Character Breakfast Question: Goofy's Kitchen

[ColoradoK]

Are all the characters just roaming about most of the time? My boys really really really want to see Chip & Dale. We thought about Storyteller's or Goofy's Kitchen and think they'll like the OTHER characters better at GK. I hear C&D are there with their own little aprons but are they there all the time?

I'm so nervous we'll miss them. LOL It's the one thing my boys most want out of their Disneyland trip this time.

 

[Sherry E]

I assume you have looked at our character meal photo & info thread with pictures, but just in case you haven't, here is the link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2234435

As you will see from some of the photos I posted, I have been encountering Chip and Dale as far back as 1992 at Goofy's, and they are still there now. I don't think there has ever been a time that I was there when they weren't there, except for one fluke time when NO characters were there (they were all in a meeting somewhere!). We always do an early breakfast. Sometimes one of them might show up before the other one, but they are both there during the hours we go. As for later breakfasts or at dinner, I don't know what happens, but when we have eaten at 7:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m. and in the 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. hours, we have seen Chip and Dale. Goofy's is more upbeat and fun than Storytellers.

 

[Belle Ella]

All of the characters were kind of bouncing all over the place, although the Princesses (we saw Jasmine and Cinderella) were pretty much just doing the table to table round. Chip & Dale stopped by out table a LOT (and even brought me a table cloth to use as a shawl because I had forgotten my jacket and got cold).

 

[aussietravellers]

We ate at Goofy's Kitchen three times on our trip in December

Anyway only saw Chip and Dale at Goofys once in three visits. We ate at Storytellers breakfast 4 times in December on that same trip and they were there every time. So if Chip and Dale are who they really want to see then Storytellers would probably be best. We also saw Chip and Dale at Minnies at the Plaza, that was great, we had 9 characters that morning (chip & dale, pooh, tigger, minnie, max, captn hook, rabbit, eyore) It was excellent.

I have to say that after recent years at Goofy's we were really disappointed with the number of characters at each meal. I have just been going through the photos of the meals and one we only have photos with about 4 characters each meal plus pluto at the entrance, our first we saw 4 (breakfast), the second we saw 4 (dinner), and our third visit (dinner) we saw 4. I remember when we were there years ago we saw about 7 or 8 a meal. It was still good and we would go again, but if Chip and Dale are the priority, then I would not guarantee them being there.

 

[Ross3half]

If you happen to have a Disney Visa (or get one before your trip), they are at the daily Visa meet and greet/photo op where your kids would get several minutes of interaction with them in a private area just for your family and a free keepsake photo with them.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

Are all the characters just roaming about most of the time? My boys really really really want to see Chip & Dale. We thought about Storyteller's or Goofy's Kitchen and think they'll like the OTHER characters better at GK. I hear C&D are there with their own little aprons but are they there all the time?

I'm so nervous we'll miss them. LOL It's the one thing my boys most want out of their Disneyland trip this time.

I think we've been to GK, what, at least 6-7 times for breakfast (once per 3-night stay), and each and every time, Chip and Dale were both there...my daughters are big C&D fans, and they always get C & D's autographs (mostly on the paper table cloth, as they ALWAYS forget to bring their autograph books!)

I'm a big Goof fan myself, so I always get a picture with The Goof Man himself!

 

[Vala]

*nods*

Each and every time we went to GK we saw Chip and Dale. Early breakfast seating, latest breakfast seating, earliest dinner seating, late dinner seating, somewhat in the middle... we saw them.

Chip & Dale host Storytellers, so they will be there too. But on our last visit there we had Chip disappearing for over an hour. Not sure if kids will hold out that long.

 

[Sherry E]

OP, as Aussietravellers pointed out, Chip and Dale are also seen at Minnie & Friends quite a lot as well, I think, and Minnie & Friends has better characters than the ones at the Critter Breakfast, as well as being cheaper than Goofy's Kitchen. The food quality gets very mixed reviews on a consistent basis, but there are lots of characters and a lower price tag.

