character meals or just character meets

[jann1033]

in your opinion.....

do your kids enjoy the actual character meals or just meeting the characters in the parks better?

things have changed since mine were little and for generation 3's first trip( she'll be 2+) i can't decide if we should do a meal ( right now it would probably be CP for late breakfast) or just let her interact with the character's in the park. Pros and cons of either please

my main con with the meals is: expensive for something she probably will be too excited to eat..at least that is how my kids reacted in their day. that's why i was thinking of breakfast... for dad and granddad mainly who like to pack away breakfast

my supposed pro is: more one on one time with the characters at the meal with less congestion ( used to be like that with almost constant interaction at the meal which was nice but led to main con... but I don't know if it still is )

 

[Harmony]

I like character meals.

Pro: you can get pictures w/o feeling "rushed" and you don't have to wait in line with the heat. Also, you can pick and choose which meal to do based on what character you would like to see. At the park, it's a gamble. (more or less) Also, the meals have more of the well-known characters and some of the characters I saw at the parks...my 2y/o wouldn't have recognized. Meals also provide a good "cool-down" and help you re-organize to hit the parks again.

Con: can't think of any.

 

[RachelTori]

Breakfast or lunch really aren't that expensive (especially for children). You get a nice meal, a relaxed atmosphere, your child gets the character's full attention when they come to your table.

We enjoy meeting the characters in the parks too, but those are much more rushed, you have to stand in line, there are usually attempts at line-cutting (no speaka English!).

 

[southjerseymom]

I think the character meals give you a great "bang for your buck". We've done breakfast at Crystal Palace (yummy!), lunch with the Princesses in Norway (we liked the food - some people may not), and our all time favorite.. dinner at Chef Mickey's. The energy there is wonderful and DS and DD love it. (first time 3 and 18 months - second time 2 1/2 and 4). DH and I get to enjoy some adult conversation and the kids are entertained the whole time. Remember at 2 1/2 you won't have to pay - little ones are free until they are 3. IMHO not having to stand in line to see a character is WELL worth the money - plus the food is good!

 

[daisyduck123]

I vote for the character meal. You will only get about 30 seconds with the character in the park during your photo opportunity. My kids love Chef Mickey's.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We love the character meals! We do usually two a trip, sometimes three.

I agree, it's great not to have to wait in line and that you are much less "rushed." Some of the best character pics we got were at character meals. At CP, both Pooh and Eeyore kneeled down and gave my 2 year old nephew a hug and he gave them a kiss on the nose.

At Cinderella's Royal Feast at GF, Cinderella personally took my 6 year old niece by the hand and led her out into the foyer to get a picture of her, Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother and the Prince waltzed my SIL for a minute or two. -- Don't get that at the outside meet and greets!

I also like the character meals because little ones who have never seen the characters up close, get to watch them for a little while (usually) with other kid's before they come to the table. A little breaking in period.

 

[jann1033]

thanks these are all great reasons so that ( boosted by the free till 3 which i forgot ) will do it!