Character Dining Big Bust For This Family

[mickeymousemom]

DW and I always take time for the character meals (oh, and the kids like them too)! I think the real problem here seems to be a misconception about Hoop-D-Doo; the fact it is not a character meal. This is a dinner show much like the Poly's Luau. Characters may be part of the show, but they do not interact with the guests. In our planning and research we have found out which places are actual character meals and which are just shows. We would not miss character dining on our trips and yes they are expensive when you consider the overall life picture. The character meals we go to are always worth the extra money - why, you ask; when I look over and see my three beautiful daughters and wife beaming with happiness I realize money and time are worthless!!

Remember, if you are rushing through things just to get everything in you may miss the most important part of your trip to WDW............... not Mickey...........the smiles and memories that can last a lifetime!

Slow Down, Research, Enjoy the Moment!!!

I couldn't agree more! You really should research what you're making an ADR for before you make it. Allearsnet is a great place to do this...LOTS of info. For the most part, I've heard great stuff about HDDR...
We have done several character meals and have never had to wait for characters to come around. Regardless of that, we CHOOSE to stop and smell the roses while at WDW. Apostolic4life couldn't have said it better. A character meal gives your family the chance to sit down, relax, take a nice break and soak in the atmosphere. Hurry, hurry, hurry is not what it should be about. Live in every moment, whether at WDW or at home. Spend time together, let your kids slow down, and watch their faces as the characters visit. I really think you're not allowing the full magic to take place....We'd much rather go to a character meal than run all over waiting in line to see characters. Just something to think about next trip!

 

[mickeymousemom]

I'm sorry your character meals weren't great experiences. The only one I tried to get was CRT and it was booked, booked, booked-of course. I try to be careful with money or, at least, cost-benefit conscious and the price of a lot of character meals seems a little much. I looked into the Princess breakfast at Akershus and it would cost us almost $100. That's a little much, not matter how good the breakfast. I also looked into the Perfectly Princess Tea and I think $200 is a lot for an afternoon tea. When I think of what else $200 can buy for my dd, I just don't think it's worth it. That's just my opinion. For other people, $200 is totally worth it and that's their business.

Slightly OT, but:
This is exactly why we pay $38/day for me, DH, our two older DD's...and $11/day for our toddler on the DP. That comes to $163/day for all of us to eat. Our bill last year at Le Cellier was over $200 and almost $200 at Ohana. PLUS we get a CS and a snack. At least for right now, the dining plan is the best way to go for a family of 4 or 5 who like to eat TS alot...even not, its a great way to get meals paid for ahead of time...nothing to worry about when you get to WDW!

 

[brisnamaw]

Yes, the princess tea is quite a bit of money, but I took my granddaughter to the tea last week and felt it was well worth the money for the joy it brought her. She had a wonderful time and the people involved were just wonderful, especially the "rose" character. I have forgotten her name, but I know my granddaughter could tell me. Sleeping Beauty is her favorite princess and she had seen her eslewhere, but this meeting was just so special. She will never forget it and neither will I because of the joy it brought to her.

 

[JulieNMM]

Next time I go (we went 2 weeks ago) I will not make so many ADRs. They ruined our schedule. We found ourselves rushing from place to place to get somewhere on time and they never seemed to be where we were!

For example, we had an ADR for Ohana at 8pm Monday. We spent all day Monday at MK but by 6pm were exhausted and wanted to go home. But we decided to stay for dinner because it was another experience, but I don't think it was all we had hoped for. We asked for a table in the main dining room so we could experience more and were given a table behind the fire pit where we could see nothing, including the limbo and coconut races (which were not as fun for Dkids as I had expected.)

For Chef Mickey's we had to travel to the Contemporary (and got lost!) and then paid $100 for a very average meal and a long wait (even with an ADR)!

We had lunch on Wednesday with the Princesses so that was our Epcot day, but we were rushing to get there and then we had to wait 20-30 minutes (even with the ADR) and then the food was only so-so.

We did like Restaurantosaurus and we also liked getting into the park early!! It was quick and the buffet was OK and it didn't break the bank and since it was the first meal of the day, it got us up early.

On Thursday we had ressies for the Family Magic Tour and so were up and going earlier than we had wanted. DH said it was a vacation and we shouldn't have to rush from place to place.

Thursday evening we did Mickey's Backard BBQ and it was awful. For $125 or so, we ate mediocre BBQ and watched kids dance with characters and then left. The kids enjoyed the playground more!

And then Friday night we managed to get ADRs for CRT and again had to wait 30 minutes to be seated and then we decided it was too expensive for what you get.

