Character Meals for the Boys?

[Biddler]

What a great topic. We were just there is Nov, and my DD was only 10 months old. However my DS was 3 1/2 and I had a hard time trying to find a Character Brkfst that he would like. We had done the majority of them with the usual characters. I actually booked the GF for the Mad Hatter alone, however we had to cancel the PS.

 

[TeamMom011]

SheDaisy's reply that her son has always gotten sufficient attention at the character meals is not really the way we're goin' here. The point is that by repeatedly emphasising "princesses", Disney is eliminating a goodly percentage of potential customers. My ds has also always gotten enough attention at the Character meals and has had a great time but he would not want to go to a "princess" meal if it was the last food being served in the park. And Disney has not seen fit to provide a "manly" alternative, thus this thread.

 

[Astrid]

What a great thread - let's hope that Disney gets to have a read and contemplates making a change or two.

I have a 10 yr old son and a 7 yr old daughter (who is NOT into princesses!), they love character meals but my son, like it seems the majority of kids his age, would so love to go to one with villains, Toy Story, Hercules etc etc, as has been mentioned above.

I'm starting to look at PSs for our trip this May and am completely stumped for a couple of good character meals that will suit them both. We did Cindy's last year, which was ok, but apart from the food (which was excellent) neither myself or the kids rated the characters or the interaction.

Chef Mickeys, as someone said earlier, was a bit too chaotic for us to try again and Breakfastsaurus a complete disappointment (though, I have to say, I think that was partly to do with having a dreadful server and being sat in the darkest corner of the place!).

I'll have a look at what the Beach Club has to offer, but I really think it's about time that Disney started realising that some of us have sons, or girls that aren't into princesses!

Astrid

 

[wdwphanatic]

Despite the fact that my DSs loved the character breakfast at Cape May (great food and interaction with the characters), I think it would be even better to have a meal with non-classic Disney characters (i.e. instead of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, etc., offer a meal with Hercules, Aladdin, Stitch, Mulan, Treasure Planet characters, etc., etc.). We see the classic Disney characters in different costumes all over WDW anyway (which is appropriate), but I feel that a special meal with some more contemporary (and non-animal) Disney characters would be fresher and more fun for both young and older kids. Not every child is a huge classic Disney movie or cartoon type. Mine love all the new Disney movies and are constantly asking if they'll get to see these characters when they get to WDW. Disney needs to do a better job of incorporating the hottest characters with the WDW experience, imo, otherwise I fear that US/IOA will definitely lure away many WDW customers.

That's all for now,
Sarah

 

[ToyStoryMom_inRI]

I need to mimic all the votes for a Toy Story themed character meal. My son is 4.5 and we were just in the world the first week of December. Although he LOVED all of the character meals and meetings throughout the parks, the absolute highlight of his entire trip was meeting Buzz and Woody outside of Al's Toy Barn at MGM. He walked right up to Buzz, shook his hand and said "Buzz, you're soo AWESOME!" and then he looked at Woody and said "I love you guys...Toy Story is my favorite"! We had a picture taken with just him and Woody and Buzz and then he turned to me and said "Mommy, I want you and Daddy to take a picture with us too!" I have to tell you that off all the pictures we had taken in all the parks these are the best! The excitment in my sons eyes is priceless! Of course we ordered several of each of pose and he asked to have one in a frame for his room.

Mind you, DS has been into Toy Story for 2 years now. He had Toy Story themed Birthday Parties 2 years in a row and already told me that he wants it again this year! As a matter of fact, they came out with a new Buzz spaceship toy this year (it's a replica of the giant spaceship that they have at MGM) that he saw all over Disney and just went crazy over. Well, I had already picked it up at home for him for Christmas. What I did was I wrapped it from Santa and put a little note on there that said "Buzz Lightyear told me that you would probably like this." OMG he was so darn excited!

To sum this all up...YES YES YES...a Toy Story themed meal would be fabulous! I think I would love it just as much as my son would! The beauty of Toy Story is that it is not just a boy themed movie. Jessie, Bo, Barbie and Mrs. Potato Head bring in the excitement for the girls. I would be willing to bet that if Disney did something like this that it would be as popular as CRT!!! That's just my opinion.

 

[dsnyfun]

I urge everyone let's keep this thread going. Maybe Disney will get the message. My DS 3 loves BUZZ. He could be the male Cindy. I can not believe they are letting this marketing op slip thru thier fingers. My Son wore his Buzz sweat shirt every day. When it was dirty we had to get him Buzz tee shirts to wear under his jacket. (we were there last week brrr). If anyone asked him his name he said it was Buzz Lightyear. He kept his autograph opened to the BUZZ Lightyear stamp we got from Buzz in MK. He also insisted on wearing his Buzz Lightyear Halloween cosutme when he went up to BUZZ at AK. We were there for 6 days. He had that darn page opened for six days as we pushed him in his stroller. What is Disney thinking???? Why are there not Buzz spaceships right along with Cindy's castle. Do they not know how HOT he is? I guess Disney is a fantasy land. Outside the Kingdom it is a MANS WORLD after all.

 

[lizzie64]

Dsnyfun,

You and I must have the same son. MY DS just turned 4 and he is Buzz Lightyear. He won't wear any piece of clothing that does not have BUZZ on it. Socks, underwear, t-shirts, shirts, jacket, raincoat, umbrella and hat.

Last time we were at Disney the only places to buy Buzz stuff were little carts outside of Space ranger Spin and Al's toybarn at MGM. I was expecting a whole store inside of Al's.

