Goofy's Kitchen for dinner

[ChicoChico]

Hi all,

I'm a long-time Disney freak, but I've only recently found this site. I am soooo addicted! Seriously, I've been lurking and reading for countless hours the last couple of weeks.

I am going to DLR in December, and we're planning on taking our kiddos to Goofy's Kitchen; I've been once before years ago, but it'll be the first time for my kiddos and my DH. We've decided to go for dinner, but I can't figure out what time to make the resees! We're thinking we want to go on the early side of things -- 5-6-ish. Is there a difference in going for the first seating at 5pm compared to going a little later?

DH was thinking that we might get more personalized/focused attention if there weren't as many people around for the first seating, but we're also thinking that there might not be as many characters there at all? Does anyone have any insight or experience with this?

Thank you!

 

[skiingfast]

The number of characters is constant. Though some go off stage for breaks at times.

I'd eat early as possible to not waste time away from the parks. It will be a little faster as it will be easier to get seated and food. More importantly it's going to be before when most people eat and when you leave crowds will be a little less elsewhere.

Do consider the entertainment schedule and your dinner will mesh with it.

 

[ChicoChico]

Thanks, Skiingfast!

It makes sense that the characters would be there from the beginning.... I think we'll go right at 5pm; it would be the best time for my 2yo to eat, too!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thanks, Skiingfast!

It makes sense that the characters would be there from the beginning.... I think we'll go right at 5pm; it would be the best time for my 2yo to eat, too!

We did a 5:00 seating and still saw several characters. It was much quieter than inthe middle of brunch when we normally go. Also with less tables filled around you we seemed to get more time with each characters.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We always do first dinner seating and have seen numerous characters and the kids seem to get extra character time, this is during the week

Jack

 

[taaren]

It depends on how late the park will be open the evening you'll be going and whether or not you'll want to go back into the park. We scheduled a 530 dinner and park closed at 8 (weeknight), so at 715 we'd had no idea the time had passed so quickly we were running to use our FP's that we'd collected earlier. If the park is open later or you're quitting for the day after dinner it shouldn't matter.

 

[Davids-Coco]

This past week we did a Monday night at 5. It was great! Got wonderful character interaction, fresh food, and lots of attention in general. As the night got later (took us nearly 2 hrs with a group of 12!), this seemed to diminish as the restaurant got more full and more noisy. I'd say go at 5!

 

[jemilah]

we have 7:30 for next Wed, and the park closes at 8. We were told the characters leave at 9pm.

 

[FlameGirl]

we have 7:30 for next Wed, and the park closes at 8. We were told the characters leave at 9pm.

How funny. We had a reservation at this exact time, same night, but had to switch it to Thursday night.

 

[jemilah]

Its my Birthday dinner, too bad you could have came to my party !!!!

 

[FlameGirl]

I will be celebrating your birthday at Napa Rose.

Happy birthday!

 

[I❤MICKEY]

We booked Goofy's for dinner on New Years Eve. I thought it was something special to do with the kids considering they are too young to stay up until midnight and I don't plan on fighting the crowd in DL.

Our reservation is for 6:30. It was the earliest that they had. I wonder if instead we should make it later?

Any insight if they do anything special on New Year's? I asked when I made the reservation and was told that Goofy will probably be in his Santa suit. I asked about any extra/special entrees but the cast member said he didn't know.

Generally what food is included in the dinner buffet? This will be the first time we've ever had a dinner.

Thanks.

 

[skiingfast]

Our reservation is for 6:30. It was the earliest that they had. I wonder if instead we should make it later?

Generally what food is included in the dinner buffet? This will be the first time we've ever had a dinner.

Consider that it will take about 1.5 hours to leave the park, eat at Goofy's and then get back to the gates, then it will already be 8pm. If that is late for your kids maybe it would be better to eat later and go from Dinner to Bed. Also the park will be extremely busy that night, so you are better off being in the park when the most people are eating.

Something to consider, if you are staying anywhere that has a Fireworks view, maybe you can later slip out the door or look through the window and watch, it's a big show. Might request a room that will accomodate this.

Not sure about the NYE options but an example of the regular offerings is in the link. http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_goofd.htm

 

[taaren]

We booked Goofy's for dinner on New Years Eve. I thought it was something special to do with the kids considering they are too young to stay up until midnight and I don't plan on fighting the crowd in DL.

Our reservation is for 6:30. It was the earliest that they had. I wonder if instead we should make it later?

Any insight if they do anything special on New Year's? I asked when I made the reservation and was told that Goofy will probably be in his Santa suit. I asked about any extra/special entrees but the cast member said he didn't know.

Generally what food is included in the dinner buffet? This will be the first time we've ever had a dinner.

Thanks.

Probably wise. I fought the crowds one year at New Year's Eve, at midnight we watched the fireworks from the top of Space Mountain, had a great time, but I wouldn't want to do it with kids.
The things I enjoyed most at Goofy's for dinner were the ribs, peanut butter pizza, mac & cheese pizza. There's regular pizza too, dumplings that were tasty, carved meat station, salad bar, cooked vegetables that were tasty, and a dessert bar with lots of kids favorites. Allears has a menu but its not very descriptive. Someone one the DIS probably has pics though.
Really enjoyed the dinner buffet - I ate 4 plates of food not including dessert, and I'm not usually a big eater (DH & I share meals most of the time) ... we had just gotten off of a cruise though so maybe my stomach was expanded that night!

 

[low saturn]

If anyone is planning on eating there and its a special occasion, let them know when you make your reservation. We went in October for my parents 40th anniversary. I mentioned it when I made the reservation and they made it special for my parents while we were there. All the characters came to the table, the servers came out and sang to them plus they got some cake with candles.