How long for character meals??

[Sleepyhappyandgrumpy]

Hi there,
We're doing a bunch of character meals when we're there in a few weeks and I am wondering how much time to figure for them - ballpark, obviously.

We're doing Crystal Palace and GG for dinner, Akerhaus, H&V, Tusker House and 1900 for breakfasts. How long do you think they take?

Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

It will vary wildly. Some places will get you right in, some will have a lengthy wait in spite of your ADR time. Once you are seated, a lot depends on how efficient the characters are at making the rounds.

If it is a buffet with a fixed price, I recommend getting your ticket early in the meal and settling up so you're not waiting for it when you are done. If you've seen all the characters but 1 and have waited a while, you might ask your server if they know how long it will be. Sometimes they just miss someone along the way.

 

[DZNEE4US]

If you don't want to feel rushed, I'd allow about an hour up to an hour and a half to see all of the characters at a buffet type character meal. They will all make the rounds to all of the tables. They also will come back if you are still there and they are making the rounds. There's no need to have your kids run up to the characters, everyone gets their turn. If you have been waiting for a particular character and they seem to have skipped your table after a break, then ask your server and they will assist you in getting them to visit. Disney really has this system down to a science, and it does work.

 

[RMulieri]

We allow 90 mins for all character and TS meals..It allows for delays in getting seated,getting food ,taking care of the bill and seeing all the characters without being rushed.Most times we are done right around that time if not slightly earlier and we are not slow eaters.

 

[Sleepyhappyandgrumpy]

It will vary wildly. Some places will get you right in, some will have a lengthy wait in spite of your ADR time. Once you are seated, a lot depends on how efficient the characters are at making the rounds.

If it is a buffet with a fixed price, I recommend getting your ticket early in the meal and settling up so you're not waiting for it when you are done. If you've seen all the characters but 1 and have waited a while, you might ask your server if they know how long it will be. Sometimes they just miss someone along the way.

Getting a ticket? What's that? How do the buffets work?

 

[KatieRach]

I agree with the PP that stated 90 minutes. I think Crystal Palace is the one that may be longer...we have always been seated 20-35 minutes later than our ADR time.

 

[kshattuck]

90 minutes sounds about right, although we have made it in under an hour with an early reservation at Crystal Palace. Sure, my kids love Pooh and friends, but getting to walk down Main Street before park opening and being in the park RIGHT when it opened sure helped to motivate us to take pictures and get autographs quickly.

During our last trip's visit to Akershus (we go every time ), my kids spent a LOT of time with the princesses. It wasn't terribly busy and we had the last breakfast seating, so there was something of a lull between breakfast and lunch and my girls were having a blast, so we stayed for a second round of "parade around the restaurant with the princesses" and I'm soooo glad we did. The girls got to "lead" the parade with Ariel, DD6's all-time fave. That smile was PRICELESS. That was a loooong character meal, though. We easily were in there for over 90 minutes.

Have fun!

 

[stargazertechie]

Getting a ticket? What's that? How do the buffets work?

Your bill

 

[Sleepyhappyandgrumpy]

Your bill

Duh. It's been a long day.