Finals Plans etc.

[MJ_always]

Well im finally off to DLP on Sunday- i cant believe it!! It's been a pretty bad week so far for me with lots of tears but i keep thinking about Sunday so thats a major thing to look forward to. I keep grinning to myself like a nutter lol.

Anyways our plane doesnt arrive till around 6.50pm so by time we get our luggage and get to the hotel, it will probably be around 8.15ish. So i was thinking of just having a little wonder around the Village and spending some nice time in the hotel before starting off properly on the Monday.

But this is what i'd really like advice on- i've read up on here about all the food places and a lot of them sound great. I really want to try Walt's. But i'd love a character meal even though i'm the youngest there (20) lol. When i was little in America we never had a character meal but i just love the idea but i know they can be pricey.
I was thinking about the Plaza Gardens? Would people recommend that or is there another place thats better? I got a bit confused too about the Plaza Gardens- do they do a set menu or is it a buffet or a mixture of both?? Also is the character tea during the day and different food to normal menu/buffet. And do they do character meals later on in the evening or just in the morning and earlier on in the day?
Sorry for all the questions- im getting paranoid but excited lol.

luv
#ashleigh#

 

[A Small World]

I think the character tea party is the only character meal at Plaza Gardens- other meals there are without characters. This is also the cheapest character meal you can do. Its held in the afternoon around tea time (usually 2 sittings) It was mainly cakes but there were a few savoury items as well- pizza, sausages, omlettes, hash browns etc. It was worth the money and a good way of doing a character meal on a budget.

The other option is Mickeys where you order what you want so you could just have one course to keep the cost down.

Lucky Nugget offers a buffet which means you can eat as much as you want.

Lucky Nugget and Plaza Gardens are in the park so you will only be able to eat there during park hours whereas Cafe Mickey is in the Village so is open in the evening as well but I have heard it can be very loud and chaotic.

The most expensive option is Inventions which is in Disneyland hotel and again is a buffet.

BTW I think your plan to have a wander round the village and hotels is a good one for your first evening. It will give you chance to get your bearings and explore as once you get in the parks you may not want to come out.

Have fun.

 

[MJ_always]

Thanks so much for the reply, i really appreciate it. The Plaza Gardens sounds good and a good price. We'll have a more expensive meal too but i'd like to fit in a character meal lol. I've read about Cafe Mickey's and i liked the sound of that too but like you said it can get loud and chaotic.

luv
#ashleigh#

 

[flea72]

we had the character tea at Plaza Gardens on sunday and it was great.

we had 8 characters come round in all. 4 came around for the first half hour, then they left, and another 4 arrived for another half hour

it is a buffet. mainly cakes, but there were also sausages, hash browns, scrambled eggs and grilled tomatoes. you can have any soft or hot drink, i dont think there was an alcohol option.

it was very relaxed, the characters visited every table, and spent a good 5 mins with everyone

however, its best to all sit at your table and send one person off to collect the food/drink. there were several tables who missed out on their turn, as they had all gone to get food, which then meant the characters had to keep going backwards and forwards across the room to catch up. we found that the people who sat nearest to the buffet, got the least time with characters, as with all the toing and froing, they didnt get to their side of the room for long, before they did the swap over of characters

so try and get a centrally located table, as that way they pass you quite often on their trip around the room, and seem to keep stopping

Also you dont go in through the main door for the meal. there is a door to the right of the main entrance which is marked as the exit door, but they let you in through that, so getting in the queue early means you are seated and ready for the interaction. also means if your whole party want to see the characters, you can do the buffet run, after your table had been visited

as a note (dont know if this is the norm) even if you book for the character meal through your tour operator, this isnt a guarantee you will get it. you have to re-confirm your booking and time, when you arrived in the resort

Flea

 

[jillrobinson]

Just my opinion but given the age of your group, I'd be tempted to opt for the Lucky Nugget or Cafe Mickey, although they're both a bit dearer.
In our experience there are a lot more children at Plaza Gardens and when we were there, there didn't seem to be much control of the ones that were there, I don't expect to have other people's kids hanging around my table.
It could just be luck of the drawer but we've not had the same problem at CM or LN. I wouldn't say CM is loud and chaotic either, occasionally music starts playing and the CM's jump up onto ledges and start dancing, but it just adds to the really good atmosphere.

