character meals questions

[Piwacket's Mom]

Hi, this will be my first visit to Disney and I'm on the shy side. I don't really see myself running up to a character in the park so thought I might try a character meal. Can you please give me your opinions on the character meals? Is the food of the same quality at each place? I like the old time characters and don't know if I should even worry about the quality of the food. thanks for your advice.

 

[kcpinwdw]

There is a wide variety of differences to CHaracter meals both in terms of interaction and food quality. If you want classic characters I would go with Tusker House. Yum.

 

[Hopefully]

Hi, this will be my first visit to Disney and I'm on the shy side. I don't really see myself running up to a character in the park so thought I might try a character meal. Can you please give me your opinions on the character meals? Is the food of the same quality at each place? I like the old time characters and don't know if I should even worry about the quality of the food. thanks for your advice.

All character experiences differ. All character meals differ. Unlike what you see on promotional video's there is no "running up to a character in the park". There are long, structured lines in the parks to meet characters. There are as many reviews of meals as there are folks reviewing them. I think your best bet is to determine which characters you want to meet at a meal and go from there
Good luck

 

[jenjersnap]

I would choose the meal based on which characters you prefer to see and, secondarily, a convenient location over food considerations. Here is a list of who appears where: http://www.kennythepirate.com/dining/disney-world-character-meal-list/

 

[Piwacket's Mom]

I would choose the meal based on which characters you prefer to see and, secondarily, a convenient location over food considerations. Here is a list of who appears where: http://www.kennythepirate.com/dining/disney-world-character-meal-list/

thank you so much for the list. it's wonderful!

 

[Piwacket's Mom]

I really appreciate the help! I just love pluto. I was hoping for flora fauna and merryweather but pluto is adorable!

 

[alicat8]

If you're shy, I find the meals much more awkward-especially without kids to focus attention on. If you go up to Pluto in line in a park, you can just walk up and pose for a picture. Otherwise you may feel the need to make conversation with someone in a costume who can't talk back (no big deal for some people, my dorky self included but possibly uncomfortable for someone who's shy)

 

[beck00]

I think the meals are a great chance for character interaction! Good luck, and have fun

 

[kastoney]

Definitely try one to see how you feel about it. I'm not a huge fan, but that is because I don't care for buffets in general. That said, the only one we actually like is Tusker House. While pricey, the food is table service quality despite being a character meal.

 

[Piwacket's Mom]

wel,

If you're shy, I find the meals much more awkward-especially without kids to focus attention on. If you go up to Pluto in line in a park, you can just walk up and pose for a picture. Otherwise you may feel the need to make conversation with someone in a costume who can't talk back (no big deal for some people, my dorky self included but possibly uncomfortable for someone who's shy)

Definitely try one to see how you feel about it. I'm not a huge fan, but that is because I don't care for buffets in general. That said, the only one we actually like is Tusker House. While pricey, the food is table service quality despite being a character meal.

My brother hates buffet too. I'm going to have to check out tusker house. thanks for your help.

 

[ElizabethG]

My family is a fan of Garden Grill. It is in Epcot and the characters are Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale. The restaurant rotates and the food is all-you-can-eat, but it is brought to your table.

For variety, 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian has a fun character breakfast buffet. They have Mary Poppins, Alice, Mad Hatter, Pooh, and Tigger.

 

[Nancyg56]

They are all so different! I like characte meals, butmy favorites are teh ones that the food comes to me. I like 'Ohana breakfast with Pluto, Stitch, Lilo and Mickey. I also like Garden Grill, but I have no been there in years. My opinion may be "outdated". Also, I also get a big kick out of 1900 Park Fare. In the morning the Mad Hatter is a hoot, and in the evening, the Tremaine family is with the price of admission! The food is good, and the interaction is so muuch fun

 

[PFopma]

Favorite Character Meal is Ohana breakfast. The food is better than most Characters meals - It's brought to your table and served family style. But if you are looking for classic Mickey you won't find him here. He dresses for the surroundings in an aloha shirt. Lilo and Stitch are fun and even Pluto wears a Hawaiian lei.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hi, this will be my first visit to Disney and I'm on the shy side. I don't really see myself running up to a character in the park so thought I might try a character meal. Can you please give me your opinions on the character meals? Is the food of the same quality at each place? I like the old time characters and don't know if I should even worry about the quality of the food. thanks for your advice.

