DISappointed in Character Breakfast!

[pppiglet]

Since when do the characters not come to your table to take pictures anymore? We had our character breakfast yesterday morning and it was basically fun and games for the kids that took place in the aisles. Someone said they just recently started this. Did they come to your table?

On the other hand...Our first time at Palo for dinner was excellent. Definately the best dinner I've ever had in my life!

The Pirate party tonight was excellent also. Had the perfect spot to get some excellent pictures of Mickey as he flew down the wire rope.

Weather has been warm and only poured for 15 minutes as we left Grand Cayman today. Maybe I'll make a trip report when I get back. The crew is definately excited to be going to the Med. next weekend!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Oh no....you're kidding me ? The characters don't come to the table anymore ? I may skip this breakfast if this is the case. My kids aren't small anymore--so dancing and playing in the aisles would not appeal to them. But they love posing for pics with them at the table ! This would be a MAJOR bummer for us.

 

[outahere]

The character breakfast on our Thanksgiving cruise last year was a big disappointment. We had one character come to the table and felt extremely rushed the entire meal. We will probably skip it next time. Not worth the trouble.

 

[yogibigdog]

I was on the04/14/07 Magic and all the characters came to our table.

 

[tvguy]

That's too bad if it is in fact the case. Our kids were older, but still enjoyed the character breakfast. We had a steady stream of characters at the table, which annoyed me because my breakfast got cold because I was always having to stop for pictures!!!!

 

[Brucemcc]

We were on the Magic, 03-10 March 2007 and all the characters came to our table as well, a little rushed but still a fantastic experience for our daughter. All kinds of photo ops, all signed our navigator, excellent experience!!

 

[my2princessgirls]

Just wanted to add that last week on the 4-28-07 Eastern, all of the Characters came to our table. Shutters even did photos with Mickey at each table.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Ok thanks guys.....I'm starting to feel a little more reassured. Because I will be skipping this breakfast if they don't come to the tables like in wdw. I know our last cruise was 11/04 and they each came to our table. But I know how things can change.

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

We were on the 3/3/07 Magic - the characters came to the table then but we were late dining so maybe that has something to do with it? The food was terrible - until DD 15 months is old enough to get it, we are just going to skip the character breakfast.

 

[jrabbit]

On all of our prior cruises the characters stopped by our table for a "Drive by Picture" and that was about it. If you and your camera were not ready for the character when they arrived it was like - too bad, you're too late/slow. And you really could not get ready for the next character because whenever we thought that we would be the next table or the next one, the character veared off in a random direction, or it was time for them to go back stage for a smoke before reappearing and totally skiping our table. Except for the shutters picture with Mickey - but that was really quick too.

Even with all of that, we always go - the kiddo's are older now, but mom and dad are still kids at heart and LOVE the characters.

 

[Lindy Loo]

Oh no....you're kidding me ? The characters don't come to the table anymore ? I may skip this breakfast if this is the case. My kids aren't small anymore--so dancing and playing in the aisles would not appeal to them. But they love posing for pics with them at the table ! This would be a MAJOR bummer for us.

This would be a major BUMMER for us too!

We looked forward to this on the $ night wonder, only to be told it was only on the 7 nighter. Now we get to go on the Magic, and I so hope its like the WDW breakfasts.


DCL PLEASE don't change these....................

 

[mickymania]

On the 4/21 Western each character came to our table. It was quick, but we got pictures with all of them.

 

[pppiglet]

Oh no....you're kidding me ? The characters don't come to the table anymore ? I may skip this breakfast if this is the case. My kids aren't small anymore--so dancing and playing in the aisles would not appeal to them. But they love posing for pics with them at the table ! This would be a MAJOR bummer for us.

Yep...it was a major bummer for us too! We would have skipped it if we had known!

 

[pppiglet]

They told us they just started it on OUR cruise. How unlucky were we?

 

[YenSid1222]

Yeah...but Disney is in a no-win situation. With two breakfast seatings that are on a time crunch, the only way for everyone to get to see everyone is to make it REALLY fast. Then people complain it is too fast. On the other hand, if they try to make it where it is play time and kids can go up to them as they please...people complain they are not at the tables. There is just no feasible way for them to be able to take the time you get at the parks at each table. Since everyone is at a "seating time", the window of chance is very small. At the parks where people basically constantly cycle in and out, its a different ballgame.

For us...there are SO many opportunities to meet characters on the ship..I can work with breakfast either way.

 

[Lindy Loo]

Any more info please?

We will be so disappointed if this isnt as we thought..... Glad we took the time to book Chef mickeys for after the cruise. however really if its advertised as a character B fast then thats what it should be.!

 

[cmash95]

how long are the breakfasts? at crystal palace and chef mickeys you are there for an hour and half and all the characters make the rounds. they don't stay long, just enough for a hug and picture but they have lots of people to get to. how big is the restaurant they hold the breakfast?

 

[MiaSRN62]

The breakfasts are also around 90 min long and are held in Parrot Cay. This restaurant is fairly roomy.

YenSid says :the only way for everyone to get to see everyone is to make it REALLY fast. Then people complain it is too fast. On the other hand, if they try to make it where it is play time and kids can go up to them as they please...people complain they are not at the tables.

I'm fine if the characters don't stay long....I understand they have many to get to. My concern was with hearing they weren't stopping by the tables at all. I think this was the concern of several of us here. We're not complaining they don't stay long, we're concerned they weren't coming to the tables at all anymore. And the walking up in the aisles to interact with the characters as stated in the OP's post, said it was "kids" who were doing this. I just think this eliminates a whole lot of people who also enjoy the characters. We used to cruise with my mil who passed away in 2004. But I can assure you, at age 67 young, she loved the characters and having her pic taken with them. Honestly, no adult/teenager is going to want to compete with a cute little 4 year old who wants to hug Chip and Dale for 5 min straight. It's just more "democratic" if they stop by each table even if it's only for mere seconds.

There are much more chances for character interaction for the younger kids---characters often popup in the kids' clubs, at the Mickey pool, and Tea with Wendy can be booked on select afternoons..........

And there are actually four staggered seatings for breakfast: 8 am, 8:15 am, 9:30 am, 9:45 am).

YenSid says :For us...there are SO many opportunities to meet characters on the ship..I can work with breakfast either way.

Yeah...and all those lines......we passed many character opportunities because the lines were so long. I also saw people waiting (maybe 15th in line) and the characters leave for a "break" just as they're getting up in the line. The character breakfast is the one chance to get photos with the characters without waiting in lines. It was just a nice perk. When I look back at my past two cruises, the majority of our character pics were those taken at the breakfast, and those in the ship's terminal before boarding the ship. We did stand in line for a few others (formal night with Goofy) and on CC. But it's just nice to once not have to wait in line.

 

[becca_n_wa]

They told us they just started it on OUR cruise. How unlucky were we?

Anyone know why they would discontinue the characters at the character breakfast? Protest! No seriously, I was just wondering if they told anyone why.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I don't know Becca........but I just sent off an email to disney cruise line. I'll post a response when I get one. It might take a day or two for them to get back to me.
To me, it's not really a character breakfast if they don't come to the tables. Like I mentioned, alot of people (older kids/adults/senior citizens) are not going to want to compete in line for time with the characters with small kids and toddlers. Not to mention, you'll probably have some sort of line to stand in and how fun is that when you're trying to have a meal with your family ? I voiced my disappointment to disney cruises if this is indeed the new policy.