Best character meal at the hotels

[mmlover74]

We are making a trip to CA and on the way back I am trying to get in a little Disney fix for myself. As to not drive my other family members crazy with Disney, we are going to LL and SW. I already know not to compare those parks to DL, but I'm sure I will food wise. My DH has agreed to a character meal, but it will have to be at lunch time as we will be travelling from LL. Then, we will stop and see my cousin before heading home.

So, out of the 3 Disney hotels which one would you eat at for a Character meal? I did Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast and are reservations hard to come by in the summer? If we have a time for the middle of the day, i guess i could kill time by heading to DD.

 

[smile4stamps]

We are making a trip to CA and on the way back I am trying to get in a little Disney fix for myself. As to not drive my other family members crazy with Disney, we are going to LL and SW. I already know not to compare those parks to DL, but I'm sure I will food wise. My DH has agreed to a character meal, but it will have to be at lunch time as we will be travelling from LL. Then, we will stop and see my cousin before heading home.

So, out of the 3 Disney hotels which one would you eat at for a Character meal? I did Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast and are reservations hard to come by in the summer? If we have a time for the middle of the day, i guess i could kill time by heading to DD.

The only character meal that offers lunch is in DCA at Ariels Grotto. Surfs up I believe goes till noon and Goofys may go longer but they are brunch meals not lunch. Both have good food IMO. Surfs up will have more classic characters plus stitch. Goofys is a toss up for characters.

 

[Sydnie]

So are you actually going into the parks? If so I really recommend breakfast with Minnie at the Plaza Inn.

If you go on a MM morning it will be virtually empty in there, and they have great, great characters. Here are some pictures of our breakfast there, you can see how empty it was and how much time the characters actually spent with us (Tigger hung out at our table for about 5 mins and played games with my older son.)

Full list of characters from the breakfast (looking through my pics)

Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore
Captain Hook
Fairy Godmother (from Cinderella)
Minnie (obviously)
Chip and Dale
Pluto

ETA- Sorry, just saw it had to be at lunch time. The Plaza Inn is open for lunch I am pretty sure but it will obviously be more crowded.

 

[mmlover74]

I love the pic of your son with Tigger. We will not be heading into the parks just trying for a little Disney fix before we go on our next trip.

I have eaten at the Plaza Inn for breakfast. I love going before the parks open, so I can stroll down Main Street. That is why I was hoping for the hotels to have something, maybe we can still do GK.

 

[mmlover74]

Where is Surf's Up? Paradise Pier?

 

[Sydnie]

Another option is Storyteller's Cafe at the GCH. Please excuse me while I spam you with more pictures

Jack was trying to feed the bears

Bear Hugs

The animals there are all woodland creatures, and they do fun games like follow the leader. It was another big hit with the boys.

 

[Sherry E]

Sydnie, your pictures from both character meals are just too cute!

mmlover74 - Yes, Surf's Up is the only meal with Mickey and it's located at the Paradise Pier Hotel, at the PCH Grill. It has quickly risen in the ranks to become very popular among character meal fans. People seem to really love the character interaction and food (although the buffet is much smaller than the one at Goofy's).

I've done the Critter Breakfast and I found it kind of blah. A lot of people love the more laid back atmosphere, but I didn't like the selection of characters. It's okay - not bad, just not exciting (to me). Maybe kids love it?

I think, since you've already done Goofy's, Surf's Up would be a great new thing to try.

 

[mmlover74]

SherryE: I knew you would comment on character meals. You helped me along with many on GK. Surf's Up may be the one since it has Mickey...so I will get a little bit of a fix. So wish, we were doing DL instead, but my son will outgrow LL before DL.

I think my son will love seeing the brother bear characters even though at 5 yrs old, he has already said that other mascots are just people in costumes. Now,t o convince him the ones at Disney are real.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Here is a similar thread....http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2611067&highlight=character+meals

Jack

 

[mmlover74]

Sydnie: pics are beautiful...looks like your it was a great time.

 

[mmlover74]

thank you Jack

 

[katejc]

I thought the food was pretty good (for character meals...) at the Storyteller's Cafe. I think you just don't get to see quite as many characters. Goofy's Kitchen had LOTS of them, Plaza Inn was awesome too--we all got to dance around with Tigger--but since you are not going in to the parks, maybe Goofy's Kitchen would get you the most characters. We always get one of the last breakfast times and use it for an early lunch. People are often clearing out then, and you get more contact with the characters.

 

[gokdog]

Great pics, we are doing Goofys Kitchen again this trip, but are also doing our first Minnies at the Plaza Inn.