Character Dinner First Night or Last?

[Frozen2014]

I'm in the fun planning stages of our trip. We're coming end of August from Tues - Fri. We'll probably do Magic Morning on the Tuesday and see WOC and Fantasmic Tues and Wed (as am guessing lesser crowds?).

Would you do the character meal on your first night (thinking we'll just head back to hotel after dinner)? Or save it for the last night? Goofy's Kitchen is outside of the park so am thinking the first night makes more sense? When do you plan it?

 

[mom2rtk]

We've done Goofy's on arrival night many times. It's a great way to kick off a visit!

 

[STLstone]

We've done Goofy's on arrival night many times. It's a great way to kick off a visit!

We're doing the same thing in July. Dinner on arrival night.

This time we're with my sister and her family. Her kids have no idea what they're getting into. They don't even know a place like Disneyland exists. Actually, my sister doesn't really know what she's getting into, either.

Like you said, it's a great way to kick off a visit. I'm figuring that after they meet the characters at Goofy's, they'll be pumped for the next day.

 

[mom2rtk]

We're doing the same thing in July. Dinner on arrival night.

This time we're with my sister and her family. Her kids have no idea what they're getting into. They don't even know a place like Disneyland exists. Actually, my sister doesn't really know what she's getting into, either.

Like you said, it's a great way to kick off a visit. I'm figuring that after they meet the characters at Goofy's, they'll be pumped for the next day.

It just seems more fitting for arrival night, especially if you aren't hitting up the parks. It sort of extends the trip out. But honestly, I probably wouldn't give up park time on the last day for it. I prefer to save that last night for things we didn't get done (like if fireworks got cancelled earlier on our visit), or for repeating some of our favorites.

 

[Frozen2014]

Sounds like a popular arrival night dinner. Cool way to start. For us, we'll be arriving Monday night but for then I'm thinking of just a dinner on/near Harbor. Not sure exact time we'll arrive so don't want to feel stressed we won't get there on time.

 

[Frozen2014]

It just seems more fitting for arrival night, especially if you aren't hitting up the parks. It sort of extends the trip out. But honestly, I probably wouldn't give up park time on the last day for it. I prefer to save that last night for things we didn't get done (like if fireworks got cancelled earlier on our visit), or for repeating some of our favorites.

DH actually suggested we move it to the end, but this is exactly what I'm thinking (although...the Fri night will be busy as it's the Friday before labor day and start of marathon weekend so not sure how much park time we'll get)

 

[mom2rtk]

DH actually suggested we move it to the end, but this is exactly what I'm thinking (although...the Fri night will be busy as it's the Friday before labor day and start of marathon weekend so not sure how much park time we'll get)

You might prefer to leave the parks by Friday night. But you might not. I like leaving that last night as open as possible.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I agree -- I wouldn't schedule anything that would take up too much park time on your last day. Since it's Goofy's and you don't need park tickets, I'd do it on a day you are not planning on being in the parks. We typically leave around noon the day after our last day in the parks and do Goofy's that morning. Or if you're not planning to be in the parks on arrival day, do it then.

 

[Frozen2014]

I agree -- I wouldn't schedule anything that would take up too much park time on your last day. Since it's Goofy's and you don't need park tickets, I'd do it on a day you are not planning on being in the parks. We typically leave around noon the day after our last day in the parks and do Goofy's that morning. Or if you're not planning to be in the parks on arrival day, do it then.

We did that with Chef Mickey's at WDW. Our flight didn't leave until 1pn so we went there for breakfast on departure day. Our flight home is a but earlier (and out of LAX) so that won't work and not sure what time we'll get to Anaheim on the night we arrive..but can see that being a great way to start if there early enough.

So maybe we should plan on our first park night then and leave last night open.

 

[KelliLee702]

We ate Brunch at Goofy's Kitchen the next day before check-out. It was a great ending to our visit.

 

[arichau]

If you have kids with you who are excited about meeting the characters you will see at Goofy's (Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, Dale) I would say do it early. Then you when you see those characters in the parks it's easy to skip those lines. Or if one of those characters for some reason doesn't show up (Pluto wasn't at the Mickey PPH breakfast this year when he's been there the 4 other times we have done that breakfast) you can find another time to meet him.

I also agree with the comments above that it's just a fun and relaxed way to start your trip!

 

[Frozen2014]

If you have kids with you who are excited about meeting the characters you will see at Goofy's (Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, Dale) I would say do it early. Then you when you see those characters in the parks it's easy to skip those lines. Or if one of those characters for some reason doesn't show up (Pluto wasn't at the Mickey PPH breakfast this year when he's been there the 4 other times we have done that breakfast) you can find another time to meet him.

I also agree with the comments above that it's just a fun and relaxed way to start your trip!

Good point. My kids are a bit older (12 and 8) but they still enjoy characters (and maybe my younger one will still do the autograph thing...not sure). But even if they don't go crazy for characters, it just seems like a great "disney" thing to do.

Thank you all. Think I'll plan for it on our first park day then (for dinner)

 

[rentayenta]

We have done both. I like a character breakfast on the last day! Storytellers for breakfast is our favorite.

 

[Frozen2014]

We're looking at dinner as our hotel provides breakfast plus don't want to be in a restaurant in the morning when crowds will be the lowest. So that is why I'm looking at Goofy's Kitchen.

 

[dismiss]

We are doing Goofy's the night of our arrival also !!

 

[Rabb it]

I would go for first night also, start off with a bang!

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks. Think we'll move it back to first night with all the responses.