Reading Vala's and Wideeyedwonders' posts confirms what I already suspected - Chip and Dale are always at Goofy's Kitchen. I knew I wasn't the only one who saw them there on every single trip. I just wasn't sure if maybe I got lucky in the morning hours I go to Goofy's with them always being there, but it sounds like (from Vala's post) that they are there at almost every hour! And again, I have a very, very long history of eating at Goofy's, so if I can say that I have seen them on every trip since 1992 minus one time when there were NO characters, I think it is more likely than not that they will be there. But it is entirely possible that some people may eat at Goofy's during times when Chip and Dale might be taking a break or something. That happens all the time, I am sure. Fortunately, I have not hit those break times yet.

And as for the number of characters in general, on our last breakfast trip to Goofy's in December, we took a picture with Max at the entrance, then we had Goofy, Chip, Dale, Mulan and Belle come to our table, while Pluto and one other character ( I think it was another Princess or maybe Alice) were on the other side of the restaurant. That's 8 characters. That was a definite increase in the number of characters overall by a couple, compared to what it was a year prior. But I am sure that the numbers fluctuate each day, and some of them take breaks and other ones come in while others leave, etc. It is probably like a constant revolving door. Plus, they may start out on one side of the restaurant and get caught up in interacting with kids and families who won't let them get away (we have seen that happen, where one table hogs up a lot of time with characters while there are 10 other tables nearby waiting for them to let go of Goofy!), so sometimes they can't work both sides of the room at one time, and one side has to wait a little longer for the characters than the other side. It's just the nature of the beast. It comes with the territory at character meals.

Chip and Dale will always be at the Critter Breakfast because they host it (except for when one or the other of them has to take breaks and disappears for a while), but, the other characters at Goofy's and Minnie & Friends are probably a little more recognizable than the other characters at the Critter Breakfast.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

If you happen to have a Disney Visa (or get one before your trip), they are at the daily Visa meet and greet/photo op where your kids would get several minutes of interaction with them in a private area just for your family and a free keepsake photo with them.

Just wanted to point out that they do switch off with another character every 30 minutes or so. Last time we were there, it was with Pluto.

 

[aussietravellers]

Reading Vala's and Wideeyedwonders' posts confirms what I already suspected - Chip and Dale are always at Goofy's Kitchen. I knew I wasn't the only one who saw them there on every single trip. I just wasn't sure if maybe I got lucky in the morning hours I go to Goofy's with them always being there, but it sounds like (from Vala's post) that they are there at almost every hour! And again, I have a very, very long history of eating at Goofy's, so if I can say that I have seen them on every trip since 1992 minus one time when there were NO characters, I think it is more likely than not that they will be there. But it is entirely possible that some people may eat at Goofy's during times when Chip and Dale might be taking a break or something. That happens all the time, I am sure. Fortunately, I have not hit those break times yet.

Sorry SherryE, but again, in December, we ate at Goofy's Kitchen 3 times (and we have also eaten there many times over the years) and TWO of those meals they were DEFINATELY NOT THERE Honestly, we didn't miss them, they were not there. We did not imagine it, we were not there for 5 minutes, Chip and Dale are my DS's favouites and we sat there for an hour an a half and NO chip and dale, TWICE.
So, they may be there a majority of the time but you can not say that they are "always" there, as that is not correct. Once I would maybe believe they were taking a break, for an hour and a half but not twice. If Chip and Dale go on breaks or something for an hour and a half then it is quite possible for people to go there and miss them completely and if they are going with the specific intention of seeing Chip and Dale then they would be very disappointed having been told they are "always" there, but they are not "always" there if they take breaks of over an hour and a half.

Sorry to contradict but you seem to be implying that what I posted was not correct and maybe they have been there when you and the other PP's have been there but they were 100% NOT THERE when we went, and not just once. Maybe during December Chip and Dale were busy renovating their treehouse or something and could't make it the nights we went

Luckily we got our Chip and Dale fix at Storytellers several times and at Minnies, but we didn't get it at Goofy's (well we did once).

 

[Sherry E]

Sorry SherryE, but again, in December, we ate at Goofy's Kitchen 3 times (and we have also eaten there many times over the years) and TWO of those meals they were DEFINATELY NOT THERE Honestly, we didn't miss them, they were not there. We did not imagine it, we were not there for 5 minutes, Chip and Dale are my DS's favouites and we sat there for an hour an a half and NO chip and dale, TWICE.
So, they may be there a majority of the time but you can not say that they are "always" there, as that is not correct. Once I would maybe believe they were taking a break, for an hour and a half but not twice. If Chip and Dale go on breaks or something for an hour and a half then it is quite possible for people to go there and miss them completely and if they are going with the specific intention of seeing Chip and Dale then they would be very disappointed having been told they are "always" there, but they are not "always" there if they take breaks of over an hour and a half.

