Help needed,...character dining vs "meeting"

[kimawilson]

Hello all, I am new to the DIS boards and just wondering if I can get some advice which is better~ attending a character meal to meet and get autographs, or a "meet and greet" our last family trip we did NOT attend a charcter dining or meet and greet, BAD planning on my part LOL...I am not a new vistior to Disneyland,but have never attended those aspects of the parks,~ my kids are older, and this time I am wondering what would be the best I have a DS age 7, will turn 8 the month after our trip and DD age 4. I was also wondering if I should book a mommy and me lunch at ariel's grotto for just me and my daughter..or is that rude to DH and DS..LOL THANKS!!!!!!!!!

 

[ktlm]

My DD (5) is a character hound and has been since she was 2. We do both. DL has some fantastic character meals. We are WDW vets and we think that Minnie's breakfast and Goofy's Kitchen are far superior to any of the character meals at WDW just by virtue of the amount of characters you usually get to see and the amount of time they spend interacting with the kids. I would highly recommend trying one of those with the kids. Sitting there eating while the characters come around sure beats standing in long lines. We have found that we usually see the most characters at Minnie's breakfast. That said, the pictures you get with the characters from the meals are sometimes not as good as the ones you can get with the set ups for the formal meet and greets, just because of the space available, other tables, setting etc. I would say, do a mix of both.

If your son isn't interested in a Princess meal, I don't think it is rude to your DH and DS to have a Mommy and me meal. It is ruder that your daughter never gets to do it if she really wants to, just because her brother doesn't want to. Your son might like some Dad time, and getting to ride or eat whatever he wants while his sister is somewhere else! DD loves that Princess meal! It is pretty much a standard 5 just like any WDW character meal. Picture in the lobby, 4 Princesses come by one by one, pose for a picture, and walk off.

 

[Hoku]

We always start our DL vacations at the Plaza Inn character bkfst. Some characters you'll only find at these meals! But the real gems are the characters you spontaneously run across throughout the parks. I think tracking the characters down or spontaneously running into them is far more satisfying because you get a better sense of accomplishment and fortune. The meals are too easy for meets but it's still fun.

I'm also willing to bet your son is more than happy to miss the princess dinner. But you might give him the choice. Maybe you can discuss it with your husband and come up with a plan for the guys while you girls go to Ariel's Grotto. Then give that as an option to your son when asking which activity he prefers.

 

[kimawilson]

Thank you for advice, I would say that I agree my DD is really into princesses, and would love to have just us go out to eat lunch, and meet them..would you say that would be better than going to PFF? I am not against going to both, just feel bad if DH and DS..dont want too as well..:

 

[kimawilson]

I am planning to "start" our trip at Minnie and friends Breakfast this trip..looking forward to it!!! 92 days LOL..

 

[rob1105]

Charater dining by far more personal one on one time with characters

 

[starshine514]

Charater dining by far more personal one on one time with characters

This was not our experience. We found the princesses at the PFF gave our girls much more attention than the ones at the lunch at Cinderella's castle at WDW. The pictures were much better as well, better backgrounds and lighting (and there were Photopass photographers at the PFF).

 

[kirstie101]

DD4 is a character nut! Her first trip, she was just under 2, and I figured she'd be scared of the characters. Little did I know that we'd spend the entire trip (only 2 days that time) searching the park for characters and that I'd have to peel her away from Chip and Dale especially!

For her second trip I booked dinner at Goofy's Kitchen the night we arrived. She loved it and this became our new tradition. Its a great way to start off our trip and I can rest easy knowing that she will get to meet at least 4-5 characters right away. We still go see Mickey, Minne and anyone else we can in the park, but the time spent with the characters at Goofy's kitchen is a little less rushed.

Last year was the first year she was into Princesses. We did lunch at Ariels Grotto for my birthday and we all (DH included) enjoyed it. We still did Princess Fantasy Faire twice but we didn't HAVE to. We actually only did it both times because the line was reasonably short. For us, Ariel's could replaced the Fantasy Faire.

This year we will again do Goofy's and most likely Ariles as well. I know for sure we will still find the characters in the park for pictures but I also know that if PFF has too long a wait, we can skip it!

