Can you character dine without having them come to your table?

[Coffee Princess]

My friend is planning her second family trip to Disney and her boys are terrified of the characters coming up to them. She asked me if it was possible to enjoy sit down dining at a character dining location without having the characters come up to the table. They have a few favorite places that they want to go to and the boys love seeing the characters (from a distance) but are not fond of them up close. Does anyone know if this is possible and if so, how do you go about making this request with out offending Mickey and his friends?

 

[Lothlórien]

I honestly do not see any way you can guarantee this. The whole point in those meals is to do character meet & greets without lines. If they asked the server to ensure characters don't come over, I am not sure they could guarantee this, especially with CMs changing out. Additionally, you said they like to "see them at a distance", but the characters will go to the tables right next to their table, which could be several tables around them. In some restaurants, that is almost touching.

The CMs are good at reading the guests most of the time, but I still do not think they would totally avoid the table considering that is why people choose those particular dining locations.

 

[Coffee Princess]

That's what I was thinking too. Thank you so much for your reply.

 

[bumbershoot]

They might be able to manage this, but WHY?

I was character-phobic as a child and it has never really gone away. I see zero reason to go to a character meal when you have kids who are terrified.

 

[auntfrannie]

There are many, many restaurants that are character-free so it shouldn't be a problem to just pick a restaurant that doesn't have characters. That way they're not paying extra for the characters.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

If you do BOG at night the meet is at the end and you cluld easily skip this. Just avoid the Beast at the end. No characters come to the tables during the meal. I totally get this I like CP, Chef Mickeys etc but as an Austisic adult I do not like them coming to my table. I have asked for CM not to do this but they still forgot and came. It cannot be completely ensured this will not occur. I wish they had a section 'no characters' . I too like to look at a distance and see others faces and enjoy the atmosphere.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I would eat at different restaurants.

 

[aaarcher86]

Even if they could keep them away from their table, they'd go to the ones next to them and they're all really squeezed close.

 

[porschegrl]

As others have said, even if the characters do not visit their table, they might still be too close for comfort. That said, you can ask that the characters not visit your table. We've done it multiple times. We mention it to the seater and again to our server, and it has always worked seamlessly. (For us, it's not a fear thing; we just prefer to watch the characters and not interact with them.)

 

[Thing 1]

I see this as less of a problem than others. As long as they truly do enjoy being around the characters, but just don't want to touch or interact with them, it might be just fine. Most parents position their children on the outside of the table for easy access, but they would want to do just the opposite, put the kids between the parents and the wall. Tell everyone that you see that you only want a wave from the characters when they go by. Also say to the characters as they come close to the table, just a wave please. Everyone is very good at reading guest and knowing when to step back. Ive seen it many times. If however, the kids will freak at them being at a close by table, don't try it.

 

[busymommy2pink]

Absolutely my dd was terrified our first two trips. We ate at chef Mickey, Tusker house, crystal palace with no interactions. We just mentioned it at check in and to our waitress and they notified the character handlers. we were effectively skipped. Now they do go to the tables around you, we explained to her they wouldn't come to us. DH took her up to the buffet when they came close. We were fine

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

It is not a problem, A table next to us a number of years ago, just caught the handlers eye and by hand signal and shaking her head, let the handler know they did not wish the character to stop. Every one just pasted by.

Any way to avoid them is to tell the hostess your request and ask for a out of the way table.

Hope this helps

AKK