Character Breakfast with 18-month-old

[Kevin1281]

Our little guy will be 18 months at the time of our trip. I am looking into character breakfasts and curious if you guys recommend one over the others for a toddler, for any particular reason?

My son, 10 months right now, is not shy at all and will interact with pretty much anyone. I'm guessing (hoping) he will be fine with the characters, but I guess you never know. We'll have a good test coming up when we take him for pictures with Santa! haha.

I am thinking either Crystal Palace (first reservation so we can enjoy a nearly empty Main St., from what I am told), or Tusker House...or both!?!?

 

[ses1230]

Either of those would be great for a toddler, and the pre-opening ADR is definitely a perk. There is also Chef Mickey where you could see the fab five in one shot.

 

[Kevin1281]

Great. Thank you!

 

[goofyintoronto]

crystal palace is terrific! I love the breakfast. very good food. characters are super cute and really interact with you. the place is gorgeous too.

if you can do both, go for it. that way you get to see both winnie the pooh and mickey and gang. tusker house is wonderful too. but if i had to choose between the two id pick crystal Palace.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

 

[pixarmom]

We have three boys, currently ages 5, 12 and 13, but we've been taking them to Disney for years, so we have lots of experience with toddlers at WDW! We've been to most Disney character meals with kids - and many of them multiple times - including Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Ohana, Liberty Tree (back when it was a character meal), Cape May, Tusker House, Hollywood & Vine, Cinderella's Royal Table, Akershus and Garden Grill.

For us, the best character meal for toddlers has always been Garden Grill. Here's why: the booths on the lower level are perfect for little ones. If they love the characters, they get great and frequent character interaction with the rotating scenes from the Land always in view. And if they REALLY love the characters, the booths are so high that they only see them when they enter the restaurant and when the character appears at their table. That made it easier for our boys when they were excited to see the characters but had to wait a minute - also helped for them to get in at least a couple bites of food. And just in case a toddler's reaction to characters isn't as expected, the character will just wave and walk on by (but isn't in constant view like at some other character meals.)

The other thing we LOVE about Garden Grill is that the food is always served family style, so no getting up and down and juggling buffet plates. You're always at your table when the characters arrive. We've had difficulty with this at Cape May, Tusker, Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. In the end, it's all fine - you can flag down a CM and they will send missed characters over to your spot. But it's nice not to have to think about it.

So many fun choices - have a great time!

 

[Kevin1281]

We have three boys, currently ages 5, 12 and 13, but we've been taking them to Disney for years, so we have lots of experience with toddlers at WDW! We've been to most Disney character meals with kids - and many of them multiple times - including Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Ohana, Liberty Tree (back when it was a character meal), Cape May, Tusker House, Hollywood & Vine, Cinderella's Royal Table, Akershus and Garden Grill.

For us, the best character meal for toddlers has always been Garden Grill. Here's why: the booths on the lower level are perfect for little ones. If they love the characters, they get great and frequent character interaction with the rotating scenes from the Land always in view. And if they REALLY love the characters, the booths are so high that they only see them when they enter the restaurant and when the character appears at their table. That made it easier for our boys when they were excited to see the characters but had to wait a minute - also helped for them to get in at least a couple bites of food. And just in case a toddler's reaction to characters isn't as expected, the character will just wave and walk on by (but isn't in constant view like at some other character meals.)

The other thing we LOVE about Garden Grill is that the food is always served family style, so no getting up and down and juggling buffet plates. You're always at your table when the characters arrive. We've had difficulty with this at Cape May, Tusker, Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. In the end, it's all fine - you can flag down a CM and they will send missed characters over to your spot. But it's nice not to have to think about it.

So many fun choices - have a great time!

Interesting. Thank you. So much to consider!

 

[goofyintoronto]

We have three boys, currently ages 5, 12 and 13, but we've been taking them to Disney for years, so we have lots of experience with toddlers at WDW! We've been to most Disney character meals with kids - and many of them multiple times - including Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Ohana, Liberty Tree (back when it was a character meal), Cape May, Tusker House, Hollywood & Vine, Cinderella's Royal Table, Akershus and Garden Grill.

For us, the best character meal for toddlers has always been Garden Grill. Here's why: the booths on the lower level are perfect for little ones. If they love the characters, they get great and frequent character interaction with the rotating scenes from the Land always in view. And if they REALLY love the characters, the booths are so high that they only see them when they enter the restaurant and when the character appears at their table. That made it easier for our boys when they were excited to see the characters but had to wait a minute - also helped for them to get in at least a couple bites of food. And just in case a toddler's reaction to characters isn't as expected, the character will just wave and walk on by (but isn't in constant view like at some other character meals.)