Oh well, live and learn! We know what we're going to do next time! We'll make ADRs for every single restaurant at every single time possible and then cancel all but one!!!!!

JULIE

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i'm sorry you had a bad time, but i agree with the other posters that said to slow down and enjoy and also research goes a looong way!!

We too LOVED Donalds! awesome and that was just DH and I! we're doen CP 4 times now and loved EACH time!! the characters were awesome and if you wait they will come to you table, just get food while they are not there!

We love all character meals and this year are doing CP again and then CRT and of course we are going to try Chef Mickeys thanks to this thread!!

 

[plutolovr]

First of all HDDR is NOT a character meal. Never was. Just a little research would let you know that. My kids LOVE this place, they're all over 18 now and we did this again last year and they still get a kick out of it.

Secondly, every time I have been at Crystal Palace, (last time being last month), Pooh doesn't make the rounds, he usually stands in the center of the restaurant and you line up for his autograph and photos. They let you know this when you sit down and the waitress comes over to take your drink order.

My kids (like I said not really kids anymore) would never do Disney without at least 1 or 2 character experiences.

Another way to see characters is the Character Connection in Epcot. My daughter and I went through this about 6 times last month and got many photos with different characters without waiting more than 5 minutes.

 

[tink&cinderella]

My dd has seen hoop de doo reveiw three times. She' s now 7 (to be 8 in July). She has absolutely loved it everytime we go. She looks forward to it and has laughed so hard at the jokes and that one particular guy in the show that I have had to hold onto her for fear she may fall off the chair . We are going again on New Years Eve 2006 for the dinner show.

Character Meals are a highlight of our trips. I don't like to make ADR - am more of a spur of the moment person but have learned that it is difficult to walk up to these restaurants and expect a space. In March Break the Crystal Palace was completely booked until evening.

So I make the ADR - you can always cancel. Planning is certainly key to doing a Disney Vacation, but having said that, I like to relax, enjoy and have a good time. I don't overplan. Having breakfast, lunch or dinner reservations, forces us to slow down, enjoy the sites and talk with our children about what they liked, would like to see next. I consider it a part of our family holiday in which we have a chance to slow down and connect.

It is too bad that you did not enjoy the experience.

Tink&Cinderella

 

[TENIA66]

IMO sometimes you need to stop and smell the roses. Don't your kids get tired of the go go go? I return from holiday - like I had a holiday, not exhausted.

living in a rural area like we do, the kids feel like they're missing out on their fun piddling around eating long expensive meals. while i do appreciate the idea of rest and relaxation, a vacation in disney for us anyway is not a restful experience at all. it's a do this, go there, gotta see this, fun, fun, fun thing. rest happens at home where the environment is more relaxed and we share the videos, pictures and memories of fun we've had vacationing together. all of us wake up early eager to get out and go, do the things we want to do.

we just don't have that rest and relax family personality i guess.....

 

[TENIA66]

First of all HDDR is NOT a character meal. Never was. Just a little research would let you know that. My kids LOVE this place, they're all over 18 now and we did this again last year and they still get a kick out of it.

Secondly, every time I have been at Crystal Palace, (last time being last month), Pooh doesn't make the rounds, he usually stands in the center of the restaurant and you line up for his autograph and photos. They let you know this when you sit down and the waitress comes over to take your drink order.

My kids (like I said not really kids anymore) would never do Disney without at least 1 or 2 character experiences.

Another way to see characters is the Character Connection in Epcot. My daughter and I went through this about 6 times last month and got many photos with different characters without waiting more than 5 minutes.

we did the character connection thing at epcot and it was great. like i said, we never ever waited for the characters longer than twenty minutes in any one line at any of the parks and we saw each one the kids wanted to.

in the crystal palace, the waitress told us pooh was making the rounds on the other side of the restaurant and would make it over "soon"....it just wasn't soon enough for my family. we waited longer there without results than in any of the character lines....we did see pooh making rounds on the other side.....

regarding the character connection, i assume this took the place of epcot's character caravan bus???i never saw it this time.

and i guess for many character meals are a sacred ritual and a wonderful experience. we had read so much about them, especially here, that i wanted to try them with my family. i guess somewhat naively i didn't realize what ire i would raise speaking out against them.

just for those who take disney vacations, want to ride all the rides, meet all the characters, and don't require big sit down meals, and have famly members like mine who view sitting as "wasting" valuable disney time, i don't recommend character meals.....

as for the hddr, i should have researched more, i swore i read it was Mickey's Hoop De Due Revue and that was the attraction for us. but if you enjoy this meal you would also love the saloon show at Silver Dollar City in Branson Missouri. again, hddr has many who love this show, and i don't deny any of you that pleasure, it just wasn't for us..........

sorry to stir the pot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tjmw2727]

I am truly sorry the OP didn't have a good experience with character meals. We do 1 or 2 each trip and which ones we do depend on what characters we have as must do's. Its a shame the OP didn't do the research to see that the hoop de do dosen't feature any characters - its a love it or leave it type show for sure and e love it

For those who are thinking of not doing ADRS in favor or wingining I suggest otherwise.

