Character dining help please???

[alibeau]

Ok guys, I was wondering if I could pick your brains once more?!?

I have finally got around to planning which parks we are going to visit on which days etc. I thought it would be nice on one of our 'restful' days to go to a 'character meal' preferably lunch or if not, dinner, it will be on a Monday in Jan 08. We would prefer a sit down restaurant rather than a buffet but again, would do a buffet if need be......

I am presuming that we would have to have our meal at a disney hotel rather than a park as it is one of our 'days off'......

Our girls are 4 and nearly 2 and although our eldest would like princess's etc I think to please them both it would need to be disney characters like Mickey or Tigger.......

Not too particular am I????

Do you have any recommendations that best fit all or some of our criteria??
???
Do I have to phone to book or can I book online??

Thanks so much,

Ali

 

[Goofyish]

Ali, take a look at the DIS Character Dining information:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Just_for_kids/character_dining.cfm

It will help you to decide where to go for the characters and menu that you and your daughters will like

You will need to phone to book your ADR 180 days out (if you are staying on-site you can call 180 days before your arrival date and book 10 days worth of ADRs).

 

[CustardTart]

Our personal fave (as a family) is the Ohana brekkie which features Lilo and Stitch. We went for the latest booking so it was more of a brunch and the food was served at the table in a skillet and replenished when necessary. Great characters, great interaction and great food...

 

[Haworthfamily]

Hi now using my three brains ha ha ha (expecting twins) not that they all work in harmony.
I'd give a thumbs up also to Ohana breakfast and I know you'd prefer sit down, but our DD 5 loves Crystal palace in the magic Kingdom for breakfast or tea with Pooh and Friends.

We have also done Princess Breakfast in Norway EPCOT as it's princesses but that's also a buffet.
Sarah X

 

[alibeau]

Okey Dokey, thanks everyone.

I guess I might have to re-think a few things as having had a good look on the disney site, most of the meals with characters that would appeal to our LO's are on the parks and seem to be buffets!!!!! I'll keep looking but just feel a bit uninspired at the mo (not like me?!?!?)....

Thanks again for your thoughts,

Ali.

 

[natalielongstaff]

another vote for Ohana its a great meal and fab characters as well

or you could try this one bit again its a buffet

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/men_19d.htm

 

[Goofyish]

I know it's in a park, but Liberty Tree Tavern dinner is a nice character meal. It's not a buffet, but the food is served 'family style', i.e. the food is on big dishes and you help yourself to what you want. They bring more if you run out too

As it's a dinner you don't need to be in the park until later in the day so you can still have your free day

Food is based on a Thanksgiving dinner - turkey, beef, ham, mashed tatties, stuffing, beans, salad and mac & cheese.

Characters are Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Chip & Dale

Pictures:

 

[alibeau]

Fab photo's Tim

Ok, so having thought and thought again I think it is going to have to the a buffet lunch at the Crystal Palace

Mainly due to the characters......

So one final question (I think!!!) I read on here that the advice was to go to a character meal early on in your holiday so that your LO's can get used to the characters...... what does everyone think?? I would hate to do it too early on and for them to be petrified

What are your experiences with LO's, our are 4 and almost 2 years old.....

Ali.

 

[irongirlof12]

My DD5 saw eeyore from a distance and ran straight for him and gave him the biggest hug no fear at all. right from day 1.

I was a little worried before we went and I had a lot of character meals booked.

I think little kids love pooh bear and friends and they are less intimidating that other characters i.e. villans and goofy is so big!

my vote is to do crystal palace early on.

 

[tashasmum]

Another vote for Ohana, Character interaction is great and the food is great.

 

[team harris]

In 2003, our youngest DS celebrated his 7th birthday. He always ran a mile from any character in this country and we were in two minds as to how to celebrate his actual birthday. We finally booked Chef Mickeys for a character breakfast and the photos we have of him hugging Mickey and Minnie and Goofy and..... were worth all our worry!!!! You know your DDs best, so do what you think is right. Interestingly, he still shuns UK characters as they "are not Disney!" Good Luck and enjoy!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - again not sure if this is a help as its in a theme park - but i've heard really good things about Garden Grill in Epcot. Apparently it is the best character interaction (they get to spend alot of time with you and as you are enclosed in booths, you don't get people calling them to other tables) - I believe its Mickey, Pluto, Chip and dale and the food is 'family style', which means they bring platters of food right to the table for you!!

hope that helps!!

 

[crabbie1]

We absolutley love chef mickeys and have done both the breakfast and dinner-yes they are buffets but the charecter interaction is great.Also as mentioned thought the garden grill was great at epcot.Charaeters keep coming around even though they have already been 6 times-Both excellent and well recommended.DD was 3 when she first went and is now 5 and we have been there the last 3 visits now and will do on the next-crystal palace our 3rd fav