How many princess meals are too many?

[heatherenae71]

We will be at WDW Nov. '11 for the first time as a family (DS will be 8, DD will be 4). We will be on the dining plan and will definitely do CRT on DD's 4th birthday. Will that be enough? Should I also do Akershus at Epcot...1900 Park Fare, too? Or is that too much princess? (or can there never be too many princesses - haha!) I'd like to think my son will be a good sport about all the princesses, but I don't know!

FWIW, we'll also do Tusker House, Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace for character meals!

 

[TDC Nala]

For me, one is too many. But if you think your family will enjoy three princess meals, there's nothing wrong with doing all three. I don't know your son so I don't know how he will like three princess meals. I hear the stepsisters at 1900 Park Fare are a hoot though. Maybe let him pick out a meal, too, something he really wants to do.

 

[pinkxray]

I would do as many as I could. On our recent trip we had a character meal almost everyday and they were a blast. I ended up canceling Akershus a few weeks before our trips due to some switching of our days and really wished we were able to make it there. If your kids want to do them, why not? They aren't going to be those ages forever. Go for it.

 

[prncess674]

I think that sounds like a lot of buffet. Navigating a buffet with young kids can be stressful on the adults. Since you only get one TS a day realize that as the adult you will be responsible to fetching all that food. I would plan a few more meals where you are actually served.

 

[twokids0204]

We try to do about 2 (maybe 3 - but that's stretching it) Character meals per vacation (1 week).

I find that: a) the food is not as good as it is buffet and b) that to much character interaction spoils the magic, it's good to be left wanting a bit more.

 

[heatherenae71]

Aside from CRT (which I can't decide if that should be lunch or dinner) - all these meals will be for breakfast (looking at the menus, breakfast is pretty much the only food my DH would like ) Plus, my family would sleep in until the afternoon if they could. I figure if we have breakfast reservations for character meals - this will get everyone going for the day!

 

[mom2cinderella]

I'm taking dd5 to WDW in September (free dining). We are doing a ton of character meals including CRT, PSB and 1900 PF. Kids are little for such a short time - I really want the trip to be magical for her.

I don't find buffets stressful, and my kids have always really liked having lots of choices and being able to get seconds of what they enjoyed.

 

[Marine Mom]

When my girls were young, I used to take them to the princess breakfast too and they loved them! I used to do at least 3 per vacation and we found that to be fine!

 

[wizzzzzard]

During our last trip, at Christmas, we did the following while on the DxDDP:

Akershus breakfast twice.
CRT for dinner.
Chef Mickey's dinner.
Tusker House breakfast.
Liberty Tree Tavern dinner (when it was still a character meal).
Crystal Palace twice.

My DW loves these meals. (I don't mind 'em either, but for different reasons.) I think if she could rig it, we'd do every meal with characters. We were there 8 days, and had 8 character meals. 3 of them with princesses.

Yes, people may say buffets suffer some quality issues over regular served dishes, but I don't care. I still eat better on vacation.

My DS did not care whether we ate with pooh (twice), princesses, or the fab 5 (twice). He cared about eating. (Takes after his old man, he does!) My DD of course was as happy to see her beloved princesses.

I can tell you one piece of advice. Don't try to eat at thee (3) buffets in a single day. We did and we regretted it. ugh!

We are going in a month (30 days today!), for 8 days again, and only have 2 character meals this time. Chef Mickeys and 1900 PF. We're only doing the regular DDP this time, and we're using the majority of the TS credits at places mommy & daddy like to eat.

 

[Tricia1972]

For me, one is too many. But if you think your family will enjoy three princess meals, there's nothing wrong with doing all three. I don't know your son so I don't know how he will like three princess meals. I hear the stepsisters at 1900 Park Fare are a hoot though. Maybe let him pick out a meal, too, something he really wants to do.

"One" is what I was going to type too.

I have three boys, 8, 4 and 2, and I know my 8 year old would humor his younger brothers (in fact he is doing this in that he isn't into Pooh, but is going to Crystal Palace for his brothers in January), but I'd hesitate to do more than one or two meals that focus mostly on his brothers.

