Can we ask the characters to leave us alone?

[figmentgirl]

My family and I were really looking forward to Tusker House's lunch on our next trip. We ate at Rainforest Cafe 2 years ago, and Yak and Yeti 1 year ago, so now we want to try Tusker House. The only issue is that Disney just announced Tusker House lunch is going to be a character meal when we go. My sons are 11 and 14 and none of us enjoy character interaction. We don't have a problem with characters, it's just not our thing. So my question is this, is there a way to politely and respectfully let the characters know we want them to skip our table? Can we tell the hostess before we sit down or something? Thanks in advance!

 

[Mama Who]

My family and I were really looking forward to Tusker House's lunch on our next trip. We ate at Rainforest Cafe 2 years ago, and Yak and Yeti 1 year ago, so now we want to try Tusker House. The only issue is that Disney just announced Tusker House lunch is going to be a character meal when we go. My sons are 11 and 14 and none of us enjoy character interaction. We don't have a problem with characters, it's just not our thing. So my question is this, is there a way to politely and respectfully let the characters know we want them to skip our table? Can we tell the hostess before we sit down or something? Thanks in advance!

I found that a small shake of the head would deter them. We discovered that our baby was terrified of the fur characters at a character meal and after the first couple I think the word had spread because they would approach very slowly and keep some distance.

I don't think you can avoid some interaction but you can cut it down. If you're set on none, maybe a switch to a dinner reservation?

 

[shaun&miranda]

The characters at a meal will normally have a CM handler with them to help guide them through the area - you can just approach the CM as the characters get near and ask them to give you a miss.

I have seen other families in situations similar to yours who just didn't look at the characters much, and didn't seem to give the body language cues to come over (looking exicted, grabbing cameras, putting your serviette down, getting ready to stand up etc) and the CM's went to ask if they would like to meet Tigger, and they just said no thanks. It was no biggie.

If having the characters around other tables would spoil your meal (for example if you would find it off-putting), or if needing to tell a cast member you're not interested would make you upset then change your ADR, but honestly I wouldn't worry. They will be used to some folk being super into the character meetings and others who aren't wanting to engage much and just want their lunch

Miranda

 

[Wild4Walt]

You can also note it on your ADR with Disney direct and reiterate it with the Host/Hostess when you check in.

 

[vettegirl]

I would let the host and the server know that you do not want them to stop by.

 

[pooh2001]

Yes - but beware, your table may not be in the main dining area.

We stayed at the CR.
We do like Chef Mickey's for dinner.

But when we just wanted to eat there (no ADR and they accepted us, maybe because we were guests of the resort ?)
and offered the characters to see other guests, we were placed at a table off to the side, near where the food comes out of the kitchen.

It was a nice table - 2 chairs and a bench, very nice large size tablespace. We were not a far walk to the buffet and our empty plates were taken away very quickly. Only Goofy came to our table to say hello. We just waved to him and off he went to other guests.

 

[poohbear227]

We are not character people either. I like watching them in parades and shows and I enjoy watching the cute interactions with kids, but I feel sorta silly interacting with them face to face....just not my thing. We do enjoy the buffets though.

Sometimes we just go through the motions when they come to our table-a quick and friendly hello and they usually take the hint and move on, but there have definitely been times that we have let the hostess know that we are not really interested in interacting with them (in one situation it was because we were dining with my baby niece who we know happens to be afraid of the characters right in front of them). It was no problem and our seat was still in the main dining room. This was in Crystal Palace.

The only character interaction I've ever enjoyed was Chip & Dale at LTT, but sadly that is no more Maybe we'll try Garden Grill, since I've heard Chip & Dale are there.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have eaten at Character Dinners solo and I just smile and wave. They wave and go on thier way. I figure they should spend time with kids not me

 

[mumto3girls]

I have eaten at Character Dinners solo and I just smile and wave. They wave and go on thier way. I figure they should spend time with kids not me

DH and I had a character breakfast included as a part of our wedding package at Disney. Ours was at The Cape May Cafe (I think we chose the location) and I felt the same way. It must have been noted on our reservation that we were newlyweds because goofy made a big deal of shaking DH's hand and kissing mine and I felt very silly especially since there was a bunch of little one's waiting to see the characters. It was all in good fun though and we had not told anyone that we did not want to see the characters.

In the years since we have been to character meals with our kids and at times one of them was feeling shy about the characters and we would just tell the server that we preferred to be skipped and that usually did the trick.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We go to Crystal Palace just about every trip. Even when I was a kid, our family was not into the character thing. I guess my imagination (as wild and creative as it is/was) could never picture the characters as anything but people in costumes just doing a job. We generally just wave at them and continue our conversation or eating. They usually wave back and continue on.

 

[catne]

have been to multiple character meals over the last 3 years, always in parties of 2-3, or 4 adults. Our experience has been that if you have a camera sitting out on the table, or in your hands, while the characters are in the room, then they will stop at your table. If you just wave as they walk towards you, and go back to eating, they will wave back and walk on to the next table. They seem to be very good at recognizing who is interested in a visit and who isn't. Some of the adults we travel with enjoy getting character photos (yes, we know they're not "real"...but the characters are iconic Disney, so automatically fun, lol.)

The only time characters stopped at our table was when we had a camera out and ready for pictures.

 

[tina.tina]

From eating at different character buffets at WDW, I can't really understand why you would want to eat at a character buffet if you don't want to see the characters. The food really isn't the draw and the prices are higher.

I've heard lots of good things about Boma but maybe you don't want to leave the park?

 

[cigar95]

From eating at different character buffets at WDW, I can't really understand why you would want to eat at a character buffet if you don't want to see the characters. The food really isn't the draw and the prices are higher.

I've heard lots of good things about Boma but maybe you don't want to leave the park?

The food at the Tusker House lunch buffet is definitely a cut above other in-park buffet lunches. Probably two cuts above. I'm thinking it may be worth the extra $4 that the new character meal is reported to be.

And while I wish Boma was open for lunch, it's strictly a breakfast/dinner place.

 

[figmentgirl]

From eating at different character buffets at WDW, I can't really understand why you would want to eat at a character buffet if you don't want to see the characters. The food really isn't the draw and the prices are higher.

I've heard lots of good things about Boma but maybe you don't want to leave the park?

Normally you'd be right but I've heard Tusker House is better than average. Also, we already booked a breakfast at Boma on another day

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THE GREAT ADVICE

 

[TDC Nala]

From eating at different character buffets at WDW, I can't really understand why you would want to eat at a character buffet if you don't want to see the characters. The food really isn't the draw and the prices are higher.

I've heard lots of good things about Boma but maybe you don't want to leave the park?

Tusker House lunch wasn't a character buffet when they booked it...it won't become a character buffet until December. No idea what effect bringing in characters might have on the food...but there've been a lot of good reports about the food, so it's possible they just wanted the food.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

There are some places that the atmosphere and food are worth the price (for us anyways) at character buffets. When we go to Crystal Palace we ask for a table along the side. I love the open, airy feeling of CP with the views of the castle/landscaping. It's also nice that everyone can get their fill of a lot of different types of food. There aren't too many all-you-can-eat type of places left that haven't been "characterized".