Character meal ?

[scanmom]

So, we are planning a trip to Disney with 3 young children. ages are 2 1/2, 13 mos and 9 mos (yes, we are crazy!). We are really not sure if we are going to California or Florida, so I am looking at both, weighing the pros and cons of each. We REALLY want to do a character meal to see Mickey. DGS (2y/o) will want to see him, and this is probably the easiest way to do it. Do any of the character meals in DL/DCA/resorts or DTD have Mickey at their meals? I know no specific character is guaranteed, but if MM is USUALLY there, we would plan on going to it! Thanks!!

 

[Briarrose1306]

I believe Mickey's Surfs Up is the only character breakfast Mickey is at and it is inside the Paradise Pier Hotel.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Surfs Up with Mickey breakfast at the Paradise Peir Hotel. and just so you know your kids are free for all character meals, buffets and all you can eat meals because they are under 3!!!

 

[juliemouse]

At WDW, Chef Mickey at the Contemporary Resort has Mickey and all his friends. We had lots of interaction and photo ops when we went with my 2 young sons and niece and nephew. Food was OK, I'm not into buffets but my husband thought the food was great. It wasn't my favorite food of the character meals we've had but it was the best overall character interaction. The kids loved it! That's what mattered most to me!

 

[scanmom]

I knew that all the kids were free.... that is a big reason that we are going now. DGS turns 3 in July, and after that we have to buy him a ticket and pay for buffets, so we are going before he turns 3!! I'm glad to hear that there is a CM with Mickey! I was dreading waiting in an hour line to meet him. And we MUST meet him!! Thanks so much for the info! Now all I have to do is figure out if we are going East or West!!!

 

[gokdog]

We are also going to be doing a surfs up with Mickey on our Spring Disneyland Trip, but if you do end up picking WDW, Tusker House is another great restaurant, with both Character Breakfast and now lunch, with Mickey!

Pretty star studded experience, with Mickey, Minnie, Donald (out front), Daisy and Goofy, we went during the Breakfast to Lunch turnover time, so we got the normal Disney Breakfast, which was great, but when they switched over to lunch we got some really nice African and Asian inspired lunch dishes, but still plenty of Kids choices.

The character lunch is new as of December 2011.

Cheers,

 

[inluvwithbuzz]

I knew that all the kids were free.... that is a big reason that we are going now. DGS turns 3 in July, and after that we have to buy him a ticket and pay for buffets, so we are going before he turns 3!! I'm glad to hear that there is a CM with Mickey! I was dreading waiting in an hour line to meet him. And we MUST meet him!! Thanks so much for the info! Now all I have to do is figure out if we are going East or West!!!

I did Surfs Up With Mickey last week. My son had a blast. Didnt have much time to eat cause he was so busy dancing and learning how to surf with the characters. Which they did this about every 10 minutes. For the character interaction this breakfast was a little pricey but well worth it.

But if you are looking to just meet Mickey. You do not have to do the character breakfast. We constantly seen him out with little to no line. It seemed like everytime we were by the main gate area he was always out. And we even seen him at his house with about a 10 minutes wait. Mickey is very accessible. The only character we only seen out once was Donald. Daisy was out a fair bit and I heard that she was a rarity.

 

[Huff]

How long of a vacation are you planning? For DLR 3 days minimum, 4-5 days preferred to see everything. Small kids don't make it through the day but they also can't go on many of the rides so it depends on your families style of park touring.

WDW for us requires 7-10 days or we feel rushed. Theres almost as many rides shows and attractions at DLR but the two parks and Downtown Disney are next to each other so no time lost getting from one to the other. We also don't spend as much time dining at DLR as we do at WDW.

With small kids I'd opt for Disneyland. Fantasyland has more to offer than MK's (may change when WDW FL expansion is completed). DCA has several small kids rides as well. DLR is also easier with kids because of no need to ride buses, boats etc. to get around.

Either way you'll have fun! I love both east and west but they're very different experiences.

 

[pixiewings71]

Yup, Surfs Up! is the meal with Mickey. But don't discount seeing him at his house in Toon Town, that's also very fun.

There will be loads of rides you can go, tons of characters to meet and you will have a ball!! Like Huff I'd suggest DL but then I'm biased.