DISappointed in Character Breakfast!

[mickey0624]

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!

We were on the Magic last week and every character went to every table and took pictures and signed autographs. It was a great morning for my 3 and 4 year old. i thought it was fantastic. I don't know why they didn't come to the table in the post.

 

[OurDogCisco]

We were on the Magic last week and every character went to every table and took pictures and signed autographs. It was a great morning for my 3 and 4 year old. i thought it was fantastic. I don't know why they didn't come to the table in the post.

Because she stated a few posts later that they changed the process on how the characters are going to the tables. Apparently, now they are going to do singing and dancing in the aisle. We'll definitely sleep in if that is the case. My kids like the autographs more than anything.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Apparently, now they are going to do singing and dancing in the aisle. We'll definitely sleep in if that is the case. My kids like the autographs more than anything.

Exactly.....you can get the singing and dancing at the sail away party and the other deck parties.....the more this new policy catches on, the more empty tables I'll bet they'll see.
I'm hoping DCL will respond to my email tommorrow.

 

[YenSid1222]

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



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).


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.

I guess I am just weird...I found myself in the atrium alone with characters on many occassions. Sure, there were some times when it was busy but I found it to be more the exception than the rule. All the character start and end times are posted, so since I am pretty much always with my Navigator I could just look and see that Belle was there until 7:30 (or whatever)..if it was 7:28...I didn't get in the line. And if I didn't happen to have my Navigator, the video screens in the Atrium are pretty much constantly cycling through the times. Even when I did wait in line, it was never more than just a few minutes. And as long as I am not in a theme park where I am running to get a Fast Pass for something, what's a few minutes. I am on the cruise, I don't worry about it!

I feel very strongly that DCL does the best with the situation they have. Plus, there are just so many instances of randomly running into characters and having fun experiences...I could go on about the time Pinocchio was sitting with us on those round benches in front of the BVT.

 

[MiaSRN62]

YenSid,
I don't think you're "weird". Maybe your cruise was different than mine ? Who knows ? Maybe our daily itineraries put us in different places at different times that were not as condusive to character meet and greets ?

That is great that you had such good luck with the characters. On our 7 night Western, there were two times when we ran into Captain Hook and Goofy with noone around. But they seemed to be rushing off somewhere and didn't stop for pics. We scored only one time during our 7 night cruise and that was with Lilo & Stitch where there was no line. We were exiting the captain cocktail hour and there they were. Kids weren't with us though. I don't know.....we always seemed to be doing something on/off the ship and just didn't see that many characters without lines at other times.
Regardless of whether you have experienced lack of lines, I still see a "character breakfast" as one where the characters come to your table for photos and autographs. If I were to book a character breakfast in wdw and got dancing at the front of the restaurant instead, I'd not be happy. I can get this at the sail away and deck parties. So I respect that you dont mind this new policy, but there are many that do (and will once more start to catch on). I think they need to recategorize this breakfast if this is the new policy.

YenSid1222 says :I feel very strongly that DCL does the best with the situation they have.

And this is what I don't get ? The character breakfast seemed to be working really well the last time we experienced it. I don't get this policy change ? To me, it's a step backwards (taking something away that they used to offer). This breakfast was a huge photo and autograph opportunity. We won't be wasting our time here if this is indeed a new policy. Still waiting for my DCL reply to see if this is even an official change.

 

[disneyfanforever]

I really hope Disney decides to rethink this new policy of not having characters come to the tables.

My youngest DS is shy so there is no way he would get out there and dance. But he absolutely loves the characters when they come to the table. He loves getting his picture taken with them and getting their autographs. There is just no way he would have the nerve to get out there and compete for the characters attention.

 

[Caitsmama]

Oh, i too hope they fix this!! It seems that is the *one* time where you are certian that you will meet a character with no lines! It seems like it is just a special thing..
And, for the $$ we all pay to be on the DCL, you would think they could at least keep this one certian character meet.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

This is a shame as the character breakfast is the one time the characters come to you.

 

[Lindy Loo]

Can anyone tell me who to E mail to check if this is a permanant change, and if so, who I complain to! We as a family were really looking forward to this, and to be honest for the $$$$$'s we are paying for the cruise, cant see why its been changed if it was working well beforehand ?

The breakfast was going to enable us to get autograpghs and photos without the Q !

It seems there has been quite a few "changes" that are not for the best... ie taking away a live steel drum band ? why?

Guess its all down to costs!

But DCL look out, if you keep cutting things that make cruising with you so magical, we simple wont choose you for future cruises.

 

[MiaSRN62]

LindyLoo,
I emailed them yesterday and I'm still awaiting an answer. I went directly to the DCL website and clicked on "contact us". It's on the main page....on the left column towards the bottom under "Questions?" There is a link that says
"send us an email".

 

[YenSid1222]

And this is what I don't get ? The character breakfast seemed to be working really well the last time we experienced it. I don't get this policy change ? To me, it's a step backwards (taking something away that they used to offer). This breakfast was a huge photo and autograph opportunity. We won't be wasting our time here if this is indeed a new policy. Still waiting for my DCL reply to see if this is even an official change.

I agree with you there. I think it worked fine...I guess my point is that you can do a search on the boards and find quite a number of people who complained about it (it was too fast, they didn't spend enough time with my kids, felt rushed). If there were as many people complaining on board based on what I read here...I can see why DCL decided to try a change. If they had stayed with the status quo, we would be reading more complaints. Which is why I have said they are darned if they do, darned if they don't. So, why not try something a bit different. If it is a total disaster, I am sure they will go back.

I just think its odd how people are so much into this ruining their cruise or something. It's one breakfast. Go with the flow, try it out...who knows, maybe we will all like what they do now better.

