Character meals - how many to plan?

[WDWAtLast]

We are going for our first family trip in August dd's will be 8 (bday while at WDW!) and 5 - almost 6. We are there for a week on the regular dining plan. I don't want to overdo the Character meals, but know it will be hot and that will be the best way to meet our favs. And I know that on our next trip (in several years) that 1 character meal may be more than enough for the girls So, I was planning:

Breakfast:
CP
Akershus
CM or Donald's safari breakfast
Ohana's (last day - no park tickets, mid day flight home)

Lunch:
CRT
50's prime time

Dinner:
HDDR
1900 Park Fair
Artist Point (dh and I only - kids at the kids club )

I know that some of these would be paid OOP - I am fine with that, but is this too many character meals? Would I be better to schedule them and then cancel if we feel overbooked upon arrival?

We would plan for early breakfasts so be in the park at rope drop or shortly after. I am heavy on the breakfast buffets because my dd's can be a little picky, but love breakfast foods.

Thanks for any advice!!!

 

[Tbelle1976]

I think that's a perfect age for DD's to enjoy all the character meals. If you really think that your girls will enjoy them all I would keep them. We did 3 of them on our last trip (DD10, DS7) and we could have even done a couple more because the kids really enjoyed them.

 

[summermac]

We have almost the same dinner plans. I have two kids (5 & 2) and also 6 adults (who all love Disney).

Our hopefuls are:
Whispering Canyon Cafe
50s Prime Time Cafe
Crystal Palace (breakfast)
Tusker House breakfast safari
LeCellier
1900 Park Fare

CP & TH pretty much knock out all the "big" characters for my party as my daughter (2) isn't into princesses just yet. Probably next trip.

 

[Girly_Qs]

Well, I might be the wrong person to ask . . . IMO, I can 'eat out' anywhere at home . . . there's only 1 place I get to eat with Mickey or the princesses, etc!

We'll be doing a short trip to the World following our 7-night cruise in December. In just 3 days, on DlxDDP, we'll be having 5 character meals!

Then again, this will also be our 3rd trip in 3 years, so we'll just be doing our personal park highlights and Christmas stuff. So, we're not as worried about making sure we hit absoutely everything.

 

[WDWAtLast]

Ok, I think I will keep them all! I also enjoy the character meals - but didn't want to go overboard on them. I know that Akershus and CRT will overlap a little - but want the experience of dining in THE castle. And Park Fair has Cinderella - but also Lady Tremaine and the stepsisters!!!

 

[Girly_Qs]

I agree - all worthwhile if you have princess fans!

Again, in just our 3 days, we'll be doing CRT, Akershus, AND 1900PF as well!

Living it up with the princesses while it lasts!

 

[CharacterFan]

I never think there are too many character meals, but your list looks great. I'd pick Donald Safari of Chef Mickey's. I find the characters rushed at Chef Mickey's as well as the food just to be okay. I love Donald's and the food is great.

If you're looking for just Mickey. I'd strongly suggest Garden Grill for dinner. It's the best character interaction I've ever had and the food is so good.

enjoy your trip.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We took our nieces, the youngest was 6, to 4 character meals and she loved them all....when we take them again we are going to start every day with a character breakfast

 

[missiebland]

I generally book them and if I can get them and you can always cancel later. I personally love the idea of eating with characters as much as I can. How often can you be harrassed by a duck while eating? I looove it and so does my DD3. I don't think you can get enough princesses.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Character meals are the best!!!!!!!!!!! My kids love them and it keeps my kids occupied and not harrassing me during a meal.

I know it's mostly the same things over and over but it's a buffet. You can do different foods. That's what I like.

For us we love to do LOTS of them. Last trip we did 3 but were only in the parks for 3 days. We have an 8 day trip and are doing 6 (Ohana's dinner is entertaining but not character).

1900 PF dinner
Ohana's dinner
LeCellier
CRT
Akershus
CP breakfast and dinner
CM

For US we can dine anywhere while at home but you don't get character meals except at WDW! While at WDW I want the full on experience. Character meals are one of them for US. I live in NJ (5 minutes from PHiladelphia and an hour from NYC) and can get fine dining anytime I want. If DH and I ever go alone we will do more fine dining and maybe just 1 character meal but while we go with kids we will immerse ourselves in the magic.

Also we like to kill two birds with one stone. We eat and meet characters. I refuse to wait in long lines to meet characters.

 

[brokenlola]

5 of our 7 TS's are character meals! So, no I don't think it's too much Since you said you are going to be paying OOP for some of the meals, don't forget that most of the kids meals at dinner are cheaper than the kids buffets.

 

[catne]

Keep 'em...your little princesses will be grown-up princesses all too soon. My "little" princess is 20! She still enjoys the occasional character meal, but she really liked them when she was little

And we parents really enjoyed not having to stand in hot lines for hours on end to get pictures with characters.

Now they need a Fairies meal! And a Pirates meal!

 

[Belle4mygrl]

We eat at least 2 with Mickey and once at other character meals. We have 4 other TS meals.

Our plan is to eat

Crystal Palace
Chef Mickey
Princess Storybook breakfast
Ohana breakfast
Garden Grill
1900 Park Fare diner

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Over 9 days we did:
CM-3 (2 b, 1 d)
O'Hana-1 (b)
1900 PF-1 (d)
TH-1 (b)
CRT-2 (b, l)
CP-3 (2 b, 1 l)
LTT-2 (d) when it was still character
H&V-1 (l)
PSB-1 (l)
And 50 PTC, Sci-Fi, RC, Boma, TTS, 9D, CR

Character meals were great! They kept DD3 and DS5 entertained so we could take a little longer lunch break, plus they got to meet their friends so we didn't have to wait in line in the parks.

 

[Ms Sleepy]

We are going for our first family trip in August dd's will be 8 (bday while at WDW!) and 5 - almost 6. We are there for a week on the regular dining plan. I don't want to overdo the Character meals, but know it will be hot and that will be the best way to meet our favs. And I know that on our next trip (in several years) that 1 character meal may be more than enough for the girls So, I was planning:

Breakfast:
CP
Akershus
CM or Donald's safari breakfast
Ohana's (last day - no park tickets, mid day flight home)

Lunch:
CRT
50's prime time

Dinner:
HDDR
1900 Park Fair
Artist Point (dh and I only - kids at the kids club )

I know that some of these would be paid OOP - I am fine with that, but is this too many character meals? Would I be better to schedule them and then cancel if we feel overbooked upon arrival?

We would plan for early breakfasts so be in the park at rope drop or shortly after. I am heavy on the breakfast buffets because my dd's can be a little picky, but love breakfast foods.

Thanks for any advice!!!

I have booked the same number of breakfasts as you, this will be our 1st visit and dd is 8 again won't be going back for a number of years so thought better to see the characters one on one at a meal that face the gauntlet outside in the heat.

Have Crystal Palace 1st Morning
Akushus
Chef Mickeys
Have just added Ohana's

and have booked 1900 Park Fare for our anniversary dinner after daughter has BBB in the Castle.

Really looking forward to it all