Donald's Breakfastasaurus: How is this?

[mchames]

We haven't been to this character breakfast in about 4 years and are wondering how it is these days. We remember it as having pretty good food and a fun atmosphere. We have an ADR for May 31st at 8:10am. It will be me, DH, DD9 and DD7.

Since the girls have gotten older we have cut down on character meals significantly. This is the only character meal we have planned for this trip.

Thanks.
Mary

PS: Except for "Lilo & Stitch" and the new "Playhouse Disney" meal I think we have done all of the character meals at least once, including several visits to CRT & PSB !!!!

 

[MaeDaisy]

The food was fresh and plentiful, and they had a really good variety of items. We've only done 2 character meals (LTT & Donald's) so I can't really say whether character interaction was good, bad, or in-between. Plus, we're kind of a shy-ish family, so we don't really want the characters to spend a whole lot of time with us. Seems like it was just right, enough to get pictures and the kids played with them a little, but we didn't get uncomfortable. And the non-character CMs here were the best of any restaurant we went to. Our waiter, the photographers, everyone at this restaurant was a blast. I recommend it. (My kids are DS 8 & DD 10)

 

[bleeps]

We are character meal veterans and have done as many as 4 or 5 on a given trip (while DS, now almost 9, has been young, we've been willing to go for it on character meals!). We have done Donald's breakfastosaurus twice and enjoyed it each time. Food was good and fresh, server was a RIOT (we had the same person, Robin, each time -- she is fabulous), and characters delightful. I don't know if they "always" do this, but we were pleased that both times all the characters came and worked the room at one time. I mean, each character came to each table, but they all came in and left together. That means that you aren't left to wonder when a given character will show up (which can make timing bathroom trips or whatever else, especially with a child, a little more difficult).

I think you'll enjoy it -- we were last there in Dec 06 (3 months ago) so my review is pretty current. One change about AK to note is that because of EE, the park fills early and by about lunchtime the fastpasses are gone (for everything) and the park is jammed. Makes all the more reason for an early breakfast so that you can do what you want to do and be prepared to move on by lunchtime. If you want to ride EE, my advice is to head there straight from breakfast, grab fastpasses AND get in the stand-by line so that if you like it you'll have a chance to ride it twice (and if you don't like it, you can make someone else's day by giving them the FPs).

 

[mchames]

Thanks for the reviews! It sounds like it will work great for us.

I think you'll enjoy it -- we were last there in Dec 06 (3 months ago) so my review is pretty current. One change about AK to note is that because of EE, the park fills early and by about lunchtime the fastpasses are gone (for everything) and the park is jammed. Makes all the more reason for an early breakfast so that you can do what you want to do and be prepared to move on by lunchtime. If you want to ride EE, my advice is to head there straight from breakfast, grab fastpasses AND get in the stand-by line so that if you like it you'll have a chance to ride it twice (and if you don't like it, you can make someone else's day by giving them the FPs).

Thanks for this advice. It didn't even occur to me that EE would have such a big impact on AK, but I guess a new ride will bring people in... in droves. This will be our second day at AK, so if we don't get to ride EE on our first day (arrival day, may not get there by opening) we'll get FPs right after breakfast. Good advice!

Thanks.
Mary

 

[MickeyNicki]

We went in Dec for the first time and loved it, allowed us to get on EE quickly since we had a very early reservation

 

[cobbler]

Food was good but the character interaction we received wasn't that hot. I had read reviews about the characters being rushed and that is just what we expirenced. There were 10 tables in our section, the CM's came in about 5 minutes before and told us to get our books ready and turn our camera's on because they would be coming. Came in again about a minute before and announced the same thing. The characters came in, all of them at once, and were in our section (with 10 full tables) about 10-12 minutes. Just long enough to pose and move on. No real interaction at all.

So personally I wouldn't go back there but hopefully you will have a better expirence.

 

[caseyem67]

For our Nov trip, I asked my DS6 (then will be 7) what character meal(s) he wanted to do. Donald's was the ONLY one he brought up. This has been my favorite CM too. Although, we have a different strategies than the others. We get to AK early and head right to EE.I make ADR's for Donald's for the latest breakfast seating so it is more like a brunch. Gets us through til dinner time and we were still able to get on EE (a few times!). We normally go at an off peak time of year though so maybe that's why we had luck with EE. Overall, a great breakfast. Good food choices, nice setting.

 

[grumpy's fan]

Just did this last Wednesday (3/14) and was a little disappointed. Food was good but the characters sprinted around the restaurant - no interaction at all. It was very very rushed and even my daughter (who is 5) asked why they were running away from her!!! We did the princess dinner in Norway on Monday night and they spent lots of time with each guest so this was quite disappointing. Next time we'll do Chef Mickey's again....on a fun, positive note...my daughter as the "associate chef" with Donald and Pluto. She got her photo taken with them and a signed chef hat. That was fun!

 

[TDC Nala]

EE has a huge impact. I would suggest that if you want to ride it, go there first and get fastpasses. Even if you don't get to ride it first thing, the fastpass will get you in later. And they've got a single riders line (nirvana for me) so if you are okay with splitting up, that's a great way to ride first thing in the AM.

I thought the food at Donald's (did it last October) was pretty good, nothing spectacular but plenty to eat, and the characters all made the rounds and hung around for a bit taking photos (Goofy loves me). Our group was all adults.

 

[Freyja]

Food was good but the character interaction we received wasn't that hot. I had read reviews about the characters being rushed and that is just what we expirenced. There were 10 tables in our section, the CM's came in about 5 minutes before and told us to get our books ready and turn our camera's on because they would be coming. Came in again about a minute before and announced the same thing. The characters came in, all of them at once, and were in our section (with 10 full tables) about 10-12 minutes. Just long enough to pose and move on. No real interaction at all.

So personally I wouldn't go back there but hopefully you will have a better expirence.

Our experience was pretty much the same. Very rushed. But it was our first characters breakfast so we didn´t really know what to expect. We liked it a lot though and would go again.

 

[englishrose47]

We have 8 am adr for Donalds. Not planning on EE for some reason girls don't want to. So will be heading for Safari first for a FP and do the Trek before it . Good tip I learned on these boards as Trek will be pretty empty and by time we are done we can do Safari. Then Bug!!

 

[momandseandodisney]

is it just Donald? Or any other chara's?

I am debating this one or the lilo and Stich for Sept for my DS9 and I

 

[TDC Nala]

is it just Donald? Or any other chara's?

I am debating this one or the lilo and Stich for Sept for my DS9 and I

Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, Mickey the big cheese himself. They are dressed like they're on an expedition.

 

[momandseandodisney]

Oh goodie!

So would anyone pick lilo and stich breakie of this one? If so why?

 

[spooky1]

Our experience was pretty much the same.

We went back in 05' and had a similar experience ... we had done Chef Mickeys the day before so we went in expecting about the saem. The characters werent too enthused, and the service was less than desirable. We did get a great group photo before going in though ...

We dont plan on going back any time soon.