We won't know until we try it!!

 

[TLHB70]

LindyLoo,
I emailed them yesterday and I'm still awaiting an answer. I went directly to the DCL website and clicked on "contact us". It's on the main page....on the left column towards the bottom under "Questions?" There is a link that says
"send us an email".

I contacted DCL this same way following our fall 2004 cruise. (It was over another issue, not character meals.) I contacted them by email using the link you mention. Well, DCL never replied to my email or contacted me. It wasn't a huge issue so I just let it go. However, I was a bit surprised that I never received any type of reply.

 

[MiaSRN62]

This certainly wouldn't ruin our cruise...just take it a tiny notch down. It's just a disappointment (90 min out of a whole week). But quite honestly, if DCL changed this policy because people were complaining the characters were too quick, they MUST surely be prepared for some major complaints now !? LOL I mean, obviously if people were complaining the characters were too rushed, it meant they wanted MORE interaction. So what does DCL do ? Takes it away COMPLETELY ! Wow.....this isn't in keeping with "what the customer wants" at all ? They are really NOT reading their guests at all. I'll bet their complaints double if this is truly policy now.

YenSid says:So, why not try something a bit different. If it is a total disaster, I am sure they will go back.

Frankly, because it's not "different"---it's changed/altered imho. It's going to be just like the deck and sail away parties. The character breakfast was what set it apart from other character meet and greets on the ship and on CC. As another poster stated, the characters came to YOU. No waiting in lines....there are senior citizens and very young children who just can't wait in a dozen different lines all week for pics/autographs.

I'd bet alot of folks could tell DCL for free, what they pay people big bucks to to suggest (like this policy change). Maybe they should have poll'd their cruisers ? I doubt many would vote for this change. I hope lots complain and it returns by Sept in time for our cruise. Disney can have a very tricky way of taking things away from guests and fooling them into thinking it's just something new and different. We've been huge fans since 1995. We go to WDW on average 2-4 times a year almost every year since 1995. I have seen things like this and people really need to speak up about changes they are not happy with.

 

[Lindy Loo]

I contacted DCL this same way following our fall 2004 cruise. (It was over another issue, not character meals.) I contacted them by email using the link you mention. Well, DCL never replied to my email or contacted me. It wasn't a huge issue so I just let it go. However, I was a bit surprised that I never received any type of reply.

WOW ! sorry you experienced such poor and rude service ( or lack of it )
I am off to e mail now. I have also copied the start of this thread onto our cruise meet thread, im hoping many people will complain and by Oct they have changed it back.

On the 4 night wonder, we did Queue for characters, some times missing parts of our meal,cos our DD was so insistant, and luckily our table mates were very gracious.

However as previously said, this is why the character B fast is different, in the fact they come to you. The elderly and very young, may not be able to queue for a long time .

 

[YenSid1222]

How can you say you don't like what is new when you haven't even experienced it yet???

Anyway, It is obvious there were enough people who did NOT like it the way it was done before to warrant change. If everything stayed the same, it would be boring very fast.

I challenge everyone to go into your character breakfast with an open mind and TRY IT. If you still think it doesn't work and all the kids are there miserable...then let them know. Personally, I am glad they are trying something new. It means they do listen and try to make everyone happy. Of course, that is often a pipe dream.

 

[Stripes]

We just came off the Magic 4/28/07 and did the character breakfast and it was great. This was our first cruise so we did not know what to expect.

The characters filed in and started singing and dancing and then went to all of the tables for pictures. I think that this is where I got the most pics of the characters. And they did wait until kids were ready and flashes were ready etc.

Also we able to get pics of characters in the hallways or on the decks. I found them to be very accommodating. We always expressed a Thank You! after the pic.

We will be definitely cruising Disney again!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

How can you say you don't like what is new when you haven't even experienced it yet???

Anyway, It is obvious there were enough people who did NOT like it the way it was done before to warrant change. If everything stayed the same, it would be boring very fast.

YenSid,
I don't need to "experience" it first ? In the character meal as it is now, the characters do dance around the restaurant (towards the front) in the beginning of the meal. So I know what this is like ? Only with this possible policy change, they won't eventually make their way around to the tables. Now that is what I not only call a "boring" but pretty much NON-EXISTANT character breakfast. I respect the fact that you are all for this change. I've been going to wdw long enough to know that we enjoy the characters coming to the table, and if this one option on the ship is removed, then I can clearly predict we won't be interested. The OP pretty much stated all they did was dance around with the kids. I think I get it. I don't need to experience it because I pretty much know what to expect now. I'm sure they could find other things to change to keep it not "boring" ? I'm not trying to be snide....I understand this is your feelings, but it just doesn't make sense to do the exact opposite of what alot of people were supposedly complaining about ? They wanted MORE time with the characters so not DCL decides they'll get NO time ?
PS: got impatient for an email response so I called DCL. Just got off the phone with a CM (2:18 pm est) who stated the policy has not been changed. She actually went into her computer system while I was on the phone with her to check for updates and there was no mention of what the OP posted. So I'm going to assume it's the same 'ole wonderful boring way it's been in the past until I hear anything further !

 

[ReallyFunMom]

We're not overly into characters so it won't matter either way for us. But what's this about the food being bad? Shouldn't it be the same sort of buffet type food as available at Topsiders?

 

[MiaSRN62]

We didn't feel the food was bad---we liked it. Just your basic fare from what I can recall. They had omelets to order too. Here's the menu :

 

[PiperG]

On another thread, someone indicated they knew Tom McAlpin's e-mail address and that he responded to their inquiry. Does anyone have that e-mail available?

We would be very disappointed if the characters didn't come to our table. Although it is a short interaction, it is festive and fun and makes for great pictures!