Character Meals Super Thread!!

[DizNee Luver]

Is it better to buy a voucher in advance or pay directly when going at a character meal? Moneywise is it the same? Will probably go mid-october but unsure where at this point. Thank You

This is a great question!! I've never purchased the vouchers myself, but have looked into them a few times. I think you can save money on them, especially if you are going during "peak" seasons when they raise the price. I think the best way to see if you'd gain anything by going this route for your upcoming trip is to call Disney Dining and inquire on the prices for the meals you're interested in and your dates. As far as I've seen, the vouchers stay pretty much the same price and don't fluctuate with the seasons.

 

[krispin41]

This is a great question!! I've never purchased the vouchers myself, but have looked into them a few times. I think you can save money on them, especially if you are going during "peak" seasons when they raise the price. I think the best way to see if you'd gain anything by going this route for your upcoming trip is to call Disney Dining and inquire on the prices for the meals you're interested in and your dates. As far as I've seen, the vouchers stay pretty much the same price and don't fluctuate with the seasons.

I like the convenience of the vouchers and used them on my last two trips. I usually do the packages through AAA, and like that I am able to pay in installments. I was also buying gift cards to use at quick service and for souvenirs. For example, my DH and I used our vouchers at Ariel's, (mid-July) our meal with tax and tip, (and just regular soft drinks) was a little over $90. So for us, it was a good buy.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I like the convenience of the vouchers and used them on my last two trips. I usually do the packages through AAA, and like that I am able to pay in installments. I was also buying gift cards to use at quick service and for souvenirs. For example, my DH and I used our vouchers at Ariel's, (mid-July) our meal with tax and tip, (and just regular soft drinks) was a little over $90. So for us, it was a good buy.

Thank You for this information!!! I do packages thru Disney Travel for the same reasons.......being able to make payments!! I like paying as much in advance as possible but have gone to putting meal money onto Disney Gift Cards. I'm glad the vouchers were easy to use AND a good buy!!

 

[DSNY4ever]

We are doing out first Disneyland character breakfast in November (Minnie and Friends)- thank you for all this info!

Since you pay up front at the cashier before you sit down, does that mean our large group can all pay for their own families up front? Some people in our group have vouchers and some do not so I am hoping this worked rather than having to split up the bill.

It is typical for them not to give an early reservation to a large group? I called 60 days out, but the only available time they would give me was 9:40 am which I was surprised since I called 60 days out for a Wednesday morning. I am sort of sad that we have to waste park time now and I had really wanted to get in the first seating

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We are doing out first Disneyland character breakfast in November (Minnie and Friends)- thank you for all this info!

Since you pay up front at the cashier before you sit down, does that mean our large group can all pay for their own families up front? Some people in our group have vouchers and some do not so I am hoping this worked rather than having to split up the bill.

It is typical for them not to give an early reservation to a large group? I called 60 days out, but the only available time they would give me was 9:40 am which I was surprised since I called 60 days out for a Wednesday morning. I am sort of sad that we have to waste park time now and I had really wanted to get in the first seating

That might be the first seating. Are you going Nov. 7 or Nov. 14? Official park opening on those days is 10 AM. Guests will be allowed onto Main Street starting at 9:30 AM. First reserved seating for Minnie's is usually 10 minutes after the gates open, so 9:40 would be a first seating of the day.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

just bumping, because I had to go searching to find the thread. I have a premium and regular character meal voucher... the girl on the phone at DD told me that the gratuity would be automatically added and is included in the voucher, so I needed to double check what the most expensive meals are (Ariel's for premium, and Surf's Up for regular it seems)... so I'll use my vouchers there!

 

[mellers]

I am thinking of having breakfast at the Plaza Inn or at Goofy Kitchen of a possible upcoming trip with three adults and a 2 year old. She wants to meet Minnie and Cinderella. I did experience Minnie & Friends character breakfast at the Plaza Inn in the past. I have also heard from others that Minnie might be available at GK during dinner. I want to ask anyone who has done GK if they seen Minnie at GK during breakfast or she will only be their during dinnertime? Also I want to ask if they have seen Cinderella at GK during breakfast time or dinnertime?

Thank you for your help.

I'd recommend Goofy's Kitchen over the Plaza Inn.

 

[twinsr241]

My boys adore Chip and Dale so I was going to schedule breakfast at the GCH Critter Breakfast. I am assuming Chip and Dale are always there, but would love if someone could confirm this.

I am planning a Critter Breakfast and a Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen during our 4 day trip in early November.

 

[DizNee Luver]

My boys adore Chip and Dale so I was going to schedule breakfast at the GCH Critter Breakfast. I am assuming Chip and Dale are always there, but would love if someone could confirm this.

I am planning a Critter Breakfast and a Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen during our 4 day trip in early November.

None of the characters are guaranteed at any of the meals......but with that said......Chip & Dale make appearances at Storytellers, Goofy's Kitchen and Minnie & Friends.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

My boys adore Chip and Dale so I was going to schedule breakfast at the GCH Critter Breakfast. I am assuming Chip and Dale are always there, but would love if someone could confirm this.

I am planning a Critter Breakfast and a Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen during our 4 day trip in early November.

We were at Plaza Inn for breakfest on September 28th and had Chip and Dale there along with Pooh, Minnie, Eeyore and Captain Hook

 

[AZwldcats]

Just got back and did Goofys twice and Minnie and Friends once...

My .02.

Food wise is Goofys hands down. Just more selection.

Character wise... Minnies without a doubt.

