For a character meal - Inventions or Walt's or Cafe Mickey Breakfast??

[dlpSteve]

We loved Inventions when we went 4 years ago but it is very pricey. I've looked at Cafe Mickey and The Lucky Nugget Saloon reviews and they don't seem very good. Walt's is another option, the menu does look good and we had breakfast there once - do they still do a character breakfast?

So, opinions - the best place for a character meal for a family of 3 (2 big kids and a toddler!) who isn't that fussy with food.

Am I missing any places that do character meals?

 

[DLPdaft]

No, Walts don't do a character meal anymore I'm afraid.
I can't see past Cafe Mickey for character interaction, but then I haven't been to Inventions.

Theres also the Sunday brunch at the Steakhouse in the Village between 12noon and 3pm - thats a character meal, and gets good reviews.

 

[dlpSteve]

Shame about Walt's.

As we won't be there on a Sunday it looks like it's Inventions for us, what a shame

 

[dlpSteve]

Just had a thought - breakfast at Cafe Mickey. The food wouldn't be that important but it would be a cheap(er) way to get a character meal! Anyone done the breakfast at Cafe Mickey?

 

[TheTizardFamily:0)]

We did last year, the breakfast was fairly nice, better than the hotel anyway. And our sons got to meet and spend time with lots of characters....Mickey happened to be near the door when we arrived so he took our 2 year old sons hand and led us to the table......nearly a year later he's still talking about it

 

[giuly09]

My own experience with Breakfast at Cafè Mickey is not the best ever, food was poor and we felt like we were rushed up to go.
Said that our was a party of adults (me, my partner and my two teenage sons) and we did not get much interaction but it could be different if you have kids.

 

[A Small World]

Ive eaten there twice and enjoyed both times but preferred the 2nd sitting (9.30) although the food and intereaction was really good both times.

The first time we did the early one (7.30 I think) and to be honest I was too tired to eat much and we were itching to get into the park.

The 2nd time we went into the park for 8.00, did an hours EMH and then meandered out to the village back to CM. This time I had built up an appetite so enjoyed it more and we didnt feel we wanted to rush away into the parks so just sat and lingered and enjoyed the characters.

There was the normal breakfast stuff and loads of hot items, smolked salmon cakes, yoghurts etc etc. We just filled up and then skipped lunch as we didnt need to eat again til evening

 

[Mum to Belle]

We've had both breakfast sittings there too. I totally agree that the later sitting is much better. We did EMH first then DD got her character fix and finally sat still long enough to eat something at about 10am after the characters had gone! We took our time and then headed over to Studios for the day. The breakfast was really nice, plenty of choice, there are some good photos on the restaurant review thread.

I preferred the breakfast there to the evening meal because it's a buffet so your food doesn't go cold while you are enjoying the character experience.

 

[wildelady]

In April we did both dinner at inventions and the early breakfast at cafe mickey. I would not hesitate to recommend inventions, we were made to feel so welcome and werent rushed at all. The breakfast at cafe mickey i felt was poor and actually preferred the cold breakfast at the hotel ( Cheyenne). The characters spent more time with us at inventions and there was more rooms for the characters to move round, we werent constantly having to move chairs to take pics or move for other people to take pics. Cafe mickey did seem to get busier for the later sitting and they were queuing out the door by the time we left at 9am.

 

[KathJ22]

We had dinner at Inventions last week and it was the highlight of our trip. Yes it's pricey but it's miles ahead of the others in terms of value for money. The food is outstanding, the service faultless and over a two hour period we had a total of eight characters come to our table. It was a relaxed atmosphere which was much appreciated after the chaos of the parks.

I haven't been to Cafe Mickey but from walking past it appeared overcrowded and chaotic with bog standard food at a premium because there's a charcater there.

 

[Ware Bears]

I've not eaten breakfast at Cafe Mickey but have enjoyed both lunch and dinner there. However, I much prefer Inventions and, although it's pricey, if Lucas is still under 3 when you go you won't have to pay for him there. If you go at 6pm when they open they are pretty quiet and you will get loads of attention from the characters.

Happy planning!!

 

[dlpSteve]

Thanks for all the replies everyone - looks like it's Inventions for us!

As for you Elaine, I was all set for the cheaper lunch, but now you've mentioned going at 6pm for better character interaction you may have cost me dearly

 

[wideeyes]

I was just about to cry then thinking Walts has turned into a character meal. We liked both inventions and cafe mickey. There is no characters at Lunch time at Inventions.

 

[Cyrano]

My feelings that Inventions is not great value for money is well recorded so I will not state all the reasons again.
Cafe Mickey for evening meal has always been a joy both for the food and the character interaction. Cannot speak for lunch but others have stated it is not as busy as the evening.

I do however think it is sad that Walt's no longer does the character breakfast. We are not big breakfast eaters however both the setting and the pleasant atmosphere made this a wonderful experience

 

[Ms Poppins]

We've never done Inventions, but always do Cafe Mickey for an evening meal. After using HB Plus vouchers last year, and not really feeling like we go value for money, food wise, we are agreed that this time we will treat it as a pizza stop and share some before tucking into a nice dessert.

I agree, that the prices are high as the characters are present, but I do think you can eat reasonably well without breaking the bank - and we have always had great character interaction.

I do fancy Inventions, but from what i've seen on the reviews there are many seafood dishes, and none of us are keen on that.

 

[dlpSteve]

If the lunch at Inventions is without characters then it's dinner - sorted!

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Ware Bears]

Just to confuse you even more look at this thread here. It seems like Inventions now does a character Sunday Brunch!

 

[dlpSteve]

Thanks goodness we aren't there on Sunday - don't need more options!

 

[dlpSteve]

Finally got round to booking Inventions for Tuesday 21st at 6pm - thanks again for everyone's help

 

[Ware Bears]

Hope you have a fantastic time.