I have got an ADR for the Garden Grove too (diner), and even though the reviews I've read seem to be good, there just doesn't seem to be an awful lot of information about the place... (maybe because it is not in the dining plan?).
So any reviews are welcomed. I am specially curious to know which characters come when, for what I read they have Lion King characters for Monday's fish menu (?), Pluto and Goofy for Tuesday's Mediterranean menu (?), now I see Donald (!) is there too (when?). Any source of information for this?
GG doesn't get much coverage, due (IMHO) to not being on the dining plan, and being outside the parks.
The usual dinner characters are Pluto & Goofy, except for Mon/Fri nights, when it is Rafiki and Timon. The w/e breakfast characters are Pluto/Goofy, and Chip & Dale.
We've been dining there (various buffet meals) for at least 3 years now, and I have never seen Donald listed. I don't know when that change occurred, but I have never seen him there, or listed on the website, going back to 2007/2008. He would have factored into our character dining decisions.
I'd love more info about Garden Grove too. Some pics would be nice as well. I am most interested in the breakfast buffet, character or non-character. I agree, it is hard to get info on it but what I have read has been positive.
I have reviewed it at least twice now for breakfast. You can search the review board, using my name and garden grove. They may turn up. I don't do pictures in those reviews though, b/c a picture of buffet items rarely comes out well after other people have scooped and served from the dishes.
They do not take ADR's for the w/e breakfast buffets, but do for the dinner buffets. Strange, but that's how they do it.
I ate there one time about a year ago...it was OK...just OK. granted we were there later than a typical dinner but the buffet just wasnt that good. I dont think i would eat there again...nothing stuck out as especially bad but nothing stuck out as really good either. For the price of the dinner I think you can do alot better somewhere else with the same level of character interaction.
I have to agree on the food part.
The breakfast buffet is the best value here. We have never felt like we did not get a good value. The food is a notch behind Fresh at the Dolphin.
Dinner - we have tried it twice. First time, the Medit. buffet. Surprisingly good, and we tried it by accident (they had just changed the days, and we were going there for the Southern buffet). Second time was the seafood buffet. Nothing stood out as excellent. Two of the seafood items were overcooked, or had sat out too long. Several items were good, but nothing great. The price/value ratio wasn't overwhelming (again, IMHO). We have not felt compelled to go back for dinner, with all of the other options in the area.
I have to disagree on the character interaction part.
The low crowd levels (it is rarely more than 40-50% full), means the characters make the rounds multiple times during a meal. They seem to take their time, and don't rush through the visit at your table. Compared to a busy place like Crystal Palace, the character interaction time has always been excellent.
If anyone needs more info, ask away. This place gets such little coverage, I'll try to chime in with what info I have.