Now if your 8 year old may love princesses, and if it's all about him and your daughter, and their experience, then go princess crazy!!

If he doesn't, and you want to cut back a bit I'd keep CRT and 1900 PF for the stepsisters, but that would have to be a dinner reservation. (Mornings are Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland characters)

 

[whitney37354]

We did every character meal on our first family trip except Beach Club. We even saw the same set of princesses at both Cindy's Castle and Akershus. We liked 1900 PF best of all even though Cindy was the only princess there. You can never have too many princesses.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Last December we did all three Princess meals and we were all fine with it (however, we do have two DDs so that may of been the reason why). When we go in September we are doing Akershus Breakfast (a must do for us) and CRT dinner. I think you will be fine, the princesses seem to go goo-goo over the young princes that dine at the restaurants, so your DS should get a lot of attention.

 

[leebee]

For us, neither the food nor the interaction justifies the cost of dining at CRT. I would book Akershus and 1900PF (dinner) for the princess interaction, Crystal Palace for the Pooh guys, and Chef Mickey's for the classic Disney characters. This covers all the bases, and will save you oodles of time standing in line in the parks, waiting for signatures and pix, because you will already have them! Also, if your kids are into the Disney Channel, there is a character meal at Hollywood and Vine (DHS) that features some of these characters (sorry, can't give you names as they are unfamiliar to me... DD is almost 17).

 

[guitarob]

I'd say that too many would be one more than your family wants to do! There's never too much in Disney, as long as your group is up for it.

Have a great trip!

 

[TDC Nala]

If he doesn't, and you want to cut back a bit I'd keep CRT and 1900 PF for the stepsisters, but that would have to be a dinner reservation. (Mornings are Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland characters)

I have heard the Mad Hatter is a hoot too!

 

[MYD714]

I went with friends one year and we did Crystal Palace 4-5 times on a 5 day trip. We never tired of the characters. The kids loved it each time; they never lost their excitement. I'd say make as many as you want. Plus, 1900 Park Fare will have different characters (as a pp has stated). Go for it!

 

[Keri]

CRT is not a buffet, nor is Akershus (other than the cold bar, which is, but the actual meal is plated).

We haven't done more than 2 in a visit, but one more wouldn't have been too much, IMO. We have always done primarily character meals & the kids really enjoy them.

 

[MODisneyfan]

Aside from CRT (which I can't decide if that should be lunch or dinner) - all these meals will be for breakfast (looking at the menus, breakfast is pretty much the only food my DH would like ) Plus, my family would sleep in until the afternoon if they could. I figure if we have breakfast reservations for character meals - this will get everyone going for the day!

I think that is a great idea!!! I personally (even at 29) would have booked all 3 princess meals for my next birthday if I could have.. I don't think my parents would have went with it so we are only doing CRT on the night we arrive... I think that CRT is a great place to do atleast one... AND it is your princess special birthday so I say go for it.. As for the one in Epcot, I had my 28th bithday there and loved it too.. The only one that I think is there that isn't at CRT ( and I might be wrong) is Ariel and I don't think that you can see her right now with that area being under construction ( again I might be wrong) so if your daughter likes her then I would definatly go to those 2.. I have been to the one at 1900 Park Fare for dinner and it was alot of fun. The boys get just as much attention as the girls at all of them but it is really cute to see the little boys dance with Cinderella.. You might book 1900 park fare for breakfast one day as something for your son as it has the Mad Hatter and such.. OR maybe depending on how old he is, let him pick a couple of characters breakfasts that he would like to do. That way it rounds things out a little. JMO

 

[badblackpug]

We have CRT, Aukerhaus, & 1900 PF. My 2 year old loves princesses, but is afraid of the costumed characters.

We actually find that the buffets are easier than sit down with the smaller kids (I also have bigger kids) because it keeps them more interested and less likely to get antsy. Plus with my 2 year old and will be at the time 11m old, I don't have to pay for a meal!

 

[dixonsontour]

We did akershus breakfast twice, park fare dinner and crt lunch last trip when DD was nearly 4. She loved it.

The atmosphere was fun with the stepsisters at park fare, I think that would be good for the whole family, including your son.