Sorry to contradict but you seem to be implying that what I posted was not correct and maybe they have been there when you and the other PP's have been there but they were 100% NOT THERE when we went, and not just once. Maybe during December Chip and Dale were busy renovating their treehouse or something and could't make it the nights we went

Luckily we got our Chip and Dale fix at Storytellers several times and at Minnies, but we didn't get it at Goofy's (well we did once).

I wasn't "implying" anything other than that you were probably there at times when they were on breaks or en route to the restaurant, which I am sure happens all the time (and the characters take breaks that are longer than 5 minutes - they are usually quite lengthy, so it is possible an entire meal could go by where they are not there if it happens at the same time). And for that matter, then, Goofy is not "always there," because he takes breaks too! But I have had a lot of years experience at Goofy's, and I can say that they have always been there when I have been there in 17 years of eating there - including my December trip - minus one time when there were NO characters there because they were all in a meeting or something. So I think it is a pretty safe bet to say that, based on my experience and the experience of the other posters here, they will more than likely be there.

ETA: Anything at DLR is subject to change, so while Chip and Dale have been regulars on the Goofy's circuit for almost 20 years, that could change at any moment if Disney decides to yank them and keep them exclusive to other restaurants, or just...'cut back their hours.' LOL

 

[mmlover74]

We were at GK's back last May and say Chip and Dale there. My son even got his picture taken with putting Chip's apron in his mouth. I don't know what kind of Disney magic came over that kid, but pretty soon Chip did too. I have great pics of the smile on his face with the apron in his mouth.

 

[Sherry E]

We were at GK's back last May and say Chip and Dale there. My son even got his picture taken with putting Chip's apron in his mouth. I don't know what kind of Disney magic came over that kid, but pretty soon Chip did too. I have great pics of the smile on his face with the apron in his mouth.

That sounds adorable, mmlover74! Did you post the apron-in-the-mouth photo on our character meal photo thread? It sounds familiar but I am not sure if I saw it. We'd love to see it there on that thread! One of the chipmunks (don't recall which one off hand) came over to draw on our table and autograph it, and then the other chipmunk came over later to draw too and cover up whatever the first one drew! It was so cute - and we are all adults, no kids with us!! I also love it when they make little chipmunk sounds - that is the funniest thing!!


Okay, according to the CM I spoke to at Disneyland Dining (not always a great pillar of knowledge, but this seems fairly accurate), they say that NO characters are guaranteed at any of the meals except Goofy at Goofy's Kitchen, Chip and Dale at the Critter Breakfast, Minnie at Minnie & Friends, Mickey at Surf's Up with Mickey, and Ariel at Ariel's Grotto Princess meal. Other than that, it is a rotating cast of characters.

The CM also said that even though C & D are guaranteed at the Critter Breakfast, they are not always there at the same time (which is what happened when we were there in October), but usually they are together. One of them might go out on a break or one of them might arrive earlier than the other. So it is possible, as was the case when Vala went, that one of them could be missing for an hour. Goofy may take a break, but they try to get Goofy back in ASAP because he is the host and "chef" at his restaurant (and they need the little ones to believe he is back there cooking!).

The Dining CM said that 80% of the time, C&D are at Goofy's - for breakfast and dinner, too - which would explain why I always see them, but she said there have been random days here and there that they are not there (like when Aussietravellers was there), and it is never pre-determined, like if one of the other restaurants needs them and there are no other Chips and Dales available to come to Goofy's. It works the same way for Minnie & Friends - they are not there 365 days of the year, but more likely than not, you will see them both, or at least one of them. She said the characters do switch shifts, so a couple might leave and there could just be a few characters on duty while they wait for the new ones to show up. They try to never have fewer than 5 characters at Goofy's, but sometimes it may be 4 if they are transitioning.

