Infants and Character Meals

[Honeymooner04]

We'll be going to the World in December with my then 9 month old. My husband and I love the character meals but have not clue if a 9 month old would. Do any of you have experience with infants and the character meals? I was thinking of making our ADR for all the ones we want to go to, trying one our first day and if it doesn't go well, canceling the rest for the week. Also, we would like to try O'hana's but is it REALLY that loud? Too much for a little half pint?

Thanks for your help!

Patty

 

[wacampbell]

My only experience with a character meal and infants was via friend's children at Disneyland with Princess Breakfast. Their baby was not quiet or around one 1 yet (can't remember the exact age so my apologizes) but seemed to love the characters. All the Princesses fawned over the baby and the only character Mia had a problem with was Beast from Beauty and the Beast. She really didn't put up a huge fuss but did show some fear at first. Hope this helps you.

 

[Jesussavedme]

We have the annual passes and have been taking our son since he was 3 weeks old. I have a picture of me holding him with Pooh Bear standing with us, what a memory!

So the noise level has never bothered him at all, at any stage. He's been to character meals from 6 times in his 2 years of life and never had an issue. He is just starting to warm up to the characters, now that he knows them by name.

If she seems afraid of the big characters, just have them stand behind her highchair and get her attention, then take the picture before she realizes somebody is behind her.

Ohana's was pretty loud, only because they have games during the meal that the kids can play. My kids were having a coconut race with all the other kids and there was lots of loud laughter, but it still didn't bother my baby.

The only place that might have startled my son, was Whispering Canyon Cafe, where the waiters and waitresses yell, ring the dinner bell, hoot and holler. Now that he's 2, he loves it there!

Good luck, hope you have a wonderful trip!!!!!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We took our daughter when she was 5 months old and it really kept her entertained when at a character meal. It helped Mom and Dad finish a meal!


She'll be one year old next month when we take her again and we've planned mostly character meals for this purpose -- entertaining her!

 

[timandlesley]

I wish I knew how to upload photo's I have a TON of my daughter when she was 6 months old interacting with the characters at Chef Mickeys and Garden Grill. Garden grill was the greatest, she as in her high chair and Mickey, Pluto and Chip and Dale came by OVER and OVER. I have pic's of Mickey kissing her, her grabbing Pluto's whiskers, etc. All with giant smiles. I highly recommend it, they LOVED it.

 

[kcashner]

The characters are very well trained. If a child shows fear or avoidance, the characters won't come close. They will still interact with others at the table. If the baby or child seems to be enjoying the experience, the characters really play it up.

 

[Aristomommy]

DS was 8 months old during our last trip. We had lunch at CRT and the pictures of him "adoring" the princesses are priceless. We also had dinner at LTT and he grabbed Chip or Dale's nose and giggled. He is a shy kid that warms up to new people slowly, but the characters did not bother him for some reason. We also had dinner at Ohana's and he liked watching the hoola hoops. Have fun!!!

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

My parents first took me to DL when I was two. They thought I would be so excited to see Mickey Mouse, and instead the big cheese terrified me since he was considerably bigger than the assorted plush ones that I had accumulated by that age. 6 month later they took me to Mickey's 50th Birthday party at a camera store and I loved the big cheese. You never really know how some kids will react, so it's best to play it by here. If they react positively, it will be great fun. If they don't care, don't worry about it. Soon enough they'll be totally into the characters and getting their picture taken with them.

 

[jpolak]

For DD 1st trip she was only 10 mnths and loved the charaters. We have great pictures of her being held by everyone. On our last trip DD, now 2 was terrified of the characters. Hopefully in August she will be better.

 

[bfila]

My younger daughter was 6 months old when we had lunch with Pooh and Friends at Crystal Palace. She LOVED the characters--especially Tigger. I have the best pictures from it.

 

[Ginamarie]

We took my little brother when he was 6 months old. He loved the characters, especially the princesses. We have some fantastic photos of him with Belle and Aurora.

This year we're taking our new baby, who will be 8 months when we go in December, and we are planning some character meals.

 

[jennifer293]

My DD was 13 months old last year when we had our trip and she was terrified of the characters. Everytime any of them would come near her she screamed her head off. She was ok with the princesses because they were "real" I guess you could say.

Now we did go to one of the water parks and Lilo and Stitch were there. She was in her stroller. Stitch came up to her and I just knew the waterworks were about to flow, but he kneeled down and grabbed her foot and acted like he was going to eat it, and she busted out into laughter. SHE LOVED HIM!!! She did not like Lilo but adored Stitch..Go figure!!!!!

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

On our last trip, our youngest daughter was 11 months old. She took a little while to "warm up" to the characters (as she did with ANY stranger), but we had no problems! We have tons of great pictures with her at Crystal Palace, Donald's Breakfastosaurus, and Cinderella's Royal Table. All the princesses gave her kisses and we have a great Photopass shot of her with the lipstick kisses all over her forehead! She had a great time that we're hoping to repeat this year - we will be at Liberty Tree Tavern on her 2nd birthday!

 

[stavidt]

I have 2 kids...1 yr old and 2 yr. old girls....my younger daughter has no problems with characters.....now my 2 yr. old who is disney crazy...only talks about disney movies and characters all day long wants nothing to do with a character face to face....to play it on the safe side you may want to do a princess character meal b/c they look like people and aren't so huge to the little ones.

 

[mickeymousemom]

My DD had been 5 times by the time she was 2 1/2 and never had a problem with the characters til she was 2!!(her 4th trip). She went at 3 months, 10 months, 17 months before that and LOVED all the characters, so needless to say we were shocked when she became terrified of Chip n Dale, Pluto, and Goofy at our Chef Mickey's breakfast. She did a little better on her last trip several weeks ago. This is also the age I've heard of a lot of kids having trouble with being scared. I'd say you won't have a problem at 9 months... Have a great trip!

 

[mdhkitten]

I took my daughter last year for her birthday and she LOVED the characters at Chef Mickey's! She grabbed their noses and they kissed her! The funny thing is that at the time she didn't like strangers at all, so I figured that she would be terrified of the characters. We're going in 2 weeks, and she'll be 23 months and isn't afraid of strangers anymore.............I'm now wondering how she'll react the the characters!

 

[Honeymooner04]

Thanks so much for your responses. I'm a first time mom and this is the first baby I've ever been around so I'm totally learning as I go. I'm really excited to take her, especially since so many of your little ones enjoyed their experiences!

Thanks again!!!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Thanks so much for your responses. I'm a first time mom and this is the first baby I've ever been around so I'm totally learning as I go. I'm really excited to take her, especially since so many of your little ones enjoyed their experiences!

Thanks again!!!!

My baby's first character meal was Crystal Palace -- it wasn't too loud so I think it was a perfect first CM! I would recommend this one. It will help ease your baby into the character interaction thing....so he/she isn't freaked out!

Have fun!

 

[lissawynn]

On my last trip, DS was 6 months old and loved our bfast at CP. He met Tigger, Pooh, and Piglet for the first time. His reaction was priceless. We also took him to Ohana for dinner. The server allowed me to take our stroller right to the table, and he slept through most of the meal. He's never had a hard time sleeping in louder places, so this was no problem for him.
I found that wherever we dined, the CM's were great about allowing me to take the stroller right to the table and helping me out with hot water for bottles or food. All in all, his first trip was a great experience. He was the best one on that trip.