Chip and Dale Vs. Character meals

[akemper98]

How does Seeing Chip and Dale at campfire compare to going to a character meal? Taking my DDs 2&4 in mid November so there should be smaller crowds at the campfire? I plan on spending 11 days and going to the parks on 9 or 10 of them I figure several ½ days so we’ll make a point to see lots of characters. The real question is if we end most nights roasting MM with Chipmunks do we need to spend big $$$ to BBQ with the Mouse?

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Spending the big bucks bbq'n with the mouse is really gonna boil your blood anyway....the lines to meet the characters at the BYBBQ are just as long as the lines in the parks (at least they were when I took my kids) in fact, my kids stood in line to meet Mickey & Minnie, and they had to go back stage before my kids' turns to meet them....they did not mingle at the tables like they do at, say, the Crystal Palace....I was very disapointed with the character interaction at the BBQ. Now, Chip & Dale meet with EVERY KID at the campfire...and THEY COME TO YOU, not vice versa.....AND ITS FREE!!!! Where as the BYBBQ costs an arm and a leg.

 

[elizablake]

Everyone I've spoken to who has done the BBQ was not thrilled. What about Chef Mickey's for a character meal?

We had a good time at the marshmallow roast but I don't think it was as much fun as a character meal. I think your kids may want to go twice but probably not more than that.

 

[DaveInTN]

On our last trip, we enjoyed the campfire a lot, and my youngest DD3 loved seeing Chip and Dale. DD8 also enjoyed it. DD11 claims she didn't but I think she really did. DD13...well what does a DD13 enjoy anyways if it doesn't involve earphones or a keypad? jk. Anyways, while we enjoyed the campfire program, we have also really enjoyed our character meals over the years. On the last trip we did the Ohana breakfast at PR with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch. DD3 is still talking about meeting "her"...which is how she refers to Lilo. She says "I don't like the mouse, but I love her". Anyways, the character interaction is nice. For us we try to do one character meal per trip, such as Ohana or Crystal Palace. We really like those. Can't afford more, so the Chip and Dale interaction adds to the enjoyment with no cost. If i were you I don't think i'd spend the money on MBYBB, per the comments above. But if you can swing a character meal in addition to the campfires I think you will enjoy it.

 

[Shan-man]

As fun as it is to meet C&D at the campfire, it really isn't a good substitute for a regular meet and greet... mainly because it is dark! You won't really get any good pictures and some shots with flashes can be magic-destroying showing the CM inside! Do it because its fun and for the memories, but not for the photos.

 

[akemper98]

I was just using the BBQ as an example and was going to research others. I don’t think the hoop dee do would be the best for there ages. So I just mentioned the next closest geographically. Currently DD 3.5 is already excited to be going, but when asked if she wants to contact (hug, hi5, shake) any character she flat out says no. I have even been told Stitch is too “English” still scratching my head on that one. So I’m a little leery about making ADRs (I know I have time) and turning it into a cry fest. I guess I’ll wait until we get closer to decide. Has any one had any luck with last second character meals or will I be stuck without an ADR?

 

[GOBA Mom Lynn]

We haven't done the campfire yet, but have done numerous character meals over the years. Since your girl are only 2 & 4, I wouldn't push them into close encounters with characters if they don't want to. Some little kids get really scared of those big things!! even if they know who they are. What Disney calls "face" characters would be a better bet, like the Princess meals in Norway. The princesses love to dote on little girls. If you're planning on going back to the World again, the girls will probably want to wait in every line at character meet & greets when they're older. My DD only cared about meeting 2 or 3 different characters, so we almost never had to wait in those lines. We really saved a lot of time that way.
Good Luck and have a Fun time!
Lynn

 

[PoohsFan1]

I was just using the BBQ as an example and was going to research others. I don’t think the hoop dee do would be the best for there ages. So I just mentioned the next closest geographically. Currently DD 3.5 is already excited to be going, but when asked if she wants to contact (hug, hi5, shake) any character she flat out says no. I have even been told Stitch is too “English” still scratching my head on that one. So I’m a little leery about making ADRs (I know I have time) and turning it into a cry fest. I guess I’ll wait until we get closer to decide. Has any one had any luck with last second character meals or will I be stuck without an ADR?

We are going to do the campfire on our arrival day (kids don't even know that C&D are going to be there) and we are very excited about it because this will be a perfect start of our magical vacation. As for Stitch we tend to stay away from that character meal because I have heard some of the antics that he does while visiting your table...for one I heard, from a friend of mine, that he likes to steal the kid's mickey waffles from their plates....my girls don't even care for him in the first place (they do like Lilo though) so I don't think they will want him stealing their precious waffles . And depending on what character meal you are going to want to make closer to your dates, you may or may not get in. We are going to be in the World a month from now and a few days ago I decided to book one more character breakfast (the Goofy Beach Club Breakfast at Cape May) and had no problems getting in at the time I wanted....however if you are wanting to get one of the princess meals or CM, you may have a harder time. Good luck.