was wonderful--I could probably count the number of families on one hand in there! The food was plentiful and hot. Everything was very good! Towards the end the lunch buffet was also out and we could get food from there too. The characters came by several times to see us while we were there. I definitely recommend the time!

We also did Akershush for breakfast. Although the princesses were great, the food was not so much (in my opinion). You seem to basically be paying more for the princesses....Depending on when you go it might be worth it to see several of them while you eat rather than waiting in long lines while you don't!! I think this meal was worth it for us just for that reason. We didn't see several of them in the parks.

We did Chef Mickey's for dinner. It was really good food, but expensive--for 1 child and 2 adults we paid $100. We just didn't eat that much in food! We had seen Mickey several other places so the character interaction wasn't as prime as with Akershus!

We also did Crystal Palace for breakfast at 8:05. The food was great, a different selection than Hollywood and Vine. The character interaction was good too.

My favorite for interaction and food all around had to be Hollywood Play and Dine!

I'm sure you'll get opinions about all of them. Good luck with your decision!

Amy

 

[Juliet25]

I've done Crystal Palace (Pooh & Friends), O'Hana (Lilo & Stitch), Chef Mickey's (Mickey, etc.), Beach Club (Goofy), and the Princess Breakfast at Norway. I honestly don't have a favorite, though Chef Mickey's was probably the best for character interaction. I was a bit disappointed with CP -- Pooh came by, but Eeyore never did. The food is excellent though!

 

[Juliet25]

With little ones, I favor character meals that are not buffets. Garden Grill has good food, great character interaction and a fun atmosphere. Breakfast at O'hana would be a good choice as well.

Good point. The O'hana breakfast is nice because it comes to you. I'm not really a fan of buffets.

 

[Used2bDodson]

I gotta go with Chef Mickeys if you are in it for the experience with kids. If you are just wanting to do one but not take along with the kids I'd go with Ohana based on what Juliet25 said

 

[bellsandwhistles]

Our first choice is breakfast at the Cape May Cafe buffet. The food is great and it's not too busy. The characters have time to sit and interact with the children.

Second choice would be Crystal Palace. It was pretty good food and the characters were great, but more busy.

Another vote for Cape May at the Beach Club. As Shmily states, the food is great and the characters really do take quite a bit of time with children (and adults )

 

[jimmiej]

We took our 9 yo neice to Chef Mickey's. I'll never forget what she said. "This is the best day of my whole life!"

 

[DaParkers]

Another vote for Cape May at the Beach Club. As Shmily states, the food is great and the characters really do take quite a bit of time with children (and adults )

I'd go with Ohana or Chef Mickey's. Chef Mickey's atmosphere is excellent and the view from Ohana is breathtaking. That's more of a parental thing. My son liked Ohana just a little bit more because he got to get up and dance and parade around the restaurant.



View from Ohana and breakfast Parade

 

[hawkeyesparks]

My family loves Liberty Tree, 1900 Park Fare, and the others, but our favorite:

Crystal Palace

 

[Joanna71985]

My favorite meals (that I think kids would like) are LTT, CP, H&V, and CM.