I Need Advice character/non character meals

[1hero2princesses]

My DS really wants to go to a character meal and my DD 5 (who will be 6 this spring) is very scared of characters. I have been trying to figure out a way to make them both happy and just don't know what to do. There aren't a lot of good restaurants near each other. Originally was considering Chef Mickeys and taking her to the wave (which I didn't think was very good and is just so unintersting) but that almost doesn't seem fair. Next thought was have DH take DS and younger DD4 to Chef Mickey and I take older DD to Park Fair? We would really really be split up and I am not sure even what park to try to do that from. Maybe on our water park day or Animal kingdom day. Then we could just take different buses to the right resort! We are staying at POR. Ughhh.. any ideas?

 

[candielips]

IMO I would skip the character meals altogether if she is that afraid. I just wouldn't like the idea of splitting the family up so much on a family vacation. There are always lots of opportunites for your other children to meet the characters, where they will actually get more time with them than you would at a character meal.
However, if any of your other children really want to do a specific meal, I might split up for that one meal and do something special for your oldest daughter. But I wouldn't be splitting up very often.
Now is it just characters that wear masks, like Mickey, or is it also the face characters such as the princesses?

 

[graceesmom]

If you do choose to split up, what about Garden Grill and Coral Reef? Characters for one and an aquarium for the other.

 

[1hero2princesses]

She loves face characters and we are doing the Royal Table but that is part of the problem - my DS 7 hates it! He is really mad we are going back to the castle although the rest of the family likes it. My DH wanted to do the Royal Table as a family (although I did offer to let him take the girls and I could take DS to chef mickeys he didn't want to do that). I would much prefer to stay together as a family. I just feel bad because this will be our 3rd trip and each time he wants to do a character meal and we can't. We did do Tusker house once but we had to switch off sitting outside with DD and it really wasn't very fun. Before we knew she had this problem we went to liberty tavern when they still had characters -she freaked so DH took her outside - DH learned the hard way that she would not go in - when he tried to take her in to go to the bathroom.....

I just want to be fair to everyone. I am thinking about doing Hoop dee doo as I think he will enjoy it. What a pain! I just wish I could get her through one character meal! We probably won't go back to disney for 2 or 3 years in which case he will be 10 or 11 and probably not care so this is our last "chance".

 

[1hero2princesses]

Does Garden Grill have characters? That could work! Who is there?

 

[1hero2princesses]

Does Garden Grill have Chip and DAle for lunch? I could take older DD to Askerhaus maybe. Does Askerhaus have princess at lunch - this could solve my problem - thanks so much for the idea! Does anyone know?

 

[Cafeen]

Does Garden Grill have characters? That could work! Who is there?

Yes it does, as you note below . Chip, Dale, Pluto, Mickey.

Does Garden Grill have Chip and DAle for lunch? I could take older DD to Askerhaus maybe. Does Askerhaus have princess at lunch - this could solve my problem - thanks so much for the idea! Does anyone know?

Garden Grill doesn't offer lunch, the only meal available is Dinner and that's with the Characters. Akershus has princesses at all 3 meals, so that won't work too well either.

There isn't going to be a real simple solution, most of the "face" characters at meals are the princesses, so not something the boy would enjoy (at least until he gets older )

Other than splitting up for a meal (and Garden Grill and Coral Reef may be the best bet), I can't think of anything else right now .

 

[Wendy31]

Since she's okay with the face characters, you could take your 2 DD's to Akershus (EPCOT, World Showcase - Norway) for dinner. It's a princess meal. And make it a Girls' Night Out, or, at least, a Girls' Dinner!

And your DH could take your DS to Garden Grill (EPCOT, Future World - The Land) for dinner. The characters are Mickey, Pluto, Chip, & Dale.

Or, if you didn't want to do another princess meal, you & your DD could just eat at Sunshine Seasons which is the counter-service restaurant which is also located in The Land, along w/ the Garden Grill.

Edited to Add: Oops!! I didn't really read all the posts before I replied. My idea has already been suggested! LOL!

 

[Wendy31]

Or, I just thought of something else...

You & your DD's could do the Afternoon Tea at the Gardenview Tea Lounge at the Grand Floridian at the latest ADR time available. And your DH & DS could do dinner Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary at the earliest ADR time available.

I'm thinking like around 4:00 or 4:30 pm? (I'm not sure how late the Afternoon Tea is available, though.)

And then ya'll could meet up in the MK since both resorts are on the monorail for some evening family time in the MK.

Edited to add: I just checked the official Disney Dining Reservation online site because I was curious. Chef Mickey's starts serving dinner at 5:00 pm. It says the Tea Lounge is open until 5:00 pm. The latest it would give me a reservation for though was 4:50 pm. However, 5:00 & 4:50 are pretty close! Since that's pretty early for dinner, ya'll could snack in the MK later!

 

[1hero2princesses]

Thanks so so much. You have finally solved my problem. I made ADR's for my DH (using his name) for 3 to go to Garden Grill dinner and an ADR for me and older DD to go to Askerhaus. Everyone will be so happy. She can't see to many princesses and he gets his character meal. Thanks so much for the help. This has been driving me crazy!@