How many character meals are too many?

[eliezra]

We will be going to Disney for the 1st time in November for 7 nights on the DDP with our two boys ages 4 and 5.

So, out of 7 meals, how many is a good number for character meals? I want to take advantage of the unique dining experience, but also recognize that they are probably not as relaxing as non-character meals.

I would love to hear about your thoughts and experiences! Thanks!

 

[ElizabethG]

That answer really depends on you and your family. Before joining Dis, I didn't realize that some people think you can have too many. For our next 8 night stay, we are doing 9 character meals. I love them!

 

[2Tiggies]

To be honest, most restaurants, including non character are going to be rowdy. Aside from V&A they are all geared for families and children so although some are noisier than others, you are not likely to find anything "quiet and relaxing" by normal standards.

How are your kids when you eat out at home? Do they get bored easily? Sometimes character meals are more relaxing from the point of view that the kids are entertained (whether that means they won't be interested in eating is another matter). As far as how many are too many, that would be whatever number equals one more than what you want.

 

[crabbygal902]

I agree with ElizabethG. Do what makes you happy.

We try to plan 3 during a week's stay, and it's a good balance for us.

By the way, the most relaxed character meal we've experienced is the Cape May breakfast buffet at the Beach Club and the most frantic was Crystal Palace dinner. The food and character interaction were great at CP, but the restaurant in general was VERY busy and crowded. It was still a good experience and I would like to try it again sometime.

 

[hsembrick]

3 or 4 is a great number!! If you are worried about the rowdiness try booking with the first seating. The crowds are a lot less and you seem to get autographs from the characters faster!! HAPPY PLANNING!!

 

[kimis]

I don't think you can ever have too many character meals. Get as many character meals as you can! It is so easy to get pictures and autographs that way.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We're doing 6 on a 10-night stay:

-Chef Mickey's dinner
-CRT dinner
-Akershus lunch
-1900 Park Fare breakfast
-Crystal Palace breakfast
-Cape May Cafe breakfast

We have 2 boys, ages 3 and 5. On our last trip, we stayed 5 nights and did 5 character meals!!!

We're breaking up the character meals with non-character meals so the boys will eat and it is less hectic at times. You know, no need to worry about photos, autographs, my boys busy looking for Mickey instead of eating when they are really hungry and should eat! Not for quiet time though...especially since one of those dinners is Whispering Canyon!!!

 

[ndj1982]

It depends on how many children you have. Character meals can be fun for the kids, and it honestly might be easier for the adults if they are afraid their children may get jumpy in a fancier restaurant.

 

[TDC Nala]

I remember a poster who booked sixteen character meals in one week...to me, that's way too many. But to me, one is too many.

If you are concerned with the activity, alternate the character meals with something quieter.

I don't think it's true that all WDW restaurants except V&A are "geared" for families with children. The signature restaurants at the resorts are not geared that way. They have children's menus, but there is nothing specifically about the atmosphere that screams "family restaurant." They are full of families because they are at Disney World. Bistro de Paris is not geared that way. It doesn't even have a children's menu. However, plenty of families attend, with children of all ages.

 

[DISNEY1975]

We will be going to Disney for the 1st time in November for 7 nights on the DDP with our two boys ages 4 and 5.

So, out of 7 meals, how many is a good number for character meals? I want to take advantage of the unique dining experience, but also recognize that they are probably not as relaxing as non-character meals.

I would love to hear about your thoughts and experiences! Thanks!

If you want a non-character meal, save your money and stay home!

I personally wouldnt go to Disney to go to an ordinary restuarant. I can do that at home 365 days a year! We are going for 10 days and 9 breakfasts are "character meals" and we reserved the BBQ, SOA and HDDR. I was bummed that my LTT dinner is no longer a character meal!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

If you want a non-character meal, save your money and stay home!
I personally wouldnt go to Disney to go to an ordinary restuarant. I can do that at home 365 days a year! We are going for 10 days and 9 breakfasts are "character meals" and we reserved the BBQ, SOA and HDDR. I was bummed that my LTT dinner is no longer a character meal!

