Help me get over it

[usschmidt]

My girls really want to do a character meal, but I can't get over the-mediocre-food-for-the-outrageous-price thing. We leave next weekend. Do you think I could even get a PS for Minnie's at such a late date?

Dh agrees w/me but is able to get past himself and see it thru the girls' eyes. Help me get there, please!

 

[Quilter007]

Ariel's Grotto had great food. My boys loved it -- they are 9 and 5. We went because of my niece (21) We hadn't been there for probably 4 years. The food was WAY better than we remembered. We are definitely going again. Who gives a flying fig about the princesses -- the appetizer tower was fabulous, the tri-tip was great, the mashed potatoes were too good and the dessert tray.... Don't know what the kids had, was too busy stuffing myself! DH had some kind of chicken thing.....

 

[usschmidt]

Wow!!! that sounds waaaaaaaaaay better than what we had! Ours was so awful that I've purged the menu from memory. That's when we swore we'd never do another character meal. I know lots of people have enjoyed the food at other venues, but for the money we weren't willing to risk it kwim. There's so many yummy places to eat, why risk it?

But I think I'm just going to go w/the flow kwim. I can handle anything if it's for the pleasure of my kids, right??

 

[Dragonfly*Tink]

This is how I justified it - waiting in line in the heat for a very long time for pics and autographs or sucking up the cost ... I have PS for Goofy's and Ariels!

 

[VAN]

I feel the same way you do ... if your girls feel that strongly, either gift them the meal as part of an upcoming birthday/christmas gift - OR if they have money of their own, say that you would pay $xx for a meal anyway - if they want to contribute the rest, you'll take them.

I know that sounds mean, but unless you have unlimited funds, they need to understand the value of a $.

Remember, you're the boss of them ... not the other way around. LOL.

 

[Disney Dreams]

You are choosing to go to a character meal. Are you going for the food? Or are you going for the characters? If the answer is the 2nd, you are "over it." If the answer is the first, you need to eat somewhere where you like the food.

Did that help?
- Dreams

 

[usschmidt]

Van, that's exactly what our plan was. We did it thinking that they'd rather buy souvenirs w/their hard earned money, but they scored some cash from grandpa...gotta love grandparents

Now I've got to decide our preferred time for Minnie's and call for availability.

 

[tinkerbelt]

IMO, all of the food at Disneyland is bad, especially for the price. The character meals are worth it for the interaction. I'd book one, and then eat the rest of my meals offsite for the rest of the day to offset the cost.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

The beautiful pictures and memories of your princesses with the Princesses will last a lifetime -- don't you agree those are both priceless????

I guess you know where I stand on this issue!

 

[bumbershoot]

What about going to a b'fast that has menu options along with a buffet? Storytellers and PCH Grill both have those options, and while it might not be a huge amount less (especially once you order coffee or juice), it might help your mental wallet out a bit.


I actually like quite a bit of the food at DLR, though we eat only a fraction of it b/c we're vegetarian and can't have most snack foods there due to ingredient issues. With buffets we are very limited, but the food itself is good, in our opinion.

 

[DizMe]

I have booked Ariel's numerous times and have never been disappointed. I LOVE the tri-tip. I think that character meal is one of the best values out there, but I was always able to get good voucher prices through AAA. We actually spent less on an Ariel's meal than we did at most other sit-down places, and the interaction was fabulous!!

OTOH, I've not had good experiences at Goofy's (though others have) and I won't spend that kind of money again for it, most likely. I've not heard good things about Minnie's overall so I'd be cautious with that one. It's hard to know, though, because I've also read terrible reviews of Ariel's (mostly in the past), but we've had...well, I think about 8 dinners there and every one was wonderful.

I have to agree with the PP who said that the food at DL, overall, is pretty awful. There are some things here and there that are good but most of the food is mediocre at best and relatively expensive, so paying $15 - $27 each (which is what I've paid with vouchers) for a character meal at Ariel's seems like a pretty good deal to me, since it includes appetizers, salad & bread, dinner, dessert, drinks, tax, and tip.

Whatever meal you choose, have fun!

 

[Pomlover2586]

I would do it for my kids......your only a child once ya know? While character breakfasts are fun as an adult, there's something even more magical about them when your a kid. JMO

 

[Kauinohea]

Last week we did Goofys, Storytellers,Minnies, Lilo and Stitch

We had a great time at Goofy's bothe food and interaction deserve an A+.
I would not do Minnie's ....unless you are only looking for character interaction and want to pay less than Goofy's.

