Last time we were there they sat us in the section to the left of the check in podium overlooking the pool and lake. This is a smaller section, but much less crowded than the main section to the right of the podium, behind the buffet. We loved that it seemed less crazy and somehow less jam-packed. We also had a ressie for right at 5pm when they open for dinner and it was amazing. We got character interrations right away and then could focus on eating. We also got a second round of character interraction. Enjoy!
We ate dinner at cafe Mickey last week, had a table booked for 6:15 but arrived about 6. The characters have their specific 'route' round the tables (they came out slightly later than I'd expected at 6:15) so if you're standing with your back to the conservatory bit and the kitchen in front of you they come out and start on the right. From what I gathered they start to fill the tables on this side first so that they get to see the characters first then other tables start to fill throughout the restaurant and in to the conservatory slightly later as the characters are making their way round. Not sure if that makes sense? I guess they try and plan it so no one is sitting around waiting ages to see a character and that the characters don't need to track back to when someone arrives at a table they've already passed.
I confess I was SO excited when Tigger came out (he was out first), I saw him well before our 4 year old and I was really glad at that point that we'd opted to go. We saw 5 characters and despite what I'd read previously people sat at their tables and allowed the characters to circulate. The characters do take a break every so often, Tigger was 2 tables away from us when he disappeared and my heart dropped seeing the look on my 4 year old's face as she was sat clutching her autograph book and pen, but the CMs with the characters keep track of where they were up to and it seems pretty well organised. I admit the food was lovely but in some respects something less fancy would have been adequate as we were all rather distracted by Mickey et al. Even my husband admitted that his 27 euro burger was wasted on him
I admit the food was lovely but in some respects something less fancy would have been adequate as we were all rather distracted by Mickey et al. Even my husband admitted that his 27 euro burger was wasted on him