Character meal timing and tips

[violentlyserene]

I think we've finally decided on Surfs Up and! Ariels grotto but im not sure how best to time the reservations.

We'll be there the third week of oct so im hoping crowds will be better. Does it matter for weekend vs week day? What about time?

Ariels be just be my daughter and i. Do people ever dress up for it?

How does photopass + work with these?

For surfs up, whats the best plan for a nervous not very verbal two year old? They are twons and one never stops and may need to be dragged away from characters while the other is more apprehensive ususlly. Surfs up sounds like its more interactive and silly which will help a lot im sure.

Does anyons have experience with gluten free at either of these?

 

[jani3]

We just did surf's up yesterday. They opened at 7am and my reservation was for 8:30, was seated within 2 minutes. It wasn't crowded at that time and there were a lot of empty tables. Which meant the characters spent a lot more time with us and even saw them all 2x. Stitch has a dance party every so often and I noticed tons of little kids, around 2-3 yrs old, dancing up there with him.

When we were leaving the restaurant around 9:45, the line to check in was crowded. I overheard the lady tell people it would be about a 20 min wait.

I don't think there's a photopass there. You have to pay $35(?) for the pic with Mickey. They didn't offer to put it on the photopass.

Sorry, can't help you with Ariel or gluten diet.

 

[NiceOneSimba]

If you have PP+, you should get the photo packages (prints) and the digital images should be added to your account. You should just show them the lanyard, and you should be all set.

 

[violentlyserene]

If you have PP+, you should get the photo packages (prints) and the digital images should be added to your account. You should just show them the lanyard, and you should be all set.

Awesome! Thats easy enough.

We just did surf's up yesterday. They opened at 7am and my reservation was for 8:30, was seated within 2 minutes. It wasn't crowded at that time and there were a lot of empty tables. Which meant the characters spent a lot more time with us and even saw them all 2x. Stitch has a dance party every so often and I noticed tons of little kids, around 2-3 yrs old, dancing up there with him.

When we were leaving the restaurant around 9:45, the line to check in was crowded. I overheard the lady tell people it would be about a 20 min wait.

I don't think there's a photopass there. You have to pay $35(?) for the pic with Mickey. They didn't offer to put it on the photopass.

Sorry, can't help you with Ariel or gluten diet.

That's good to know. 8ish seems reasonable. I don't want breakfast to be before we go into the parks so im thinking either the day we check out (sun) or maybe the day of our Halloween party (thursday). I kind of wanted that to be a break and pool day though before the party.

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

When you make any dining reservations for Disney, you should make note on your reservation about gluten free.
If you make them online there is a place where you can put in allergy and special diet information.
If you call to make the ressie, you will want to tell the cast member who makes the ressie for you.
Also when you are seated tell your server to make sure they have that info, and a chef will come out to speak with you.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Does anyone know if the Surf's Up breakfast is offered year-round, or just seasonally?

We're also going third week in October, and were also planning to book the Surf's Up breakfast, but so far it doesn't seem to show any October availability, even for earlier in the month?

 

[amyg1975]

Does anyone know if the Surf's Up breakfast is offered year-round, or just seasonally?

We're also going third week in October, and were also planning to book the Surf's Up breakfast, but so far it doesn't seem to show any October availability, even for earlier in the month?

I have read that there are some issues with the reservation system for October.

 

[violentlyserene]

Does anyone know if the Surf's Up breakfast is offered year-round, or just seasonally?

We're also going third week in October, and were also planning to book the Surf's Up breakfast, but so far it doesn't seem to show any October availability, even for earlier in the month?

I had issues too. Surfs up wont let me book breakfast, though Ariels seems ok. Im still torn on what day to do surfs up. Anyone know about weekdays vs weekends?