Character Dining for 16 month old??

[DISNEYFOS]

Hi All! Leaving in 4 days!!!!!!

So I wasn't going to do it but then I did ;-) I made PS reservations for the Crystal Palace for the Character Lunch. I'm not sure if DD (16 months old) is going to be scared out of her mind by Pooh and gang or not. She certainly likes her stuffed ones and they are just great on TV or in Books, but she's never seen them up close and personal.

Anyone have any experiences to share with their 1-2 yr old toddler and the disney characters?

 

[bigbabyblues]

My then 15-mo loved the character meals on our trip last fall, except for Chef Mickey's the first night. I think he was overwhelmed that night though, we had traveled to the airport, got delayed, flown, landed at 1 am, went to airport hotel for a few hours, then went into Disney, check in, and off to Chef Mickey's. Plus, tensions were high because hurricane Jeanne was coming that night, and I think it was just too much for him. After that he did great though, squeezed the characters' noses, etc.

 

[K & D Mickey]

What we did when our son was 12 months old told the characters that he may be shy and they all were very good with him - they did what he wanted them... Then this year - 3 years old he ran up to them and hugged them - talked to them and always said thank you and good bye...
Chef Mickeys or Crystal palace would be my suggestion but as we have found
depends 0----- some years we get great characters reaction - get all of them to our table and other times don't get them all by the time we are done eating and child is ready to move on.....

 

[IluvXU]

My dd was at WDW when she was 16 months (8 months too) and both times she liked the characters. She did well at Chef Mickey's both times. I would recommend a day or so to see the characters around before going somewhere where the interaction can be more in your face. At 16 months, she was overwhelmed day 1 but by the second day she was interested and would initiate a visit. Good Luck!