The other thing we LOVE about Garden Grill is that the food is always served family style, so no getting up and down and juggling buffet plates. You're always at your table when the characters arrive. We've had difficulty with this at Cape May, Tusker, Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. In the end, it's all fine - you can flag down a CM and they will send missed characters over to your spot. But it's nice not to have to think about it.

So many fun choices - have a great time!

something to think about, ohana character breakfast is also served family style just like garden grill. between the two, you have to decided a)which characters you prefer. and b) which meal you prefer, breakfast at ohana or dinner at garden grill. Price is something to consider as well. Either one will be great. have fun.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

 

[pixarmom]

something to think about, ohana character breakfast is also served family style just like garden grill. between the two, you have to decided a)which characters you prefer. and b) which meal you prefer, breakfast at ohana or dinner at garden grill. Price is something to consider as well. Either one will be great. have fun.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

Good point about breakfast v dinner and characters. Ohana is our other favorite. I don't even like breakfast, but I like breakfast at Ohana. And I think it's really calm for a character meal when you have a 7:30am ADR and a seat near the window! Great way to start the day.

 

[haPevraftr]

My kids were never shy either, but at that age, we had more success with face characters. My kids were never scared of the masked characters when they were that age and were ok looking at them from a distance, but whenever they came close to the table, they would freak and start crying. 1900 Park Fare breakfast might be a good option for you because there is a variety of characters and if your little guy decides he wants nothing to do with the masked characters, then you can still get some interaction with the face characters.

 

[ready2vacation]

My daughter (see my pic) was 10 months old in September when we went to Crystal Palace. The "handlers" were so good about approaching us before the characters. The characters themselves were great too - approaching cautiously and "checking things out" before they got too close. She did GREAT with them and she is NOT into anyone but Mama, Dada, and grandparents these days

 

[princessallegra]

Crystal Palace breakfast is to die for! And very toddler friendly. We did it for our friend's babies first birthday. We love that place!

 

[one2admire]

DD was just shy of 18 months on our trip in Oct and she was terrified of all the characters, face characters included. I now realize it was more stranger anxiety. I'd recommend Crystal Palace breakfast. Of all the character meals, that seemed to be the one she enjoyed the most.

 

[MulanMom]

We have three boys, currently ages 5, 12 and 13, but we've been taking them to Disney for years, so we have lots of experience with toddlers at WDW! We've been to most Disney character meals with kids - and many of them multiple times - including Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Ohana, Liberty Tree (back when it was a character meal), Cape May, Tusker House, Hollywood & Vine, Cinderella's Royal Table, Akershus and Garden Grill.

For us, the best character meal for toddlers has always been Garden Grill. Here's why: the booths on the lower level are perfect for little ones. If they love the characters, they get great and frequent character interaction with the rotating scenes from the Land always in view. And if they REALLY love the characters, the booths are so high that they only see them when they enter the restaurant and when the character appears at their table. That made it easier for our boys when they were excited to see the characters but had to wait a minute - also helped for them to get in at least a couple bites of food. And just in case a toddler's reaction to characters isn't as expected, the character will just wave and walk on by (but isn't in constant view like at some other character meals.)

The other thing we LOVE about Garden Grill is that the food is always served family style, so no getting up and down and juggling buffet plates. You're always at your table when the characters arrive. We've had difficulty with this at Cape May, Tusker, Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. In the end, it's all fine - you can flag down a CM and they will send missed characters over to your spot. But it's nice not to have to think about it.

So many fun choices - have a great time!

I have to second this! Our kids have always gone to WDW with us, even as infants and toddlers. My oldest was very shy. Our first character meal with only her was a late seating at GG in the off season. It was partially empty and the characters had more time to spend with us. They approached my daughter carefully at first. Waving as they walked past. Then, very patiently, got closer. By the end, she was giving Mickey a kiss on his nose!!!!

It was always our first character bfast of a trip. However, our son, who came along a few years later and who I never expected to freak at the sight of the characters, didn't warm up in quite the same way, but the characters tried very respectfully. Unfortunately, daughter then got her cue from him, and it was only face characters they were comfortable with from there on out until they were around age 5.

Enjoy these years. They go fast!!!!!

 

[ttintagel]

I don't have kids of my own, but from what I've observed at other tables the Crystal Palace gang do really well with babies and toddlers.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

I think Crystal Palace would be the best choice.

 

[WeLoveAriel0505]

Chef Mickey's was one of my children's favorites when they were that age...........

 

[Kevin1281]

Enjoy these years. They go fast!!!!!

The first 10 months have flown by! I can't believe my little man will be a year old soon. My wife will cry on the spot thinking about how fast it is going.