Character dining with baby

[q21701]

Need feedback regarding character dining with a 1yr old. I would love to get some pictures of the characters with our daughter, but I don't want to traumatize her on her first trip. Any recomendations as to what to go to or stay away from? Or even if it is a good idea at all.

 

[PoohGal05]

I don't have any particular suggestions about what restaurants are better than others, but I have suggestions in anothe way that might help that I read somewhere. Point out the characters in the park at a distance to your child before you go to the restaurants. Eventually slowly move in with your child towards the characters so as your child won't be scared. Also, when your waitress seats you, make sure you tell them that you have a small child and this is your first up close experience with the characters and you don't your child to be frightened.

 

[kaw1218]

Need feedback regarding character dining with a 1yr old. I would love to get some pictures of the characters with our daughter, but I don't want to traumatize her on her first trip. Any recomendations as to what to go to or stay away from? Or even if it is a good idea at all.

It all depends on the child. My sister worked at Sesame Place, and I had season passes....we took both of my DDs since they were little(my oldeset was 1 and the baby was 7 months their first trips) we let them watch the Characters from a distance. They loved them..... so by the time we went to disney, none of the gang seemed to bother my kids.(they probably thought they were cousins at that point ) my youngest was 9mo our first trip.

we did crystal palace, 1900 park fare, cinderella's breakfast..... the only person they didn't like was cruella...but she was just downright rude. (way beyond 'acting her part')

whenever we saw a frightened child, the characters were really good. some would just pass by, and some would stand across the room and wave.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

You might try greeting some characters before the dinner so that you can see how they will react to the characters. Our kids have been going since they were young and have grown up with them so there is no fear but we have seen others that will hide from anything. The characters realize this and wok with each kid individually.

 

[Lauren101]

We took our daughter to WDW when she was 18 months old. At first she was a little wary of the characters but by the end of the 2 weeks - she was a pro - went up cuddled them, then turned around for photos!!

The only thing we had trouble with was her realising she had to wait in line to see characters - or in the restaurants - waiting for the characters to come to her - she wanted to be out of her high-chair and following them around!

Crystal Palace was very good - as she really liked all the Pooh Bear characters.

 

[smokeydiamond]

My 1 year olds will be making their first trips to Disney in March. I am hoping they don't freak out. I have been keeping the disney toys in plain site and really getting into playing with them with the babies. Hopefully they will find the characters familiar and wont be scared Another thought is to maybe start with the princesses. They may seem less scary. My now 5 year old's first trip to WDW was when he was 13 months old and he was not afraid at all. He loved Chef Mickey's. Good Luck!!

 

[starbox]

Garden Grill has Mickey and Co - and you are in a booth without any other tables visible, so it's very quiet and relaxed (none of the screaming/dancing/loud noise/napkin waving hysteria of Chef Mickey or crowds of the buffets). I'm sure you could let the waiter know that it was your first time so that the characters could approach gently. If you started to have fear issues, they could easily be avoided and you'd still get a very yummy meal.

 

[millermouse]

I agree with the others about feeling out the characters in the parks.

As far as the actually dinning with characters....I found out with DS when he was 1 that the characters were very aware of the childrens reactions and knew when to keep their space, also if you waved them on there was no problem

 

[The Sweetness]

Chuck E Cheese is a great ice- breaker, for the character situation. Also, at character dining, seat the little one on the *inside* so that the character wont be quite so much **in their face**

 

[Jaime]

Garden Grill has Mickey and Co - and you are in a booth without any other tables visible, so it's very quiet and relaxed (none of the screaming/dancing/loud noise/napkin waving hysteria of Chef Mickey or crowds of the buffets). I'm sure you could let the waiter know that it was your first time so that the characters could approach gently. If you started to have fear issues, they could easily be avoided and you'd still get a very yummy meal.

This is what we did with our DD's first Character meal. We found all the characters to excellent and even took there time with her.

Have fun.

 

[disnut8]

We went with a one year old to Chef Mickey's a while ago (NOT mine and something I'd never thought we'd be seen doing). But all of us did it for Cassie. Her mom wanted the whole picture thing too. You can guess what happened. Cassie did NOT like the characters. She didn't cry or anything but wanted her mother when the first one came up. The character pulled back and just waved to Cassie. The rest of them did as well (how do they know this stuff?). But then Chip can over and started messing with Cassie's mom. Stroking her hair and stuff. Cassie saw her mother having fun and decided these big furry things weren't that bad. She started stroking Chip's paw like he was doing to her mom's hair. Chip eventually moved over to Cassie and must have stayed there for over five minutes. The place was packed but Chip stayed. Cassie didn't want to let him go. She was fine after that.

The characters will sense the child's reaction to them. As long as she doesn't out and out bawl, you can still get pictures. My friend stood up and a character was behind Cassie (Cassie couldn't see them) and took pictures that way.

 

[honeymom]

I think that Chef Mickey's might be a little too busy/noisy if the 1 year old is sensitive.

We took a 1 year old to Crystal Palace. She'd been petrified of Mickey when we met him in Toontown, but seemed okay with the gentle Pooh characters. I haven't been to Garden Grill, but it also sounds okay.