Character Breakfast Suggestions for First Timers

[CHIPSTER]

While I have been to Disney many times, next December we will be taking my nephews 3 children who have never been to Disney before, along with my nieces 2 children. Ages will range from 10-15. I'm not fond of Chef Mickey's - I think the food has gone down hill, so that's why I'm leaning toward a breakfast. One child is a picky eater and he seems to find more to eat on a breakfast buffet. Oh, it's 4 boys and 1 girl. I've never been to the Crystal Palace buffet and was thinking of that, but I am open to any suggestions. I also like Cape May - it seems a little more subdued in the a.m. and the characters never seemed rushed. I'd love to take Erinne to the castle but I don't think the boys will care for that.

Any suggestions?????

 

[TWOOD]

With all those boys, I suggest Donald's Restaurantosaurus @ AK - it's a buffet & the atmosphere is more masculine. Plus, you get both Donald & Mickey! That's where I'm dragging my boyfriend (he'll be my husband then) - he's never been to WDW & isn't that "pumped" about going. My DD & I love this breakfast: food, atmosphere, character's & their costumes are all great IMHO. My parents & older brother really enjoyed it, too. It's less noisy than Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace. My DD & I had dinner at the Crystal Palace in June & the noise was deafening, & I'm way used to noise - I teach 7th grade! Try Donald's - my DD is a picky eater, too, so I know all about that... Have fun!

 

[CHIPSTER]

Great suggestion - thanks. We will give it a whirl! I didn't think of that one at all.

 

[cgcw]

We felt very rushed at Donald's Breakfastasaurus. If this isn't something your group would mind, go for it. But, IMHO, for the price we paid, it certainly wasn't worth the atmospher. The characters spent very little time at the tables. We were instructed to have our autograph books ready and open as well as cameras ready as the characters would not be able to wait.

Our favorite character breakfasts are either Cape May or 1900 Park Fare. 1900 Park Fare was fun on a Sunday with Bert (only Sunday, I think Peter Pan is there the rest of the week) & Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland as well as Tigger and Pooh. Bert & Alice played off of each other very, very well. The characters at both Cape May and 1900 Park Fare have never had the rushed feeling to them. Cape May characters are Minnie (greeting guests at the door only), Chip, Dale and Goofy. Wonderful interaction with guests. Our all time favorites!!

We also have a picky DS9 who always finds enough to satisfy his appetite at both.

Have a great trip!

 

[topcat011]

My honey took me to the Crystal Palace for lunch with the Winnie the pooh characters. We ate a later lunch. 2:30. Had to place practically to ourselves. Tigger gave me a cupcake for my birthday and eeyore gave me a card signed by all his pals. It was the best lunch I ever had in Disney.

 

[always dreamin']

Originally posted by cgcw
We felt very rushed at Donald's Breakfastasaurus.
D

I wonder when you went? We just got back from there and we weren't rushed at all...in fact the place seemed kind of empty. The characters looked a little bored and returned to our table several times. I got some nice individual and group pictures with the characters. Of course, maybe the fact that it was downpouring helped a little?!

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by always dreamin'
I wonder when you went?

We were there the week before Columbus Day. Maybe the time of day we made our PSings for made a difference. I believe we had one of the first ones of the day -- early, if I recall at 7:50 am (?). I know for certain it was before the park opened.

This was our second try on this character breakfast. We were not thrilled with it last time we dined there but decided to try it again thinking we just had a bad experience. We had read so many wonderful reviews here on the DIS.

We have now come to the conclusion we will not try it again.

 

[crisi]

We like Ohanas - although last time we were there we had the last breakfast seating at 10:45 - and didn't get seated until 11:15 - and the characters were leaving at 11:45! So it was very rushed. But it taught us our lesson on trying the last seating. The nice thing about Ohanas is they bring the food to you....buffets and little kids are not easy.

Where are you staying and what are you planning on doing that day? If you are staying over in the Epcot area - or planning on spending the morning at MGM or Epcot - Cape May might be a good choice - but its a hassle to get there if you are staying at the WL and planning on spending your day at the MK.

 

[CHIPSTER]

We are staying at the Beach Club - we want to give them the full treatment on their first trip. I do like Cape May's Breakfast a we have never been rushed there. Donald's sounds appealing though for something different.

 

[mattmommy]

Are you set on a breakfast? The Garden Grill in The Land at EPCOT has a really nice dinner. It's a really small restaurant that doesn't get mobbed. It rotates and you have the characters come around so much you almost want to say "leave so I can eat", but of course you don't. We went to Chef Mickey's for the first time and had something like a 7am seating. We were the first ones there so we got a ton of pictures with our 4 month old before the hoards came in. The next few times it was at later times and it was a zoo. Most breakfast buffets have the same food. Pretty good, but still made for the masses. Also Liberty Tree Tavern is a nice character dinner and it's not too mobbed.

 

[Kaycee]

We have 2 boys in that age range (12 and 14) and we all love Donald's Breakfastosaurus. We have been there twice, and both times we had a great experience. We never felt rushed at all; sorry to hear that happened to others, but it definitely wasn't our experience. The characters spent a good amount of time with us, and the atmosphere there is very laid back and fun for boys. I don't think my guys would care for Crystal Palace at all; it seems geared to a younger crowd, IMHO. The other character breakfast that we haven't tried yet, but that I think we'd all enjoy, is Cape May. We'll be trying that one in June. From all that I've read, I think that it'll appeal to boys in the older age range. Ohana's also looks fun, although I haven't heard as much about that one.