Character Meals Super Thread!!

[CandMmommy]

I don't have first hand experience with this, but our MM entry was a mess with most of the CMs having no idea what was going on. I would guess that it would use up your MM.

No. It will not use your MM

 

[CandMmommy]

No. It will not use your MM

For us, we will use MM sat, then have a 710 reservation on Sunday.

 

[hollyshoffbrau]

Just booked Goofy's for dinner 4/1/13. $38 per adult, 2 and under free if eating off paying adults plate per Disneyland Dining so that helps a little. Also since my daughter will be turning 3 at the end of that week she will get a bday cupcake

 

[sherilaine]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting this together!

One question: has anyone had experience with food allergies ( particularly gluten allergy/ sensitivity) at the character meals? Our daughter has a gluten sensitivity (not celliac, she can tolerate small amounts of gluten). We've done several character meals at WDW and had great experiences with the chefs there, in particular at Ohana, where she got her own platter of GF Mickey waffles! I would expect DL will be similarly accomodating, but if anyone can share their experiences, that would be great!

Not sure if this was answered yet or not but I have a gluten issue as well and they will make you gluten free waffles or pancakes if you like - I found there was so much else to eat though that I did not need this done.

 

[JakeJenna]

No. It will not use your MM

Thank you, called today to make other reservations and a CM confirmed.

I tried making a reservation for dinner at AG and was told the latest reservation for the time we're there (5 days) is 4:00. Is that normal or should I call back closer to the trip and see if they have opened it up for dinner?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Thank you, called today to make other reservations and a CM confirmed.

I tried making a reservation for dinner at AG and was told the latest reservation for the time we're there (5 days) is 4:00. Is that normal or should I call back closer to the trip and see if they have opened it up for dinner?

Well that seems a tad early, but they do want the restaurant cleared before the World of Color show starts. So depending on what time that is showing, could determine dinner seatings.

 

[JBHinkle55]

Based strictly on food and not factoring in character interaction at all, how would you all rank all of the different character breakfasts?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Based strictly on food and not factoring in character interaction at all, how would you all rank all of the different character breakfasts?

My rankings would be this:

1. Ariel's Grotto (lunch/dinner)
2. Goofy's Kitchen
3. Surf's Up
4. Storyteller's
5. Minnie & Friends

 

[larina]

Based strictly on food and not factoring in character interaction at all, how would you all rank all of the different character breakfasts?

1. Storytellers
2. Surf's Up
3. Goofy's Kitchen
4. Minnie & Friends

I have not done Ariel's yet, we had to cancel because we were all exhausted and took 3 hour naps the day we had planned to have lunch there. Next time!

 

[nickymaria]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for this thread! I have been searching everywhere trying to figure out if Minnie & Pals opened before the park and of course the answer is here! Thank you! Now I just need to secure my spring break early morning breakfast reservation!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for this thread! I have been searching everywhere trying to figure out if Minnie & Pals opened before the park and of course the answer is here! Thank you! Now I just need to secure my spring break early morning breakfast reservation!!

I'm glad you found us!!!! Remember, you can always contact Disney Dining directly to inquire about that as well. They should have that info on hours and can tell you if you're getting in prior to park opening. Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[mamaCta]

I can't believe I read the whole thing.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Thanks for this thread....based on the info I read, we *hope* to dine at Surf's Up with Mickey & Friends at the Paradise Pier Hotel during our upcoming trip in May. I have emailed Disney Dining with our request....just waiting now to see if we are able to get a reservation.

 

[zoeandjacks]

Thanks for this thread....based on the info I read, we *hope* to dine at Surf's Up with Mickey & Friends at the Paradise Pier Hotel during our upcoming trip in May. I have emailed Disney Dining with our request....just waiting now to see if we are able to get a reservation.

I'm sure you will get it. I made a reservation for Surf's Up for Saturday, 3/16 about a week in advance and it was no problem at all getting us in for any seating we wanted. I would just call Disney Dining though, it's quicker that way. We loved Surf's Up! My kids loved the dancing, and it was the only place we saw Daisy and Stitch the whole trip.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

I'm sure you will get it. I made a reservation for Surf's Up for Saturday, 3/16 about a week in advance and it was no problem at all getting us in for any seating we wanted. I would just call Disney Dining though, it's quicker that way. We loved Surf's Up! My kids loved the dancing, and it was the only place we saw Daisy and Stitch the whole trip.

