Character Meals-How do they work?

[eetravel]

Have scheduled both princess breakfasts-CRT and Askerhouse, as well as dinner at Chef Mickeys and Backyard BBQ. Know what characters to expect. Question is this-how does one interact with the characters? Do they all go from table to table? Are some characters at a "station"? Is it a free for all? Asking b/c my DDs love the characters but sometimes get overwhelmed if there is a "mob mentality". Have been to other character meals and have had a mixed bag of how the greets go. Just trying to be prepared.

 

[tinkmom2]

Most of the character meals you will take a seat and the charaters come to your table and interact with your family. You can click on my trip report below and see some pics form Akershus. At Akershus you also take a pic with a character at the entrance and get it to keep for free. It's brought to your table during breakfast.

 

[Hopefully]

I have read that the Backyard BBQ is a free for all. I understand that the characters are out and about, but I have read criticism that some young ones (and not so young ones) are very aggresive about getting up close.
I have not experienced it personally. Maybe someone who has been can comment.

 

[tink&stitchsmom]

My 5 and 2 year old loved Mickeys Backyard BBQ. The characters don't vistit your table and sign autographs, instead they dance with the children. My kids had a blast.

The other character experiences have the characters making rounds to all the tables and taking pics and signing autographs. At CRT you meet Cinderella in the lobby for a special photo op. and at Akershus you usually do the same with Belle.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[PictureJumpr]

No 'mob mentality' in most cases, in fact the characters' friends (handlers) and the characters themselves are pretty adept and gently re-directing children who are not part of your party from interacting with the characters when it's your turn.

Plus you get autograph opportunities, playful interaction, and photo ops like these:

 

[eetravel]

Thanks for the info, they sound pretty organized. Also, how much time do they usually take? Do they kick you out after awhile?

 

[tink22]

Thanks for the info, they sound pretty organized. Also, how much time do they usually take? Do they kick you out after awhile?

They won't kick you out persay but just remember, you are sitting in someone else's table. It's not like eating at a normal restaurant. They make reservations and sit in waves at some places and the longer you sit, the longer someone else has to wait to get seated and eat. I would say about an hour or so...give or take but after that you've probably eaten, seen the characters and even possibly got your check.
I wouldn't go to character dining expecting a nice, leisurely meal, that's for sure! They are busy and loud most of the time.

 

[DisneyNicole]

Don't be expecting much from Chef Mickeys.
I think they use old meat, beause my husband and our 2 year old daughter went there 3 years ago, and we are not going back.
I ate their steaks, and my husband and I felt sick afterwards, but thankfully we made a quick recovery the next morning.

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks for the info, they sound pretty organized. Also, how much time do they usually take? Do they kick you out after awhile?

I would give at least an hour for a character meal. It really depends one where the characters are in relation to where you are seated when you arrive as to how long it will take them to reach you. Also, they come by one at a time so it isn't the whole group of characters arriving at once, which is quite nice. Sometimes they get to the table shortly after you have been seated and you may even get to see then twice on a visit, but it really depends also on the size of the place, that is, the ration of characters to guests, which will have a great effect on how long you wait and how long they spend at the table with you.

They won't kick you out persay but just remember, you are sitting in someone else's table. It's not like eating at a normal restaurant. They make reservations and sit in waves at some places and the longer you sit, the longer someone else has to wait to get seated and eat. I would say about an hour or so...give or take but after that you've probably eaten, seen the characters and even possibly got your check.
I wouldn't go to character dining expecting a nice, leisurely meal, that's for sure! They are busy and loud most of the time.

Agreed. What we have often been told when we are seated is that if any of the characters have not made it to the table by the time we are almost done with our meal, that we should let the server know.

Don't be expecting much from Chef Mickeys.
I think they use old meat, beause my husband and our 2 year old daughter went there 3 years ago, and we are not going back.
I ate their steaks, and my husband and I felt sick afterwards, but thankfully we made a quick recovery the next morning.

Never had a problem. Though it is IMO more rushed than most of the other meals for some reason. I do feel the servers are partcularly stretched at this location. The only hassle we ever had here was that the kids from a table across the way from us would swamp our table as soon as a character arrived and trying to get photos of DD without someone else's kids in the pic proved a bit challenging. To be fair though, the onus is on the parents to ensure that their kids wait their turn. If it happened again though I would be more assertive - very politely of course.

 

[KarBear]

Chef Mickey's was ok. Just ok. The food was blah, but the service made up for it a little. I read that the food wasn't great but thought people were being to picky, well they were right it wasn't great. Crystal Palace was great service and good food. I always recommend that to my friends. Good luck.

 

[2Tiggies]

Chef Mickey's was ok. Just ok. The food was blah, but the service made up for it a little. I read that the food wasn't great but thought people were being to picky, well they were right it wasn't great. Crystal Palace was great service and good food. I always recommend that to my friends. Good luck.

I totally agree! In fact, meals at the CP have had us on the receiving end of some of the best service we've had at WDW! Now that is pretty impressive for a buffet if you ask me. Love the food too. I think there is more variety there than CM - might be wrong and it could just be my personal preferences or the layout of the buffet - but absolutely awesome.