character meal or special show

[karsha]

My husband, 8 y.o boy/girl twins, and I will be going to WDW for the first time the first week in May 2009. As we are completely unfamiliar with the shows and events WDW offers, can anyone recommend a show or character meal the we might enjoy best. I'm thinking that my children might be a little too old for the character meals. I've heard about Fantasmic, and thought they might enjoy that. Any others?

Thank you!

 

[wearegoingtoDisney]

Not sure why it needs to be either one or the other? If you are thinking about cost well, Fantasmic is not an additional cost. Maybe your trying to save time???
I do not think your kids are too old for a character meal. I would look at the list of meals and pick one with the characters your children like the best. There are many we love. Chef Mickey's has great atmosphere and good variety buffet. Crystal Palace has Pooh and Friends and is a wonderful breakfast. Great to get to MK at rope drop tour the park until the crowds come in and do a late breakfast about 10:30.

If you are thinking of the dinner shows. I am not sure. We have never done them because the cost is higher than we want to spend for our family of 6

 

[karsha]

wearegoingtodisney,

We are thinking one or the other, only because we've heard that the food at many of the character meals is mediocre at best. We are only staying 6 nights and would prefer to eat dinner at some of the better restaurants. We are planning on Narcoosee, Jiko, Wave, Flying Fish (or Yachtsman) and perhaps Coral Reef only because the kids would probably like the setting. I figured if we did Fantasmic, we would have dinner at one of the restaurants where you don't have to wait as long to get into the show.

My kids have long outgrown Pooh, and aren't really into any particular characters, but they still may enjoy a character meal, I just have no idea which one. I like your idea of going to the park first and doing a later breakfast. We're staying Club Level, so we can easily grab some juice and a yogurt or something on the way out. Great idea!

Oh, and it's vacation, so cost is not an issue.

Thanks so much!

 

[sherreis]

My husband, 8 y.o boy/girl twins, and I will be going to WDW for the first time the first week in May 2009. As we are completely unfamiliar with the shows and events WDW offers, can anyone recommend a show or character meal the we might enjoy best. I'm thinking that my children might be a little too old for the character meals. I've heard about Fantasmic, and thought they might enjoy that. Any others?

Thank you!

I don't think 8 is too old for character meals. Good choices mentioned by wearegoingtodisney. Another character meal that my boys (then 6 and 11) enjoyed was breakfast at Ohana's with Lilo & Stitch. We did it on our last morning and it was a great way to end our vacation.

As to evening shows/events: Fantasmic is wonderful. Just plan on arriving early to get your seat. You can also get a Fantasmic dinner package at 3 restaurants that will give you preferred seating. If you want that, book it early! Those slots fill quickly, especially, for a decent time. Spectro/Wishes at MK is great especially for the first trip (and any other trip). Some people don't like Illuminations at Epcot but we do. I can't help you with the other dinner shows or shows cause we haven't done them yet. One of these days we'll go see Cirque de Soleil and HDDR. I don't have much interest in the Luau.

Welcome to the DIS! And, have a great time planning your trip.

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Personally, for a family's first trip, I would recommend a character meal. It is one of the most 'Disney' things you could do during a trip to the World. Everyone loves to see characters, young and old alike, even if you're not 'into' a specific character. I'd look over the list of character meals and find one your family would enjoy. Good food is relative. You're not doing 5 star dining so you can't expect 5 star food. It's a buffet so the food should be good, but you can't expect the best meal you'll have on your trip.

 

[bwolfe]

A character meal is a must. I don't think the kids ever get too old. Chef Mickey is great! The characters interact with everyone, it's really fun.

 

[princssdisnygina]

I would say do Chef Mickeys for Breakfast if you want to save your dinners for other places! It is a classic WDW place to go! Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald.... although I have been there with chip and dale as well. Characters are subject to change they tell you! No matter... it is a great place and its a buffet!
As far as Fantasmic goes, you can do the dinner package but just know your seating will be on the sides instead of the middle. The view is just about the same except for a few things but it is nice not to have to wait. I have done it both ways. But Fantasmic is the best show there!
And DO NOT miss Wishes (fireworks at the Magic Kingdom)!!

Gina

 

[Wingedheart]

I would do Ohana for breakfast with Lilo and Stitch - this is great character interaction and the food is good We did this breakfast with friends last summer - even the teenagers had fun!

Chef Mickey's is also fun. Doing a buffet (Chef Mickey) or a family style meal (Ohana) where the food is served to you on platters is nice because it's faster than a regular table service place.

 

[d1sneyf4n]

I am not sure if your children are to old for Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast but when my family and I went last year I found the atmosphere to be wonderful and the food was terrific.

 

[IggyLans]

I agree with Chef Mickey's. It's great! My kids enjoy SciFi in DHS. The atmosphere is really cool. Good luck!

 

[imthatgirl]

what about hoop dee doo? its not a character show, but i dinner show. its high energy and my whole family just love!!
but they also love chef mickeys, we cant go without going to chef mickeys!!!
even my 8yo dd and my 13yo sil have a ball at CM!!

 

[wearegoingtoDisney]

Ok, now I get it. I would still say why choose between the two. Do Fantasmis one evening with dinner package and do the character meal as a late breakfast one day! That is me, I hate to miss any of the fun when I am at the world!

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

DH & I always go to Crystal Palace for breakfast every vacation @ WDW. You're never too old for Pooh & Friends and the food is actually alot better than some of the other restaurants offering breakfast. We tried to get in to Chef Mickey's this time for breakfast but nothing was available during our stay so we're heading back to CP. Give it a try, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. My 16yo DN & 13yo DNep both enjoy CP & Pooh.....

 

[karsha]

I can't thank everyone enough for the great info and recommendations. You've convinced me to do both Fantasmic and a charactermeal - probably a breakfast. Chef Mickey seems to be a fav of most. So we'll either do that or the one at Poly or BC since we are doing a split stay.

Thanks again to all!