I'm sure you'll have fun whatever/wherever you decide.

PS I'd highly recommend the Blue Lagoon for your "expensive" meal.

 

[MJ_always]

Thank you both for replying. Everyone is amazing on here and SO helpful.

I was talking to my mam about it lastnight and was telling her the type of food at the Plaza Gardens but she doesnt like and sweet stuff like cakes and i dont like scrambled eggs,tomatoes and dont really eat pizza although i could make an exception on holiday LOL. So it looks like the Plaza Gardens isnt really our best choice.
I think it'll be between the Lucky Nugget or Cafe Mickeys.

luv
#ashleigh#

 

[Cyrano]

Just my opinion but given the age of your group, I'd be tempted to opt for the Lucky Nugget or Cafe Mickey, although they're both a bit dearer.

I'd concur. Both excellent choices for character meals

 

[morgan nicole]

were going on sunday too!
Weve booked at cafe mickey on Monday for a birthday meal as its my little ones 4th birthday. Does anyone know what sort of food you get there?

 

[Belle's Beauty]

I just wanted to say I hope you have a magical time, we're off for our first time next sunday and I could just burst I'm so excited, not sure if we can afford a character meal ourselves but let us know how you got on and merry christmas to you too

 

[flea72]

I just wanted to say I hope you have a magical time, we're off for our first time next sunday and I could just burst I'm so excited, not sure if we can afford a character meal ourselves but let us know how you got on and merry christmas to you too

personally we found that by going for the 5pm character meal at Plaza Gardens, it meant we didnt have to pay out for anything to eat in the evening, and its also cheaper than any main meal that you can buy in DLP or The Village.

i know i checked out all the menus on here for price, etc before we went, but i still found it a shock to spend over £60 on a burger/chip meal for a family of 4 in the restaurants. and it wasnt that fantastic a burger for that price either. the character meal at plaza gardens cost us £28 by comparrison

hth Flea

 

[MJ_always]

were going on sunday too!
Weve booked at cafe mickey on Monday for a birthday meal as its my little ones 4th birthday. Does anyone know what sort of food you get there?

Woo. Awww i hope your daughter has an amazing birthday!!

I just wanted to say I hope you have a magical time, we're off for our first time next sunday and I could just burst I'm so excited, not sure if we can afford a character meal ourselves but let us know how you got on and merry christmas to you too

Thank you. I'm just like that too!! It's my first time there and i just cant stop thinking about it, i feel like im about to explode,lol. I'll write my first ever trip report when i come back and post some piccys. I cant wait.

At Cafe Mickey, i know there is a set meal but can you just order individually if you wanted to, say a starter, main but no desert for example?

luv
#ashleigh#

 

[Princess Jayne]

sorry to butt in on your topic! lol! but how do you book before you get there? is there a specific number to ring? and how soon should you do it? we go a week on sunday! x

 

[MJ_always]

sorry to butt in on your topic! lol! but how do you book before you get there? is there a specific number to ring? and how soon should you do it? we go a week on sunday! x

lol its ok. I cant really help but i know there are some phone numbers that people have posted on here that you can ring to pre-book. And about how soon to book- i know some people book quite in advance but i was just hoping to book it 2-3 days before the meal. Not sure if i can but i'll try lol.

luv
#ashleigh#

 

[cstokell]

You can find the number to pre-book restaurants in this thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=11852609

I would book as soon as you can if you are going when it is busy.

 

[Princess Jayne]

You can find the number to pre-book restaurants in this thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=11852609

I would book as soon as you can if you are going when it is busy.

Thanks! I knew it had been posted somewhere but couldnt remember - was probs just not looking properly! lol! xx