Character Meals Super Thread!!

[Rubygoose]

I'm trying to plan a dinner time for Goofy's Kitchen. I originally planned on 5pm assuming the first opening would be the best but after reading some that there is a line to take pictures and it backs up I'm wondering if everyone picks the 5pm and I should plan for a little later? We are going the last week of June if that matters. This would be our only character meal.

And photo packages, how much is it at Goofy's? Are any photos included in the cost of the meal? (I've never done character meals, even at WDW)

We did 5pm seatting on a Saturday in Sept and there was one family ahead of us in line. At 5:30 when going towards the washrooms I noticed a huge line! The picture line is the same line where you pay for the meal, so you don't have to wait twice. Pictures are not included in the meal price, but if you get PP+ they are free.

 

[mommamonster]

I'm trying to plan a dinner time for Goofy's Kitchen. I originally planned on 5pm assuming the first opening would be the best but after reading some that there is a line to take pictures and it backs up I'm wondering if everyone picks the 5pm and I should plan for a little later? We are going the last week of June if that matters. This would be our only character meal.

And photo packages, how much is it at Goofy's? Are any photos included in the cost of the meal? (I've never done character meals, even at WDW)

When we were there last June it was about 30$ for the large 8x10 photo (and came with a few small 4x6 photos) inside a very nice folder with a few cute recipes included. It was my favorite of all the photo packages from the different character breakfasts. If you look into Photopass + and decide it might be worth it, it includes character meal photos which for my family of photo souvenir fans, is an awesome deal!

 

[aussie shaz]

We went at 5pm and there was about 2 families in front of us. The characters came ack multiple times and it was pretty quiet. It got much busier when we were leaving.

I suggest getting there 5 mins early to check in though.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Thank you, I went ahead and booked the 5pm. Still thinking the photo pass over and at least I have an idea of the package if I don't do PP+. I will definitely get there at least 10 minutes early so that should help. I'm not telling the kids ahead of time .

 

[DisneyMarvelStarWars]

I have an illness that makes it impossible for me to digest any animal protein. I have to follow a plant-based diet for my health. Do the character buffets offer enough non-meat, non-dairy items? I'd like to do a character meal, but $33.99 is a lot to pay for garden salad and bread.

 

[PullmanHokie]

We have reservations for breakfast at Surf's Up and will have our Photopass+ card before our breakfast. Can anyone tell me about the photo package that is given at this character breakfast? Is it like the Goofy's Kitchen package (a cute folder with an 8x10, some smaller prints, and recipe cards)? I have read that the photo is with Mickey when you arrive, I'm just wondering what kind of prints you receive. Thanks!

 

[KellaCat]

Great info, thank you! I knew you could get a pre-park opening breakfast at Plaza Inn, but never knew how they did it! I think that seals the deal for me! I'll be calling at exactly 60 days out to get one of the pre-opening spots!

 

[kristenm514]

We have reservations for breakfast at Surf's Up and will have our Photopass+ card before our breakfast. Can anyone tell me about the photo package that is given at this character breakfast? Is it like the Goofy's Kitchen package (a cute folder with an 8x10, some smaller prints, and recipe cards)? I have read that the photo is with Mickey when you arrive, I'm just wondering what kind of prints you receive. Thanks!

We got a cute beach themed folder with two 8x10s (one on each side) and the two smaller pictures, no recipe cards though.

 

[PullmanHokie]

We got a cute beach themed folder with two 8x10s (one on each side) and the two smaller pictures, no recipe cards though.

Thanks for the photo package details! I am excited to take advantage of the Photopass+ deal during our character meals!

 

[lucy200683]

just my two cents....

we just finished our week at Disneyland and we did 2 character breakfast... surfs up and minnie and friends... surfs up.. although more expensive and less number of characters... was SOO much better in my opinion.. great interaction... good food... minnie and friends there was ALOT of characters... they didn't flow around like they did at surfs up.. we had to chase them around.. then they didnt want to stop for pics b/c they said they were walking around.. we were at the table for over an hour and actually only 3 characters came to our table.. we were really a bit disappointed. still had a good time.. i mean we were at disney afterall! lol but next time we will try a different character meal instead of the minnie and friends...

hopefully this will help others in your planning!!

 

[mom2rtk]

just my two cents....

we just finished our week at Disneyland and we did 2 character breakfast... surfs up and minnie and friends... surfs up.. although more expensive and less number of characters... was SOO much better in my opinion.. great interaction... good food... minnie and friends there was ALOT of characters... they didn't flow around like they did at surfs up.. we had to chase them around.. then they didnt want to stop for pics b/c they said they were walking around.. we were at the table for over an hour and actually only 3 characters came to our table.. we were really a bit disappointed. still had a good time.. i mean we were at disney afterall! lol but next time we will try a different character meal instead of the minnie and friends...

hopefully this will help others in your planning!!

