Character Dining problem...help me choose

[scotton]

Okay, DH and I are taking our 4yr old and 2 yr old Daughters. This is their first trip to Disneyworld.

How big a deal is it to have the Princess Storybook Dining at 11:55am Norway at Epcot Center AND have dinner later on that night at 5:45pm the Grand Floridian 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella and the Stepsisters? Do you think that will be too much running around from one character dining to another? We are going to be there for 3 days and we'd be cramming in all the character dining into 1 day.

I have reservations for the day before (our first day there) at noon at the Norway Princess Storybook Dining but that's in Epcot and I didn't want the hassle of running from the Majic Kingdom to Epcot AND I wanted the first thing they see to be the Majic Kingdom (they will FREAK when they see Cinderella's Castle).

Also, I didn't want to fork over the money for 3 character dining events. 2 was definitely enough for our budget. What do you think? Should I just start our 1st day at Epcot center and take them to the original noon Princess storybook dining and cancel our 2nd one so we'd just have the dinner character dining on that day?

I've already called the Disney Dining line to see if they had any other dinner character dining plans that we could switch to and they didn't. Well, nothing princess related anyway.

I haven't been to Disneyworld since 1991 so this is all new to me. Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

TIA,

Sarah

 

[TivoQueen]

Your little princesses will love both of those meals. If you are worried about rushing around why don't you change your lunch reservation at Akershus to a breakfast reservation. The breakfast is great, it is a must for us each time we go. The food is family style all you can eat and they also have a small buffet with pastries and fruit. That would give you more time a the park before you had to get to the GF for dinner.

P.S. Most little girls wear their princess dresses to both of these meals.

 

[PA Princess]

I would do as you described - start at Epcot and do the princess meal on day one and then do the Grand Floridian meal and Magic Kingdom the next day. It is always nice to end with Magic Kingdom, and there are lots of fun things to do at Epcot with your girls.

Both of those meals in one day is a ton of eating and running around - not something I personally would plan.

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

Okay, DH and I are taking our 4yr old and 2 yr old Daughters. This is their first trip to Disneyworld.

How big a deal is it to have the Princess Storybook Dining at 11:55am Norway at Epcot Center AND have dinner later on that night at 5:45pm the Grand Floridian 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella and the Stepsisters? Do you think that will be too much running around from one character dining to another? We are going to be there for 3 days and we'd be cramming in all the character dining into 1 day.

I have reservations for the day before (our first day there) at noon at the Norway Princess Storybook Dining but that's in Epcot and I didn't want the hassle of running from the Majic Kingdom to Epcot AND I wanted the first thing they see to be the Majic Kingdom (they will FREAK when they see Cinderella's Castle).

Also, I didn't want to fork over the money for 3 character dining events. 2 was definitely enough for our budget. What do you think? Should I just start our 1st day at Epcot center and take them to the original noon Princess storybook dining and cancel our 2nd one so we'd just have the dinner character dining on that day?

I've already called the Disney Dining line to see if they had any other dinner character dining plans that we could switch to and they didn't. Well, nothing princess related anyway.

I haven't been to Disneyworld since 1991 so this is all new to me. Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

TIA,

Sarah

By the time you get in to Akershus, then eat, it may seem that you're going to have to turn right around to get to GF for dinner.

I understand wanting to make MK your first day. If I only had a few days, I wouldn't go to Epcot just to eat then run back to MK for the day.

Ask yourself what is most important to you and your family? Meeting characters? Time spent in park? What characters do your kids "have" to meet? You'll meet more princesses at Akershus, but if they must meet Cinderella, then go to Park Fare. Also, you can often meet Cinderella and her Prince at the Judges Tent in Toon Town, so that character meet and greet could be an option for you.

Keep calling Disney Dining, maybe try for Akershus Breakfast and cancel the lunch, then do your PF for dinner. Then you won't have such a rushed afternoon with a lot of eating.

 

[ShannonMB]

If you're going for 3 days, is there another park you're going to besides MK and Epcot? I totally understand you wanting the first park they see to be MK, but honestly, if I only had a couple days/parks, I'd save if for last, otherwise, the other park(s) you go to might be anti-climactic for them (Mommy, can't we just go back to the "magic place?"...all day ).

Also, obviously your girls love the princesses . I would do Epcot the 1st day (Akershus), a 3rd park the 2nd day (with characters other than the princesses -- they might need to meet Mickey,too, ya know, or Pooh at Crystal Palace), and save MK for last (w/ 1900 Park Fare if possible to change it).

Whatever you decide, they'll have a blast!!!

 

[claryche]

If your two character meals have to be princess's then I say change your lunch to breakfast, like someone else suggested. I plan on doing breakfast there for our first time this year, mainly because I didn't really like the lunch menu and also it gives more time in the park if you are lucky enough to get a reservation before the park opens.

If one princess meal is enough, I say adding Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's would be great. And if you do breakfast it is cheaper. We do CP and CM every year we are there. I personally love CP and love it no matter what meal I'm there for. Yes, the face characters such as the princess's are great because they can talk to you, but nothing beats a big ole bear hug from Pooh.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[MareSINY]

I would plan breakfast at CP for your first morning, it's always great to do MK first, our kids wouldn't allow us to do it any other way, they insist on MK. If they want the princess experience I'd leave the reservation for Norway the following day and cancel the GF dinner.

Depending on the ages of your kids you might find they want to spend the majority of their time at MK. Our next trip we're going to be there for 7 days, and we've planned most of our days around MK. We'll hit up HS and AK, but we're going to skip Epcot all together this time around (we'll be there during F&W, and there's really not much at Epcot the kids enjoy at their age.)

My nieces are 8, 6 and 2. They've been going every year since the oldest was 3. They know the parks like the back of their hand and aren't afraid to tell us what they want to do when.

Have a good time and don't worry so much about character dining, just plan to have fun!

 

[Ktharee]

Okay, DH and I are taking our 4yr old and 2 yr old Daughters. This is their first trip to Disneyworld.

How big a deal is it to have the Princess Storybook Dining at 11:55am Norway at Epcot Center AND have dinner later on that night at 5:45pm the Grand Floridian 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella and the Stepsisters? Do you think that will be too much running around from one character dining to another? We are going to be there for 3 days and we'd be cramming in all the character dining into 1 day.

I have reservations for the day before (our first day there) at noon at the Norway Princess Storybook Dining but that's in Epcot and I didn't want the hassle of running from the Majic Kingdom to Epcot AND I wanted the first thing they see to be the Majic Kingdom (they will FREAK when they see Cinderella's Castle).

Also, I didn't want to fork over the money for 3 character dining events. 2 was definitely enough for our budget. What do you think? Should I just start our 1st day at Epcot center and take them to the original noon Princess storybook dining and cancel our 2nd one so we'd just have the dinner character dining on that day?

I've already called the Disney Dining line to see if they had any other dinner character dining plans that we could switch to and they didn't. Well, nothing princess related anyway.

I haven't been to Disneyworld since 1991 so this is all new to me. Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

TIA,



Sarah

Changing your dining plans for such coveted experiences really depends on when you are going. How soon is your trip? These experiences sell out quickly. Since you are not on the dining plan it may be overkill ($$$) and so much time away from the parks to have two sit down meals in one day. There are plenty of opportunities to meet characters (princesses) throughout the World Showcase in Epcot. What other parks are you planning on? Consider a breakfast at Crystal Palace in the MK one morning-it's a fantastic experience. But again, how soon are you going? May be tough to get reservations now. We have taken our daughter when she was 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and now back for her 6th birthday. So I have lots of experience with the ages of your little girls. Feel free to ask me anything.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Restaurants board.