Character Dining

[jckt11]

We will be heading to DisneyWorld in December 2011 and are attempting to choose an appropriate character dining location for the family. There will be 14 of us, 4 children ages 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 6, and 9. We previously took the 6 and 9 year old to the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and The Garden Grill. We would like to try something different this time. I know there are lots of variables (characters, price, etc), however, we are interested to hear about the best experience - why you do or don't like a particular character meal (i.e. what's your favorite or least favorite and why?). Thanks for any input.

 

[TheTurners]

Chef Mickey's has the standard breakfast buffet and all the character staples. It is rarely recommended for lunch and dinner because the food is often lacking and the restaurant has been ravaged all day by previous diners. 1900 Park fare has somewhat better food and many characters of varying popularity (Pooh and the gang, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland and her gang, etc). For 14 of you, I would go with 1900 Park Fare. I fear for your sanity if you brave it at Chef Mickey's with a party of that size.

 

[jillgunter]

I liked Chef Mickeys. You get Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. I think it would be a good choice for the age groups. We ate dinner this last December and thought the food was good.

You could also try 1900 Park Fare. We are doing the dinner with Cinderella, Prince, Step Sister and Step Mother. They have different characters for breakfast.

 

[polly p]

Our family enjoyed Crystal Palace at MK with pooh and friends. We did both breakfast and dinner. Also the family liked the buffet at the grand floridian. Not with pooh and alice, but with cinderella and the prince, step mom and step sisters. The characters really interaced with the guests especially the sisters, and the food was good. Not sure I think it was like cinderella's royal ball or something like that.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Honestly with a group that large Chef Mickey and CRT are going to be difficult to get into since they are small. Tusker is pretty large inside and the Fab 5 are dressed in Safari gear.

 

[juliebug1997]

Honestly with a group that large Chef Mickey and CRT are going to be difficult to get into since they are small. Tusker is pretty large inside and the Fab 5 are dressed in Safari gear.

Tusker House doesn't have all five. I think Pluto is left out.

 

[kari B.]

Cape May Cafe has the best character breakfast... It does not have Mickey... Tusker house is a very close second... It has Mickey... Ohanas is a total different experience and has mickey and pluto along with lilo and stitch for breakfast. All three are great.

For dinner... Anything BUT Chef Mickey

 

[bnk1120]

Cape may is enjoyable for everyone IMO. Nice ambiance, good food. Tusker house was good for character interaction but the food was so-so. My family requests O'hana breakfast. It's served family style which is easier with little ones than a buffet. Plus who doesn't love the Poly?!!!?!

 

[KathleensKid]

On our trip last month (first trip with our kids) we did 4 character meals:

We loved Tusker House. It was fabulous. Character interaction was great, and breakfast had everything from African porridge to Krispie Kreme donuts. We all found plenty to eat. And after our 8am reservation, we walked right out and onto the Safari before any other guests. Would definitely do again.

Hollywood and Vine was fine. It is what it is. Typical chain restaurant style breakfast foods. Not terrible not great. The character interaction was good though, and the kids were happy. 8:05am reservations so we were out and at the front of the line for TSM fast passes and Jedi training - so that made it awesome! Will only do again to get a jump on the crowds if we can get an ADR before the park opens.

CRT breakfast was amazing, b/c my kids' eyes were wide as saucers the whole time. They were in awe of the whole experience. The food was fine/okay but the experience for my princess obsessed daughter on her first visit to WDW on her first day in the MK was absolutely magical. Really truly magical. Makes me almost tear up thinking about it. She loved every minute of it. We ate at 8am and were in Fantasyland ahead of the crowds which was also fabulous. Will do again if the kids ask to do so. But as nothing can ever approach the magic of our visit last month, I don't want to tarnish that memory if the kids don't want to go back.

Chef Mickeys for dinner - meh. The kids were happy happy happy b/c they got to see the characters and had pizza and ice cream. Dh and I were not impressed with the food. We won't be back, but we dealt with it in the moment b/c the kids were just so happy about everything.