 

[ColoradoK]

Thank you so much for that semi-"official" scoop from the CM. Even though odds are great, 80% of the time scares me a smidge which is a bummer 'cuz I think I'd much rather go to Goofy's Kitchen. I'll talk to my boys about it but my just-turned-3 year old keeps talking and talking and talking about "the Chip and Dale ressarant" and how it's his favorite even though he's never been there.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you so much for that semi-"official" scoop from the CM. Even though odds are great, 80% of the time scares me a smidge which is a bummer 'cuz I think I'd much rather go to Goofy's Kitchen. I'll talk to my boys about it but my just-turned-3 year old keeps talking and talking and talking about "the Chip and Dale ressarant" and how it's his favorite even though he's never been there.

That's adorable!! So cute! Yep, you will see them at the Critter Breakfast, but keep in mind that they may not both be there at the same time either, as the Dining CM told me, and as Vala experienced.

 

[aussietravellers]

The Dining CM said that 80% of the time, C&D are at Goofy's - for breakfast and dinner, too - which would explain why I always see them, but she said there have been random days here and there that they are not there (like when Aussietravellers was there), and it is never pre-determined, like if one of the other restaurants needs them and there are no other Chips and Dales available to come to Goofy's.

Thank you Sherry E We just had bad luck not having them twice in one trip

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you Sherry E We just had bad luck not having them twice in one trip

I can totally understand. If I had been there and C&D were missing in action 2 out of the 3 times in a row, I would start to wonder if they were gone from Goofy's too.

The way the CMs talk, it is very vague, like they don't want to commit to anything for fear of being sued if it doesn't come to fruition!! So the girl I spoke to was very careful with what she said. She said "guarantee" when it referring to the Critter Breakfast, but when I mentioned to her that one of the Chipmunks was slow to arrive when I was at Storytellers, and that one of the posters on my board had mentioned that one of them was missing for an hour, the CM just sort of said, "Well, that can happen too..." I laughed and said, "So, basically, it's all a crap shoot? Even when they are guaranteed, they are not guaranteed to be there every second?" And she sort of hesitated and said, "Um...yeah, for the most part."

That Visa Meet and Greet is sounding better all the time!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

We always make sure we take advantage of the 90 minute limit for these character meals, as Sherry pointed out, they do take breaks & rotate thru. We've gone in to be seated & saw characters that we never did see again....other than in passing as we were being seated. We've also seen characters after going in that disappeared for a while & then came back towards the end of our meal. So if you have the time......do so!!

At Minnie & Friends last April.....we saw a total of 14 characters because we didn't rush our time.....well worth it & you get your moneys worth this way!!

Good luck on the Chip & Dale search. I don't think they'll be too hard to find! I have yet to go to Goofy's or Minnie's & NOT seen them.....sometimes you wonder if they had a sale on chipmunk costumes!!!

 

[Sherry E]

We always make sure we take advantage of the 90 minute limit for these character meals, as Sherry pointed out, they do take breaks & rotate thru. We've gone in to be seated & saw characters that we never did see again....other than in passing as we were being seated. We've also seen characters after going in that disappeared for a while & then came back towards the end of our meal. So if you have the time......do so!!

At Minnie & Friends last April.....we saw a total of 14 characters because we didn't rush our time.....well worth it & you get your moneys worth this way!!

Good luck on the Chip & Dale search. I don't think they'll be too hard to find! I have yet to go to Goofy's or Minnie's & NOT seen them.....sometimes you wonder if they had a sale on chipmunk costumes!!!

That's true, isn't it?! Those little scamps seem to be omnipresent! I think it was Sleepless Knight who said that on one occasion, C&D were hiding outside of the exit to Tower of Terror (or another thrill ride) and scaring people!!

 

[mmlover74]

That sounds adorable, mmlover74! Did you post the apron-in-the-mouth photo on our character meal photo thread? It sounds familiar but I am not sure if I saw it. We'd love to see it there on that thread! One of the chipmunks (don't recall which one off hand) came over to draw on our table and autograph it, and then the other chipmunk came over later to draw too and cover up whatever the first one drew! It was so cute - and we are all adults, no kids with us!! I also love it when they make little chipmunk sounds - that is the funniest thing!!
QUOTE]

Sherry: You gave me a lot of advice regarding GKs back when I first came on the board. I probably didn't post it, but mentioned it in my trip report to let you know how the breakfast was. I love how C & D interact with each other. Your story reminded me of when Dale was over at our table and Chip walked by holding his nose and putting at Dale. I love character meals because no family will have the same experience because the characters make it different for everyone.