Character Meal?

[MsDisney5]

Hi My mom and I will be traveling with 3 kids (5,4,2.5yo). We generally go with my husband and dad so we have extra help. We were thinking it may be nice to have character meal for the kids. However, I'm thinking buffets will be a little hard with the kids. Are there any character meals that are family style or full service that anyone would recommend?

 

[KrazeeK120]

We had lunch at Garden Grille when our son was 18 months old and enjoyed it very much. The food is good and served family style. All 3 of us liked the food. You meet Mickey, Pluto, Chip, & Dale at this meal.

I agree about buffets being a hassle. There are 2 of us and 1 of him and it’s still a hassle. We only do buffets at Disney until he can be trusted to carry his own plate of food!

 

[Micharlotte]

I also like Garden Grill. It has a laid back atmosphere compared to some of the other character meals. We also have amazing character interaction here!

 

[Malyficent]

Totally Garden Grill. We did H&V for the Fantasmic package and I don't think I'd do another character buffet again. I liked that the characters came around but it was too much up and down to manage with the kids.

Bon Voyage would be another decent option. Garden Grove has both buffet and a la carte options. CRT is another option (albeit $$$) and then there's the new character dinner at Artist's Point.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Garden Grill, O'hana breakfast, Akershus Storybook Dining and Bon Voyage are all plated meals (Akershus has a small buffet with a few items, but entrees are served at the table). They are all much easier to do with young children than buffets.

 

[3gr8boys]

Chiming in to agree with PPs that characters at Garden Grill are awesome!

 

[sullyfam]

We liked O'hana's family style breakfast. Also, we want to try Garden Grill breakfast (we've done dinner and not breakfast). Plus Cinderella's Royal Table is plated and Akershus too (they have small buffet of cold items). If you have princesses among your kids, those two might definitely be worth looking into! The other one is Trattoria on the Boardwalk which is new and has plated options. You can meal Flynn Rider and Rapunzel plus Ariel and Prince Eric.

I would go with what works best for your plans of the day, is easiest to get to in comparison to where you are staying etc. The buffets can be a pain but the variety is great and my kids always love refreshing their plates and trying all the offerings. It also helps break up the meal when kids get antsy, someone can take them up to the buffet and also, you pace the meal whereas plated you are waiting for someone to bring you food. Sometimes with kids, doing the pacing yourself is a good thing!

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Ohana has a family style breakfast but reservations are hard to get.

Artist Point has a wonderful dinner with Snow White, the Evil Queen, Dopey and Grumpy at Wilderness Lodge. Its a sit down meal [not a buffet]

 

[dachsie]

I would also say Garden grill for the ages you have. There is Mickey, Pluto and Chip and Dale which would be fun for that age group. If you have a princess lover, then maybe Storybook dining at Artist point.