On my first solo character meal, I was super-shy, and I highly recommend Cape May Cafe. I was so amazed and pleased at how the characters seemed "in tune" to my shyness. Whenever they went by, they'd just give me a little wave and blow me a kiss. However, I went there again, when I was more outgoing with the characters, and got plenty of attention.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

OUR WDW CHARACTER MEAL & BUFFET RANKINGS (*rev: February 2015*):
Results are listed from best to worst
Best Food (quality first, then variety):
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Ohana
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Tusker House, breakfast-Lunch (moved from #1 Spot due to menu changes)
. . . Garden Grove Swan-dinner
. . . Akershus Royal Banquet
. . . Tusker House, Dinner
. . . Cape May Café
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Crystal Palace
. . . Cinderella Royal Table (since new menu)
. . . Chef Mickey's
Best Character Interaction (time with guest first, then friendliness):
. . . Tusker House, Breakfast-Lunch
. . . Akershus Royal Banquet
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Tusker House, Dinner
. . . Ohana
. . . Garden Grove (Swan, dinner)
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Chef Mickey's
. . . Cape May Café
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Cinderella Royal Table
. . . Crystal Palace (barely enough time for a photo)
Best Atmosphere (surroundings and ambiance):
. . . Cinderella Royal Table
. . . Tusker House, Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
. . . Akershus Royal Banquet
. . . Ohana
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Crystal Palace
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Cape May Café
. . . Garden Grove (Swan, dinner)
. . . Chef Mickey's
NOTE1: Results are listed from best to worst. Overall, Tusker House wins due to best food and the length of time the characters stay at each table. A close second is 1900 Park Fare. By far, Chef Mickey's is the loser, due to mediocre character interaction and almost terrible food quality. The very distant second worst is Cinderella Royal Table, for brief time at tables by characters and the new menu.

 

[Piwacket's Mom]

OUR WDW CHARACTER MEAL & BUFFET RANKINGS (*rev: February 2015*):
Results are listed from best to worst
Best Food (quality first, then variety):
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Ohana
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Tusker House, breakfast-Lunch (moved from #1 Spot due to menu changes)
. . . Garden Grove Swan-dinner
. . . Akershus Royal Banquet
. . . Tusker House, Dinner
. . . Cape May Café
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Crystal Palace
. . . Cinderella Royal Table (since new menu)
. . . Chef Mickey's
Best Character Interaction (time with guest first, then friendliness):
. . . Tusker House, Breakfast-Lunch
. . . Akershus Royal Banquet
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Tusker House, Dinner
. . . Ohana
. . . Garden Grove (Swan, dinner)
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Chef Mickey's
. . . Cape May Café
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Cinderella Royal Table
. . . Crystal Palace (barely enough time for a photo)
Best Atmosphere (surroundings and ambiance):
. . . Cinderella Royal Table
. . . Tusker House, Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
. . . Akershus Royal Banquet
. . . Ohana
. . . 1900 Park Fare
. . . Garden Grill
. . . Crystal Palace
. . . Hollywood & Vine
. . . Cape May Café
. . . Garden Grove (Swan, dinner)
. . . Chef Mickey's
NOTE1: Results are listed from best to worst. Overall, Tusker House wins due to best food and the length of time the characters stay at each table. A close second is 1900 Park Fare. By far, Chef Mickey's is the loser, due to mediocre character interaction and almost terrible food quality. The very distant second worst is Cinderella Royal Table, for brief time at tables by characters and the new menu.

thanks for taking the time to help me with this. It helps me a lot.

 

[Chrelaine]

We loved the characters at Tusker House but DH and I both didn't love the food. Oddballs, I know. The juice was delicious, though!

 

[nanni]

If you want to see Pluto, I'd recommend Garden Grill. It just seems like a calmer character meal overall based on my experiences, since people are getting up from their tables for the buffet.

 

[xlsm]

Everyone has given you great advice! I'd just like to add, it you're very shy, you might have an easier time with the "fur" characters over the "face" characters, it is less pressure to have a conversation with them. I'm also going to recommend 'Ohana and Garden Grill if you have someone in your group who dislikes buffets.

Have fun on your vacation!!!

 

[Piwacket's Mom]

Everyone has given you great advice! I'd just like to add, it you're very shy, you might have an easier time with the "fur" characters over the "face" characters, it is less pressure to have a conversation with them. I'm also going to recommend 'Ohana and Garden Grill if you have someone in your group who dislikes buffets.

Have fun on your vacation!!!

that was my game plan! start with the "fur" and hopefully work up to the fairy Godmother. It's now a toss up between 1900 and 'Ohana. I'll let my brother choose.