first night ideas

[angelsmom]

We will be arriving in Orlando late on a Friday afternoon and do not want to go to the parks that day but are looking for something character realated to take the kids to that evening. We were thinking about Hoop de Doo but I had heard that there are not characters there. Anybody got any neat ideas or dinner suggestions. We are going in Oct. 2006. Thanks for any help.

 

[princessesrule4]

What about Chef Mickey's for dinner? It has such a fun atmosphere and the kids will get to see Mickey, Minnie ,Goofy,Chip,Dale and either Pluto or Donald! Have a great trip!

 

[DisneyArk]

I second Chef Mickey's! We usually eat at Chef Mickey's on our first night. We like to ride the monorail after dinner and look at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom.

I have two sons, so this works for us! Another option would be the princess dinner at GF.

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

If you want a character meal then I would second Chef Mickey's, however, if you want a fun time that kids love then Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is the place. There aren't any characters there but it is in a "saloon" like setting with corny slapstick comedy but the actors/singers get the audience involved and the food is very country, things kids like - fried chicken, corn of the cob, etc. It's one of our favs.

Disney Crazy Debbie

 

[disneyfan61]

We are going to Chef Mickey's our 1st day. (even though my DS's are 17 & 13)

 

[ugadog99]

Gotta go with Chef Mickey's. I can't really think of a better way to get in the Disney mood than dinner with the Head Mouse!!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

If you want a character meal then I would second Chef Mickey's, however, if you want a fun time that kids love then Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is the place. There aren't any characters there but it is in a "saloon" like setting with corny slapstick comedy but the actors/singers get the audience involved and the food is very country, things kids like - fried chicken, corn of the cob, etc. It's one of our favs.

Disney Crazy Debbie

Disney Crazy Debbie - I live in Woodbridge, VA too!

& yes, Chef Mickey's is a fun way to start off any Disney trip!

 

[disfam61]

Another option is Epcot. We pick a different country each year for our first night and then find a spot for the show over the lagoon with some dessert.

 

[Nancyg56]

We did Chef Mickey's and it was a fun way to get into the Disney Magic. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would eat at Trails End at FW, and then go to the Chip and Dale sing along and movie. Movie and sing along is free, you see Chip and Dale and I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hot in October.

Bobbi

 

[mhingher]

We did Chef Mickey's on our 1st day during our trip last March. It was a great way to get the vacation started! On previous trips, we spent some time around our resort or DTD. Either way, we always wanted to get a good night's sleep so we can hit the parks early the next am!!

 

[Disney Doll]

Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club has a character dinner with Goofy, Chip, Dale, & Donald, I think.

Double check me though, because it may just be breakfast when they have the characters.

 

[ugadog99]

Cape May is only character breakfast. They do have a clam bake for dinner. Many people like it, but we didn't care for it. I have to say though that dinner at Trail's End and the sing-a-long and campfire would be a good alternative to Chef Mickey's.

 

[tommygirl79]

GOTTA GO TO CHEF MICKEY'S!!!! My family (DH, me and DDs 4 and 2) went there for our very first time on our first night in January and it was a BLAST!!! You get to really get in the Disney mood by riding the monorail if you go that way and getting a glimpse of the Castle (which I HAVE to do of I don't feel like I'm at Disney), getting to see the Contemporary, and enjoying the characters. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale were all there the night we went and we see a character within 30 seconds of sitting down. The atmosphere is fun and it is SOOOO Disney that you can't but get in the spirit. I would suggest it to anyone!

 

[welovemickey]

1900 Park Faire at the Grand Floridian has a character meal. There's also the Luau at the Polynesian with Mickey. Both are on the monorail line too.

 

[tinkerjo]

I agree with trail end and chip and dale. a couple of overlooked gems at walt disney world.

 

[lorrainesy]

Is trails end the same as Hoop de Doo? We have plans to do hoop de doo…if they are different which is better? Hoop de doo sounds like a blast, I’ve never heard of trails end.

Is Chief Mickey a buffet? We are traveling in a group of eight ranging in age from 1 to 46, a couple of them are fussy eaters. So are safest options are buffets or home cooking type food like burger, fries, chicken, and salads. We all love the character meals.

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

Trail's End is a buffet restaurant at Ft. Wilderness and is NOT the same as Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue. HDDR is a dinner show. You might want to consider Mickey's Backyard Bar-B-Que, also at FW.

Chef Mickey's is a buffet also as well as a character meal. The Garden Grill at Epcot is a character meal that is also a buffet.

For a more complete idea of which meals are buffets and/or character meals and their costs check out allearsnet.com under "dining" where they list sample menu from each of restaurants at WDW. Also the WDW Passporter book also rates and lists dining experiences.

 

[golden1]

Since we are going in December and staying at BWV, I am planning on heading to EPCOT to see the XMAS lights and perhaps ride a few rides.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I would eat at Trails End at FW, and then go to the Chip and Dale sing along and movie. Movie and sing along is free, you see Chip and Dale and I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hot in October.

Bobbi

This is what we do just about every year. Trails End has the best pizza on property, beer by the pitcher and the bar area is small with a few tables and we all go hang around eating pizza, drinking beer discussing the rest of the vacation and happy to be in Disney. Very quiet and quaint over there and we wander out for the EWP then boat back to the CR for the gameroom and monorail back to the Poly for a nightly swim and more gab.