Character Meals

[Momma_Katie]

Which Character Meals would you do again and what is the best time to go. We have been to Chef Mickey's and have gone for dinner. What other character meals are there for a 2 year old little boy to enjoy?

Katie

 

[KatMark]

We go to breakfast every year at the Crystal Palace -- love the puffed french toast, potato casserole, made to order omelets, etc. Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet are great too!

 

[djp0630]

I recommend Crystal Palace as well. DS1 loved Pooh! The breakfast was awesome and we plan to go again in May. We liked both Chef Mickey's for breakfast & dinner. WE plan to try Tusker House for breakfast this time!

 

[jenniferyawn]

Oh Crystal Palace for the little ones (and the big ones too)! We've had it for breakfast and lunch, but prefer the delicious breakfast. You can get in around 8 or 8:30 before the park opens. It's great!

You might also enjoy Ohana with Lilo and Stitch. It's a fun family meal for breakfast and great food!

One of our favorite character dinners is Garden Grill in Epcot. Chip and Dale are there with Mickey and pluto. The food is family style and great comfort food!

Y'all have a magical trip!

 

[RitaFaye94]

My DS2 last year loved Ohana - Pluto came over and wanted to be scratched behind the ears so he got some great interaction! He also liked Tusker House for breakfast. We did Crystal Palace for dinner but he wasn't overly thrilled with it. Another option would be Hollywood & Vine with the Playhouse Disney gang (if he watches them).

 

[BellyDaisy]

Ohana is our favorite and one of our must-dos! Crystal Palace is fun and the food is pretty good. 1900 PF for breakfast and dinner were both awesome, although I'm sure your son wouldn't be too interested in Cinderella and the Prince.

We did Tusker House two weeks ago and it was TERRIBLE. We waited over an hour after check-in to be seated. While we were waiting, several other families had complained of waiting the same time or longer than we had been waiting. One family told us the wait to be seated at TH was always ridiculous. The food was less than mediocre. The characters came and went more quickly than at other restaurants. We'll never, never ever go back to Tusker House. It was a total waste of money.

 

[melisandes]

Hubby did Chef Mickeys without me last year halloween. He loved it so much we are doing it for Christmas this year. I love CRT and honestly I see little boys enjoying themselves at CRTs too. If you go at dinner, it is the fairy godmother. Who does not love the fairy godmother for goodness sakes? Alright that being said he might not enjoy the meet and greet with cindy before dinner. My 2 yo boy though loves the FGM and her mice friends. He thinks they rock.

 

[kpgriswold]

We love Chef Mickey for bfast and Crystal Palace for dinner. Surprisingly, our youngest boys also love the Princess meal at Akershus in Epcot!

 

[PoohsFan1]

Have gone to Crystal Palace, not for breakfast but for dinner and it was very good, and we did CM for dinner (didn't care for it too much, but are willing to try it out for breakfast). Now these are the ones that I would suggest:

- Tusker House breakfast with Donald, Daisy, Mickey, and Goofy
- Cape May Cafe Breakfast (our favorite) with Minnie, Goofy, and Donald
- Hollywood and Vine with the Little Einsteins and JoJo and Goliath (never been, kids are too old for Playhouse Disney)
- O'hana's character breakfast with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and Pluto
- The Garden Grill dinner with Mickey, Pluto, and ? (we will be doing this for the first time in December and my mind is slipping as to who else is there)

I have heard of people bringing their young sons to the Princesses and the little princes had a wonderful time with the girls, heard that the Princesses tend to give the little boys extra attention to them.

 

[hmschlmomof2]

When we went to WDW last time (in 2006), DD was 6 and DS was 4. Our first character experience was the Princess lunch at EPCOT. The food was okay, of course expensive for the experience, but that's what I chalk it up to. Not really paying for the "food" per se, but the "experience". Anyway, the princesses were lively enough and they (especially Mulan) joked around with my DS, who was totally embarrassed, but it was in a fun way. Probably won't do this one again, but DD will be 11 when we visit in 2010.
We also did "Donalds Breakfastosaurus" at Tusker House in AK. I agree with a previous poster on here that the wait was horrible. We had ressies at 8:00, but did not get seated until after 8:30. The characters came around and took their obligated picture with the kids, Goofy was the one was was the star of the show that day! Probably won't do this one again.
We then did the Ohana breakfast at Polynesian with Lilo and Stitch. This was my kids' favorite experience. It was interactive. They never forgot that Stitch tried to "steal" my DS chocolate milk and was joking around with them. They really got some quality time with them. Then they got to do a fun parade around the restaurant. Also, Goofy and I think Pluto came to visit. We will be doing this one again for sure when we go back in Sep. '10.
I'm trying to convince kids to do Crystal Palace with Pooh, Tigger and friends (because I love them), but they will be 11 and 9 when we visit then - way too cool for Pooh!!! Is there just breakfast or they also do a lunch??
Thinking about Chef Mickey, too....which do you think is better, breakfast or lunch??

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

We love Safari Donald!! It's our favorite.
We also love Crystal palace. It's really fun. That was my sons favorite when he was 2 1/2.

This trip we are trying Ohana's with Lilo and Stitch, and we are also trying the Garden Grill. BOth are new to us!

 

[minniemee]

I also recommend Crystal Palace, we usually go for lunch. My kids always loved it! That and Chef Mickey's are the best in my opinion. We once tried 1900 Park Fare and that place was like a zoo, although the food was good. We've also done Donald's Breakfastosaurus & just thought it was O.K.

 

[Iwant2BAprincess]

for us-Garden Grill-Best character interaction
and Askerhaus-all princess and no lines

 

[hckymom]

We love the Ohana breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. Food is yummy and character interaction great!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would do any charcter breakfast (except for 1900 PF, yeah it was that bad) again...they are great!

 

[ElizabethG]

I love the Garden Grill in Epcot (characters at dinner only). Chip, Dale, Mickey and Pluto visit you in this fun rotating restaurant. My kids thought is was funny that the restaurant was a ride. The character interaction was great also. Crystal Palace is also really fun. I love Pooh. They have characters for all three meals, so it is flexible. I don't know when you are going, but Crystal Palace is closed for refurb in Jan and Feb. Instead, Magic Kingdom is having charaters at Liberty Tree during that time (I wish I could go). Honorable mention goes to Hollywood & Vine. The restaurant has Jojo and Goliath from Jojo's Circus and June and Leo from Little Einstiens. They have regular "dance parties" throughout the meal.

 

[PearlySwan]

For a young boy, I'll let the pictures do the 'talking' here:

Tusker House (late lunch 10:25):

Chef Mickey's (early breakfast):

Ohana's (early breakfast):

Cape Mae Cafe (early breakfast):

Crystal Palace (dinner):

We also had dinner at Restaurant Arkhesus Princess Story Book in Epcot and Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom. Both were excellent meals (particularly the former), but definitely not boy oriented.