Character Dinning?

[TokyoDina]

Is there more than just Lilo and Stitch and Ariel's Ghrotto for Character Dinning? I know I might be a little old for this but my DH and I are planning a trip out to DL before I leave for training. DH always asks when we go why don't we do Character Dinning and my excuse has been I was afraid he would think it's too kiddy since it's just the two of us. So my question is what Character Dinning is pretty decent for adults? I know it's aimed at kids but just thought I'd pop the quest. We are headed out there in August. No confirmed dates in August as of yet.

 

[Sherry E]

Is there more than just Lilo and Stitch and Ariel's Ghrotto for Character Dinning? I know I might be a little old for this but my DH and I are planning a trip out to DL before I leave for training. DH always asks when we go why don't we do Character Dinning and my excuse has been I was afraid he would think it's too kiddy since it's just the two of us. So my question is what Character Dinning is pretty decent for adults? I know it's aimed at kids but just thought I'd pop the quest. We are headed out there in August. No confirmed dates in August as of yet.

You are never too old for character dining! See the pictures in my signature below? About 5 of those were taken at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel, where I have been eating since 1992 and will continue to eat in the foreseeable future (and I am 41 years old!!). It has a great buffet with a wide variety of choices and the characters are fun. My friends and I have no kids, but we LOVE Goofy's!! (Also see my Trip Report - link is in signature below - and you will see many years of hamming it up at Goofy's.)

So in addition to Lilo & Stitch, Ariel's Grotto and Goofy's Kitchen, there is also Minnie and Friends inside of Disneyland, and Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakfast at the Grand Californian Hotel.

However - and this will shock everyone here on DIS - I am not recommending Goofy's to you to start out with just yet. To be honest, even though I looooove me some Goofy's Kitchen, I actually think Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakfast would be great for you and your DH because the mood is very calm, laid back and relaxed. It is not 'high voltage' fun like Goofy's or Lilo and Stitch or Minnie & Friends. Storytellers is a very woodsy, earthy, rustic kind of restaurant with a fireplace and cozy atmosphere. The characters are Chip, Dale, Koda and Kenai from Brother Bear, Meeko from Pocahontas, Terk from Tarzan and assorted other guest stars. Goofy's has Goofy, Pluto, Baloo, Chip, Dale, and usually a couple of princesses. Sometimes Alice and the Mad Hatter are there as well, and sometimes Minnie shows up. Minnie and Friends in DL has too many characters to mention, but it may be too much for your DH if you or he is skeptical about the character meal experience in general. I would try Storytellers first and then see how that goes, then work your way up to the other ones.

Oh, and there is also the new Celebration BBQ inside of DL, with Woody and a couple of other Toy Story characters, and it features entertainment as well. That may be an option. It is not technically a 'character meal,' per se, but there is entertainment featuring characters and they sometimes do come around to the individual tables, from what DIS-ers have said.

 

[aussietravellers]

I know I might be a little old for this but my DH and I are planning a trip out to DL before I leave for training.

YOU ARE NEVER TO OLD FOR CHARACTER DINING!!!!!!!!!!!

Sherry E has covered the dining very well so won't touch on that. But really character dining is for young and old, I LOVE character dining, my disney holidays would not be the same without character meals, even if I wen without children. Enjoy

 

[Boo Bear]

I agree, you're never too old for character dining. I haven't done it since I was at WDW at age 7, but I really want to do it again. Storytellers sounds really fun!

 

[l’amore bella]

Goofy's Kitchen is great. Like everyone else has said, you are never too old for a character meal.

 

[ballarinamom]

We would include Goofy's Kitchen for Dinner and Ariel's Grotto for lunch or dinner even if DD was not with us. The food quality is exceptional. They both are always on our dining plans and we will always add the others due to DD and the fact we prefer to see the characters at the dining options than wait in line at the park

 

[TokyoDina]

You are never too old for character dining! See the pictures in my signature below? About 5 of those were taken at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel, where I have been eating since 1992 and will continue to eat in the foreseeable future (and I am 41 years old!!). It has a great buffet with a wide variety of choices and the characters are fun. My friends and I have no kids, but we LOVE Goofy's!! (Also see my Trip Report - link is in signature below - and you will see many years of hamming it up at Goofy's.)

So in addition to Lilo & Stitch, Ariel's Grotto and Goofy's Kitchen, there is also Minnie and Friends inside of Disneyland, and Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakfast at the Grand Californian Hotel.

However - and this will shock everyone here on DIS - I am not recommending Goofy's to you to start out with just yet. To be honest, even though I looooove me some Goofy's Kitchen, I actually think Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakfast would be great for you and your DH because the mood is very calm, laid back and relaxed. It is not 'high voltage' fun like Goofy's or Lilo and Stitch or Minnie & Friends. Storytellers is a very woodsy, earthy, rustic kind of restaurant with a fireplace and cozy atmosphere. The characters are Chip, Dale, Koda and Kenai from Brother Bear, Meeko from Pocahontas, Terk from Tarzan and assorted other guest stars. Goofy's has Goofy, Pluto, Baloo, Chip, Dale, and usually a couple of princesses. Sometimes Alice and the Mad Hatter are there as well, and sometimes Minnie shows up. Minnie and Friends in DL has too many characters to mention, but it may be too much for your DH if you or he is skeptical about the character meal experience in general. I would try Storytellers first and then see how that goes, then work your way up to the other ones.

Oh, and there is also the new Celebration BBQ inside of DL, with Woody and a couple of other Toy Story characters, and it features entertainment as well. That may be an option. It is not technically a 'character meal,' per se, but there is entertainment featuring characters and they sometimes do come around to the individual tables, from what DIS-ers have said.

Wow thanks for the replies! That sounds good! I might just do the Storyteller's do I need to stay on resort to get access to that one? I'm not sure yet if we are staying on resort. I'm waiting for some paperwork to determine when we are going so I haven't done any just yet.....

 

[Sherry E]

Wow thanks for the replies! That sounds good! I might just do the Storyteller's do I need to stay on resort to get access to that one? I'm not sure yet if we are staying on resort. I'm waiting for some paperwork to determine when we are going so I haven't done any just yet.....

You are very welcome! Anyone can eat at Storytellers in the Grand Californian or Goofy's in the Disneyland Hotel or at Lilo and Stitch in the Paradise Pier. You don't have to stay at the hotels to eat at those places. Normally I would be suggesting Goofy's because the buffet is so vast and delicious, but again, I think starting out with kind of a more laid back character meal in a nice, cozy restaurant like Storytellers and then progressing to something a little more lively and upbeat like Goofy's later on would be a good way to go. Also, Storytellers has the menu OR buffet option whereas Goofy's only has buffet.