Character dining

[Isila]

Once more - character dining.

Where would you go - price, food, quality, character interaction - overall satisfaction?

Mickey's cafe
Done once, food bad, worst on our trip. Character interaction great. Price fine. Don't want to do again, but it's tempting after all.

Inventions
Eager to try. Price

Cowboy cookout
Reviews?

What would you choose? Best price/quality option.

It's going to be me and two DSs (age 6 and 3)

 

[jothp]

I think sometimes character restaurants can vary a lot depending on the day you go. Last June we went to the cowboy cookout and the food was the worst of our trip and the character interaction was chaotic but I know lots of people who were there the same week as us had great meals there on other days. We wouldn't do inventions because we have 3 girls who love the Auberge and I couldn't justify 2 meals that expensive in one trip!!! We had a great meal at cafe mickey with wonderful character interaction.

 

[Isila]

I can't say anything bad about character interaction in Mickey's cafe, many characters, got photos, autographs, DS was happy. So, probably Mickey's cafe is a good price and quality option after all.

As I have two sons, no princesses for us

I looked at Cowboys menu and not ruse if this is what my kids would eat..

 

[tinks_1989]

For me if i could only do one I would do Cafe Mickey been twice loved it so much both times!

But I cant wait to try inventions.

Cowboy cookout doesnt appeal to me at all dont know why I havent even looked at it before.

 

[MaleDisneyBeliever]

Me too Tinks. People who have had bad experiences in Cafe Mickey must have been very unlucky in my opinion. I personally have nothing bad to say abotu Cafe Mickey... except perhaps the noise and chaos levels being high, but given what it is and the audience it appeals too, what can you expect?

Im as big a kid as the next anyway!

 

[princessmummy]

We were originally going to do Inventions on our last trip but we were all so ill that we had no appetite at all! I decided on a whim at the last minute to do Cowboy Cookout BBQ, as we had not seen many characters and DD2 desperately wanted to see Minnie.

I was impressed actually.

Its a COUNTER service rest though! so there were the usual Q's for ordering and food. (about 15 mins or so I guess)

The food was plentiful (the salad for 'starter' was MASSIVE) and the angus burger was better than the one I'd had in rainforest Cafe the night before!

For some reason I had to get my 'gormet cafe' (umm not sure about how much gormet was involved here) at the same time as the main course so the coffee was cold by the time I had it! never mind!

We had more character interaction than last time in cafe Mickey.

We saw Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Woody and Eyeore (all except eeyore stopped at our table)

there was live music from a proper band playing fiddle guitars etc, which added to the atmosphere, and really made it mUCH more fun! my girls really liked that!

The characters spent some tiem going round and chatting to each table, not just a quick picture and sign the book! But as usual there were the inevitaible families where all the kids follow the characters round the restaurant, pushing in front of kids who have waited. but that happens everywhere.

On balance I would choose CCB if the kids are interested in cowboys etc, if you like american music, or if you don't want the 'hassle' of table service!

I enjoyed it a lot more than i thought I would! I'd go back!

 

[Isila]

I'll wait for more opinions, plenty of time to decide. But more reviews are better. I set up my mind for Inventions, but the price... But it's inventions... I probably should ask the kids
princessmummy, how was kid's meal in cowboy cookout?

 

[Bastia]

Food is very bad in Café Mickey

 

[princessmummy]

Hi Islia

The kids burger was good, there were chips as well. DD2 was delighted to get mayo for her chips as she prefers it to ketchup. there was the inevitable tomato bag for them as 'veg' and there was icecream or yoghurt. I think she had OJ to drink.

DD1 and me had the adults meal. Salad (which was huge and came with 2 pots of dressing- yum) then we both had angus burger and chips. The burger was lovely with lots of salad on it and still great and hot! The dessert choice was OK, my small cakes with my 'gormet coffee' were nice, DD1 had the lemon dessert, which she enjoyed despite her bad throat!

There was too much food for us all to eat (but we were all ill)

There is less choice than Cafe Mickey (I have not done Inventions yet! Hopefully at Easter)

But I thought the character interaction was better than our last visit to Cafe Mickey, and the setting was great! I preferred the 'Western' Feel to CM which always feels like a school canteen to me with all that red and bright colours!

It was a burger meal- but it was a good one! As I said my burger was better than the one at RFC the day before (which was E18 I think) and the characters were great!

Pluto spent a few minutes laughing at us putting DD2s ski trousrers back on her....... miming that he had the same trouble with his own! LOL!

I was pleasantly suprised by the whole thing, as well as by the money I saved. Especially as we went week before Xmas when park was busy-ish.

 

[tinks_1989]

Food is very bad in Café Mickey

We had 8 adults last time and 6 the time before always had really good meals DH said the steak was better then le cellier in WDW

 

[Isila]

well, this would be more than enough for us, because probably I would have to finish kids meal too

but it does sound nice.

 

[tinks_1989]

Also my personal opinion is I don't want to miss park hours in restaurant with it only being open till 6/7 I would rather eat in the hotels/village after!

I still can't make up my mind about auberge de cendrillon

 

[Isila]

good point this leaves Mickey's cafe and Inventions choices choices choices.. decisions decisions decisions

 

[Carrie_Cat]

good point this leaves Mickey's cafe and Inventions choices choices choices.. decisions decisions decisions

You had a bad meal at Café Mickey already, do you want to try again and maybe get a good one but maybe get another bad one or try Inventions ?

Café Mickey has made several changes in the last month and reports are getting worse about meals over there

You and only you know what your children will and won't eat and you've got to go with that in the end

 

[Isila]

Meal is what is stopping me from Mickey's cafe. Inventions is good because it's a buffet. Buffet would be the best option. But again - I come back to the price. And I do want good character interaction.

 

[Noo]

Does the cowboy cookout have a vege option?

 

[Isila]

menu in DLRPmagic says nothing about it

 

[Bastia]

Does the cowboy cookout have a vege option?

 

[Ware Bears]

Inventions is my favourite character restaurant. I also really like Cafe Mickey, OK the food isn't as good as at Inventions but that's reflected in the price and we've always enjoyed our meals there.

If you do decide to give Cafe Mickey another chance then why not choose a pizza (with or without sides) to share, that way it won't be too expensive.

 

[Isila]

Price at Mickey's cafe is fine, it's not too expensive. I give it a thought. I won't be booking in advance like I did last year.