Best character dining

[snackyx]

I'm really out of my league here...DVC members since 1991, but my kids are in/out of college. Getting the clan together over Thanksgiving and my niece has two small children. They wee hoping for Cinderella's Table, but nothing available. I'm asking the DVC experts: what, in your opinion(s) are the best character dining experiences for kids (age 5-6). You advise, I try to book it. Thanks in advance for your guidance.....

 

[Simba's Mom]

We had lunch at Tusker House a few months ago with our DGDs, ages 2 yo and 4 yo. They loved it!

 

[nalajms]

It really depends what you want. Do you want the main characters? or other characters? And how important is the food for the adults?

There's only 3 options for princess dining: CRT, Norway, and 1900 Park Fare dinner. My son(5) refuses to go to any more of them so we've stopped. Hollywood & Vine is nice, and usually easier to get an ADR. Those are the Disney Jr characters.

For adults, we prefer breakfast/lunch at Tusker house, breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, and breakfast at Cape May. Most of the dinners are overpriced and not the best food. Garden Grill is probably on the better end.

Interaction-wise, I think Tusker and H&V are the only ones that still have some kind of kids conga-line activity.

I also wouldn't discount Beirgarten, my kids love the music and dancing, more so than characters. My 5yo is at the point where he'd rather go to Town Sq to meet the Mickey there than character breakfasts. And see if anyone has a Disney Visa for the special Meet and Greet at Epcot.

 

[MrPTato]

We just did Crystal Palace in MK for lunch and met Pooh and friends. Great food and the characters visit every table.

 

[com_op_2000]

OKW Olivia's (good breakfast) it has been awhile since I was there, you can check if the characters still appear.

 

[nkosiek]

I'm a huge fan of Ohana at breakfast. Stitch is a fantastic character and his interactions are great. Lilo does a good job and of course there's the rodent with big ears there. I've gone with kids and just my wife and I, absolutely love it. Tusker House has a decent buffet and some of the classic characters, have not had a bad experience here either. The food at Cape May leaves something to be desired but the character interaction (Minnie, Donald, & Goofy) is probably the best I've ever had because it's not always busy, especially if you get one of the earlier breakfast seatings.

 

[Deb & Bill]

OKW Olivia's (good breakfast) it has been awhile since I was there, you can check if the characters still appear.

No characters at Olivia's any more. It's been a long time since they did show up there.

 

[Chuckers]

Interaction-wise, I think Tusker and H&V are the only ones that still have some kind of kids conga-line activity.

I believe Crystal Palace has a dance line for the little ones.

 

[jbish]

You mentioned CRT, so I'm assuming that Princesses would make for a good dining experience? When my daughter was younger (4 and 6) we loved going to 1900 Park Fare. The interactions with the Stepmother and Stepsisters are so great. And the food is pretty decent, too. Hollywood and Vine is great if the kids are into Disney Junior characters. And then Chef Mickey is always fun for seeing the Fab 5. We did Crystal Palace last time and enjoyed it, too - but my kids aren't big Pooh fans, necessarily. They still liked meeting the characters and I thought the food was good. We wanted to use this as a way to get in MK before opening.

 

[bellazachmom]

We LOVE the character breakfast at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club!!

However, you didn't mention where you were staying and if it's not BCV then that is not an easy place to get to for breakfast unless you have your own vehicle. i would also only recommend it if you are planning it on a non-park day if it's not your resort. It just takes too much time.

Tusker House is a great character breakfast option and if you time it right and book a pre-park opening meal then you can get some great family pictures in an empty park and possibly beat the lines to the safari.

We also really enjoy Chef Mickey for dinner on our first night there or breakfast on our last.

If princesses are your goal, I agree that 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella and her "family" is a great choice. If its for a MK day, you can just take the monorail over.

 

[bababear_50]

Hi
I would suggest The Garden Grove at the Swan
Here is a link to info
Character Dinning at Dinner and Character Dinning at Breakfast on Weekends only.
IMHO the prices are a bit more reasonable.
DVC members recieve 20% discount on food.
Hugs Mel

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/gardengrove/

 

[Dean]

There are many choices. To a degree it depends on your preferences and the age and gender of the children. Since CRT was the first choice (not mine though), Akeshus princess's might be a great option if they're girls. For food, we do like Ohana's since it's table service but stitch can be scary if they're younger. Chef Mickey's is always a hit. Hollywood & Vine is very good for a buffet, better than Crystal palace in our experience, and better than most of the rest that we've seen. Tusker house is also a hit for our group. I'd take the ages, gender, character preferences and park plans into account and see what shakes out. I don't think any are good enough or different enough for most situations for a specific one to determine all other options.

 

[dgaston]

Disclaimer: I have not eaten at Chef Mickey's in years, because the quality of the food was poor, and the children were whipped into a frenzy with napkin waving, and the passing of the monorail. I strongly prefer the quality of the food at Crystal Palace, Hollywood and Vine, Tusker House, and 1900 Park Fare -- love the strawberry soup. And if you go to 1900 Park Fare, ask the step-sisters about their beaus -- step mom will get into a tizzy. It's great interaction.

YMMV

 

[hakepb]

Best character dining interaction / experience: Disneyland Plaza Inn with Minnie and Friends. Especially Captain Hook (although it sounds like Captain is sometimes at Goofy's kitchen in the Disneyland hotel, which is my #2 character breakfast.

 

[gmboy95]

For princesses i would definitely say Norway....I don't know if they still do it, but the character meal at the land used to be great!

 

[MissDisneyDora]

Im another vote for Ohana, the characters are fantastic with great interactions, the food is really good, the atmosphere of the Polynesian is a great start to the day and hopping the monorail over to MK when you are done dining is fun and convenient.

x
Dora

 

[bobbiwoz]

We prefer Cape May's breakfasts and Crystal Palace's dinner. The 1900 Park Fare's experience with the step sisters is hilarious, but I find the food line more congested there.

 

[han22735]

I also agree with Akershus if princess's are what they are into. Our DD3 loved it when we went in November. They even take all the kids for a parade around the restaurant. We are trying 1900 PF for our September trip.

 

[keishashadow]

Hi
I would suggest The Garden Grove at the Swan
Here is a link to info
Character Dinning at Dinner and Character Dinning at Breakfast on Weekends only.
IMHO the prices are a bit more reasonable.
DVC members recieve 20% discount on food.
Hugs Mel

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/gardengrove/

thank you, was on fence as to booking, dinner looks to be good option for MGM park day

 

[joannjoe]

I'm really out of my league here...DVC members since 1991, but my kids are in/out of college. Getting the clan together over Thanksgiving and my niece has two small children. They wee hoping for Cinderella's Table, but nothing available. I'm asking the DVC experts: what, in your opinion(s) are the best character dining experiences for kids (age 5-6). You advise, I try to book it. Thanks in advance for your guidance.....

The best character experience is when Michigan Loses to OHIO STATE GO BUCKS oh ya The part about being out of your league its not you its Michigan!!! Just having fun with ya.