I would only return to Goofy's and MAYBE storytellers since the food was good and it was so coxy in there.

 

[Sherry E]

I think the 'good food/bad food' issue at DLR is largely subjective. I actually enjoy most of the stuff I eat there. It is far and away better than it used to be pre-1992, when it was almost inedible in a lot of places. I think DLR has made great strides in food quality. However, I do agree that the prices are high for a lot what you get around the Resort. Along those lines, I think the breakfast menu prices at Storytellers Critter Breakfast are way too high for the portion sizes, and the buffet is a better deal/value, but in some cases having the menu and buffet options are helpful to people.

Usschmidt, have you tried a character meal before? it sounds as if you maybe did a character meal in the past and hated it and that was what soured you to doing it again. If so, which one was it - Goofy's? Now see, I would say that Goofy's breakfast has a much better food quality (not to mention the large variety variety) than what you would expect of an amusement park buffet and that the food is actually quite good. But if that was one you tried and didn't like, then maybe something like Ariel's Grotto or Storytellers would be more to your liking. Lilo and Stitch seems to have unique items like flautas and pineapple scones in its buffet, along with regular breakfast buffet items, so that could be a possibility too.

Minnie and Friends seems to get rave reviews for the sheer number of characters onsite, but there have been mixed reviews of the food. Lately, most people have enjoyed the food in reports I have read. In the past, there were some reports that it was usually cold, etc. However, Storytellers and Ariel's seem to consistently get good reviews these days. I think that seeing how happy your girls are at the sight of all the Minnie & Friends characters will be rewarding and you will be glad you did it!

 

[usschmidt]

Thanks, Sherry. We went to Ariel's for dinner in Oct 2007. It was definitely meh. I think everyone's got the right idea...go for the experience, not the food. We won't be going to a Disney resort for at least 2 or 3 yrs, so might as well make the most of the experience.

 

[fairykin]

I enjoyed the Lilo and Stitch breakfast... the salmon over rice was delicious.. and they had alot of yummy looking things.
We had wonderful character interaction and minnie was there too.
Plus the little leis were fun!

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks, Sherry. We went to Ariel's for dinner in Oct 2007. It was definitely meh. I think everyone's got the right idea...go for the experience, not the food. We won't be going to a Disney resort for at least 2 or 3 yrs, so might as well make the most of the experience.

Oh, okay, that explains it - I have not eaten at Ariel's but many of our reliable DIS-ers here have said that prior to 2008, the food at Ariel's was horrible! They totally changed the menu and now everyone loves it! Sounds like you ate there during the dark days of the menu! Hopefully your Minnie and Friends food will be (not cold) and wonderful, but at the very least, the character interaction will be great!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Thanks, Sherry. We went to Ariel's for dinner in Oct 2007. It was definitely meh. I think everyone's got the right idea...go for the experience, not the food. We won't be going to a Disney resort for at least 2 or 3 yrs, so might as well make the most of the experience.

OK, if you haven't eaten at AG since 2007 go BACK!!!!! Trust me, the new menu is sooooooooooooooo good!!! We've had the pasta w/mushroom broth (OMG, YUM!!!!), the Tri Tip was very good and DBF has had the Ciopinno twice, he loves it!!! I tried the chicken breast last trip and man, that was goooood!! The lunch/dinner is so much better now than it was before, there's really no comparison at all!! Definitely go to AG!

I do agree with your assesment of the b'fasts tho, they aren't great but for characters Minnie & Friends is great. GK sucked for us, and Lilo & Stitch is just too far for the rest of the family so we go with AG regularly. But even the b'fast there isn't great, that's why I suggest the lunch or dinner instead.

 

[MyMonkies]

I agree with most of what everyone else says.......

I think that as long as it's not something you've alread done umpteen times & won't get to do again for a while- DO IT.

Even if the food is bad, that's not what your kids will remember........

 

[usschmidt]

Even if the food is bad, that's not what your kids will remember........

Yes, you're absolutely right! Even my ydd (who swears she doesn't like princesses) STILL talks about how much fun Ariel's Grotto was lol! Maybe she doesn't remember the yucky food b/c she didn't eat anything but dessert!