 

[JH87]

I just got back from DLR and had breakfast at Minnie's. It was me and my friend, we are both in our 20s and we received great character interaction! I fed Tigger grapes and danced with him, got 'kisses' from pretty much all the male characters, and had fun 'conversations' with them too. It was fun to watch other families with smaller children because they received even better character interaction. The Fairy Godmother sat down for a good amount of time with one family, I remember Tigger sitting down at one family's table for a while. We only stayed for an hour (i think you are allowed to stay for 90 mins) and we already saw each character multiple times.
One of the CMs there named Sylvia was so sweet. She took our pictures multiple times and told us that we came at the perfect time (7:20am) and that booking at one of the earlier times is always best and gets the best character interaction.

But if you want Princesses you can't go wrong with Ariel's. I have never gone, but i have heard many people say the food is excellent and you get to see all the princesses. This might be more tolerable for the males in your family, because they can just eat their delicious food while your daughter gets to see the princesses. i would think this beats waiting in a line that can get up to 1 hr at PFF.

 

[Eeee-va]

I'd ask your son if he wants to do the meal at Ariel's. He might feel left out if he's not allowed to go. But if you let him make the choice, he might prefer some one-on-one time with his dad.

If you want to do PFF there's nothing wrong with that; it's good for photo ops. It often takes an hour for 2-3 (almost always 3) quick meets with the princesses, but again, if your husband and son run off and do their own thing, I imagine they'd have a good time too. But if you want more pictures than you get at Ariel's, then PFF is a way to do that. The problem with PFF is the wait, but the problem with Ariel's is it can be hard to eat with the princesses coming around. (Some kids are too excited to eat much at all!)

If the PFF coronation ceremony is running during your trip and you need pictures/meet and greets, I'd suggest you go to that. I believe a couple minutes after the ceremony they still do quick meet and greets, so you could meet 1-3 princesses (depending on how quick you are) for a much shorter wait.

Have a great trip!

 

[DizNee Luver]

My family loves doing the character meals.....it saves us standing in long lines in the parks. The interaction has always been better at the meals, not as rushed feeling.

The interaction at PFF has always been good as well. I like that they only take in one or two families at a time. My DD (5), went twice last summer & it was the same 3 princesses....they remembered her & Ariel even remembered her name!!

Pixie Hollow is set up the same way, but allowing one family to enter at a time.

The meet-n-greets around the park can bring very long lines & if you're lucky to get up to the character before they leave or get replaced with someone else, can be really quick......autograph & pic & bye-bye. You also have kids & some families that just run up during your time....not realizing the 50 people standing there are in line......

As for Ariel's......my son LOVES seeing the princesses. The last time we ate there, they taught the girls to curtsy & the boys to bow. They even learned to do a royal dance. My son was eating up all the attention & love he got from the "ladies".....lol

 

[ballarinamom]

The menu at Ariel's is really fun, the 3 tiered appetizer/ salad trsy, the entree choices and the yummy sampler dessert is hard to give up. The priceses come table to table in order, so you know exactly when they are coming. They won't bother your son if he's not intersted. We have done Ariel's 4 times and plan on doing it again on our next trip. The food is THAT good!

PFF is a long wait and you aren't promised any particular princesses. You may only see Snow White, Cinderella and Jasmine. Or any combinatin. So multiple trips will be needed to see the number of princesses you see atr Ariels.

Also, you can prepurchase vouchers which are a big help with budgeting!

 

[meljensmom]

Hello all, I am new to the DIS boards and just wondering if I can get some advice which is better~ attending a character meal to meet and get autographs, or a "meet and greet" our last family trip we did NOT attend a charcter dining or meet and greet, BAD planning on my part LOL...I am not a new vistior to Disneyland,but have never attended those aspects of the parks,~ my kids are older, and this time I am wondering what would be the best I have a DS age 7, will turn 8 the month after our trip and DD age 4. I was also wondering if I should book a mommy and me lunch at ariel's grotto for just me and my daughter..or is that rude to DH and DS..LOL THANKS!!!!!!!!!

I will address the Ariel's Grotto question Last year we all went (Mom, Dad, my 2 daughters and myself). It worked out lovely but it was mainly for my little one who had been to the BBB and was made over to be a mini "Belle".

We will probably go next summer and there'a whole bunch of us going....and rather than drag my father, bro in law and nephews to Ariel's Grotto, we are contemplating have a "girl's luncheon". We will most likely have 2 young ones who will have had a makeover and so we think it would be pretty special for it to be Nana, granddaughters, me and my sister. The guys will have plenty of options during that time.

I think it's perfectly fine...unless the guys really want to come along. They wouldn't feel out of place and the food is good!

Hope this helps,