Character Bkfasts-how many are too many?

[log]

we're scheduled to be at WDW from april 3-10th w/ 2.5+ and 6 yr old.

We were planning on 3 character breakfasts: Mon, Wed, Fri (crystal palace, ohana, cape may). Do you think that is too many? Do you think 2 would be enough?

My DH is also thinking of doing a late (7:30pm) dinner at Chef Mickeys. I was thinking we should pass on this?

What do you all think?

 

[westjones]

Everyone has different things they like to do. On our last trip we really enjoyed Cinderella's dinner at th 1900 PF at the GF. We did this on our first night we were at WDW (we didn't go to the park on our first day, just checked into the resort and then did some shopping at DTD before going to dinner).

I like the character breakfasts, but I also like just getting to the parks and starting early; especially if you are staying at a Disney resort and can go to the Early Magic Hour. That is the BEST time at the park!

Crystal Palace has character lunch and dinner as well,you could always do there for lunch instead of breakfast (get in some early rides before stopping for a sit down meal).

So, it is really up to what your family wants to do. Your kids are young and I would guess they have high energy in the morning and then start to slow down later in the day. You may want to get the most out of their 'high energy' time at the parks.

DJ

Edit:
You may want to read through this thread also:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=5006486#post5006486

The ice cream social has a LOT of character interation (they come right to you) and it is at a VERY nice time (3:00 in the afternoon), just when kids are ready to sit down and have a break. This is at Epcot and my kids loved it.

 

[frannn]

If you wanted to, you could schedule the breakfasts at the earliest seating time, at a park where there is early entry, or you could schedule the latest breakfast seating at the park where there is early entry. Then you could enjoy the park before or after your meal with less people. I guess this wouldn't work with Ohana or Cape May, though. You could do a lunch or dinner at those places for when you are looking for a break from the parks, or when the parks have closed. Your kids would probably love the individual attention that you get from the characters when you do those meals. Great pictures and autographs as well. I would keep the Chef Mickey's as well. If I were to suggest anything, it would be to possibly do a character breakfast in the park you will be visiting those days.

 

[jcemom]

I don't think I'd want so many breakfasts, but that's just because we're not big breakfast eaters. I don't think you can have too many character "meals" though. We went last month and did three. Donald's breakfast at AK (10:30 -- almost brunch for us), Crystal Palace for Dinner, and Garden Grill for Dinner. Garden Grill was our favorite. I didn't make any more PS because I thought it would be too many, and as it turned out the kids (10, 9, 1 1/2) loved them so much I think we could have had one every day and it wouldn't have been too many. They are time consuming, though. I don't think we got out of any of them in under 1 hour 15 minutes.

 

[2minny]

I think you can have too many character meals, it tends to break up our day when we have too many "scheduled activiities". We usually do one/two character breakfasts and then the hoop de doo revue, that's plenty for us. We like to have more time for the parks and less time trying to make seating times. Plus character meals tend to be long, your child will want to see all characters! Do what you think is best for your family, I've learned less "scheduled time" is best for us!

 

[arminnie]

How do your little ones do with characters? Are they afraid of Santa or the Easter Bunny?

My nephew (now almost 22) was terrified of anything in costume FOREVER - we never got a picture of him with Santa because by the time he was past screaming at the thought he was too old. Character meals would have been a waste of time for him.

So take into account how your children deal with costumed characters in making your decision.

 

[undertheradar]

We find that the character dinners are better, as you feel less rushed than at most of the breakfasts.

 

[pjlla]

Originally posted by arminnie
How do your little ones do with characters? Are they afraid of Santa or the Easter Bunny?

My nephew (now almost 22) was terrified of anything in costume FOREVER - we never got a picture of him with Santa because by the time he was past screaming at the thought he was too old. Character meals would have been a waste of time for him.

So take into account how your children deal with costumed characters in making your decision.

I'm not disagreeing with this poster, however, my daughter, currently 8 1/2, hasn't sat with Santa since she was 5 months old, but she has no problems with the Disney Characters!! Just a thought......P

 

[nativetxn]

When I took my nephew (then 6 years old) to WDW in March, 2000 we had a character breakfast everyday and dinner at Chef Mickey's on my husband's birthday.

 

[poohlover]

WE do at least this many character breakfasts!

We start early in the park (the early magical hour...what ever they call it now) and have a later breakfast. About 10 or so. Having had breakfast bars or cereal in the room, this "late" breakfast works almost like lunch.

By 10;30 the rush seems to let down a little in the rest. We've never felt rushed to get out and have always had great character interaction.