Just take a peek at the dinining board to see how limited your choices will be if you decide you want a TS lunch or dinner. Character meal or not - if you think you will want at TS meal you will need an ADR. I was a solo April 7 -12 and had ADR's each day for lunch, the two days I decided to try for a walk up for dinner nothing was available.

Better safe than sorry, go to the dining board and read the woes of thoes who don't make ADRs and then maybe you won't be one of them when you return.

TJ

 

[TENIA66]

ok, i can't resisit one more thing, maybe i deserve the poking but maybe a better option for my family would be character suppers??? we slow down around 4pm and maybe a sit down would be ok with characters....just at the beginning of the day the kids and us are a lot more worried about what we are not doing than enjoying the moment....what are the best character suppers???

 

[cxcelica]

I think this is probably a very important topic that many people over look when they go down to disney. The food options.

I have done the CP character breakfast, and you are 100% percent correct it is very expensive, but the experience is nice.

Here is my suggestion: Do one character breakfast. Last time there we did one and placed it in the middle of the trip, I find this works perfectly. I am all about "go,go,go" but I find if you dont take the time to have a sit down meal and a break, by the second afternoon, everyone is grumpy and snapping at each other. Its nice to stop for an hour and have a sit down meal.

Secondly, to be honest with you how many Disney s$%@ burgers can you really eat. Its nice to have a decent meal, whether its a breakfast or dinner, its not great but compared with many of the other offerings at Disney its a welcome break.

 

[DisFlan]

IN FACT I WOULD SAY THAT THE SALOON SHOW IN SILVER DOLLAR CITY WAS BETTER.

We've been to WDW many times, but we live near Silver Dollar City. Every time I see the SDC saloon show, I think how good it is. And it comes with the price of admission! Our first time at HDDR, we discovered that the cost is basically for an expensive home-style meal. We weren't impressed with the show. We haven't been back.

We've enjoyed some of the of the character meals and not others. It's hit and miss. But for what they now cost, they should ALL be a hit.

DisFlan

 

[TENIA66]

I think this is probably a very important topic that many people over look when they go down to disney. The food options.

I have done the CP character breakfast, and you are 100% percent correct it is very expensive, but the experience is nice.

Here is my suggestion: Do one character breakfast. Last time there we did one and placed it in the middle of the trip, I find this works perfectly. I am all about "go,go,go" but I find if you dont take the time to have a sit down meal and a break, by the second afternoon, everyone is grumpy and snapping at each other. Its nice to stop for an hour and have a sit down meal.

Secondly, to be honest with you how many Disney s$%@ burgers can you really eat. Its nice to have a decent meal, whether its a breakfast or dinner, its not great but compared with many of the other offerings at Disney its a welcome break.

you are exactly right for my family type too cx, a character breakfast three days in might have been better but then again i don't know, the early extra magic hours are our prime time for riding........and as for $^&% burgers, i'm exactly the same way. to make matters worse, with the three kids the 14 hour trip is broken up into stops every three hours for, guess what, mcdonald's burgers............i shouldn't complain hubby is black angus farmer but a person can only take so much burger...

 

[apostolic4life]

ok, i can't resisit one more thing, maybe i deserve the poking but maybe a better option for my family would be character suppers??? we slow down around 4pm and maybe a sit down would be ok with characters....just at the beginning of the day the kids and us are a lot more worried about what we are not doing than enjoying the moment....what are the best character suppers???

If you wanted to get good food and great character interaction, Chef Mickey's at the CR is the ticket. They have later seatings too. See, you can rush around during the day and wind down in Disney style in the evening!

If you try it, let me know if it was worth it for you...........remember, if you watch the faces of your children as they meet Chef Mickey, I am sure you will smile as much as them! Wow, now I can't wait till my November trip!

 

[cxcelica]

Tenia,

I am right on with hitting the rides in the morning, here is what I did. We had the breakfast reservations for 10:30 and it worked out that it was an EMH morning so we got there at 8:00 hit as many rides as we could, grabbed a couple of fastpasses for later in the day and then went to breakfast. By 10:30 the lines were starting to get really long so we felt we had done well.

BTW there is nothing like a terrible disney burger with a side of no flavor fries..lol there is only so many of those I can take