Breakfast at Ariel's Grotto for early entry

[DellyHoliday]

The park hour on the day we're going to DCA is 10am-9pm, and has EMH 9am-10am. We aren't staying in Disney property and I was thinking of doing AG breakfast @ 9am so we can get in the park early and start getting FPs since we will be using MaxPass that day. I have a 1yr old girl and a 4yr old son and this trip is for my daughter's birthday, but she's only 1 so it doesn't really matter (to her) if she interacts with the princesses or not. My son likes princesses movies but he's not into them like "omg I gotta meet them". Although, not having to wait in line at the Fantasy Faire to meet princesses would be nice since I wanted to get pictures of princesses with my daughter. Do you think it's worthy to do the breakfast or just getting there before the rope drop will do? FYI, we've never done Breakfast @ AG before.

 

[ExcitedMama]

I was so excited to take my daughter to Ariel's when she as 2 but I thought it was a dud. The food isn't good and the princesses were just boring. They do a synchronized move around the room to all the tables but the interaction is just meh. Like you I dragged her older brother along so he was 4 then and if he was forced to choose a favorite princess it would be Tiana so he tried talking with her at the table but just didn't get anywhere. It's so expensive that I was really hoping for more. I haven't been since 2014 so I'm no help on waits but isn't the point of Max pass to cut down on wait times? I would assume you'd be fine. Isn't everyone rushing to see GotG now too? That could help you go to RSR and then use your MP to get back to GotG.

Will this be her first trip? Be warned she could hate all the fuzzy characters. On her first trip at 1 my DD cried and was scared of the fuzzies so dinner our first night at Goofy's was a big mistake! I'd save the money and do something you'll get more out of like the WOC Dessert or dinner package or F! Package. She is young but also consider walking through Pixie Hollow if you're also going to DL. It's somewhat themed and even my DS enjoyed that at 4 and at 2 my DD was enthralled by Tinkerbell and her interaction was much better than the princesses. Don't forget about the Disney Jr. characters at DCA if your son likes any of those shows.

 

[SteveMP]

Well it sounds like more of a photo opp, so sounds like a decent plan in that regard.

 

[Davin_Felth]

Will this be her first trip? Be warned she could hate all the fuzzy characters. On her first trip at 1 my DD cried and was scared of the fuzzies so dinner our first night at Goofy's was a big mistake!

Something my DW did with all the kids when they were very young, was play the Disneyland Sing Along DVD many times for them. That way they were already familiar with what DisneyLand looks like, as well as what the full sized characters will look like. It helped them to not be afraid when going for the first time.

https://www.amazon.com/Sing-Along-Songs-Disneyland-Fun/dp/B0009X75W4/

 

[DellyHoliday]

I was so excited to take my daughter to Ariel's when she as 2 but I thought it was a dud. The food isn't good and the princesses were just boring. They do a synchronized move around the room to all the tables but the interaction is just meh. Like you I dragged her older brother along so he was 4 then and if he was forced to choose a favorite princess it would be Tiana so he tried talking with her at the table but just didn't get anywhere. It's so expensive that I was really hoping for more. I haven't been since 2014 so I'm no help on waits but isn't the point of Max pass to cut down on wait times? I would assume you'd be fine. Isn't everyone rushing to see GotG now too? That could help you go to RSR and then use your MP to get back to GotG.

Will this be her first trip? Be warned she could hate all the fuzzy characters. On her first trip at 1 my DD cried and was scared of the fuzzies so dinner our first night at Goofy's was a big mistake! I'd save the money and do something you'll get more out of like the WOC Dessert or dinner package or F! Package. She is young but also consider walking through Pixie Hollow if you're also going to DL. It's somewhat themed and even my DS enjoyed that at 4 and at 2 my DD was enthralled by Tinkerbell and her interaction was much better than the princesses. Don't forget about the Disney Jr. characters at DCA if your son likes any of those shows.

Thank you for such thoughtful recommendations<3 We've been to DL twice before our daughter was born, and once when she was 6mo old. She was REALLY good on rides and meeting characters although we've only seen face characters then. It should be interesting to see how she reacts to characters and certain rides now. This trip, we are going with my dad and it's his first time at Disney, also the first vacation in 15 yrs for him. So we are trying to do all the best things to do in Disney. We are doing WOC lunch at Carthay Circle Restaurant, Fantasmic dinner at Blue Bayou AND Minnie & Friends at the Plaza Inn. It's going to be one expensive trip so I'm not sure if I want to add another character dining . BTW I'm excited for Disney Jr Dance Party lol!!!!

 

[DellyHoliday]

Something my DW did with all the kids when they were very young, was play the Disneyland Sing Along DVD many times for them. That way they were already familiar with what DisneyLand looks like, as well as what the full sized characters will look like. It helped them to not be afraid when going for the first time.

https://www.amazon.com/Sing-Along-Songs-Disneyland-Fun/dp/B0009X75W4/

This is such a classic!! My son watched this more than 20 times on Youtube before our first trip, and another 20 times after we got back lol

 

[ExcitedMama]

DellyHoliday have a great time! Just an FYI since you are going with your Dad a lot of older people love the WOC dessert package because you get to sit for WOC at an actual table. We did CC WOC too and it's a lot of getting there early to stand around and hope you don't get jostled by too many people. It will be the same thing with the BB F! package so if that could be at all a concern you might want to check on the RBT which would have a package where you watch from a real table too. RBT is cheaper than BB and you could always do BB for lunch much cheaper than with the BB F! package. Since it's dark inside you won't miss anything eating lunch there instead of dinner.