Then at lunch time we are riding, while everyone is eating. May not work for all families but it works well for us.

 

[kitkatsmom]

I have a character breakfast scheduled for everyday we are there.

Here's why.

We are there to experience the disney magic.. How better to do that then with the characters..

My kids are just going to flip!

Plus with having boys and girls their favorites are spread out.
So 1/2 are with girl type characters (cindys. princesses, 1900 park fare.) then the boys get the other one's (chef mickeys, crystal palace, donalds etc.) This way we get to spend one with everyone.
I feel you can't have to many character experiences.. We can have meals anytime alone but only at disney can we eat with MICKEY!!

so that's my take on it all.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our boys are older now and we have not done character breakfasts for about 2 - 3 years now. The reason is they are expensive since they charge higher by age and I like to get in the parks nice and early. We have done ohanas and cape may. We are doing cape may this time but its easter day and ds 12 wanted mickey waffles so I said ok. This is a rare exception. We always have granola bars out of the backpack and schedule an early lunch like crystal palace. If you try and change things now it might be a problem since its the spring break time. We are there around the same time and I could only get chef mickeys for 8 pm, that was the earliest. I also got an early dinner at crystal palace at 4:30. You also did not state where you are staying and you would have to budget time for transportation to the meals either by disney or your own car etc. I would also try to break things up maybe a lunch dinner, or the ice cream social.

 

[crisi]

It is completely up to you on how you want to spend your time and money.

We just do one - we find them to be wonderful - but time consuming and not something I'd budget that much for - we prioritize our spending on better food than what is available at character meals and our time on those meals and the attractions. But that is us. Other people do one a day.

(We had a three and a half year old not too fond of characters. He tolerated them - but didn't enjoy them. At five he didn't get close - until he had an autograph book. Now he likes to get autographs.)

 

[disneysteve]

We don't do any character breakfasts. We generally do one lunch at Crystal Palace and the only reason we do that is that we love the food and atmosphere. We couldn't care less if the characters were there or not.

We like to get up and go in the morning, not waste time and money at a character meal. We always eat breakfast in our room - bowl of cereal, pop-tart, etc.

Years ago, it was much more difficult to see characters in the parks. Back then, character meals made sense because it was really the only way to get a decent amount of time with them. But today, the characters are all over the place and we really don't see the point in overpaying for a meal just to see the characters.

JMHO,
Steve

 

[kitkatsmom]

I don't think I'd do any if I didn't have kids.
Plus the kids have to be at just the right age.


2 of mine are in the 5-8 age range so they are perfect for the character meals.

It also depends on the kind of child you have..
Some have a big interest in meeting the characters and others couldn't be bothered.

This time around we have tons of character meals scheduled but maybe by the next time we go we won't.

Totally depends on you and your family and what they like to do.

 

[Blondiex46]

WE did one last year and are doing 2 this year but the boys are 10 so unless they want to (which they wanted to this year) I won't be doing anymore. Might do the dinner one tho, just have to figure out which one. I know you must have suggestions on which dinner one you like and are they buffet. Thanks

 

[ceecee]

We only do 1 in 9-10 day trip. It seems to be a little more special that way. We did breakfast, dinner and pirate cruise last year and it was too much in our opinion. Everyone is different though. For the little extra is $ I would probably do a dinner and skip one of the breakfasts.

 

[CheapMom]

My 2 oldest kids are just starting to outgrow this. This year we will do Chef Mickey's dinner and maybe the ice cream social. I am so lucky I have a 1 year old so as the 1st 2 get too big for this stuff we still have about 6 or 7 years to take baby to the character meals.
Last time we went to WDW (2000, ages 4 &5) they were way into the characters. This time all they can talk about is "Wait till Thomas (the baby) meets Mickey... They want to watch him experience the magic. I think it is so sweet.
BTW- Chef Mickey's for dinner looks like a good value.

 

[ceecee]

We only do 1 in 9-10 day trip. It seems to be a little more special that way. We did breakfast, dinner and pirate cruise last year and it was too much in our opinion. Everyone is different though. For the little extra is $ I would probably do a dinner and skip one of the breakfasts.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

On our last trip, we just did one Character Breakfast. The day our flight left for home we had just a few hours @ WDW so we waited and did Chef Mickey's that morning. It gave the kids something special to look forward to and it was kind of a nice way to say "Goodbye" to all the characters.

When we go again I will probably do the same thing but add the Ice Cream Social somewhere in the middle of the trip.

Have fun!!!