Best character meal?

[belle7708]

I am splurging on one character meal when in Disney (for my bf and me). What would you recommend as the best experience - both food and characters at Disney? I went to Crystal Palace ages ago as a kid but have not been to any other restaurants. Thanks!!

 

[jdisnut]

I do not typically enjoy character meals, but I loved the breakfast at Tusker House. The food was significantly better than average buffet fare, and the characters ' safari garb is actually quite charming.

 

[lumpy08]

one of my favorite breakfast character meals was Ohana Lilo and Stich. I loved that they brought all the breakfast items to the table in a huge wok. They also brought fresh fruit to the table. It was a nice switch from other character meals. (ie... you have to run back and forth to the buffet). Gets a little hectic with trying to take pics/video of the kids when making sure everyone eats. They also had Mickey and pluto there. They had the kids do a conga line around the place as well.

 

[shawnh199]

Our absolute favorite character meal (we've done 7 - mostly breakfast) is Tusker House for breakfast. The buffet is rather large with lots of variety and the food was really good, especially compared to a few other charactar breakfasts.

If you have girls, our second favorite is Akershus Princess Breakfast at Epcot. You can't beat getting to meet 5 princesses at one setting (however, Belle is only at the front for pictures, but atleast those pics are included in the price now.) The food is really good here. I love their cheesy potatoes. There is also a small cold/pastry buffet with fruits, cheese, salmon, and asst. pastries.

Have a great time!

 

[CandyMandy]

Bell, the definition of "best" is subjective and boils down to what is most important to you. Of the below, what it is you are really looking for?

- The presence of particular characters?

- Type of interaction (discussion with a princess or just a photo op with a "head" character like Mickey or Lilo?)

- The range of characters (some meals feature a smaller cast than others)

- General ambience of the location? (some have a lot more than others)

- Type of meal (buffet or true TS?)

- Location and time of day (breakfast at resort? Or park? Or lunch/dinner?)

While all of the recommendations you have received to this point are fine, they are based on the subjective preferences of others regarding the above criteria. Only you can decide what is really important to you.

All that stated, our standard recommendation for first timers (or people who haven't done a CM in a long time like you) is still dinner at Chef Mickey's. No, the food is nothing special (not bad, just nothing unique) but it's incredibly festive and is not rushed like a breakfast. That alone wouldn't recommend it. But when you add in the fact it arguably still has the largest cast of any character meal (in one dinner seating we got not just Mickey and Minnie but also Pluto, Goofy, Chip and Dale, the rare Donald, the rarer Scrooge McDuck and the even rarer Gus and Jaq from Cinderella.) it still stands above a lot of the other offerings in terms of "classic Disney" immersion.

 

[goofygal531]

I'd recommend breakfast at Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's or Tusker House.

If you can get the 8:05 am ADR for Crystal Palace on a 9am opening day, that would make it extra special.

 

[BayouMickey]

1900 PF dinner is halarious with the Tremaines

 

[PoohsFan1]

I'd recommend breakfast at Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's or Tusker House.

If you can get the 8:05 am ADR for Crystal Palace on a 9am opening day, that would make it extra special.

I agree with this. Pre-park opening ADRs are the best because you can get some really great pictures of the different icons at each of the parks before the crowds come in. We do many many character meals and we really enjoy Akershus breakfast the most (it has become our family tradition to eat here on our first full day, which is always Epcot). The food is hot and fresh there (there is a cold bar and the hot food is served family style) and the Princesses interaction is priceless. We also have ADRs for our upcoming September trip at Tusker House, Crystal Palace, and CM which are all all early morning. Good luck deciding. Oh yeah, another favorite of ours is Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club. You see Minnie, Donald, and Goofy in their beach outfits and the food is excellent and so is the character interaction. Afterwards you can have a nice walk to Epcot or take boat ride to DHS.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Chef Mickey's

 

[KMS'sGlassSlipper]

Bell, the definition of "best" is subjective and boils down to what is most important to you. Of the below, what it is you are really looking for?

- The presence of particular characters?

- Type of interaction (discussion with a princess or just a photo op with a "head" character like Mickey or Lilo?)

- The range of characters (some meals feature a smaller cast than others)

- General ambience of the location? (some have a lot more than others)

- Type of meal (buffet or true TS?)

- Location and time of day (breakfast at resort? Or park? Or lunch/dinner?)

While all of the recommendations you have received to this point are fine, they are based on the subjective preferences of others regarding the above criteria. Only you can decide what is really important to you.

All that stated, our standard recommendation for first timers (or people who haven't done a CM in a long time like you) is still dinner at Chef Mickey's. No, the food is nothing special (not bad, just nothing unique) but it's incredibly festive and is not rushed like a breakfast. That alone wouldn't recommend it. But when you add in the fact it arguably still has the largest cast of any character meal (in one dinner seating we got not just Mickey and Minnie but also Pluto, Goofy, Chip and Dale, the rare Donald, the rarer Scrooge McDuck and the even rarer Gus and Jaq from Cinderella.) it still stands above a lot of the other offerings in terms of "classic Disney" immersion.

At what time of year were you there when you saw all those characters? That sounds absolutely awesome!

 

[JoePa4Ever]

Crystal Palace breakfast: good buffet featuring puffed french toast , good character interaction with Pooh & friends, we enjoy the bright/open atmosphere at CP, and we like the 8:05 am adr on a non-emh day so we're done in time for rope drop

 

[let'sgo]

1900 Park Fare dinner with Cinderella--That one was sooo fun. And the dessert table was out of this world good.

 

[HardShell]

My very favorite was dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern back before they (STUPIDLY!!!) discontinued character dining there. The character:diner ratio was very small and there was great interaction, plus the food was very good IMO. I almost wept when I read it was to be no more...

Now my/our family's favorites would be breakfast at Akershus with the princesses, or lunch/dinner at the Crystal Palace.