I'd like to hear more about others' experiences with Minnie's. I was actually thinking about doing this a couple times on our upcoming trip. But not if they're going to that model where they just walk around and don't stop for photos. It seems like someone at Disney has an idea that's what they'd like to switch to for characters, as I have been reading about some character meets at DHS in WDW doing this recently. That's just a no go in my book and I won't pay extra for it.

 

[Rubygoose]

just my two cents....

we just finished our week at Disneyland and we did 2 character breakfast... surfs up and minnie and friends... surfs up.. although more expensive and less number of characters... was SOO much better in my opinion.. great interaction... good food... minnie and friends there was ALOT of characters... they didn't flow around like they did at surfs up.. we had to chase them around.. then they didnt want to stop for pics b/c they said they were walking around.. we were at the table for over an hour and actually only 3 characters came to our table.. we were really a bit disappointed. still had a good time.. i mean we were at disney afterall! lol but next time we will try a different character meal instead of the minnie and friends...

hopefully this will help others in your planning!!

Did you have a table off in the corner? You shouldn't have to chase the characters around, they are supposed to stop at your table and take pictures. If you try to stop them and get a picture when they are not at your table, they usually just ignore you and keep going on their route (most likely because they can't see you! DS got plowed down by Eyore trying to hug him because he wasn't in his line of sight.) The two times we did Minnie's we were put in an awkward area where the characters couldn't fit through very easily, and both times we asked for a table along the aisle and there was no problem with switching. We just had to wait a couple minutes for a clean table.

 

[egritz]

just my two cents....

we just finished our week at Disneyland and we did 2 character breakfast... surfs up and minnie and friends... surfs up.. although more expensive and less number of characters... was SOO much better in my opinion.. great interaction... good food... minnie and friends there was ALOT of characters... they didn't flow around like they did at surfs up.. we had to chase them around.. then they didnt want to stop for pics b/c they said they were walking around.. we were at the table for over an hour and actually only 3 characters came to our table.. we were really a bit disappointed. still had a good time.. i mean we were at disney afterall! lol but next time we will try a different character meal instead of the minnie and friends...

hopefully this will help others in your planning!!

That was our experience with Minnies the last few times too! I'm still debating between Minnies & Mickey's for breakfast...and actually thinking about doing both, but I'm not really sure I want to tie up that much time. I do like the fact that as soon as you're done with breakfast you are already in the park....that is really nice!

 

[mom2rtk]

Honestly, if I did a character meal and the characters did not come around and stop at my table (most of them) without them notifying me at booking time that this is the new normal, I'd probably have to talk to a manager about a partial refund on what was on my check. That character access is why I pay the money for those rules.

 

[AC7179]

So if you have pp+, you get the hard copies of the pictures for free, unless you haven't picked up your pp+, and then you pay for the pics and are reimbursed when you pick up your photo pass +?

 

[lucy200683]

follow up:

to answer a few questions...

we had a table outside... but it was right next to the steps... so it was very accessible.

i know they did see us b/c they pointed that they were walking around.


i don't know if this was the exact reason.. but they did seem to stay inside ALOT more then they did outside. it was 8am.. so wasn't hot or anything, a little disappointing b/c the people pay the same whether u are inside or out.. so really didn't seem as fair.. but like i said.. i don't have any evidence on that... it was just my observation.

we did buy (pre-order-- BEST INVESTMENT EVER!! MUST DO!! lol) the photopass +.... at each meal they put the pics on our card.. AND gave us an 8x10 and 4- 4x6 hard copies of the pics as well.. they give that to you at the table.. and it is at no cost.


like i have said... we still had a blast.. i think doing surfs up first, then minnies just really gave us a little disappointment when you compare the two. lol


no matter what you decide.. try to take it with a grain of salt.. things dont always work the way you planned... but as long as you have a positive attitude its really hard to be disappointed when you are at DISNEY!! =)

 

[BCmomma]

This is a fantastic thread, thank you SO MUCH!!!

 

[dizneekrazee]

Hi, I was just peeking in to help decide next trips character meal. I noticed on the first post characters were listed that you have the possibility of meeting. I don't know how often it is updated, but, I have also seen Aurora (Aug 2011), Mulan (Aug 2011 and Aug 2012), Gideon (Dec 2012), and Jasmine and Aladdin (Dec 2012) at Goofy's Kitchen.

 

[jescal75]

We've done Minnie and friends breakfast the last 2 years and both times had a great experience there were lots of characters and pretty much all of them came by and had some sort of interaction with my kids they signed books and stopped for pictures..

 

[allgrownup]

Minnie's includes the tip in the price but not the tax.
Surfs Up does not include tip or tax.

This might be a foolish question, but..........

Since we bought the meal vouchers for our character meal (thinking Minnie & Friends), is that all we will pay? Will the taxes and gratuity be 'taken' from the voucher?