Garden Grill without Characters?

[BarbLynnM]

I’d like to dine at Garden Grill, but I don’t particularly want the character experience. Is there a time of day or meal where they don’t show up?

I had an unfortunate experience with Akershus; we’d specifically asked not to have the character experience and they were fine with it, then seated us literally in the middle of the action. I wasn’t comfortable having the character experience, and just wanted to have my dinner and leave. We didn’t know this would happen until it did, and I don’t want a repeat bout would like to try the food at the restaurant.

 

[jppeek]

I am pretty sure garden grill always has characters but I will say it’s not nearly as crazy as Akershus. If you request a booth the characters are pretty separated from you (booths face out so character would walk to front of table but not on top of you) , and if you just wave and show minimal interest they walk right by.

It’s also done really well where you don’t have nearly the same level of crazy as some of the other character spots in Disney.

If you really want to try it, I wouldn’t let the characters dissuade you. Maybe check out a YouTube video so you can see the lay out, to make sure your comfortable but it won’t be anything like Akershus.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

The characters are at every meal.

There are many restaurants without characters.
I highly suggest instead of going to a character meal and requesting no characters that you pick one of the MANY restaurants that don't have characters and just avoid the situation completely.
Especially because while they have no issue with you requesting the characters not stop by as you found out it may not always be done because the characters and the handlers are expecting people to want to see them since it is a character meal and the tables are turned over constantly so they may not remember that you're the table that rather not see them.
If you do really want to eat there then when they come just say hi and wave and be polite. When you don't hop right up and give more interaction they do understand and move on.

 

[MinnieMSue]

We aren’t particularly fond of meeting characters anymore and when we do character meals (Tusker house and an upcoming garden grill for the candlelight processional) we don’t get up or encourage them to stay. We just do a quick “hello nice to see you thanks for stopping by” and they pretty much get the clue to move on quickly. We really don’t book those meals much. Now that satuli has breakfast we will skip Tusker and only doing garden grill for the NPH candlelight as it is a rare place where my daughter may enjoy the breakfast food

 

[Skippyboo]

It’s character dining all the time, It’s Farmer Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. They will come around one at a time as the restaurant rotates. You can just sort of wave at them but you are paying probably $20 bucks more than a non character dining. LTT in MK is pretty similar menu to GG lunch and dinner.