best value character dining

[USMCWARREN]

Where's the best place for the best value and food to do character dining? Want to take my little one for her first birthday.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the dis, Warren.

I think the Garden Grill in Epcot is good. More relaxed than some of the other locations.

Here is write up on that location........

http://allears.net/menu/menu_gg.htm

And others......

http://allears.net/din/cb.htm

 

[USMCWARREN]

Thanks Dan

 

[scrappinannie]

I would avoid CHef Mickey's....not that it's not a fun place, but it can get very loud in there and your little one might get upset or afraid.

We like Crystal Palace in MK. Pooh & friends, very relaxed, good breakfast selection (we've only gone for breakfast) and characters that will visit your table as many or as few times as you wish. It was our DD's first character meal when she was about 9 months old and we had a wonderful experience there.

If she likes Princesses (real faces might be better for young ones), you can do the princess meal at Askerhus in Epcot. Less crazy/expensive than CRT and you still see several princesses and eat inside a castle. Belle greets you at the door and you have a photo op with her there in her yellow gown, but she doesn't circulate the restaurant. My understanding is the pricesses switch it up from time to time, but we saw Snow White, Aurora (pink dress), Ariel (blue dress), and DH & I THINK Cinderella but neither of us can be positive Cindy's there.

 

[ConvenientTruth]

Crystal Palace is great if your little one likes Pooh and it si in the Magic Kingdom...

Alershus is pricier then others and the food is meh, but is has princesses....

Ohana is a good value and has Mickey Donald and Minnie as well as Stitch and Lelo.

1900 Park Fair is also a good value and has Alice in Wonderland characters.

 

[IslandAdventure4]

Crystal Palace is great if your little one likes Pooh and it si in the Magic Kingdom...

Hollywood and Vine
Jake from Disney Junior's "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" now joins Agent OSO from "Special Agent OSO", Handy Manny, and June from "Little Einstein's" in meeting and greeting guests during a fun filled breakfast from 8:00 a.m.-11:20 a.m. and lunch from 11:40 a.m.-2:25 p.m. Dinner Buffet begins at 3:30 p.m.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Restaurants board.

 

[the who #3]

we love crt but it is more $$. but everyone should dine in the castle at least once.

we also enjoy 1900 park fair, it is more upscale is style. food is good but not as good as cape may or boma.

cape may cafe is outstanding. lots of room for the characters to move around and they spend a lot of time at each table.

it seems that mickey is only at ohana and tusker house. and we love mickey.

you may want to check on which location has your favorite characters. some children are pretty set on their fav. and that may prevent a disappointment.

too bad boma does not have characters.

 

[aaarcher86]

I feel like food is all generally the same within buffets at Disney, give or take a few items at each place. I'd say best 'value' for me would be Akershus (we always do breakfast). You get to meet the princesses, do the buffet, and it includes a photo print package which ups the 'value' portion of it for me.

Food wise our family enjoys Tusker House most of all.

 

[aaarcher86]

we love crt but it is more $$. but everyone should dine in the castle at least once.

we also enjoy 1900 park fair, it is more upscale is style. food is good but not as good as cape may or boma.

cape may cafe is outstanding. lots of room for the characters to move around and they spend a lot of time at each table.

it seems that mickey is only at ohana and tusker house. and we love mickey.

you may want to check on which location has your favorite characters. some children are pretty set on their fav. and that may prevent a disappointment.

too bad boma does not have characters.

Don't forget about Mickey at Chef Mickey's He's also in his farmer gear at Garden Grill.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

With a 1 year old I would go to crystal Palace. And we have always found the food to be good. We enjoy breakfast there best. We try to get a time before park opens so we can get some great shots of the castle before the crowds come in!
Also, love having a window seat and looking out to see the castle! Nothing like it!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

OUR WDW CHARACTER MEAL RANKINGS, JANUARY 2013:

Best Food (quality first, then variety):
. . . Tusker House
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Ohana
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Garden Grove
. . . Akerhus Royal Banquet
. . . Cape May Cafe
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Crystal Palace
. . . Cinderella Royal Table (since new menu)
. . . Chef Mickey's

Best Character Interaction (time with guest first, then friendliness):
. . . Tusker House
. . . Akerhus Royal Banquet
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Ohana
. . . Garden Grove
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Chef Mickey's
. . . Cape May Cafe
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Cinderella Royal Table
. . . Crystal Palace (barely enough time for a photo)

Best Atmosphere (surroundings and ambience):
. . . Cinderella Royal Table
. . . Tusker House
. . . Akerhus Royal Banquet
. . . Ohana
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Crystal Palace
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Cape May Cafe
. . . Garden Grove
. . . Chef Mickey's


NOTE1: Results are listed from best to worst. Overall, Tusker House
wins due to best food and the length of time the characters stay at
each table. A close second is 1900 Park Fare. By far, Chef Mickey's
is the loser, due to mediocre character interaction and almost terrible
food quality. The very distant second worst is Cinderella Royal Table,
due to the brief time at tables for charcters and the new menu.

NOTE2: Characters
. . . 1900 (Breakfast): Alice, Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Pooh & friends
. . . 1900 (Dinner): Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Step Sisters
. . . Akershus Banquet : Belle, Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine
. . . Cape May Café : Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy
. . . Chef Mickey : Mickey, Minnie, Chip-n-Dale, Goofy
. . . Crystal Palace : Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet
. . . Hollywood and Vine : Disney Junior Characters
. . . Ohana : Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, Pluto
. . . Tusker House : Donald (outside, only), Mickey, Goofy, Daisy

 

[brertoad]

I'd recommend Tusker House (Breakfast or Lunch - it's cheaper than Dinner prices).

The character interaction is good. The theming is cute.
We like the food, we've been there for lunch and dinner.

 

[juliebug1997]

My pick would be Garden Grill. We have seen all four characters at least twice at every meal we've had there and the food is pretty good.

 

[brertoad]

Just to make an additional point, since you specified "best value"... perhaps the best value is a character meal that does not require theme park admission.

If this is a consideration for you, then the choices would be narrowed down to: 1900 Park Fare, Garden Grove, 'Ohana, Cape May, or Chef Mickey's.

 

[aristocatz]

Akershus Breakfast is probably the least expensive restaurant option to meet the princesses.

 

[circus4u]

Based on previous experience over the years with my four kids, ten grandkids, and two great grand children, I would suggest a place where your little one can see real people faces such as Akerhus, Grand Floridian, etc. If you will be there for several days, perhaps you can make reservations at some of the other character meals for later in the trip, but go to a meet and greet with the other costumed characters on an earlier day and see the reaction you get. If bad, you can always cancel the character meal 24 hours before your reservation.

 

[Disneymommyof4]

I love Chef Mickey's !!!

 

[shell8558]

My vote is for Crystal Palace breakfast

 

[rms123]

We just went to four with my DS who turned 1 on the trip. Most favorite was Crystal Palace. The characters spent sooo much time with us and came back a few times. But, we knew going in that he liked the fur characters. Other little ones in there that day were very upset. We also liked Akershus but it was quite expensive. Tusker House was ok but really chaotic feeling. CRT felt cold and rushed.