Character Dining, Yes or No with Infant

[AEA1127]

Hi everyone!

Planning a March 2017 trip which will be our first as parents. Our son will be about 7 months and I'm trying to decide if it would be worth it to do a character breakfast. I was thinking of either Chef Mickeys or Crystal Palace. Leaning towards Chef Mickeys so he can meet the Fab 5 for the first time. I know the food gets iffy reviews but I was thinking we may prefer to do a character meal rather than stand in lines to meet some of the characters during the week. We usually prefer nicer meals but would sacrifice food quality if the atmosphere was enjoyable/worth it for the little guy.

Any thoughts? Are we better off just meeting a few characters in the parks and waiting to do a meal until he is older?

Thanks!

 

[Pmlocke]

Our granddaughter was 1 week shy of her first birthday when we went down several years ago and interacted very well with the charecters. It made for some great photos. As for seven months, it depends on the child. My guess would be no.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would say "maybe." And I would use caution, and schedule it for NOT day 1.

Some infants are terrified of furries. Some love them.

I would have him encounter one at a park with at least 24 hours advance notice, and if kid is terrified cancel.

 

[AEA1127]

Great idea to test the waters first! I'd love to have the photos of him meeting Mickey and friends but it could be a disaster if he's afraid.

We're going with a group which includes other children. In our past trips together this family does do character dining, so we could either do it with them or pass completely which is what we've done in the past. I just don't want to miss out by not booking and regret it when we get there.

 

[stobaugh6]

I've done character meals many times on different WDW vacations with a baby under 1 (we have 7 children). The experience will be for you, not your baby. He won't have any memory and there's a chance he may even sleep through it. That's happened to us more than once. Lol! But if you enjoy character meals, I'd say go for it! You will have the memory and it will be a memory you will likely cherish. But if you don't really care for the character meals and you are doing it just for your baby's enjoyment, I'd say skip it. You are going to have a great vacation with lots of "firsts" memories no matter what you decide.

 

[AEA1127]

Thanks Heather!

I know I'd mostly be doing the breakfast for myself and for the (hopefully) cute pictures! For some reason I thought doing breakfast would be easier than waiting in lines for meet & greets, but I could be wrong. I'm not a Disney newbie but I'm definitely new to doing Disney with our own child. I do have a feeling that this will be our most magical trip yet, regardless of our dining choices! But it doesn't hurt to be as prepared as possible, right?!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

If you want him to meet the characters, the breakfast will definitely be better than waiting in line for the meet and greets! I took my kids when they were about that age....one loved it and we got the most adorable pictures. The other hated it and screamed when the characters came near, which also made for hilarious and memorable photos. I say go for it!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The reason I suggest seeing initial response to furries, and/or doing a character breakfast late, is 7 months is a weird time, and every kid is different.

My elder always loved furries, and I have some hilarious pictures from his first year with costumed characters (not necessarily Disney -- college mascots, an Easter bunny, etc.). My younger? Oh lord. GET THAT THING AWAY FROM HER NOOOOOOOW.

She's better. Or at least screams less now.

 

[jedi_howard]

I can't but giggle when I see the term furries.

 

[linzbear]

We took my oldest to Chef Mickey's at 7 months and I do have a lot of adorable pictures. The next time we went he was terrified, and he's not liked the characters since, so those are the only cute pictures of him with the fab 5 I have!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I can't but giggle when I see the term furries.

It is not uncommon for kids to have different responses to fur vs. face, though. I'm sure someone better versed in child development can explain why; I know there's a reason. I just don't remember it.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I think it depends on the kid. My son is the most easygoing, happy baby ever on the planet. We are taking him next year at 18 months. I'm planning to do lunch at Garden Grille. I hadn't planned to take him until his 3rd birthday, but his face lights up whenever he sees Mickey on anything...TV, a stuffed toy, anywhere. Yesterday, we were birthday shopping for my nephew and he tried to pull a Mickey puzzle off the shelf at the store. He adores Mickey so much, I'm pretty much taking him expressly for the experience of getting to meet the "real" Mickey. I truly think he will completely enjoy it. I would take him tomorrow if I could. Of course, if his personality seems different by the time our trip comes, I'll reconsider.

I'll also mention that my sister took her son this past February when he was 18 months and they did a meal at Crystal Palace. The pictures of him hugging Eeyore are priceless. He loved it.

You know your child best. If you think your kid will like it, I say go for it! The other thing I'd say is not to be upset if it doesn't work out. That's how I view outings with my son. If he likes it, great, if not, oh well. A good attitude can go a long way.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

A friend just posted wonderful photos of his 9 month old daughter. She was laughing and giggling at the characters.

They had a wonderful time with them.

 

[AEA1127]

Thanks for all the insight guys!

ENJDisneyFan, the fact that you got memorable pictures even though your little one didn't love the characters makes me feel good!

I'm thinking worst case scenario he isn't into it this trip and we go again on a future trip. We won't know until we try, so it may be worth giving it a shot and seeing how it goes.

Would you go with Chef Mickeys or would another location get the edge? I haven't done a character meal since I was a kid so I've only read/heard what is good from our friends we travel with and from reading these boards. It seems like 'Ohana is a popular choice. Mickey is there as well, right?

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

It is not uncommon for kids to have different responses to fur vs. face, though. I'm sure someone better versed in child development can explain why; I know there's a reason. I just don't remember it.

"Furries" are not typically something we associate with child development.

 

[AEA1127]

Thanks MaryLovesPoohBear! Those are the images I'm seeing in my head! I'm pregnant and get emotional just thinking about this trip haha!

 

[wilkeliza]

I'll share an opposite experience from the fur scares. My nephew was a few weeks shy of 3 and loved all the fur characters. He about died of happiness meeting Mickey. Try to get him to meet a face character and he went bonkers. Of course we found this out at 1900 Park Fair when he had his pretty much first ever screaming cry fit when Mary Poppins said hello. I think it was his stranger danger instincts in over drive. He was ok waving from a far but getting a photo or hug was a definite no.

 

[gtpoohbear]

When mine were babies and toddlers, I found that character meals were better than m&gs, because they seemed less intimidating. At a character meal, they stay in their seat, and the character comes to them. They don't have to move at all, and somehow I guess this made them feel safer. Having to walk up to (or be carried up to) a character took them out of their comfort zone more, and just seemed like a bigger, more stressful moment.

But, it's going to be different with every baby/kid. I would probably give it a try, and know that if baby is sleeping or uninterested, you can get some fun pictures of yourself with Mickey instead

 

[AEA1127]

When mine were babies and toddlers, I found that character meals were better than m&gs, because they seemed less intimidating. At a character meal, they stay in their seat, and the character comes to them. They don't have to move at all, and somehow I guess this made them feel safer. Having to walk up to (or be carried up to) a character took them out of their comfort zone more, and just seemed like a bigger, more stressful moment.

This is what I was thinking! Thought having them come up to the table would be easier for us too, we can just wait until they make it to us and then get up to take pictures.

I also figure I may as well avoid using FP on character meet & greets until he's a little older.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

son will be about 7 months and I'm trying to decide if it would be worth it to do a character breakfast.

1) I see no way a child will remember such.
2) Parents might want to do it for THEIR OWN purposes, but it won't make a difference for the kiddies.
3) Our daughters were under-3 when we went, and neither remembers anything.