Now my DS 2 is a woody fanatic. same thing but woody.

They would flip for a breakfast with the gang.

We bought every item at both of those carts last time we were at Disney 2 years ago, and assume I'll do the same this May.

 

[dsnyfun]

That is my point. I think your son and my son are typical. There are many little space rangers out there and you would think disney would cater to them for the $$$$. I would have spent much more on both my DS and DD but I could not find enough BUZZ things. You can not buy the DD more than the DS. He will probably only be in this Buzz phase for a few more years and then we will probably have to go to US/IOA for Spiderman. I hope Disney hears us and has more things for boys soon.

 

[kmc33]

My son will be 4 in May. We are going to Disney in early April. Looking at the character meals, I have been debating what he would enjoy. Winnie the Pooh at CP might be the best choice where he would enjoy the characters. However, if there was a Toy Story character meal, I wouldn't be looking at the others. That would be his choice, hands down!

 

[Planogirl]

My 9 year old told me just today that he would be happy to do a character meal this year. He actually still likes Goofy and Tigger but can take or leave the other characters at the meals.

However he was just about to burst with excitement at the prospect of meeting Spiderman and other superheroes at Univeral. I realize that WDW doesn't have characters like these but I think that the Toy Story characters would still be fun for him. He enjoyed having his picture made with Flik at Disneyland last year.

Besides, Mom would like some variety too.

 

[Mikelly1221]

More of the same here! My DS is 3 1/2 and is doing the pirate cruise for his birthday in March. We would LOVE some sort of a boy's character meal. He still loves Mickey, so that's still good, but we went to the princess breakfast at EPCOT and he thought it was nice, but I could tell he wasn't really thrilled.

There might be hope! In my new Disney catalogue (Valentine's Day), there was a section called Disney Adventurers. There was all this merchandise with Hercules, Aladdin, Peter Pan, and I think Buzz. Not just separate stuff but a new logo grouping them together, like the princesses. It looked good to me!

Anyway, put me down as someone else who would love to see a Toy Story or (better yet for my DS) a Peter Pan character meal!

 

[T-Dog]

I asked this question a month ago and have been floored by the response. I called the Disney Dinner Reservation line and they have been flooded with calls for information about the possibility of a Toy Story character meal. Your suggestions are getting through.

Thanks again for the response.

It took me 34 years to get to WDW (found out my parents went twice without us - LOL) and I'm 34 days away from my second trip in 8 months. You guys have been great help in my planning for both.

 

[wdwphanatic]

I am thrilled that the message is getting through to Disney! Seems like such a logical step for them to take -- can't believe they haven't yet realized that the boy and non-princess-oriented girl markets deserve an alternative to the Winnie the Pooh, classic Disney character and princess meals... I think older kids would also be into a "Disney adventurers" type dining experience, so they'd win on numerous levels if they added something like this to their character dining offerings.

As T-Dog said, it's really great that so many people responded to this thread... Makes me feel a lot more hopeful that we'll be able to open Disney's eyes to the fact that boys, non-princess-oriented girls and older kids need character meals too!!

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful suggestions!

Take care,
Sarah

 

[zulaya]

This thread is still alive! (If I had a triumphant smilie, I place it here!)

I also saw that Disney Adventurer's Collection in the Disney Catalog. I immediatley showed my DH and asked, "Is this a sign of things to come?" I hope so! Aladdin, Hercules, Peter Pan and Tarzan in one place would be AWESOME! And I'd bet my DD would think it was too - she's into princesses but she can tomboy with the best of them too!

More more more!

 

[sm4987]

I have been following this thread since it started and finally decided to add in my two cents. I agree that Disney needs a more diverse character meals. I wanted to plan 4 to 5 of them, but I don't think I want to see the same characters, and neither do my children. My daughter wants to see the Princess, so I'm headed to Epcot (her name is Jazmine). I have already asked my DH if I should leave both him and DS (7) at the resort and meet up with them later. DS is so not into all the girly things. He love Toy Story. I think he could have stayed on Buzz Lightyear all day and was so upset not to get close to the characters. Sometimes Disney is overkill on particular characters, and not enough on other. It's a shame that they think that only certain characters have appeal!

 

[twinmomto3boys]

I LOVE this thread! I completely agree - not enough character meals, etc. for boys.

I stood in line once with them to see Snow White and they wouldn't even talk to her. They just wanted to see Dopey.

 

[Gabrielle]

I'm for a Buzz and/or Toy Story character meal too! I took my 13-year old son to WDW about 3 years ago. We got to do the Villians dinner at GF. And, he did DisneyQuest. Everything else, he's feeling a little old for.

We're going to CR this summer and he perked up when I told him about the size of the arcade there.

I think a dance hall for kids on the Boardwalk would be nice too.

 

[SamanthaL]

sm4987- Your son can get close to Buzz. The Toy Story characters are out daily in MGM, Near the Muppet 3D movie. Not a meal but it made my DD happy.

 

[sm4987]

SamanthaL: Thanks. We saw them last year while waiting for Hunchback. The lines were so long, that we didn't make it to them. DS really wanted to see buzz and DD wanted to see Jesse. We're going for 14 nights this year and will have more time. Maybe we can meet them this time.

 

[eeyore0062]

Well, I have a suggestion for a character meal. At our local Disney store they have boys jackets (new for spring) and on the back it says the "Adventurers", and has a embroidered picture of Hercules, Aladdin, Tarzan and Peter Pan. I think they should expand that concept to the parks, and make a character meal from it!