Character meal scheduling tips?

[toodles12]

Are there any tips to booking character meals? Our trip is the first week of Oct, and most of the character meals are booked up. I managed to get a reservation at Crystal Palace, but my kids aren't HUGE Pooh fans. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they'll enjoy the meal, especially if Tigger is there; but they'd get a much bigger thrill out of going to a Mickey character meal. Or even the Hollywood & Vine, if more of the Neverland characters are atually going to be there (in Oct). I know it's rumored that Oso and Handy Manny might be replaced with Mr. Smee and others one of these days....just not sure when.

Anyway....do the sold out character meals ever open up between now and then? I'm wondering how many people book a million character meals, fully knowing they won't go to half of them, and then cancel at the last minute??

Also, if we're going to do Crystal Palace, I'd really like to do the breakfast rather than lunch; but of course the breakfast is unavailable. What are the chances of that one opening up before Oct 2?

Last thing...is it a bad idea to leave a park (like MK) to do a character lunch at one of the resorts, and then return to the park after? Seems like we'd miss out on alot of park time by leaving for a character meal, but maybe taking a mid-day break from the park to kind of regroup isn't such a bad idea??

 

[jagafen]

I'd keep trying for the character meals you'd prefer...people (like me) are constantly tweaking thier ressies. We'll be on properly in 16 days, and just today I swapped Cape May Bfast for 1900 Park Fare...we're going to hit MEMH at MK, then have a late breakfast, then head back for a swim before dinner.

We personally like doing sit downs for meals. It's a nice "break" from the heat. If you plan your TS lunches (if that's what you're thinking you might do) close to (or in) the park where you'll be, it's not that much of a time suck.

 

[Random Ninja]

Anyway....do the sold out character meals ever open up between now and then? I'm wondering how many people book a million character meals, fully knowing they won't go to half of them, and then cancel at the last minute??

People cancel meals all the time. You'll have to keep stalking the reservations site to see what opens up. The best time to try getting ADRs after the 180 day mark is to wait until 45 days out. This is when people cancel trips, and their ADRs usually, that they haven't paid in full so they get the deposit back.

Also, if we're going to do Crystal Palace, I'd really like to do the breakfast rather than lunch; but of course the breakfast is unavailable. What are the chances of that one opening up before Oct 2?

Breakfast is my favorite at CP and I'm not a Pooh fan either. The food's good and the character interaction is great. My favorite was with Piglet who got into a fight with my Stitch plush for getting bacon. You still have a good chance of getting an ADR this far out with a little patience. For Oct 2, your 45 day mark will be on Aug 18.

Last thing...is it a bad idea to leave a park (like MK) to do a character lunch at one of the resorts, and then return to the park after? Seems like we'd miss out on alot of park time by leaving for a character meal, but maybe taking a mid-day break from the park to kind of regroup isn't such a bad idea??

You may try a late breakfast at one of the monorail resorts for MK or Cape May on an Epcot/DHS day. Other then that no, it's probably not worth it. You'll be taking about 3 hours out of your day to go eat. The resorts close to the parks aren't too bad but it'll take a couple of hours to get out of the park, get to the restaurant, eat, and get back to the park.

If you really want a character meal, try the ones in the parks. Get a late breakfast at CP to tide you over til dinner. Epcot has a princess meal that includes a photo with Belle and Garden Grill dinner includes Chip & Dale. AK has a cute breakfast at Tusker House with the fab 5 in safari wear. The character change at H&V is still a rumour at this point so don't count Mr. Smee or the other characters being there.

My answers are in teal.

You may want to also try Sci-fi, 50s Prime Time, Whispering Canyon, Biergarden, Restaurant Marrakesh, and Trails End To-go. These aren't character meals but they do have some form of entertainment/hijinks during the meal. Well, except for Trails End, but you can grab some munchies here and go hang out at the campfire singalong with Chip and Dale. The chuck wagon also sells smores kits and they play a movie, Disney of course, after the campfire.