character meals...Garden Grill

[caroline1851]

It doesn't seem like Garden Grill is as popular as CM or CP. Any particular reason? i was thinking about trying to get an adr there. how is it?

 

[LadyOmega]

I think CM and CP are more popular partly because of their proximity to MK (Cp is in MK of course), and because the food is better than at GG (there's other reasons too I'm sure). That said, character intereaction at GG is infinitely better than at CM or CP, at least in my experience.

 

[Stephaniecmc]

From what I understand starting in October the Garden Grill will no longer be a character meal. Maybe someone could correct me if I'm wrong. TIA We had ADR's for dinner for our arrival night, but I read somewhere that starting October 5(?) it would no longer be a character meal.

 

[LadyOmega]

From what I understand starting in October the Garden Grill will no longer be a character meal. Maybe someone could correct me if I'm wrong. TIA We had ADR's for dinner for our arrival night, but I read somewhere that starting October 5(?) it would no longer be a character meal.

No, the deal w/ GG is, at least to my knowledge:
After that date, they will stop serving lunch. They will still serve dinner, and the characters will be there. But like you said, anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

No, the deal w/ GG is, at least to my knowledge:
After that date, they will stop serving lunch. They will still serve dinner, and the characters will be there. But like you said, anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

No, you are correct, October 5th they will no longer be serving lunch. They will still serve a character meal at dinner.

 

[lillykat]

No, you are correct, October 5th they will no longer be serving lunch. They will still serve a character meal at dinner.

Ahh you just scared me! We have ADR for there the last night (10/4) and we wanted a character dinner but everything at the MK was booked when we tried to get our ADR (Delta messed up our flight so we are spending one extra night in orlando or we would have made the ADRs with all the others.

I have been trying daily for LTT or CP but they tell me they have nothing available.

 

[Crystal824]

I like the food at GG. You don't have as many choices as CP or CM. I do prefer the food at CP. CM is ok. The character interaction at GG is better than CP or CM. As for the service at GG, last time we went it was terrible.

 

[thumperjr9]

We were thinking of making ADR's for GG also. If we can even get them at this late date. We have been to CM and liked that, but thought we would try something different this time, plus it works out better in our itinerary. However I do have one question..... My DH has trouble with motion sickness. Do you really feel that much movement as it revolves? He already will be loading up on the Dramamine for the rides I hate to but him through any more discomfort while he is eating.

 

[LadyOmega]

While everyone is different, I will say that I do get motion sickness at well. There is no ride at WDW that gives me motion sickness however, most of my problem is carsickness - have to stare straight ahead as much as possible, looking around and noticing the movement makes me very ill. But I digress....you do notice the movement of the restaurant a bit. But it in no way makes me queasy - it's a very slow, steady movement, so it's not bothersome. Once again, everyone is different, so your DH might have to be the one to make this decision if he thinks there's a chance it might bother him.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I love GG! The pros to GG are: fresher food (IMO) and you don't have to walk anywhere to get it! The con to that is there are fewer choices then CM or CP. CM has the advantage of being out-of-park, so no admission is required.

GG turns sooooo very s l o w l y... I forget we're moving! I don't have motion sickness though, so I may not be a fair judge of that.

D4D

 

[cmaee]

This was our kids favorite character meal. The characters spent so much time with them. Chip and Dale were great. They made multiple stops at our table. When we dined there it was Chip, Dale, Mickey Mouse, and Pluto. Each character stopped at our table no less than 4 times. The restaurant wasn't overly busy, that could be why they were by so much. The restaurant isn't that big, so it has a more intimate feeling. The turning of the restaurant isn't really noticeable. I get motion sick easily and had no problem with this at all. It was also nice to not have to walk around to a buffet line. The food was okay - nothing really exciting, but good kid-friendly food you know you children will eat. It was also nice not having to worry about watching when the characters were getting close to your table so you wouldn't miss them while you were in the buffet line.

 

[thumperjr9]

One more Question.....I was looking at the menu and I think my DS9 would prefer the adult food as opposed to the children's menu, which is the standard chicken, mac & cheese etc. So would that mean that he would have to pay the adult price or would he pay just the child price. Since it is family style I wasn't sure how this works. (sorry OP, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. )

 

[LadyOmega]

I've never been to GG with a child before, but since it's all you care to eat, I would think that he would get his own meal and be able to eat what he wanted from the family platter too. Not 100% sure, but that would make sense to me.

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

We LOVE Garden Grill! Best character interaction! Ever.

My sister swears the motion made her sick but we think she is just imagining things. You really can't feel it while you are sitting down... it's very slow.

One more Question.....I was looking at the menu and I think my DS9 would prefer the adult food as opposed to the children's menu, which is the standard chicken, mac & cheese etc. So would that mean that he would have to pay the adult price or would he pay just the child price. Since it is family style I wasn't sure how this works. (sorry OP, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. )

At the risk of getting flamed I will tell you that my DD11 preferred the kid's food that was brought for my 2 DS7s and the waitress had no problem at all with her sharing with both them and us (I paid adult price for her). It is brought out family style and they are not going to inventory what is on your kids plate... I am sure of that.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

One more Question.....I was looking at the menu and I think my DS9 would prefer the adult food as opposed to the children's menu, which is the standard chicken, mac & cheese etc. So would that mean that he would have to pay the adult price or would he pay just the child price. Since it is family style I wasn't sure how this works. (sorry OP, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. )

We went for lunch in March and our server actually encouraged us to give the kids the adult food. He said they were probably already tired of the same old children platters they have been getting everywhere. Mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, hot dog, pizza. He was very friendly and pleasant.

We also got tons of character interaction as well. About 4 times each one and Chip n Dale really fed into DD who was 2. She loved them!

 

[Bell30012]

Someone scared me for a minute there... we have reservations at Garden Grill and my DD6 is looking forward to having dinner with those "rascals" her pet name for Chip & Dale.

 

[JennyE]

We have ressies for GG this Sunday and I wasn't sure if it was buffet or family style. From reading this thread I now know the answer.

My question is also about children under 3. I know they eat free at buffets but what about family style? Should I assume that in order to get the children's dinner for my 2 year old I'll have to pay but if she eats from the adult dinner it's free?

Thanks!

 

[jamstew]

As many have already said, the character interaction was great. For me, the food was just this side of inedible.

 

[LadyOmega]

We have ressies for GG this Sunday and I wasn't sure if it was buffet or family style. From reading this thread I now know the answer.

My question is also about children under 3. I know they eat free at buffets but what about family style? Should I assume that in order to get the children's dinner for my 2 year old I'll have to pay but if she eats from the adult dinner it's free?

Thanks!

Your assumption is correct.

 

[candee0512]

My kids and I love the character meal at GG. The salad greens are grown in the Land greenhouse, and the rest of the meal is comfort food, for lack of a better description. As others have said, lots of character interaction, and there isn't the frenetic pace like at other character meals; possibly because the food is brought to you instead of you going to a buffet. I love the Listen to the Land ride and seeing those scenes as you dine is just cool.
The restaurant rotates so slowly that it's hardly noticeable. My very motion sick daughter had no problems.

HTH,
Candee