Thanks...we were able to get a reservation. I would call but since we are in Canada and it is easier (and cheaper) to email than to phone.

 

[Chereya]

FYI, they are allowing Ariel's Grotto as a World of Color dinner package restaurant during spring break period:

Disney California Adventure will be temporarily replacing the evening Princess celebration with a World of Color dinner package during the busy Spring Break period, 03/22/13 - 04/14/13. From 4/15/13 on, the Princess celebration will only be held Mondays through Thursdays evenings, with a World of Color dinner package available on the weekends. There are no changes to breakfast and lunch.

 

[Sherry E]

One thing to remember, too, is that you can still walk up to any of the character meals and get a table, even without a reservation! You may have to wait a while, depending on how busy the restaurant is, but reservations are not required. I've enjoyed many meals at Goofy's Kitchen and the Critter Breakfast (and more recently, at Surf's Up) without reservations.

The reservations are not real reservations in that there are no tables held for your party, as there would be at regular restaurants. The reservations are simply a way of giving you priority in getting seated over other people who didn't make reservations.

And even then, depending on what the size of the table is that needs to be filled and how many chairs there are, the restaurants may still seat people who do not have reservations before the people who do have them. For example, you may dine at Goofy's and you may have a reservation for 5 people. If 2 separate tables open up that seat 2 or 3 people each, chances are that the host or hostess will look for parties of 2 or 3 waiting in line to fill those tables even if those folks do not have reservations. So those folks could be seated before you.

Anyway, I just wanted to point that out, because sometimes it's nice to have the flexibility of being able to decide on a whim, "Let's eat at Minnie & Friends this morning!"

 

[zoeandjacks]

One thing to remember, too, is that you can still walk up to any of the character meals and get a table, even without a reservation! You may have to wait a while, depending on how busy the restaurant is, but reservations are not required. I've enjoyed many meals at Goofy's Kitchen and the Critter Breakfast (and more recently, at Surf's Up) without reservations.

The reservations are not real reservations in that there are no tables held for your party, as there would be at regular restaurants. The reservations are simply a way of giving you priority in getting seated over other people who didn't make reservations.

And even then, depending on what the size of the table is that needs to be filled and how many chairs there are, the restaurants may still seat people who do not have reservations before the people who do have them. For example, you may dine at Goofy's and you may have a reservation for 5 people. If 2 separate tables open up that seat 2 or 3 people each, chances are that the host or hostess will look for parties of 2 or 3 waiting in line to fill those tables even if those folks do not have reservations. So those folks could be seated before you.

Anyway, I just wanted to point that out, because sometimes it's nice to have the flexibility of being able to decide on a whim, "Let's eat at Minnie & Friends this morning!"

This may be the case most of the time, but if there is a meal that you or your kids have your heart set on, I would still recommend reservations. I saw people turned away at Ariel's Grotto for lunch when we where there this past Friday.

 

[Sherry E]

This may be the case most of the time, but if there is a meal that you or your kids have your heart set on, I would still recommend reservations. I saw people turned away at Ariel's Grotto for lunch when we where there this past Friday.

True - it's definitely a good idea to make the reservations if you can, but I posted that reminder because I don't want people to think that all hope is lost without a reservation! I've been eating at Goofy's Kitchen for 20 years and have only had a reservation a couple of times. I've never had one for the Critter Breakfast at all, and I didn't have one when I ate at Surf's Up in December. But people who walk up and don't have the priority seating may have to wait for a while, depending on how busy the restaurant is -- and they may choose not to wait. However, some folks who made reservations have reported having to wait a while anyway.

Realistically, there are lots and lots of people who don't make reservations for anything other than their hotel rooms but they still end up at character meals. Likewise, there are also lots and lots of folks who make the reservations and end up not showing up because they change their minds or plans. So I think it all kind of balances out.

 

[smiles33]

I'm sorry if this has been asked already but the thread search didn't have any results for parking validation. We're planning to go to Goofy's Kitchen on our last morning before we drive home. Can we get validated parking at the DL Hotel or should we park at DTD?