Character Breakfast question

[WiggleWorm]

Not sure if I should post this here...

We want to bring our 2 year old to the Character Breakfast at Animal Kingdom. We are wondering if it's better to book it for an Early Opening day or a regular day. Since we're up early anyway, we would do the 8:00am seating (the first possible). After breakfast we'd spend the day at AK. We'd love to spend as much time in the park with as few other people as possible (wouldn't everyone?!) and wonder which way would get us closer to that. What do you think?

Thanks!

 

[AirGoofy]

We have not done the character breakfast at AK before, but plan to this year. We have done them this way at the other parks and it works really well. You get to enjoy the breakfast at 8 and then move right out into the park at 9. It works really well as long as you are morning people. Remember, you can make your reservations 180 days out.

 

[Ellester]

I would definitely go with a regular opening day. With an 8am seating, you won't be done until close to 9 anyway. Then you will already be in the park and well positioned for rope drop. If you choose an EE day, people will be entering the park and the queues will be growing while you are eating. Personally, I think the parks are less busy on non-EE days because so many guests are at the EE park.

 

[ToddyLu]

I agree with PP, go on a regular day. Tusker House is very close to the Kiliminjaro Safari so you can practically jump on there when you finish eating. The place gets a bit rowdy as the morning goes on and I think you will have a better time at the early time. When you walk to the Tree of Life there will be CM there to check your ADR. Once you get to Tusker a photographer will snap a group shot for purchase later if you want it. The food was good and the juice they serve really good....and best of all I got my pic of my Daddy with Donald.

 

[McCrae]

We did the character breakfast at AK about 5 years ago. Although no character breakfast is bad this was the worst one we experienced largely because it was nothing special compared to the others. We had done all of the character meals....chief mickey and the crystal palace are our top two!

 

[mikeandkarla]

We have done the character breakfast at Tusker House the past two years and loved it! Good food for a breakfast buffet and great character interaction. We liked it better at Tusker House than when it was Donalds Breakfastasauras.

 

[fijidoc]

just got back from trip in december did both chef mickey and character breakfast at animal kingdom. Have to disagree with poster above. Much prefered the one at Tusker House vs. Chef Mickey's.

Also agree that it would be better to do it on a regular day not early opening day. Try and get 8 am reservation. If you can get there around 7:45 or earlier because with reservation you go right into park and have to walk all the way back to the back of the park where Tusker house is located. Then you have to go through check in line and then get picture with donald before you are seated. You then get to eat breakfast and meet characters. When you are done you are already in the park ready to go when the park opens at 9am. You are right by the safari ride. So go straight there and ride it when the park opens because the animals are more active in the morning. If you like it then go and ride again before line gets long or get fast pass for later. Especially with 2 year old because they will love safari ride plus can't do Mt. Everest or Dinosaur. So I predict safari ride will be big hit.

We did like Chef Mickey's as well but just thought one at Animal Kingdom was far superior.

 

[cel_disney]

Definitely get a ressie on a regular day before the park opens. We have had ressies 1.5 hours before park open but that might be a bit to early if you have to take the bus - it can be trying to get there at that hour!! Its really enjoyable to walk to Tusker House before opening and you are very close to Safari after. Once we even had someone leave the restaurant at 9am to get us FPs to Safari - its a short walk in the scheme of disney!

We really enjoy Donalds Breakfast at tusker house - its definitely a must do for us!

 

[Coach81]

8 am.. get in early.. get those FPs!!!

 

[AirGoofy]

We did the character breakfast at AK about 5 years ago. Although no character breakfast is bad this was the worst one we experienced largely because it was nothing special compared to the others. We had done all of the character meals....chief mickey and the crystal palace are our top two!

Worst character breakfast was at HS with Einstein's. Music was way too loud, children didn't like the 2 Einstein characters that were there, and food was greasy,

 

[WiggleWorm]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I think we'll go with the regular opening day per everyone's suggestions. We're staying at AKV, so it should be easy to get there for the 8am seating. Can't make the ressie until next month - can't wait!