Best Character Dining

[WeDontTalkAboutBruno]

Hi all! Planning a first time Disney trip for 2 girls aged 3 and 1 and wondering if the character dining is really worth the cost? I know things have changed with Covid, so Im wondering how much interaction with the characters do kids actually get now? And for those who have recently experienced this, where was your favorite meal/ experience? Thanks in advance!

 

[Her Dotness]

I don't consider there IS character dining currently.

All you'll get is characters standing at a distance, waving and gesturing. There is no interaction otherwise.

You can get a photo only if they've space enough to stand somewhat behind you so that they'll appear in a selfie.

For instance, at CRT when we ate breakfast there in November, Cinderella did a little dance about 8 ft. from our table and spoke to us and another family briefly from that distance. She could be heard because we had the earliest ADR. The other family were the only ones anywhere near us.

There were maybe about 6 occupied tables in the entire room. We suspected that later on when more tables filled, she probably didn't leave the perimeter of the room since seated guests were unmasked everywhere we ate.

 

[WeDontTalkAboutBruno]

Thanks for the feedback! That’s kindof what I was expecting to hear. Sounds like we would be better off saving that money and putting it towards a different activity, and trying character dining on a future trip.

 

[Aela]

We actually really enjoyed both Hollywood&Vine as well as Topolino’s. I do feel like the characters were close, and our daughter (13) enjoyed them. At a very young age I would expect the kids to be quite happy. Just they need to understand no hugging.

 

[Her Dotness]

Sounds like we would be better off saving that money and putting it towards a different activity, and trying character dining on a future trip.

That's what I'd advise.

We've always enjoyed the character interactions and found we really missed the closeness we 'd had so much fun with in the past.

Even though we knew how it would be, our inner little kids were left whining. It was more emotionally upsetting than we expected.

 

[Haley R]

Our son is 21 months and he absolutely loves character dining. We’ve done Chef Mickey’s (just this week) and Topolinos breakfast (last year). It’s the only way we will do a sit down meal with him because it keeps him entertained. I actually think he prefers the distanced characters because he gets nervous when people are too close to him

 

[WeDontTalkAboutBruno]

We actually really enjoyed both Hollywood&Vine as well as Topolino’s. I do feel like the characters were close, and our daughter (13) enjoyed them. At a very young age I would expect the kids to be quite happy. Just they need to understand no hugging.
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Awww great pictures!!

 

[WeDontTalkAboutBruno]

Our son is 21 months and he absolutely loves character dining. We’ve done Chef Mickey’s (just this week) and Topolinos breakfast (last year). It’s the only way we will do a sit down meal with him because it keeps him entertained. I actually think he prefers the distanced characters because he gets nervous when people are too close to him

That’a a good point! My older daughter is starting to have the stranger danger anxiety, (Christmas photos with Santa was tough) so who knows how she would react. Getting toddlers to sit through a meal is challenging enough as it is!

 

[Haley R]

Awww great pictures!!

I’ll share some of ours too

 

[Haley R]

That’a a good point! My older daughter is starting to have the stranger danger anxiety, (Christmas photos with Santa was tough) so who knows how she would react. Getting toddlers to sit through a meal is challenging enough as it is!

Dh kept asking to do another TS meal but I knew it wouldn’t go well. Ds couldn’t sit through our QS meal at poly but chef Mickey’s he sat for over an hour watching the characters and monorail

 

[Aela]

I agree with the distance helping young kids. I honestly think the folks upset about the “distance” thing are more upset about change then that it really effects the kids. Most kids (not all of course) are quite happy with seeing and interacting with the characters, and are okay no touching.

 

[Her Dotness]

Yes, I can see how distance from characters could actually be better.

I once wore a Cat In The Hat costume when working at a bookstore. Kids as young as the OP's were often terrified and wouldn't come anywhere near me. I hated that but understood they were simply too young as yet to enjoy such encounters.

As I recall from teacher training, until kids are 4 or 5, they aren't mentally mature enough to understand that it's make-believe, a person wearing a costume and not an enormous monster.

 

[Kcgaido]

We took our then 2 year old twins to Hollywood and Vine and Chef Mickey’s last spring and it was really great! The kids don’t know that they used to be able to see the characters up close and they just lit up every time the characters came out. I’d give it a try, I bet they’ll love it!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We did CM's last week with a 15-month old, and he loved the interactions with the characters. Kids don't need to hug the characters to enjoy the experience and the meal. We talked with others at CM's who were like us and actually preferred this format for the really young kids. We had a great time and got some very memorable photos. Definitely don't miss it if you can get a reservation!

 

[3gr8boys]

Character interaction at Garden Grill was fantastic pre-covid. I have seen reviews since reopening with the more distanced characters and it still looked fun.

One of my favorite memories from our first family trip was watching DS1 at GG...he lit up every time Chip or Dale approached and stretched his arms out after them whenever they moved on.

 

[WeDontTalkAboutBruno]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I think we will try to make some reservations! Everyone’s pictures with their kiddos are too cute to miss! And probably the only way I’ll be able to get my kids to sit through a meal is with a little entertainment, so I’ll take what I can get! Haha

 

[Aela]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I think we will try to make some reservations! Everyone’s pictures with their kiddos are too cute to miss! And probably the only way I’ll be able to get my kids to sit through a meal is with a little entertainment, so I’ll take what I can get! Haha

yes they are definitely worth it. We love Topolino’s Breakfast (Mickey&friends), Storybook Dining (Snow white, grumpy, dopey, evil Queen), and Hollywood & Vine (breakfast would be good if your kids are into Disney Jr).

 

[mouschievous]

We loved Topolino's character breakfast. We were a group of 4 adults, but we still got lots of interaction from all the characters (had a great chat with Donald about our food) and lots of fun photos.

 

[Aimeedyan]

My two year old LOVES the current character dining - he doesn't know or care about hugging the characters, and I don't think he would if he could honestly. We have done Chef Mickey's and Topolino's multiple times since the reopening (he was about 9 months old then, I guess?) and his face lights up, squeals when they come in, dances in his seat, and - the biggest bonus - both of us actually get to EAT because he's entertained!

We're trying Hollywood and Vine in a couple weeks. He's only into the Mickey gang right now so we haven't done CRT or Artist Point.

 

[brent02139]

We went to Garden Grill last month, they visited our table three times. It wasn’t very busy during lunch time. Characters got closer than six feet. And we got our own family style meal and not have to go to the buffet table was a big win.