Glad we did both as we saw different characters at both and got the boset of both worlds Character and food wise.

 

[mellers]

None of the characters are guaranteed at any of the meals......but with that said......Chip & Dale make appearances at Storytellers, Goofy's Kitchen and Minnie & Friends.

I don't know if they are always there, but they always have been when we've been there.

 

[AZwldcats]

My boys adore Chip and Dale so I was going to schedule breakfast at the GCH Critter Breakfast. I am assuming Chip and Dale are always there, but would love if someone could confirm this.

I am planning a Critter Breakfast and a Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen during our 4 day trip in early November.

We did 3 last week and Chip and Dale were at all 3. Twice at Goofys and 1 at Minnies.

 

[poohj80]

We had breakfast at Ariel's Grotto this morning. DD loved meeting the Princesses but Belle definitely took the most time and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

We had a 9:50 reservation but was never told this meant a table outside. I had a choice between 9:20 and 9:50 and if I would ga e known the difference in seating, that would have made decision for us.

 

[watkinsme]

we just returned and did all 5 of the character meals

Goofy's kitchen - Wonderful, saw many characters and they each spent time talking with the kids

Minnie's Breakfast - Good, saw many characters spent good time with kids

Surf's up breakfast - wonderful - kids had a blast dancing and characters were awesome

Storytellers breakfast - eh - characters were good, and the kids had fun dancing, but maybe it was the end of our vacation and It just didn't seem as fun

Ariel's grotto -food kind thrown at us in a hurry, princesses rushed by the tables - had the rudest snow white ever...DD had just put a big piece of bread in her mouth so snow said just stay there I'll be back, so we waited....and waited....and all the rest came and went, so DH asked about snow so she came back and had a scowl on her face the whole time, hurriedly signed their books and did the photo without even saying anything to the kids...we did this meal because it was DD's birthday and I can say we will likely never go back.

 

[Mousequake]

We did three character meals on our recent trip:

Goofy's Kitchen: we went here on our first trip last April, and had the BEST time-- lots of characters, lots of character time at the table, lots of 'organized' dancing like conga lines for the kids. This trip it was completely different-- we were there for an hour and a half, and two of the five characters that were there came to our table, and each of those were pretty rushed. There were no dancing activities for the kids. We were quite frustrated and asked the character manager about it because we had to leave soon, and he said he couldn't get any characters over there right away and it would be a little while. We were extremely disappointed. Characters: Goofy, Chip, Jasmine, Cinderella, Pluto. We only got to meet Pluto & Cinderella in the 90 minutes we were there.

Ariel's Grotto: extremely rushed meal; they brought our entrees before we even had a chance to eat our appetizers and kept trying to take the appetizer tower away. Neither of our entrees were very good (I had the tri-tip, and DW had one of the fish dishes). Interaction with the princesses was pretty minimal, but that didn't surprise me based on past reviews. The next day, we discovered that they neglected to return our credit card and we had to track it down at Lost & Found. Characters: Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Aurora.

Surf's Up With Mickey: we almost cancelled this because we were so disappointed with our other two character dining experiences, but I'm so glad we didn't! LOTS of table time with each character, a ton of organized dances for the kids, and best of all for DD5: DAISY!! She so badly wanted to meet Daisy on our trip, and this was our last day on our way to the airport; it was a great way to finish off. The food was awesome. DD5 had no idea who Stitch was, but the person playing him (her?) was so awesome that she fell in love with Stitch. DD5 had a stuffed baby Pluto, and Stitch kept trying to steal in and put it on his head. When my family left to go to the bathroom, Stitch came back to just me and kept trying to steal my bacon. SO funny! Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Stitch.

 

[lsulindy]

I'm a DLR newb. Am I interpreting this correctly? If we wanted to do a meal on a non-park day, we could do Storytellers, Goofy's or Surf's Up without park entry?

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm a DLR newb. Am I interpreting this correctly? If we wanted to do a meal on a non-park day, we could do Storytellers, Goofy's or Surf's Up without park entry?

Correct!! Those 3 are at the 3 Disney Resort Hotels and not inside the parks!!

 

[lsulindy]

correct!! Those 3 are at the 3 disney resort hotels and not inside the parks!!

thanks!

 

[tylerandalexsmom]

Ok, I'm still a little confused on the early entry thing. (WDW vets, first time DLR) We have 5 day park hoppers, and staying on site, so from what I understand, we will have an early entry to one or the other of the parks every day (depending on which park it is for that day). But normally, we like to arrive ahead of rope drop, and tour until late morning before stopping for table service. But last time, we did have an early bkfst at CRT (WDW) before park opening, and my kids LOVED being able to take some photos on Main St and in front of the castle when it was virtually empty!

So here is my question - would we get that opportunity if we book Minnie & Friends "before" park opening? Or is it really only open at the same time we would get in for early entry anyway (since we are 5 day/onsite guests)? Which would mean that really we wouldn't be ahead of the rest of the crowd (would we be able to get to Main St for pictures anyway, or would it be blocked off?), and by the time we finished eating, would have "wasted" our early entry time? We are going at Christmas, so I know will be really busy, and if we will lose our advantage of early touring, then I might just go for a 10 am time, and tour first and then take a break to eat when it starts getting more crowded. (Then again, if we did do breakfast first, we will have at least one more morning to do the rope drop early touring, and it would be nice to take photos with a basically empty street if that's possible! )

So which way should I go? (Minnies for first seating, or wait til 10 am?) It will be on a Saturday if that makes a difference. Thanks!