That is a bit extreme, don't you think?

There are plenty of excellent dining experiences for both adults and children that don't involve characters. For me, I don't want to eat at a character meal every day of my trip mostly because of the food quality. Buffet food can get a bit tiring day after day.
Our kids have enjoyed many of their non-character dining experiences...Teppan Edo, Coral Reef, Sci-Fi & 50's Prime Time, WCC just to name a few.

 

[bleeps]

The primary reason I would suggest no more than 3 or 4 is that, unless you really think it's going to be otherwise for your kids, young children have a very hard time concentrating on eating much of anything at character meals. Now, to be sure, the upside is the buffet style and the freedom that gives you and your family, and getting the character photos/autographs efficiently is great, but if your kids aren't eating more than a bite or two of food, it's not going to be a good way to spend too many meals.

 

[cmcinc]

3-4 sounds about right!

 

[la_la]

Book as many as you think they can handle. It is a great time to see the characters without having to wait in lines! When we went it was nice to be able to skip the character lines b/c we had seen, or knew we would be seeing a certain character at a meal

 

[PoohsFan1]

I agree with others that say to do what is right for your family. With that said, I think 3-4 is plenty (at least for our family). Actually I have always said that 2 would be enough (because we have done most of them), but my DH is the one that wants to do a couple more . Have fun, character meals is an awesome way to see the characters without having to stand in a line and feeling rushed because there are other families waiting to see the character

 

[blanq]

This is really just a personal choice, so do what you feel is right for you and your family, and ignore all the replies.

I am not a huge fan of character meals. My issue isn't so much with the characters, it is with the food that comes with them. Most of these are buffets and the food is just not very special or good in my opinion. The restaurants feel like zoos to me because of all the up/down and running about to get your food. I have seen too many unaccompanied at buffets where kids touch items and put them back, or wipe their nose and then stick their hands into the food that it is just is unappetizing to me.They are not relaxing to me. When my DS was little, we would generally book one character meal per trip, and then I would let him get his fill of the characters at the meet/great options in the parks. We have never had long waits to visit characters at the parks, but we have always traveled to WDW during non-peak times.

On the other hand, I get the draw of these meals for many parents and kids. There is more food variety for little ones at buffets, you can get in and out quickly (a bonus if you have little ones who have a hard time sitting through meal time), and the characters are fun.

 

[Donald Ducks Friend]

When we go in July for 10 days we have 5 planned. 3 are Breakfast and 2 are Dinner. Should be fun Looking forward to not looking all over the parks for Mickey Mouse and Friends!!!

 

[mjp12831]

I agree with pp who referred to booking as many as you can with the theory that they are what makes WDW dining unique. I can see how you would want to do other/normal meals too, but my theory in booking ADRs is that you can visit a good restaurant in any town, but you can only do the dinner shows and character meals when at WDW.

We dont do ALL character meals and shows, but we do a lot of them.

 

[persimmondeb]

We're only doing one (Crystal Palace), but we don't have young children and are only modestly interested in characters. With little ones I would think two or three were a good number. Even at regular meals you see a good number of children too excited to eat at Disney World.

My bottomless pit DS14 was so fascinated by AK last year that he completely forgot to demand food, and was ready to chew on us at park closing when he suddenly realized that he hadn't eaten all day.

 

[chrisw127]

For me, I don't want to eat at a character meal every day of my trip mostly because of the food quality. Buffet food can get a bit tiring day after day.

I totally agree. Disney buffets are a step above what you'll probably find in your hometown, but they're still buffet meals. Not to mention that as a mom of three small children, I felt that I spent the entire time running back and forth getting stuff for the kids. I think after a while, all these meals start to run together. Have a couple and make them special.